Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

John 6:41-51

 

...I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

 

When Jesus said again to the Jews of that time: "I am the bread of life", they still don't understand what he meant. They could only think of the bread on earth. And when Jesus spoke of the spiritual things of heaven, they could only think of the things on earth. Brothers and sisters, we often use fleshly eyes to look at spiritual things, which makes it hard for us to understand the spiritual mysteries of God, and makes it hard for us to experience the richness and preciousness of God.

 

Even in church, we often use natural things to look at spiritual things. Sometimes we see a brother or sister who has a gentle personality, so we think that person is very spiritual. But in reality, personality is not spirituality. Spirituality is the ability to hear the call of the Holy Spirit. Personality is natural-born. Even though some people don't believe in the Lord, their personality can be very gentle. This does not mean that they have a good spiritual life, because they cannot hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. True spirituality is the ability to hear the call of the Holy Spirit and to understand God's will. Some people may have a hot-tempered personality, but have a good spiritual life. Through the years, their spiritual life becomes more and more intimate with God and their personality will also slowly change.

 

Similarly, in church we often think that natural abilities are spiritual gifts. We think that this person has good management skills in the company, so he has the spiritual gift of administration. Or this person can sing worship songs very well, so we think that he has the spiritual gift of worship.  Because we often mistaken a person's natural abilities as spiritual gifts, so the result is that their spiritual gifts are not able to be manifested. In reality, spiritual gifts are the power to serve by the Holy Spirit. It must be by and from the Holy Spirit and not from natural born abilities or a natural source. Natural abilities should be dedicated to be used by God. I call this "consecrated natural abilities". However, other than "consecrated natural abilities", every one of us has different spiritual gifts. This is the service brought out by the Holy Spirit. When we understand this point, then we can understand how to operate in our spiritual gifts. May God help us to look at things from God's perspective so that our spiritual life can make progress and be expanded!

                     

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Dear Lord, please open up my eyes. Let me see spiritual things from your perspective. Please expand my field of vision, so that I can truly enter into your abundance and glory. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

  

 

  

                                                  
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River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

John 6:34-40

 

"Sir," they said, "always give us this bread."  Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

 

The Lord said here, "I am the bread of life." When the Israelites heard the Lord say this, they immediately said to him: "Sir, always give us this bread." They were still thinking about earthly things, probably thinking about the earthly manna and the material things. Quite often, people's thoughts are still revolving around material things. No wonder many Christians are still stuck in the "Aladdin" type of faith: when there's a need or difficulty, we get the magic lamp and rub it, then the Genie appears and say to us: "Master, what can I do for you?"

 

But the Lord said here, I am not the earthly food, I am the bread of life. For our life to be fully satisfied, it is not a matter of material things, but it is from the sovereign one who created everything in the universe and gives us life. This is our God. Brothers and sisters, our life really needs to be trained through drilling exercises. God allows us to go through many "character shaping" events, so that we can find out what we are lacking. At the same time, God also gives us sufficient power and wisdom to go through these "character shaping" experiences.

 

What we need the most living on earth is not money or material things. I remembered once I told the brothers and sisters in West Africa, "We may desire Western material things. But just giving you material things is not going to help you one bit. Because, I can give you a car, but after a couple of years you won't be able to use it; I can give you a computer, but after a couple of years this computer will become obsolete." What we need the most today is spiritual wisdom. When you have spiritual wisdom, you can find the way out in whatever difficult circumstances you are in, because God gives you this kind of wisdom.

 

Let our eyes no longer focus on the materials things on earth. Because after you eat, you may feel full, but afterwards you will still get hungry again.  God, however, is the bread of life. He wants to give us the wisdom of life to overcome all the difficulties of our environment. Brothers and sisters, we need this bread of life. Let us seek him, asking God to help us, to give us this kind of power. 

                   

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Dear Lord, I thank you, because you are the God who gives the bread of life. Please give me the bread of life and give me the wisdom and power in my life journey to fulfill your will.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!


