Saturday, December 31, 2016

Today's Passage - Acts 25:1-12

Acts 25:1-12

Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way... Then Paul made his defense: "I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar." Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?" Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!"

Paul experienced all kinds of interrogation, in front of the chief priest and Felix, and now, he is standing in front of the new governor Festus. The original purpose of the governor and the chief priests is to ensure that justice prevails. Unfortunately, the human justice often contaminated by sin. Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor, and sacrificed justice in order to win the popularity of the people. Remember when Jesus was on trial before Pilate the governor, Pilate did the same. Although Pilate asked Jesus, "What is the truth?" and many other questions, he did not listen to what Jesus was saying. Although he did not find Jesus guilty of any crime, because the crowd was asking for Jesus to be crucified, he obliged to the crowd's request. To Pilate, the voice of the crowd replaced the truth. This is the case as well in today's generation. Whatever most people think is correct, that must be the truth; Whoever speaks louder must have the truth; Whoever is more articulate has the truth. Therefore, everyone thinks that he or she must be loud enough to be heard over the other person to show that we have the truth.

In reality, the truth that the world speaks about has much bias, and does not last. Jesus Christ is the only truth. If you take away Christ from Christianity, then Christianity would have nothing; because if there is no Lord, there is no salvation, no new life, and no power to live. Pray that the Holy Spirit help us to recognize that Christ is the One Truth, and only in Christ, we can have true freedom.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you for your gift of truth in our midst. That truth is Jesus Christ. Teach us to stand on the foundation of this truth in our daily lives, so that we can live for the truth, and fight the good fight. We pray Lord that you give us strength and courage to experience the freedom and joy in your truth! Amen!


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Friday, December 30, 2016

Today's Passage - Acts 24:22-27

Acts 24:22-27
 
Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case."  He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.  Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.  As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."
 
Felix was good to Paul and he enjoyed listening to Paul's preaching, so much that he even asked his wife to join in.  He, however, didn't want to accept Jesus as his personal savior.  Therefore, when Paul talked about "righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come," Felix was deeply fearful.  Felix could have developed reverence for God from his fear, and then he could have repented and turned back to God, or he could deny his feelings and reject God.  He unfortunately chose the latter.  That's why Paul told him to leave and told Felix that he would send for Felix when he's free.
 
Many have the same attitude towards the gospel.  Everyone, even non-Christians, clearly know that the trend of the world will eventually lead to emptiness, but people in the world are still chasing after material wealth, believing that material goods can bring satisfaction.  Even Christians are no exception!  Why is it this way?  Because of fear in our hearts.  We are afraid that if we don't follow the trend of the world, we cannot be successful and we might not even be able to survive.  Even though we know that God's way is better and precious, we still cannot follow His way because of fear in our hearts.
 
Ecclesiastes 12:13 says that "now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."  One must first have a heart that fears God before he can keep His commandments.  Only God can give us true peace deep down in our hearts.  When Felix was facing such a decision, he was afraid to choose God, so Paul told him "you may leave."  If you want to develop spiritual depth and experience spiritual breakthrough, you must take action to sincerely obey God.  May the Lord help us not to drag our feet when we are making decisions on spiritual matters, but empower us to take God's way courageously.
 
Pray with Pastor Tong
 
Lord, we thank you because you are the God who empowers us.  Even though we are facing tremendous temptation and fear because the world has surrounded us and it's hard to avoid the trend of the world, we still thank you because you are the God who brings us peace and you can break any fear inside us so that experience your abundance.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
  

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Thursday, December 29, 2016

Today's Passage - Acts 24:10-21

Acts 24:10-21
 
When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.  You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.  My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.  And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.  However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.  So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man...  I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'"
 
When Paul had the opportunity to defend himself in front of governor Felix, he first refuted the accusation that he was stirring up the world.  The lawyer of Paul's opponents, Tertullus, accused him of being a troublemaker who went around to stir up riots among the Jews.  It actually wasn't Paul who stirred up the riots, but the Jews rioted on their own.  Paul told them that he was in Jerusalem for twelve days and was arrested before he did anything, so there was no way that he caused the riots.
 
From a spiritual perspective, we wish that the gospel could spread around quickly and widely like a spiritual plague.  We need the spiritual power and fire in our life like Paul had.  Fire cannot be concealed, so when one had fire in his heart it will be obvious from the outside and become visible to others.  Fire can also easily spread out and often cannot be contained.  In the ministry of the gospel, we really need God to give us fire like Paul had.
 
