Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Today's Passage - Psalm 8:1-9

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

Psalm 8:1-9

 

"O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.  When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?  Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honour.  You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.  O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

   

Our lord is worthy all our praises and worship. When we come before God, and we truly want to say, "Who am I to be worthy of your caring for us?" Indeed, we are worthless in front of Satan, nothing but infants. In front of God we loudly proclaim, pray, and claim victory over our enemies. Do you know that this indeed is the will of God?

 

The second verse says that God "Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger." What if God smite Satan in one strike, how will Satan react? He will definitely not be convinced. But it is God's will to have our enemy be convincingly defeated. God will manifest his wonderful power out of the weak: out of the weakness of men it will fulfill the victory over Satan. In our weakness we have to pray, praise and worship. God will defeat all works of enemies. We often think that God's willingness to let devil living on earth is to torment us. On the contrary, God's will is to torment satan through our praise and proclamation. Hallelujah!

 

You can overcome circumstances in life and enemies' attacks only when you understand this clearly.  We must understand that it is God's will to establish power through our mouths, so that that our enemies and those who seek revenge will be speechless. Let's all sing praises to Him!

 

Pray with Pastor Tong  

   

Lord, we sing praises to you once again, proclaiming you are our Lord and our king. We will raise you high in any circumstance. You will destroy all Satan's attacks and evildoings when we praise and worship you.  To you we give all the glory!  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!    
  

 

   
             

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Today's Passage - Psalm 7:10-17

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

Psalms 7:10-17

  

My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day. If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows. He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head. I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

 

God is our shield. He is not only the creator, savior, Lord of our life, and a shepherd, but He;s also our shield. Our enemies tried every way to attack us, to resist God's work. But you and I can truly put our trust in God. As Bible says, "anyone who believes in Him will never be put into shame."

 

Many years ago, I led a church youth group camping trip to Yosemite. On the way back from the mountaintop to the camp it was downhill all the way. I kept breaking. At the time, there were seven children in my car. I smelled burning rubber. Worried about breaks, I decided to go to nearby auto repair shop as soon as I came down the mountain. But as soon as I started car, I lost my break. The car kept sliding backward towards the cliff. There was a small wooden stake in front of cliff. I hoped for stopping on the wooden stake. Unfortunately, the force of the car was so great that the whole wooden stake was pulled out and fell down the cliff. As I was watching the car sliding down the cliff, I kept praying in my heart, "Lord, save me!" At that moment, the car was stopped. It was blocked in the middle of three trees, one on the left, one on the right, and one in the middle. One tree was right in the middle. Even the tow truck driver was amazed. It was like an angel's hand had stopped the car. Indeed, God protected us in many occasions. He prepares angels for each of us to protect us in our daily lives.

 

God's protection, however, is conditional. He protects those whose hearts are upright. Is your heart upright? Does your heart yearn for God? Do not fret. Bible says, "do not fret--it leads only to evil." When we see injustices, we feel angry such that we commit the same evil deed. May God protect our hearts and minds, make us upright, love this just God, walk in His righteousness, and He will surely protect us.  

 

Pray with Pastor Tong  

   

Lord, we thank you because you are our shield. You save us when we are in trouble. May you give your shield of grace to our brothers and sisters, and be their protection and salvation in all things. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!  

  
        
       

Monday, February 26, 2018

Today's Passage - Psalm 7:1-9

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

Psalms 7:1-9

  

O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me. O LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands-- if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe-- then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust. "Selah" Arise, O LORD, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. Let the assembled peoples gather around you. Rule over them from on high; let the LORD judge the peoples. Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.

 

Our God is truly a righteous God. He is God who gives me my vengeance. David describes his circumstances here. He says that he saved even his enemies, not to mention those who were kind to him. How could he do evil to those people? But he was attacked by enemies while he was doing good. As such, he cries to God for help.

 

First, he cries to the Lord such that the Lord "in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies." When you are weak, poor, or under relentless criticisms or judgements, do you know that the Lord will rise up for you? It's God's will to decree justices since the beginning of time. 2 Thessalonians 1:6 says, "God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you". Never believe that being a Christian is a disadvantage. Lord is righteous. He will dispense retribution, and He will claim vengeance for us.