 

 

 

                                                  
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River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

Monday, April 28, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

John 6:24-33

 

...Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"  Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."  So they asked him, "What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?"...

 

We often only focus on the things that we do.  That's why when people ask "What must we do to do the works God requires," Jesus answered that it wasn't about what they must do, but to simply believe in the one that God has sent, and that is the word of God.  They were puzzled by the answer, so they asked "What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?"  We always focus on what God had done for me or what I do, but that can mean we value what can be done by might and power.

 

Zachariah 4:6 says that "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit."  As soon as we start thinking what God can do for me, what we can do and what resources and talents I have, we are already bound by these thoughts.  Actually, God only values our faith in Him.  Just like children simply trusting in their parents, God wants us to simply trust Him like children.  We need to ask God to help us to believe in Him and His nature; it's not because what God can do or what God has done, but simply because of who God is - Loving, just, faithful and good.  Because of His nature, we believe Him and we praise and worship Him.  Don't just believe in God's nature, but also His promises, because God means what He says, for He is the omnipresent and omnipotent Lord.  All we need to do now is to believe in His word, because He will fulfill everything that He said according to His zeal.  When we simply trust in Him and depend on Him, God will fulfill His work.

 

Not only should we trust in God's promises, we also need to trust in His work, for nothing is impossible in God!  Let us come before God, have sufficient faith in Him, and simply trust Him with all our needs.  Let's believe in Him and look upon Him like a child, and God will personally make way for us!

                 

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, we thank you because your word is trustworthy.  May God help us to put down our own opinions, but to surrender ourselves before you and allow you to have authority in our lives.  Let us be willing to completely believe in you and depend on you.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

 

 

            

                                        

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River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

John 6:16-23

 

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.  A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading...

   

Can you imagine what the crowd felt after the miracle of five bread and two fish happened?  "Wow, Lord Jesus was awesome!! He could so easily feed 5000 people!!" No wonder, according to verse 15, people wanted to make Him the king, because that way everyone will have food to eat! Jesus, however, sent the disciples away and retreated to the mountains by Himself. Other passages say that Jesus went up to the mountains to pray. Brothers and sisters, the Lord Jesus truly understood how to pray, for He was close to God any time and everywhere through prayer, especially after such a miracle took place.

 

According to our human nature, we like to brag after we are successful in something, but Lord Jesus could humble Himself immediately, bow down before God and give all the glory to Him!  I thought of Benny Hinn, how each time after he led a healing crusade, he would bow down to God and say "Father God, I give all the glory to you," because he clearly understood the weakness of human nature.  We easily become proud after we succeed, thinking that we have power, but in reality all the power, wisdom and abundance come from God!

 

After Lord Jesus prayed, He saw His disciples rowing a boat and was making tremendous effort, so He walked on the water to the disciples.  According to the divine nature of the Lord, it was a natural thing to do, please He is the master of all things in the universe.  When the disciples saw Lord Jesus walking on the water, however, they thought they saw a ghost and were totally scared.  The Lord then said to the disciples: "It is I, don't be afraid."  This is such a comforting word!  As soon as the Lord boarded the boat, the wind stopped.
 

Brothers and sisters, no matter what kind of storm you are encountering today, don't forget that Jesus Christ is still the master over any storm!  He sees your worries and fear in the midst of your storm, and He will walk towards you in the midst of the storm and He will tell you: "Don't worry, it's me, don't be afraid!"  Lord will calm the storm for you and become your help and strength!  Even when we see the Lord do new things, let us entrust everything to Him because we know God's will is higher than our will and His way is higher than our way, so just  let Him be our guidance today!

                 

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Dear Lord, may you open our eyes to see that you are the Lord above our storm. We also ask that you calm the storm in our life and let us depend on you closely in our daily life. We thank you and we pray in the precious name of Jesus, Amen. 


