Today's Passage - Joshua 1:1-4

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 1:1-4   After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them - to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.  Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates - all the Hittite country - to the Great Sea on the west.       Israelites were at a critical juncture in their history. God had chosen Joshua. In that whole historical salvation, whenever God worked, He was never alone: it is God's will to always work with men; not just ordinary men, but men who are willing to be changed by God. Joshua was not as charismatic as Moses was. During the exodus in the wildness, we didn't see the role Joshua undertook. He merely performed the work that Moses assigned to him loyally and silently. To the Israelis of that time, he was merely a Moses's helper. If one reads Joshua carefully, one will discover that he was in fact not a brave person. Otherwise, God would not have said to him a few times, "Be strong and courageous." No only did God said this to him, Moses said to him, even common Israelis encouraged him such as well.    When God uses a person, it has never been because he was brave, nor because he had talents. The person that God uses is the one who is willing to be shaped by God's hands. Joshua was such person. When he surrendered himself in God's hands, God made a covenant with him. In verse 3, the Lord said, "I will give you every place where you set your foot" God was with him. More importantly, when Joshua learned to put himself in the hands of God, his relationship with God changed. In verse 9, God was no longer God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, no longer God of Moses, but "the Lord your God."   God is happy to be close to those who are willing to put themselves in the hands of God. From Moses' helper to God's co-worker, Joshua had been changed during the process. He started seeing the work that God was doing in time of change. He heard the commission that God gave to himself. God said to him, "Now rise up."  Not waiting until the circumstance gets better, not waiting until the mood gets better, or waiting until all problems have been solved, but right now!  God's promise will always be now. Following Jesus' commands shall always be now. In our lives, no matter what kind of change or breakthrough we encounter, the moment is always in the hands of God. It's God's will for us to rise up right now, grasp His promise and bravely move forward!      Pray with Pastor Tong      Lord, we thank you because your promise is for now, and your command is for now. May God bless us with strong and courageous hearts, like that of Joshua, to be a witness of your glorious beauty in this generation. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Joshua 1:1

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 1:1   After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide...   No matter in which era, when people go through a time of major transition, their hearts will be filled with sense of uncertainty, because they don't know what God is going to do and when is He going to do it. When the early church was established, Jesus gathered the disciples and entrusted them with the Great Commission, and then He ascended to heaven. At that time, all disciples just stood there and looked up at the sky; they must have stared up for a long time, otherwise the angels wouldn't have asked them why they just stood there and looked up into the sky. Why were they doing that? Because they felt uncertain, not knowing what the Lord will do with them. Faced with the enormous assignment like the Great Commission, looking at how minuscule they were, they must have been wondering what they could really do.   When God called Joshua, he must have felt the same, because he was also in a time of transition. Joshua 1:1 says that the servant of the Lord Moses was dead. Why did a book filled with messages of victory begin with such a sad statement? Moses was a great leader among the Israelites and God used His hands to perform many signs and wonders. During the forty years that Moses was the leader, the Israelites became accustomed to following Moses. When the Israelites had to cross Red Sea, Moses pointed his staff and the sea parted. When they were hungry, Moses prayed and manna came down from heaven. When they were thirsty, Moses struck a rock and water came out from it. Now that Moses is dead, it was a tremendously sad thing for the Israelites. Deuteronomy chapter 34 said that the Israelites mourned for the death of Moses for thirty days.   God, however, said here that the purpose for His servant Moses to die was not to remind Israelites of their mystery, but it was to allow them to move on from the shadow of their past. God has already promised the Israelites that they will have a victorious tomorrow. Moses represented the past experience of the Israelites - How God guided them and provided for all their needs. Past experience and methods are all valuable, but they could also become hindrance to growth, preventing us from further experiencing new blessings from God. We always think that the ways of the past were great, as if God can only work on way, and there are no other ways. Actually, the Bible clearly told us that God we believe in is one who does new things. In Joshua chapter 3, when Israelites were about to enter the land of Canaan, God told them that it was a path that they've never taken before. This doesn't just mean that the path ahead of them was new, but the ways that God guided them and provided for them were also new. May the Lord help us, never just stay in the grace we received in our past. May the Spirit of the Lord once again release us from our experience of the past so that we may enter into God's new deeds!      Pray with Pastor Tong      Lord, we thank you for all the grace that you've given to us, and we thank you for helping us not to be bound by our experience of the past. May the Lord release our spirit so that we may grow and be renewed in your grace each and every day. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Matthew 28:16-20

