Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Acts 4:1-7   The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"   We see here that not everyone is excited when the gospel is preached and people are saved. The rulers, priests, and elders, were troubled when they heard of the number of people who believed in Jesus. Why was this so? This was because the message preached by the disciples was different from the message that they have preached in the past. They also saw that they lost many followers as people turned to Jesus upon hearing the message preached by Jesus' disciples. They were selfish and they did not care about what the truth was, or what was good for the people. They were only concerned for themselves, and for their own benefit. This is true even in the church today. Many Christians have the same reaction to the work of the Holy Spirit. There are many in the church who oppose to the work of the Holy Spirit today. It is not for the truth, nor for the benefit of others. It is often because they are afraid of losing their position and authority, afraid that they will lose the people in their congregation. Many non-Christians oppose Christianity, not because the gospel doesn't bring benefit, but because they are reluctant to relinquish their rights to be their own God. They are troubled because they are not willing to do so. These men arrested Peter and John and asked them, "By what power and authority do you do these things?" This is such an interesting question: By what power, by whose authority, doing these things. We can sort of understand them asking by what power, but the strange thing is they asked by whose authority. As we can see, the name and authority is very important to them. The name represents authority. The elders, rulers and Pharisees, they all recognize that the name represents authority, as such asked the disciples for the name of the one by which they do these things. The apostles answered clearly, "By the name of Jesus Christ."; because the name of Jesus brings authority and power. Thinking back to Acts chapter three, at the gate called Beautiful, the crippled man pointed to Peter and John and asked for their money. However, Peter told the man that he does not have gold or silver, but what he has, he gave the man. What was it that Peter had to give? "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." The crippled man started walking. Sometimes, we fail to recognize the power and authority of Jesus Christ, and hence we are not able to say what Peter said. Pray that the Lord will have mercy on us and help us the power and authority in the name of the Lord Jesus, that we may learn to use the name of Jesus in our daily lives.   Pray with Pastor Tong Liu        Lord, we thank you because your name is the name above all names. We want to lift your name up high and let you rule and reign over our lives. We adore you and we worship you only. May your grace and blessings come upon us as we worship you. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Acts 3:17-26   "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus... When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."   Peter reminded the people then, "You must repent". Why do they need to repent? Here it specifically states it is because the Jews have crucified Jesus on the cross. Verse 17 says, "Brothers, I know it was out of ignorance that you did this. Your rulers were ignorant as well." From this verse, we can see that the people that Peter was addressing were generally the people of this generation, not necessarily the same ones who physically crucified Jesus to the cross. We need to come before God and corporately confess the sin in our generation, and to repent for our generation. The repentance that Peter mentions here is not only a personal confession and repentance, but also one that acknowledges and identifies our sin with that of our country and our society. This is like what Nehemiah did when he came before the Lord and cried out to the Lord, "Lord, please forgive us of the sins that our ancestors have committed!" Nehemiah was willing to come before the Lord and repent for the sins of his ancestors. This is what acknowledging the sin of the present generation is about.   There was a period of time when Christians were going around the Muslim and the Muslim countries, asking for forgiveness for what the Crusaders have done many years ago, confessing the sin committed and repenting of the sin. Many Christians took part in this movement, travelling the road of the crusaders and asking for the Muslims to forgive them of what the Crusaders did a thousand years ago. This movement shocked the Muslims because they did not expect the Christians to apologize for what was done in the past. As some Muslims hear the confession, they were even moved to tears. As a result of what this movement, many Muslims were able to release the hatred and some hearts were even opened to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to learn how to confess and repent for this land that we live in, repent for our fellow countrymen, so that the curse of sin can be lifted. Only then can God's mercy and pardon will come, and God's presence will return to our midst.   Pray with Pastor Tong Liu        Lord, we thank you that your love is so vast and wide. You pour your love out upon us, and it overflows to those around us. When we humble ourselves and repent for this nation and the people of this land, you will forgive us of our sin of idolatry, and you will have mercy on us, and cause this country to turn back to you. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Acts 3:11-16   While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go... By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.   Solomon's Colonnade was one of the grandest buildings at that time. The gate called Beautiful was one of the gates of Solomon's Colonnade. The entire gate was coated with bronze and glittered under the sun. The gate was shaped like a bunch of grapes, symbolizing that God's people experience abundance of life in Him. What a contrast to the grandeur of the gate, when right by the gate sat a crippled beggar! Perhaps you will say, well, at least we do not see crippled beggars sitting at the entrance of churches. Although the people around us may not be physically crippled, they are spiritually in bondage to other things in life, and do not experience freedom, just like the crippled man.   In the modern society today, there are many people with hearts bound by hatred. The bitterness accumulates throughout their life since young. Every hurt, every defeat increases the bitterness in the heart and causes unforgiveness toward others. Watch any television show today. Whether it is Chinese soap opera or American sitcom, these shows reflect the hatred and unforgiveness in the hearts of people, as well as the fear of the uncertain future. The fear and worry causes a lack of peace, resulting even in an inability to sleep at night. Sad to say, those who are trapped in all these hatred, unforgiveness, fear and worry are starting to get used to a life like this. This is like the crippled man at the gate Beautiful. He was used to being crippled and used to begging. Every day when he is being carried off to the gate, he thought that his only need was money for food and clothes. There are many people like him who are around us today, who do not recognize their real needs.   The mission of the church on earth is not just for meeting every Sunday. We need to reach out to those who are in need, to do what Jesus would have done. We are called to show the love of Christ in the midst of hatred and anger, to forgive as the Lord forgave, in the midst of a hurting world, to share our faith in a skeptical world, and preach a message of hope in a world full of hopelessness. It is not because by our own strength we can, but by the grace and strength of God who lives in us.   