Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 5:2-4

2 Corinthians 5:2-4   Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.  For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.   Paul brought up his outlook on life, which I would call "life as tent-living."  He might have been felt how life is temporary and short through his profession of tent-making.  Life on earth is not the ultimate destiny for our lives, and we are only living on earth as guests and visitor.   Who's a guest?  When you are away from home for business, everywhere you go and stay is pretty much the same once you draw the curtain, and as soon as you are done with your business you'd be heading home.  To Christians, even though we are just guests on earth, we do have the mission to proclaim God's beauty.  Once we complete the work that God entrusted us, we can return to our heavenly home and be with Him forever.   Who's a visitor?  If we visit a rundown campsite for a retreat, even though we don't like it, we're only going to be there for a few days, so we'll just try to tolerate it.  No one will buy a big screen TV or great stereo system for the campsite because of few days in a retreat.  Similarly, Christians are only visitors on earth, and we don't need to make too much to enjoy life on earth.  Hebrews 11:8-10 says "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."   Paul used many analogies to compare and contrast life on heaven and earth.  First, it's the contrast between tent on earth and everlasting house in heaven; then it's the contrast  between being naked and clothed.  Both analogies point out the fact that the beauty and abundance of being with the Lord is far better than what the world can offer.  Therefore, we shouldn't just passively live on earth, but we should eagerly wait for the Lord's coming with a proactive attitude.  Do you have the hope that you and I will with be the Lord forever?  Let us understand that we must live on earth by faith, not by sight.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, please open our eyes so that we may see once again that we're merely visitors on earth.  May the Lord help us not to waste life by just living for our desires, but to race for the house in heaven.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!                        See Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - on Facebook!

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Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 5:1

2 Corinthians 5:1   "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."   So what was it that "now we know" according to Paul?  It was the fact that our days on earth are short.  He described our life on earth as "the earthly" tent," and he said that this tent will be destroyed.  We, however, also know that after this tent is destroyed, our life does not end, but God will lead us to "an eternal house in heaven".  It is a more beautiful home where God will be eternally present.   The contrast between a tent and an eternal house is a rather interesting one.  Many people like to go camping because it's fun to occasionally stay in a tent, but we're going to think twice if we were asked to stay in a tent forever.  On the contrary, the eternal house is a far more beautiful place where God will be with us forever.  Therefore, to us death is not an end, but rather it's resting from all the hardship on earth, and having life enter into the arms of God to enjoy His presence.  Paul said it's a place that is "better by far," which is hard for us to imagine.  Many years ago I went to a conference in Atlanta, and several people came from Taiwan to attend.  Prior to the meeting there was an accident involving an SUV, and four people died right on the spot, including some that I knew.  Our hearts were heavy and we kept on asking God why it happened.  One day, God suddenly asked me, "do you think it's better to be on earth than in heaven?"  We were asking God why they left us because we're assuming that they were going to a place worse than ours!  I understood the truth and felt released, then I repented before God that subconsciously I did feel that it's better to be on earth than to be in heaven, because I forgot that eternal house in heaven is far better than our tent on earth!   Similarly, the days we'll be spending with the Lord is far better than our days spent on earth with the constraint of our body.  Paul that "now we know," but how exactly do we know and how can we be sure about this?  We must believe that it will happen because that what God's word says.  Hallelujah!  May God give us real assurance and confirmation, so that we will clear know where we will be after we leave the earth.   Pray with Pastor   Lord, please forgive us for often thinking that the earth is better than the heaven, and we mourn about death much like non-believers.  In the name of the Lord I rebuke the spirit of deception and from the bottom of my heart I am eagerly waiting for your return.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!                        See Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - on Facebook!

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Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 4:18

2 Corinthians 4:18   So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.   There's an important principle for the believers to live on earth, and that is we ought to live by faith.  People of the world are the opposite, for they don't understand how to exercise spiritual faith, and since they don't have anyone to have faith in they often build faith on themselves, which is so-called confidence, or believing in oneself.  When things are going well, they feel successful and thus become confident; when things are not going well, however, they feel like a failure.  Such confidence changes according to their feeling and circumstance, or is established on past experience.  Nevertheless, the world is constantly changing, and when unexpected events happen their confidence collapses.  To Christians, we have true faith that is built upon our God who's with us yesterday, today and forever.  James 1:17 says that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  In other word, even when the circumstance and relationships change, God's grace and His principles will never change, so Christians' faith is built on a solid and unshakable foundation.  So, why do we need to shift our eyes from what is "seen" to the "unseen"?   First, what we can see is temporary, and everything that we can see will sooner or later change.  Nothing in the world is everlasting; not only would value of assets change, the value of fixed assets will change too, and even those whom we admire may change as well.  Remember the trial of O.J. Simpson?  A little boy said: "He was my hero yesterday, but now he's a criminal."  What we can see is truly only temporary.   Second, what we can often deceive us.  Back in the Old Testament time of Elisha, King Aram sent the army to attack the city of Dothan.  The servant of Elisha saw multitude of soldiers surrounding them and became fearful, and he asked "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?"  Elisha answered: "Don't be afraid...  Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  Elisha then prayed for the servant, and the servant's eyes were opened and he saw angels and army from the heaven surrounding them!  What we can see often make us unable to see in the spirit what's really happening, and we overlook the fact that God is still sitting on the throne and in control of all things.  Are we living by faith or by sight?  Hebrew says that "without faith it is impossible to please God," Let us choose to live by faith everyday!   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you because you are the author and perfecter of our faith.  Please put true faith inside us through the Holy Spirit, and help us to live daily not by sight but by faith.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!                     See Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - on Facebook!