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Matthew 28:16-20   Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."     The Father God in the Trinity is one who sends people. John 3:16 says that "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son," which means that He sent His son to the world. When Jesus was on earth, He repeatedly called Father God "Father who sent me," because Father God is the God who sends. No only that, Jesus is also God who sends. John 20:21 says that "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." The Lord also said in Matthew 28:19 that "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations," so Jesus also sent His disciples into the world. Holy Spirit is also God who sends. In Acts chapter 8, Philip was sent to the desert by the Holy Spirit to share the gospel with the eunuch; In Acts chapter 13, in the church of Antioch, Holy Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas to preach the gospel in Europe. Even today, the Holy Spirit is still sending; if it weren't for the missionaries sent by the Holy Spirit to China, you and I won't become Christians today; if it wasn't for the sending of the Holy Spirit, no one will leave everything behind and enter into the wilderness to continue witnessing for the Lord. This God who sends is an all-power and all-sufficient God, but He's willing to work together with those of us who are weak in order to accomplish His eternal plan, isn't that wonderful!   Back in the Old Testament, it took God much effort in order to make way for the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Generation after generation of Israelites, however, disobeyed God, and yet He still guided them with much patience. Finally, Jesus Christ was born in the world in God's timing, which seemed to have brought God's victory. Even the angels and army of heaven were holding their breath and waiting to see how Jesus Christ was going to prepare Himself, work, suffer, and finally die on the cross to loudly proclaim to the world: "It is finished." God's plan of redemption is finished, the authority of the devil has been crushed, and it was time for God's kingdom to expand! All the angels and army of heaven were rejoicing and getting ready to fight for God. Surprisingly, after Jesus resurrected from death, He didn't send any angel or army of heaven, but instead He actually turned to the eleven weak disciples. The Lord entrusted them with the mission for God's Kingdom, and told them that "go make disciples of all nations." The angels and army of heaven must have been wondering - Was that a mistake, Jesus? What if they failed? Thanks to God, even though we are weak, God chose to work with us to accomplish His will!    Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, I thank you because you are a wonderful God. Even though we are weak, you are willing to send us to work with you in order to accomplish your wonderful work. Give us an obedient heart to work with you in our daily life, so that your name will receive the greatest glory in us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!!

Today's Passage - Matthew 28:9-15

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Matthew 28:9-15   Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.             It is so precious that Jesus greeted the disciples when he met the disciples. Peace was what the disciples needed the most at that time, for their hearts were deeply troubled. They were caught off guard by what happened in Jerusalem in the days before. When they still had Jesus, Jesus solved their every problem, but now it seemed like they have no one to rely on.             Also, their hearts were disappointed. Even though Jesus prophesied about His sufferings and death, the disciples still thought of Jesus' kingdom as one that is on earth. Therefore when the Lord died, their hearts were filled with disappointments, both to the Lord and to themselves. Especially Peter, who thought that he could stand firm for the Lord but ended up denying Him three times. He must be terribly disappointed at himself and wondered if he could ever be used by God again. Besides these, their hearts must be filled with fear, for their futures were full of uncertainty. The persecutions from the authorities have caused them to meet only behind closed door. Peace was the message that they needed. When Jesus said "Greetings", it is not just a mere greeting, for He is the Prince of Peace; not only He gives us His peace, He is peace.             The resurrection of the Lord grants us peace and joy. Human nature is filled with fear due to the lies of the evil one. Many times I heard people saying, "If the Lord manifests Himself among us, we will not be afraid." In fact, those that say so have never experienced the manifestation of the Lord. Every biblical records of human's first response to the manifestation of God is always being terrified. Even the disciples couldn't recognize that it was Jesus walking on the water and thought that He was a ghost, without realizing that it was the work of the Lord. Fear is part of human nature, but the spirit of the Lord is able to touch us and grant us peace in the midst of our fear when He manifests Himself.             Do you have peace in your life? Maybe you are like the disciples, who were troubled, disappointed, and in fear. The Lord wants to touch you with His power of resurrection. After Jesus resurrected from death, He ate and drank with the disciples, which means the power of resurrection can enter into our daily lives. Hallelujah! Let us receive His resurrected life of by faith!   Pray with Pastor Tong     Dear Lord, we give You thanks and praises, for not only You resurrected from death, Your resurrected life can enter into our lives and bring us peace and joy. I thank You and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!en!