Pray with Pastor Tong Liu        Lord, we give you thanks and praise once again. You are the God who works miracles and healing even today. Use us each day, Lord, to demonstrate your mighty healing power and saving grace, that those around us may be blessed. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Acts 3:1-10   One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer - at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ...Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." ...When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.   When we examine the apostles of the early church, we'd find that none of them were famous characters. In fact, during their time, they were merely humble clay vessels who had no academic credential to do anything. Praise the Lord, however, because the key is not what they could do, but rather what's inside them.   First of all, we see that they had a caring heart. Many people were going in and out of the temple, busy with attending the ceremonies and praying for themselves, so who would have noticed the beggar sitting under the Beautiful gate? Verse four told us, however, that Peter and John stopped and paid full attention to him, wanted to really know what this person needed. Very often, when we preach the gospel, we just keep on talking, but seldom listen to what others are saying about their worries and difficulties. No matter how much we preach, they will always feel that we don't understand them. Also, when we preach the gospel, we seldom care about mental and physical needs of others, because we believe only followers of liberal theology talk about social work. Nevertheless, when Jesus was in the world, He didn't just talk about spiritual matters, but He always actively approached those in need; He cared about their soul, but He also cared about their body and mind. May God give us the same caring heart, and with it let us serve people around us, and we will see how the Lord accomplishes miraculous work by His own might.   Next, we saw that they understood how to leverage the authority of the Lord. That's why Peter could face the crippled beggar and told him confidently that, while he didn't have silver or gold, he had a precious Lord, who is the Lord of resurrection, authority and healing. Hallelujah! When we place ourselves in the hands of God, He will use us to become vessels for miracles.   Pray with Pastor Tong Liu        Lord, I thank you because you used Peter and John to perform miracles. We ask that you also fill us with a caring heart and teach us how to use your authority, so that in our daily life we may channel your power of healing and salvation to people around us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Acts 2:43-47      Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.      We often read about the reasons for or secrets behind the growth of the early church. Was it that people back then followed the word of God? Or was it their fellowship life? Did they pray more? After years in church ministry, I've discovered that none of these is the real reason. The true secret behind the growth of the early church was in 2:43: "Everyone was filled with awe." Why was everyone filled with awe? It's because God's presence was manifested. In the early church, everyone who attended the gatherings clearly felt the presence of God. Therefore, people were in awe, or more accurately "respectfully fearful," because everyone truly witnessed God's presence among them.   Acts 5 recorded that Ananias sold his property, kept part of the proceeds and gave the rest to the disciples. Disciples asked him whether that was everything from selling the property, and Ananias said yes. Then, Holy Spirit immediately struck Ananias to death right in front of the group of believers. Later, his wife came in and lied the same way, and she was also struck to death. This incident caused tremendous impact to the congregation because they really witnessed God's presence among them.   We thank God because He seldom manifests Himself that way, else it would be difficult for us to stand before Him. Why did God so that with the early church though? He was warning the church by demonstrating the effect from manifestation of His presence. 1 Corinthian 14:24-25 described the scene at the early church that when a unbeliever walked into the church, they would be convinced by the words of the prophets, and they fell down to worship God and exclaimed "God is really among you!" This is what we are missing in the church today. We have got everything - Meeting place, great music, great sermon, and everything's great, but we forget to seek manifestation of God's presence. In the early church, everyone was filled with awe, their number increased, and they were together in one accord before God. Not only did they have fellowship and worshipped God together, the Lord also gave them saved souls everyday. This is the lesson that the church today must learn again.   Pray with Pastor Tong Liu        Lord, I thank you, and I ask that your spirit come and help us. Let us enjoy your presence in our daily life and ministry, and may your presence be manifested so that this generation will see how real, precious and powerful you are. May hearts of people turn back to you and be convinced to follow you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Acts 2:37-42         When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ...Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.     When the Holy Spirit starts working and turns hearts of people around, three thousand people accepted the Lord in one day. They did not repent because of the doctrines they heard, but because of light that the Holy Spirit shined in their hearts and felt "cut to the heart." The first question they asked was "what shall we do?" As a disciple of Jesus, there are six things that we need to do. Receive the word of God. God's word in the food of life. We need to willingly accept God's word and let it guide us. We often open our hearts to the world's messages through TV, newspaper and internet, but seldom open our hearts towards the word of God. May God give us an eager heart to come before Him and to learn and accept His word. Be baptized. Baptism means to die, be buried and to be resurrected from death. We must be determined to not live according to the old ways in our daily life, but be willing to die, be buried and be resurrected with the Lord. Like what Paul said, it is not me but Christ living inside us. Follow the teachings of the disciples consistently. God's word doesn't just increase our knowledge, but more importantly change our life. We not only should receive the word of God, we should always consistently follow God's teaching so that we may live a glorious life and thus attract the world to follow Jesus Christ. Have a fellowship life. Learn to life and collaborate in ministry with brothers and sisters. Be a Christian is not a solo act, but we need to build God's glorious church in one heart and one mind. Have Holy Communion, which means to be united with the Lord. Our spiritual life must be united with the Lord, and let the fragrance, power, wisdom and abundance of the Lord flow out from our lives. Pray constantly. Not just ordinary prayer, but also prayer that will change cities, because back then even the city of Jerusalem was turned around. May God help us, let us be the Lord's disciples in all six things!   Pray with Pastor Tong Liu        Lord, please teach us to receive your word in our daily life, and to truly live out a baptized life. Let us follow your teachings, have fellowship life, have Holy Communion to commemorate you, and also pray daily. May the Lord give us more strength. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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