Today's Passage - Hebrews 10:15-18

Hebrews 10:15-18   The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.  I will put my laws in their hearts,and I will write them on their minds."  Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."  And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.     Verse 15 says that the Holy Spirit "testifies to us."  The same passage quote here, from Book of Jeremiah, appeared many times throughout the Bible, but only the author of Hebrews connected it with the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which shows the importance of the testimony of the Holy Spirit for several reasons.     First, the Bible was written from the testimony of the Holy Spirit.  Genesis was written by Moses, but how did Moses know how the world was created?  It was because Holy Spirit put the word of God into his heart, revealed the process of creation to Moses and prompted him to write the book the Genesis.  In the New Testament time, disciples followed Jesus, but they never would have taken any note of Jesus' words.  It was by the prompting on the Holy Spirit that they thought of the words of Jesus afterwards and wrote them down.  All these are the testimonies of the Holy Spirit.     Also, the testimony of Holy Spirit revealed to us that the law in written in our hearts.  If it wasn't for the Holy Spirit we would never have such assurance.  How do you know that you are a child of God?  When you receive Christ as your personal savior, how do you know that you are indeed saved?  Romans 8:16 says that "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."  This is truly precious!  The Bible says that the Holy Spirit works in our heart like a seal; when you put a seal in a book, it shows that the book is yours.  In the same way, the Holy Spirit works like a seal in our hearts, showing that we belong to God, and it's how the Holy Spirit testified to us.     Third, the Holy Spirit also testifies that our sins have been forgiven and we no longer need to offer sacrifice.  The Holy Spirit revealed things about the heaven to us so that we'd know how to live in earth.  If it wasn't for the revelation of the heaven from the Holy Spirit, we'd never understand God's will.  When we receive the testimony of the Holy Spirit, we'd understand what's the heaven like, and we'd be able to live and work according to God's will.  Testimony of the Holy Spirit is important in our whole life, so we need to God to help us to live by the testimonies of the Holy Spirit, not by our own feelings, so that we may please God.    Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, I thank you because you have granted us the testimonies of the Holy Spirit so that we know we belong to God.  The Word we read are from God and they show us what to do in our daily life.  May the Holy Spirit speak to each and every brother and sister, show us the way to follow you for the rest of our life.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!     Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!

Today's Passage - Hebrews 10:11-14

Hebrews 10:11-14 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Jesus Chris has completely vanquished all of Satan's authorities.  Do not fear the work of Satan.  He is in his last throes. There was once a testimony from an evangelist at this church.  He said that he once saw a huge python in his home in Africa. He didn't know what to do. He pulled out a shot gun from the drawer, hid behind a table, and fired at giant python's head. Bang! The head of the python was shattered.  But the tail was still moving.  He was frightened to death.  In the end, the python moved half an hour before it finally died.  Turns out that after he fired at the head of the python, the python was killed.  But the body was still alive for another half hour.  Suddenly, the evangelist realized that when Jesus was on the cross, Jesus had already shattered the work of our enemies, putting it to death.  But devil Satan was still fighting desperately.  We should have the same faith in God. Jesus has slain all our enemies. There should be no fear.  After the testimony, the evangelist raised his shoe to show us: it was made of python skin! He said that we could step on our enemies now because Jesus had been victorious.     For those of us in Jesus, we can proclaim victory against our enemies, while at the same time lean on Jesus in our daily lives.  Although devils attack us from all sides, they cannot overrun us.   Although the world has circled us, it cannot destroy us, because Jesus has already won.  Today we can come to the Lord overcome our enemies with no fear.  The grace of Jesus strengthens all our powers daily. Brothers and sisters, are you yearning this kind of grace which strengthens all your powers daily?  Come to Jesus with faith; put your faith in His salvation and His victory, and you will overcome this world and overcome your enemies by your faith!   Prayer with Pastor Tong Liu Lord, we thank you because on the cross you have overcome all works of our enemies. May the Lord remove all our fear of the enemies and help us to believe in your victory and your omnipotence by faith.  Let us shout to our enemies: "go away, because Jesus Christ rules!"  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!     Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!