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Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

2 Corinthians 4:16-17   Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.   Why did Paul say "therefore we do not lose heart"?  It is a result of knowing that "we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us," as stated back in verse 7.  As human beings living on earth, our bodies are indeed "wasting away."  Several years ago I led a group a youth from church to a camping trip, and I realized that my physical condition was really nothing like when I was young.  I like reading Psalm 73:26, which says "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  Our days on earth and every around us will come and go; throughout our lifetime, only God can forever become the strength and blessing inside our hearts.  That's why Paul said that "we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."  Don't be troubled by the decline of your own physical condition, and don't complain about the circumstance you are in, just look upon God and praise Him!  God will renew you day by day, because He will always be your strength.  Even though our bodies are wasting away, our hearts can be renewed by God daily.  That's why Paul can overlook his difficult circumstances and say that "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."   Did you know that every trouble and setback can lead you before God, and you can accomplish "eternal glory" because of Him?  Very often God will use temporary hardship to shape and build up our lives so that we can become more like Jesus Christ.  When the eyes of our souls are uplifted to sit on the throne with Him, we can overcome the circumstance of our surrounding.  Do you feel that you are trapped by the enemy coming from all sides?  We need to proclaim by faith that our hearts will be renewed day by day.  The enemy cannot defeat us and the world cannot devour us, because the Lord's presence is inside you and I.  When we make such proclamation in faith, God will lead us to claim victory each and every day.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, I thank you because even though our bodies are wasting away, you are still the strength in our hearts, and you also give us strength daily, especially today!  Help us to meet our challenge today, and to strengthen us before the enemy so that we can proclaim victory against it.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!                      See Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - on Facebook!

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Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 4:13-15

2 Corinthians 4:13-15   It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.   When we learn to deny ourselves for the sake of others, we need to firmly believe that Jesus is the Savior who has resurrected from the dead. Christians often see the difficulty of self-denial, but neglect the joy of resurrection.  Paul was able to overcome the pressures of life because he firmly believed that Jesus Christ is the resurrected Savior and that Jesus will give him strength to overcome his difficult situation so he may sit on the throne with the Lord. Hence, Paul was able to look forward to that eternal glory and not focus on the current suffering.   When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we have experienced His resurrection power. Because of Jesus' resurrection, we are able to enter the Kingdom of God and be set free from the bondage of sin. However, we cannot merely stay in the moment of salvation, God wants us to experience His resurrection power in our daily lives. There are many places around which seems to be full of death and darkness.  There are families that are void of love or trust, many hearts that do not have hope and many church that do not have vision or power.  The resurrected life of Christ needs to expel darkness and death, causing what is dead to come alive again. Because of God's faithfulness, we can overcome our disappointments.  Because of His forgiveness, we can overcome bitterness. Because of His presence, we no longer feel lonely. Because of His victory over death, we no longer need to be afraid. We can death calmly because when Jesus comes, we will rise with Him.   Paul said in Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." He was able to experience the resurrection because the Lord first died for us. Are you experiencing the resurrection power of Jesus Christ every day? Are you willing to be united with the death of Christ so that the resurrection power of Christ may be manifested through you?   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you because you not only did you rise from the dead, you want to manifest your resurrection power in every aspect of our lives. Lord, help us to learn from your example, to be able to deny ourselves, so that your resurrected life may be reflected through us. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!                       See Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - on Facebook!

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Today's Passage - 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

2 Corinthians 4:10-12   We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.   The death and life that is referred to here is the death of Jesus on the cross for us, so that we may deny ourselves for the sake of Christ in our daily lives. When we depend on God, it does not mean that we do nothing. It means we will use our wisdom and strength to overcome any difficulties and to live for the Lord.    On one hand, Paul emphasized that we have this treasure in jars of clay. On the other hand, we see that Paul was actively laboring for God. Verse 11 says, "For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body." Paul's dedication is not for himself, but so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in his life. God has given us time, money, talent, work, family, friendship and health so that we can be his faithful steward in every aspect of our lives.    Hence, we need to plan our lives accordingly. If we feel pressure in a certain area, it could be due to a need in that area of your life.  Ask the Lord to help you be humble and willing to learn. If your environment needs to be changed, you need to plan accordingly and make the necessary changes. If you feel that you are struggling in the area of relationships and communication, you need to find ways to improve yourself.   As Christians, we should continue to compare ourselves with who we were in the past. We need to ask ourselves every day whether we love God more each day and whether we are being a more effective witness at work compared to yesterday.  In relationships, we need to ask ourselves whether we are more gentle and humble today compared to yesterday.  In other words, we need to be willing to deny ourselves. When we are willing to die to ourselves, it is like a glass of perfume being shattered and the aroma of Christ will be spread so that those around us can be benefitted.  This is why Jesus said, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many." Pray that the Holy Spirit will help us to live for God daily!                  Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you, because you first died for us, so we may live for you. May your sacrifice be manifested in our lives each and every day so that those around us may be benefited. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!                       See Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - on Facebook!

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