 

Second, David says, "Let the assembled peoples gather around you." In other words, he will raise God high among the multitudes. When we are in such a circumstance, do not harbor blames, nor seek vengeance by ourselves. We shall praise true God, worship our Lord. May God be our Lord. Let Him seek vengeance for us. Let us look upon him only.

 

Third, ask God to examine our hearts and thoughts. Not only shall we ask God to seek vengeance for us, more importantly, are our hearts and thoughts pure? Is our behavior pleasing God?  Our God surely examines hearts and minds of others, and He examines our hearts and minds as well. Let us be the ones who have pure hearts and minds in front of our God. Believe that God will surely seek vengeance for us.

 

Pray with Pastor Tong  

   

Lord, we thank you, because you are a righteous God.  You are God who seeks our vengeances. When we cry out to you, You never ignore our prayers and you will accomplish great things for us in your will and in your time. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

  

  

        
       

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Today's Passage - Psalm 6:1-10

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

Psalms 6:1-10

 

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me,LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave ? I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

 

Were you ever in a state of sin, your heart went astray from God, and were disciplined by God? Were you ever fall into difficulties because of your lack of wisdom? This is exactly what this chapter of Psalm describes. The life of David was not perfect. He had sinned against God. He was pursued by Saul. He fell into agonies many times. And this chapter is his cry to God for help.

 

First, he admits his sins. He has lived in God's wrath. In those circumstances, do not blame your environment, nor blame God. First admit you're not worthy, and was truly living in God's wrath. Second, he cries for God's mercy. When we are weak, we need to understand that we are indeed weak and hopeless. Like what says in Psalm 121, "where does my help come from?" He really understands that help only come from God. Third, he cries for God's salvation. He believes that God can help, and God can save, lifting him out of all agonies. That's why he cries for God's glory from verse 5 to 7. What kept David awake day and night was not himself, but the glory of God. He cries for the name and glory of God. In the end, from verse 8 to 10, he cries for God's truthfulness. He says, "God has heard my prayer. He will surely prepare a road for me in my suffering."

 

Are you in such difficult circumstance? Pray! Believe in God and rely on God. You need to cry out to God for help.  Confess your sins and pray that His mercy will help you. Cry out for His salvation and let Him open His almighty arms to save you. In the name of God, ask for Lord's blessings and grace. Proclaim His truthfulness and trust that God's promises are still true, for those who rely on Him will never be put into shame!

 

Pray with Pastor Tong  

   

Lord, we thank you and we praise you, because in you we still have hope. Let us come and lean on you.  We cry out for your mercy, and may your grace be upon us when we cry out to you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!  

  

        
       

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Today's Passage - Psalm 5:7-12

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

Psalms 5:7-12

 

But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies - make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies. Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

 

Abundant love and fearful heart go hand in hand. On the one hand, God is a loving father, so we can come before our father like little children, and tell Him everything that we need. We can come to God with no fear because He's a loving and graceful God. On the other hand, God is also a righteous God and we cannot offend Him, so we must walk in the law and will of God.

 

From human perspective, it seems like law and freedom are contradictory, but that's not the case in reality. Men can only enjoy true freedom if they are bound by law. If everyone can do whatever they want, there'd be no order and thus no one can enjoy any freedom; there must be a balance between the two. In the same way, when we come before God, we come by the abundant love of God and with a heart that fears Him. God has principles for His work; our intrigues will make us fall and our sin will banish us. On the contrary, those who seek refuse in God will sing for joy, because God will protect them.

 

Are you like the psalmist, who's encountering difficult circumstances and attacks from the enemy? May God first protect our hearts, let us not hold any grudge inside that results in sin; we must seek refuse in God and depend on Him, because He will protect whoever that seek refuge in Him. Those who love the Lord's name will rejoice in the Lord! Let's not complain about the circumstance, but ask ourselves - In circumstance like this, am I seeking refuge in God? Do I love the Lord's name? When we are willing to do this, the Lord will surround you with His favor as with a shield, so that we may experience His abundant grace.

 

Pray with Pastor Tong  

   

Lord, I want to give you thanks and praise, because you surround us with you favor like a shield. Let us no longer seek vengeance for ourselves or complain about our circumstance. Let us seek refuge in you wholeheartedly, look upon you and receive grace and mercy from you, so that you will be our help all the time. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!