Today's Passage - Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews 10:5-10 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;  with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God.' " First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.         Jesus' precious blood is very effective.  It can wash away our sins, anoint our past transgressions, deliver us from our guilty feeling of sin, and be cleansed.  Our younger daughter used to cry a lot, and she had frequent nightmares.  She awoke frightened from  nightmares in which someone was chasing her.  During that period, we often prayed for her.  However, it didn't seem to have much effect.  One day the teacher asked us to come because our daughter had done something dishonest at school.  The teacher wanted to punish her.  When we were home, my wife and I started praying for her, and asked her whether she believed that the blood of Jesus could wash away her sins.  She said she believed.  I asked whether she was willing to bring her sin to Jesus, asking to be anointed by our Lord's blood.  She said she was willing.  We prayed with her together.  But we didn't expect when our daughter said to us:" There are other sins to confess."  She started telling us many things that we had told her not to do, but she had done anyway.  We started bringing each transgression to Jesus and asking to be cleanses by our Lord's blood.    At last, we asked whether there were any more.  She said there was no more.  From that day on, our daughter no longer had nightmare.  The reason that our daughter had no joy in the past was because she was under the controlled of sins.      When we come to Jesus and confess our sins, the blood of our Lord not only anointed our sins, but also our feeling of guiltiness.  All you need to do is come to Lord, confess your sins, and welcome Jesus' work.  You will discover that the precious blood not only anoints your transgression, but deliver you from the feeling of guiltiness.  You only need to welcome Him wholeheartedly, giving into Him wholeheartedly, and the grace of Jesus Christ will be upon you. Prayer with Pastor Tong Liu Lord, we thank you because you are a faithful God.  You not only loved us, sacrificed for us, your precious blood delivered us from the bondage of all evils.  We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!     Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!

Today's Passage - Hebrews 10:1-4

Hebrew 10:1-4 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.      "The good things" mentioned here refer to Jesus' salvation.  In the age of New Testament, we can come face to face with Jesus, entrusting everything in the hands of our Lord.  This good thing has been fulfilled in the age of New Testament.  According to law, we could not have come in front of God.  There are obstacles and bondage because of our sins.  But today we can come face to face with Jesus.  How precious this grace is!  There was once a TV program.  In each episode, a fan would be selected to visit his or her favorite singer.  When he/she was brought in front of that famous singer, the excitement was indescribable.  Aren't we the same when we come face to face with Lord? In the ages of law, we couldn't have come face to face with Jesus because of the obstruction of sin.  Now that the door of salvation has been open, we can come to speak to Lord with no fear, have a conversation with Him, walk with Him.  How great this grace is!         Moreover, blood from cow or sheep can't wash sins away.  Offerings only remind us of our sins.  We feel guilty when committing a crime.  It is a reprimand by our consciences.   People try everything to rid of guilty feeling in their consciences, trying to convince themselves they are innocent.  However, the fact is that the feeling of guilty cannot be taken away by persuasion.  Some even said that they wanted to dig a hole in the earth, put all their sins in that hole, and cover it with dirt.  We can bury with dirt, but we cannot get rid of our guilty feelings deep in our consciences.  Others tried psychology to get rid of guilty feeling.  However,  after analysis, it is discovered that this is human nature.  All these efforts cannot get rid of guilty feeling deep inside of consciences, nor reprimands by our consciences.  When we sin, we indeed sin against God.  The control of sins is among us.  Although we can persuade ourselves, but we can never rid of guilt feelings in our consciences.  Only with the precious blood of Jesus, can we be delivered from sins, delivered from the guilty feeling of sins.  This is indeed the precious grace of Christ! Prayer with Pastor Tong Liu Lord, we thank you.  The precious blood of Jesus is our cover.  When we admit our sins through our faith, Jesus' precious blood anoints us, delivering us from the binding of all sins.   May your peace of deliverance be with us.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!     Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!

Today's Passage - Hebrews 9:27-28

Hebrews 9:27-28   Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.    The Lord is coming back again. This is His promise to us. When we think about His second coming, we often are in fear because the judgment of God will come. However, here, it clearly tells us that when the Lord returns, it not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. The purpose of the Lord's return is not for judgment, but to receive His church, which is His bride. In fact, the whole Bible is love story. Jesus is the groom and the church is His bride. When the Lord came the first time, it was to express His love for His bride, through dying on the cross. He won His bride's love by His actions. When He returns, He will be welcoming His bride to dwell with Him forever in Heaven. Hence, the church should be excited about the second coming of the Lord, and not be afraid. Just like when I came to the United States for school, and my wife came only a year later, we were apart for a year after we were newlyweds. Even so, our hearts were filled with anticipation because we knew we were going to be together a year later.   In the same way, believers should have this attitude when we wait for the Lord's return. It should be joyful anticipation that we have while waiting for the Lord's return. Many believers live in fear of the future, being fearful of the Lord's return and filled with anxiety in life. Actually you should just focus on loving the Lord, knowing that the Lord is not coming to bear sin, but to bring salvation. What we need to worry about is not the Lord's return, but whether we are prepared to face the Lord. If you belong to the Lord, you can be sure and place your life in His hands. Although the world may surround you, it cannot overcome you. The enemy may attack you, but he cannot destroy you, because you belong to God! When you have such a glorious hope, you can face the Lord's coming with joy because that will be so beautiful.   Paul says in His letters that he would rather be with God as it is so precious. Because of this hope, he had the motivation to live for God. Do you have the same hope in Christ? If you do not, ask the lord to forgive you and ask Him to shine His light upon you. Make God's Word a foundation in your life. If you have hope, you should live with a heart of joy each day   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, I thank you because we have such a glorious hope in Christ. Thank you that you are coming not to bear sin, but to bring salvation because you love us and want us to be with you forever. Because of this glorious hope, let us rejoice every day. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!      Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!