Paul also publicly acknowledged the resurrection of Jesus.  Resurrection didn't just happen, for the Lord's death was planned by God and a historical fact.  Jewish historian Josephus wrote about the fact that disciples of Jesus were spreading the news of His resurrection after death, and he also mentioned about the empty tomb of Jesus, which were indeed historical facts.  Paul stood firm for the truth; he fought for the truth and died for the truth.  May the Lord give us the same fire in our hearts to fight for the truth like Paul did!
 
Pray with Pastor Tong
 
Lord, I thank you because we saw that the fire inside Paul came from you.  May you place the same fire inside us so that we would make greater effort in spreading the gospel and let the people around us believe you and accept you.  Bless the brothers and sisters and help them to stand firm for the truth.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
  

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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Today's Passage - Acts 24:1-9

Acts 24:1-9
 
Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor.  When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation...  "We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.  By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."  The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
 
A group of Jews went to Caesarea to bring their charges against Paul, and they were led by high priest Ananias, some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus.  As a Roman citizen, Paul needed to go through due process of law in order to be convicted.  God gave Paul a very special status to carry out missionary work, which was a Roman citizen.  Without Roman citizenship, he would have been beaten to death long ago.  Because of this status, anyone who wants to convict him must go through trial in the court.  On the one hand there's a system of equality in place, and on the other hand God had already prepared to have Paul protected.
 
God's selection began before we were made; the Bible says that God already knew us when we were in the womb and we ought to give thanks to Him.  Our entire life is in the hands of God, so don't ever complain about what you had to go through because every step in your life is how God prepares you for the next step.  I was called by God to enter full-time ministry after I came to the US to study and work for several work.  At first, I asked God why He didn't call me into full-time ministry earlier and why it happened after I got my masters degree and entered the workforce.  Looking back, I realized that the experiences of studying and working in the U.S. really helped me to serve in the churches here because I can better identify with what others have gone through in this land.
 
The status that God gives us also provides us with opportunities.  In the book of Esther, Mordecai told Esther: "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"  Every position is an opportunity; many of us are U.S. citizens, and did you know that such status is also an opportunity for missions?  You need to understand that you are not here to work, make money and feed a family, but God has given you opportunities to take part of expansion of His kingdom.  In fact, joining short-term mission trips is the best opportunity for you to be built up.  When you place yourself in the hands of God, He will surely use you.
 
Pray with Pastor Tong
 
Lord, we thank you because every status we have in our lives is an opportunity.  Lord, come and open our eyes so that we would see the opportunities you have given us, and we ask that you give us a courageous heart to seize these opportunities to be your glorious witness.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
  

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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Today's Passage - Acts 23:23-25

Acts 23:23-25
 
Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, "Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.  Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix."  He wrote a letter as follows: Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.  This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen...
 
Our God is an incredible God who's far beyond what we can imagine.  When Paul was in a desperate crisis, not only did God prepare his nephew to come to rescue, God also prepared a centurion to protect him.  It was an unbelievable surprise that the centurion wholeheartedly wanted to protect Paul.  We can't help but to stop and praise our wonderful and marvelous God.  Paul didn't have anything, but God sent his army on earth to protect him.
 
Some have said that when we venture onto the journey of spirituality, God has actually prepared miracles for us at every turn.  When the Israelites were preparing to cross the Red Sea, the sea was ahead of them and the enemy force was behind them; from human perspective there was no way out, and that's why Moses told them "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today."  We need to learn to stand firm and watch when we are in any difficulty.  When we are in difficult circumstances, we often try to make way with our own understanding and wisdom, but we end up making things even worse.  We need to remember God's word: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit."  We need to come before God, to look upon Him and see how He has already made way for us, and we can completely put our trust in Him.  After all, God's ways are higher than our ways and God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
 
Are you encountering all kinds of hardships?  Bring them before God and entrust all your needs to Him, and you will see how God makes way in the desert and streams in the wasteland for you so that you may be rescued from your difficulties.
 
Pray with Pastor Tong
 
Lord, I thank you because you are a truly faithful God.  You understand our needs and difficulties, and you've already prepared people and ways to rescue us.  May the Lord help us to solely focus on you, so that your will and salvation may come upon us.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
  

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Monday, December 26, 2016

Today's Passage - Acts 23:12-22

Acts 23:12-22
 
The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.  More than forty men were involved in this plot.  They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.  Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here..."
 
It was a real crisis - Forty men vowed together to kill Paul!  They would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.  If it happened to us, we'd be startled and afraid.  This type of situation, however, was part of Paul's daily life.  Ever since he accepted the Lord on the way to Damascus, he kept on receiving threats to his life and there was no sign of slowing down.  How did Paul confront all these persecutions and hardships?  I believe it's because he had faith in God.
 