Today's Passage - Matthew 28:1-8

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Matthew 28:1-8   After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."   Back in 1930, an English lawyer named Frank Morrison had many Christian friends, and he often heard them talking about the resurrection of Jesus. The more he heard, and more he was not convinced. He couldn't believe that in the scientific era of 20th century there would be anyone believing in resurrection. Since he was a lawyer, he decided to collect evidence to rebuff the resurrection of Jesus. After 30 years, he finally published a good, and the name of book was "Who moved the stone that sealed the tomb?" The title of chapter one was, nonetheless, "a book that couldn't be written." He was going to uncover a great scam, but the more he studied and more he had to acknowledge that resurrection of Jesus actually happened.   If you study the Bible carefully, you'd see that it's impossible for the disciples to fabricate the story of resurrection. Even though the Lord said repeatedly that He will be resurrected, but the disciples didn't really believe in it. Therefore, on Sunday morning when the women went to see the tomb, they were concerned the stone that sealed the tomb, because it was so big that no one could remove it. As soon as they reached the tomb, however, the Lord's angel already rolled the stone away, and the angel proclaimed to them: "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." Hallelujah, Jesus is the savior who resurrected!   When the women saw that He resurrected from death, they were afraid. Actually, the disciples were also afraid. When the disciples told Thomas that Jesus revealed Himself to them, he didn't believe them at all, and said that unless his hand touched Jesus, he'd never believe that Jesus resurrected. These people who followed Jesus didn't really anticipate Jesus to be resurrected; in fact, if Jesus never resurrected, perhaps they'd just carry on with their ordinary lives! The resurrection of Jesus, however, became a major turning point in their lives, because it was a message that they had to carry, and a testimony that they had to preach.   The resurrection of Jesus also turned the cowardly disciples into courageous ones. They were more than willing to be persecuted and even die for the truth of resurrection. This testimony of resurrection not only brought tremendous impact back then, it can also bring forth enormous power that turn lives around for everyone who believes in it. Have you experienced the Lord's power of resurrection? The Lord will turn your life around, and His resurrected life will once again give you joy and freedom!    Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, we thank you because you resurrected for us! The authority of sin and death can no longer rule over us, and in you we can enjoy freedom, joy and peace. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Matthew 27:57-66

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Matthew 27:57-66   As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb...    First and foremost, this is the Joseph who was hoping for the coming of God's kingdom. He not only hoped for it on Sundays, or when he prayed, but the hope for kingdom of God was always on his mind. Because he always hoped for God's kingdom, he really cared about matters concerning the kingdom. It's like someone who follows a soap opera, for they must watch the soap opera daily. Those who are used by God must be the ones who's thoughts and mind are constantly on God, for he will naturally do things that God wants him to do. He doesn't have to purposely do things to please God, but rather he'll automatically walk in God's will, because what on his mind is same as what's in God's will. In the past few years, my spirit has been revived by God, so my thoughts and mind are preoccupied by the work of God all over the world. I often go listen to and witness God's work, and I naturally long for His work to happen. Therefore, God's will came into me and became part of my thoughts.   Next, because Joseph was hoping for God's kingdom, what he did also made God's word come true. Regarding the burial of Jesus, Isaiah 53:9 says that "He was assigned a grave with the wicked." Who could ever imagine that this passage will come true? When Jesus on earth, He was so poor that He didn't have to pay tax, and He spent most of His time with the poor and didn't make too many rich friends. Actually, this Joseph never even followed Jesus. From human perspective, their relationship didn't really compel Joseph to help collecting the body of Jesus; however, everything is in God's hand and in God nothing is impossible! No matter how difficult it is for us to imagine, God can really use His skillful hands and His zeal to accomplish this.   Brothers and sisters, are there things in your life that you can't imagine how they can be accomplished? God has His own way and His timing. When the Israelites were crossing the Red Sea, they didn't think there's any way out; however, God's way actually lied in the deep sea. When you encounter any difficult, bring them before the Lord, and He can accomplish it more than all we ask or imagine!   Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, I thank you because nothing is impossible in you. When we read how your word miraculously came true in this scripture passage, we also believe that you will make way in our lives, more than all we ask or imagine! I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Matthew 27:51-56