Today's Passage - Hebrews 9:23-26

Hebrews 9:23-26   It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.     Jesus Christ is the great high priest we have in heaven and the sacrifice we have on earth. The purpose of the Old Testament law is to bring people to repentance before God. Although the Old Testament people did not see salvation being completed, they could repent and ask for forgiveness by faith, and make earthly sacrifices to God. When they confess their sins before God, it is not that their sins are removed when they make earthly sacrifices, but their sins are paid on credit, looking forward to the coming of Christ. It is like using a credit card, first the debt of sin is placed on account, and when Jesus came and died on the cross, the sins are paid for in full. Everyone in the Old Testament who confess their sins by faith, and all in the new Testament who confess their sins, had their sins paid for completely at the time when Jesus was crucified on the cross! Jesus made the sacrifice once and for all and it is effective forever. This is why we no longer need to make any sacrifices, because the blood of Christ covers all our sins. Of course, this does not mean that we can do whatever we want. Once you understand the love of Christ and how great is His salvation in your life, your heart will be filled with awe and you will not dare to act recklessly because you know how much Jesus loves you.     In the same way, in your walk with God, once you understand how much God loves you, you will be careful in how you act. Of course, we will still sin, but when we come to God and confess our sins, God will have mercy on us. Our faith in God is not built upon laws, but is build on love. When we receive God's love, we can gladly love God. This is because the blood of Christ is so precious, we can live for Him each day. We love, because He first loved us; Once you understand this, you will gladly live for the Lord each day!   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, I thank you because your grace in our lives is so great. Open our eyes to see how precious your grace is and help us live for you each day. If there is anything in our lives that is not pleasing to you, help us to bring them before you and cleanse us of our sins. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!      Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!

Today's Passage - Hebrews 9:19-22

Hebrews 9:19-22   When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep." In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.   The blood is the guarantee of the covenant we have with God. In fact, every covenant will require some guarantee. As children when we make a promise to another child, we will say, "XXX", hoping for some sort of guarantee. When we grow up and get married, we hope that the marriage vows will be some kind of guarantee. But how limited is the guarantee that comes from man! We are often disappointed by the guarantees made by men. There are broken marriages that come about because people change. Only God never changes. He is faithful, loving and righteous forever. The Bible says, "God is not a man that He should lie". God wants us to clearly recognize His nature. God never goes back on His Word. When God establishes a covenant with us, it is definitely dependable. In fact, He even used His own blood as a guarantee, referring to the blood of Jesus Christ. If someone guarantees us something, and uses the life of his son as a guarantee for his promise, can you not believe his words? I believe you will, because the price of that guarantee is simply too high, so high that he would not go back on his word. This is what God wants to speak to us today.   God loves us and wants to establish a covenant with us. God shows us His faithfulness by His Word, and also gave us His son to prove His credibility. Hence, we can see that this covenant is dependable. Whoever believes in Jesus can have eternal life in Him and have peace to overcome the world. God's Word brings power and God's Word is dependable. We need to cling on to God's promises and depend on Him each day. God wants to use His power to fulfill His own Word in our lives.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, I thank you because your word is true and trustworthy. Let us come to believe in you and submit ourselves to you each day, so that your blessing may come upon us. Thank you for the blood you shed as a guarantee of this covenant you have with us, so that we can enjoy all your blessing.  I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!      Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!

Today's Passage - Hebrews 9:15-18

Hebrews 9:15-18   For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.   The will is like a covenant that comes into effect as a result of death. In the same way, if a covenant is to have effect, there needs to be blood. For this reason, Jesus has become our ransom in the New Testament. Firstly, He needs to be without sin. If He had sin, how could He save others? Those who have sin cannot redeem others from their sin. The one who can save us from sin, must be a sinless Savior, which is Christ Jesus!   Secondly, He must have the identity of a man in order to understand the suffering of man. Jesus came in the flesh for us. He understands our limitations and weaknesses, and bore our suffering. When you are suffering, what you cannot stand most is someone tapping your shoulders and saying, "I understand it all." Your heart will be thinking, "How would you understand?" The truth is no one understands the suffering that we are going through ourselves. No matter what suffering someone else has gone through, it is different from what you are going through right now. Who can say that they understand? It is impossible! Yet today Jesus lives in us and He truly understands us. He has experienced the same suffering with us and can help us overcome!   On the cross of Calvary, Jesus completely defeated the power of the devil and brought us peace, joy and satisfaction. The Lord can be our help and strength, if we would come to Him and ask. The grace of God is sufficient for us. No matter what difficulties you have in life, you can come before the Lord to seek Him. Jesus Christ is our high priest. He is our help and strength, and can be our soul mate. Fix your eyes on Him and give your life to Him!   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, I thank you because in you there is unlimited grace and power. We come before you and pray for our brothers and sisters. If there are difficulties in our lives, I pray Lord that you will release your grace and blessing. You know their needs and can open a way for them. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!      Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!