First of all, Paul had faith in God's promises.  In verse 11 God had promised that he would testify for God in Rome the way he testified in Jerusalem.  Paul trusted that God will make whatever he had promised happen.  Brothers and sisters, did you know that you have a faithful God?  The meaning of faithful is that God will do what he says.  2 Corinthians 1:21 says that "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ."  God's promises will never change and every word from God carries power; therefore, we must believe in the word of God.
 
Paul also had faith in God's work.  When Paul was in peril, God prepared someone - his nephew - to help him.  This is the only relative of Paul that was mentioned in the Bible.  We thank God because salvation not only came onto Paul, but also his whole family.  The testimony of the life of Paul truly brought tremendous impact.  After Paul led his nephew to accept the Lord, it must have totally surprised him that God would use this nephew to save him later.  Psalm 68:20 says that "Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death."  Even when you are facing a ton of difficulties, you must believe that God has prepared helpers who can rescue you.  He has all kinds of blessings on you, and he wants to help you and strengthen you in your daily life so that you may experience his salvation.
 
Pray with Pastor Tong
 
Lord, I thank you and praise you because you are a faithful God.  Your promises are true and your almighty arm is carrying all of us today.  Give us sufficient faith so that we may believe in your word and your work, and let us experience your faithfulness and abundance in our daily life.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
  

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Sunday, December 25, 2016

Today's Passage - Acts 23:1-11

Acts 23:1-11
 
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day."  At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth...  Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead"...  The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."
 
Started from the time of this passage, Paul spent rest of his life in custody and went through many rounds of trials and persecution.  The Lord, however, gave his strength to stand firm in the midst of all the hardship that he had to endure.  In verse 11, Lord stood by Paul and said "As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."  There are two aspects to the strength that supported Paul.  First it was the presence of the Lord, which is the main source of momentum in our lives, like what the Psalm says: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
 
When Paul stood in midst of Pharisees and Sadducees, the Spirit of God gave him wisdom.  Paul was persecuted because he was preaching about resurrection from death.  He knew that this subject has caused great controversies among Pharisees and Sadducees, so as soon as he brought it up it surely caused the Pharisees and Sadducees to start debating each other.  The center of attention shifted from Paul to the subject of resurrection and thus he escaped from further persecution.  The present of the Lord truly gave Paul sufficient wisdom.
 
Not only did the presence of God help Paul, the promises from God also provided tremendous momentum to Paul.  God told him that "as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."  No matter how much hardship Paul had to endure, he would not die before reaching Rome because God clearly told him that he would be testifying for God in Rome.  Also, as stated in Acts 28, when Paul encountered big storm he was not intimidated at all, because he knew that the Lord's promise will be fulfilled.  When we serve God, we must clearly know that the Lord is with us, and the Lord's promises are our most reliable source of momentum.  Let us depend God each and every day!
 
Pray with Pastor Tong
 
Lord, I thank you because your presence is so real in our daily life, and your promises will always be fulfilled.  Teach us to depend on you every day so that we may lead a victorious life.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
  

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Saturday, December 24, 2016

Today's Passage - Acts 22:22-30

Acts 22:22-30
 
The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!"  As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this...
 
The crowded called Paul "not fit to live."  According to law, we've all sinned and offended God, so we're supposed to perish; however, because of salvation of Christ, who died for us on the cross and pardoned all our sins, we can come before God fearlessly and are able to stay alive.  This is a simple yet the most important truth.  Christians may only be filled a sense of mission on earth if we truly understand this truth.  In fact, it's only possible for us to truly understand how to face our own life when we understand how to face death.
 
In Corinthians 4:11-13, Paul said that "To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world."  This is how Paul described his circumstance; he was indeed not fit to live, but he was only living for the Lord.
 
One only knows how to live his daily life when he knows how to face death.  If we understand that we are still alive only because of God's mercy, we will not be bothered by all the pressure around us.  If we understand that we don't deserve what we have, we will not be so defensive, but rather we'll happily accept our punishment.  If we know that Christ has taken over our worries and carried our pain, we will be able to live for Him amidst any suffering.  May God give us such attitude and strength!
 
Pray with Pastor Tong
 
Lord, I thank you because in you we have the power to overcome.  You died on the cross and resurrected from death for us, so we ask that you help us to experience the grace of resurrection after death in our daily life.  Let us not be affected by what happens around us, but to only live for you.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
  

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