          
  

                                        

This email was sent to devotion1.98hfr734@blogger.com by edevotion@rolcc.net |  
River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

John 6: 11-15

 

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.......

                

Our God is the God that can turn "how far will they go" of the humans into miracles, however, one needs to pay the price if we want to turn "how far will they go" into miracles. Brothers and sisters, every miracle needs to go through the process of resurrection. For many this miracle is simply for enjoyment, it can even be the headline news of the week! "Hey! Do you know? The lord Jesus took the child's five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand and they had enough to eat!" We treat faith simply as news item only fit for conversations.

                

But to the child who gave out the five loaves and two fish, he is personally involved in this miracle. What good are these five loaves and two fish; we may still have these doubts: "Lord, it's only five loaves and two fish! Do you even want to take them?" Yes, even it's just five loaves and two fish; the offering has to be made. This is not an easy thing for that child! Once this child offered the five loaves and two fish, his lunch was all but gone. When the Lord takes away, we may think: "Will the Lord return what is taken from us?" The Lord, however, took and distributed to the people. But brothers and sisters, because the Lord knows what to do, through God's hands, not only five thousand get fed, there were twelve baskets with the left over pieces!

                

Who would receive the twelve baskets of left over pieces? I firmly believe they must be for the child. Hallelujah! He offered five loaves and two fish in exchange of twelve baskets filled with left over barley loaves. Praise God! He already has in mind what to do. Ask God to help us, let us learn the lessons of sacrifice, self-denial and dedication, because the Lord Jesus gave himself for us unto this world to give us this example such that we can follow his footsteps.

                 

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, thank you, because you set this example denying yourself as we also deny ourselves to follow you. When we offer our five loaves and two fish, you will use these five loaves and two fish to become miracles. We thank and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! 


        
   

                                        

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River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054

Friday, April 25, 2014

Daily Devotion

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

John 6: 7-10

 

Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).

                

Although God will test us, in verse 6 it says he already had in mind what he was going to do. Let us entrust everything to the Lord when we are under trial, because His will is higher than our will. It's a pity Philip failed the test completely because he is a believer of the "impossible". When Jesus asked how he would feed the five thousand people, he might call a committee meeting: "The master commands us to feed these five thousand people, how should we do it?" Then somebody said: "Where is the money to feed the five thousand people?" Then another person raised his hand: "Even if there is money, this is the wilderness! Where are the stores?" Then a third person raised his hand: "Even if there are stores, it's getting dark and all the stores are closed! It's impossible!" Philip then told Jesus: "We can't do anything, there's no money and there is no place to buy food."

                

Many people act the same serving the church today: looking only at people's analysis without knowing the will of the Lord. Isn't it quite often we have this opinion "We have no money, no people, no time! Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!" such that we ignore the Lord's commandments? Brothers and sisters, God does not want us to devise our own ways when He tests you, rather He wants us to come before Him to see what He wants to do because he already has in mind what he is going to do. In other words, we only need to seek His will.

                

The other disciple Andrew is more adorable. Although after much thought he still thinks it's impossible, he finds a boy with five loaves and two fish and brings him to Jesus: "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" Although his faith is lacking, he is adorable because while wondering "how far will they go" he still brings them before God. Brothers and sisters, you would become bitter if you only look at the circumstances, succumbing to the state of "how far will they go".  But if you are willing to obey this God that gives power of life, you will see God can turn people's "how far will they go" into miracles. Hallelujah! Help us Lord, when we are under test, let us come before God to look to Him, to seek Him, the Lord will reveal His mind to us.

                 

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, thank you, because you already have in mind what to do when we are under test. Forgive us for doing things according to our own will; we come before again to seek your mind and to complete your will. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!


      
   

                                        

This email was sent to devotion1.98hfr734@blogger.com by edevotion@rolcc.net |  
River of Life Christian Church | 1177 Laurelwood Rd. | Santa Clara | CA | 95054