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Matthew 27:51-56    At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection andenter into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs...   When Jesus died on the cross, "the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." This had never happened before. If you've read the Torah by Moses, you'd know that the curtain in the temple was one panel of cloth made from thin linen threads of three colors; it's very sturdy and doesn't easily fall apart. This curtain was placed between the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies; the Holy of Holies symbolizes the presence of God, and only the High Priest could go inside once a year. During the Old Testament time, people were fearful of God because God is holy and righteous, and no one with sin could stand before God. Even when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies every year, he would be filled with fear; he would bath himself and remain silent for three days and three nights before going inside the Holy of Holies. When he's inside, there were bells tied to his robe; others knew that the High Priest was still alive by the sound of the bells. Also, a rope was tied to the High Priest; if he wasn't clean and died inside, people could drag his body out with the rope. All these happened back in the Old Testament time because sin separated God and people back then.   We thank God that, when Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple torn in two from top to bottom, because it revealed that the hindrance of sin between God and people has been removed. People could come directly before Father God through Jesus Christ. Therefore, the author of Book of Hebrews said: "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body..." We may thus come directly before Father God, and completely receive His grace.   That's why when we pray we would say "we ask in the name of Jesus," because when we pray in the name of Jesus there is authority and power. We can proclaim victory by the authority of Christ that was gave Him victory on the cross. When you pray in the name of Jesus, your sin will be forgiven, your soul will be released, and your body will be healed. As long as you pray by faith, you will experience the authority that the name of the Lord brings you. The salvation on the cross was not just a great sacrifice, but also a great miracle and testimony. We need to remember how the Lord died for us in our daily life so that we can remember how to live for the Lord. No matter what kind of circumstance you are in - may it be sickness, hardship, or even frustration and weakness, never forget the promise by the Lord: "The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."     Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, we thank you for opening a new and living way for us, so that we may come before you without any fear. Please give us more faith so that we may experience all your grace and authority. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Matthew 27:38-50

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Matthew 27:38-50   Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli,lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah." Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him." And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.   When Jesus was nailed on the cross, everyone called upon Him to come down from the cross, and some even ridiculed Him. If you were Jesus, how would you react? Thank God that the Lord didn't allow the flesh to win. The women who were looking from a distance also wished the Lord could just come down from the cross. Maybe they were thinking: "Lord, why don't you just come down, so that these people can witness your authority and your power!"   The most intolerable thing on the cross for Jesus was the silence of Father God. The Lord was on earth, He was accustomed to communicating with Father God and listening to His voice. When Jesus was baptized, a voice descended from above: "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well-please." When Jesus transfigured on the mountain top, a voice also descended from above: "This is my beloved son, hear him." When Jesus was facing the path of suffering, He prayed to God: "Father, may your name receive glory." The was also a voice from heaven: "My name is already glorified, and will receive more glory." When Jesus was hung on the cross, however, Father God remained completely silent. That why the Lord cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"   Did Father God want to forsake His beloved son? He didn't, but at that moment He had to bear all the sins of the world, including sins of you and me. Therefore, God had to cover His face and not see His own beloved son, in order for Jesus to bear the punishment for all our sins. Romans 5:8 says that "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Brothers and sisters, do you truly understand the Lord's sacrificial love for you? Let us respond to the Lord today with more love for Him!    Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, we thank you for bearing all our sins on the cross. We thank you that you didn't let your flesh win, but because your great love for us you defeated all the temptations from the flesh. May the Lord's love enter our hearts, bring us true deliverance, so that we may happily live for you each and every day. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!