              
       

Friday, February 23, 2018

Today's Passage - Psalm 5:1-6

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

Psalms 5:1-6

  

Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest.

  

The author was crying out to God here. Did you know that the Lord is happy to hear our prayers? Not only does He care about our thoughts and mind, He always pays attention to our words. When you pray, don't just pray quietly. Silent prayer usually has two possible outcomes: Either our mind begins to wander, or we fall asleep. When Jesus and the disciples were praying in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was praying out loud, and the disciples who prayed quietly fell asleep. We need to learn to pray out loud before God, and use words to cry out to God. Praying out loud will help us to focus your thoughts and mind; if you focus on God when you cry out, you will receive answer from Him.

 

The poet now only prayed to God out loud, he also made praying the first thing he did early in the morning. Perhaps you don't wake up early in the morning, but do you consider praying the most important task in your life? We don't pray because we don't need to depend on God; we think we can handle just about everything. Many people from the Third World having nothing, but they understand how to hold on to God. They cry out to God earnestly, and thus many signs and wonders follow them. In North American, we enjoy abundant material blessings, so people like to depend on themselves; we don't seek God and don't pray, so we don't experience nearly as many signs and wonders. May God help us, let our spirits be awake, so that we will get up early and depend on God every day.

 

Moreover, the Psalmist also lived according to God's will.   He didn't do things that God abhors, but only whatever pleases God. Brothers and sisters, you cannot cry out to God but at the same time do things that defy God's will. As we pray to seek God's help, we must also live in His will. When we cry out to God with all our heart, and live a life that is compatible with our prayer, we will experience God's salvation and protection!

 

Pray with Pastor Tong  

   

Lord, we once again come before you with thanksgiving, because you are the God who listens to prayer. May the Lord help us to make praying our top priority in life, and let us follow your will. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

   

 

              
       

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Today's Passage - Psalm 4:1-8

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

Psalm 4:1-8

  

Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. How long will you people turn my glory into shame?  How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. Many, Lord, are asking, "Who will bring us prosperity?" Let the light of your face shine on us. Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

 

We believe in the God who makes us righteous. We were not worthy, but in Christ we can proclaim to the righteous by faith, and we can receive the salvation of Jesus by faith. Our sins can be washed away, and before God we become righteous. In Old Testament time, Abraham was called by God as a righteous man because of his faith in God. It is evident that the God we believe in is consistent from Old Testament time and New Testament time. When we depend on Him by faith, we are justified by faith.

 

Not only that, our God is also one who vindicates us. When we are wrongfully attacked n any situation, he will make us righteous. In this scripture passage, the psalmist encounter the hardship of being looked down on. Has anyone looked down on you? In our life or your job, we are often looked down on, and sometimes we are even down at look down at home. I thought about David; when Samuel went to his house to anoint one of the children as the king, his father's gathered all his brothers but not him. When Samuel asked whether those were all the children that his father had, Jesse thought of David who was working in the field taking care of sheep. I think David must have been hurt in his heart. Joseph was also look down on; when he was with his brothers, even though he was the favorite of his father, he was looked down on by his brothers, and he was even sold by his brothers to Egypt. In the New Testament Paul was also looked down by people. He once said that the church he visited thought he looked "unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing ", which meant they looked down on him.

  

No matter what your circumstance is, if God could help David, Joseph and Paul before, He can also help us today. You are not the only one who have suffered in such circumstances, for many saints over the past generations have suffered the same. Then they were in hardship however, they experienced God's help. In the same way, we can also experience God's help in Christ. Let us depend on Him and seek refuge in Him!

 

Pray with Pastor Tong  

   

Lord, please come help us. Even though we might be looked down by people, we want to depend on you because you are the God who vindicates us, and you will also help us to live in safety in any circumstance. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!  

  

              
       

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Today's Passage - Psalm 3:1-8

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

Psalms 3:1-8

  

Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.  I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

 

The psalmist described his situation with many enemies around him. They were not necessarily enemies who attacked his body, but rather those who criticized him because he wasn't helped by the Lord. We are often like the psalmist, faced with much criticism and judgment. When things are going well for us, some people are jealous of us; when things are not going well, they ridicule us and make us more frustrated. So, how did the psalmist respond? He was sure that the Lord was his shield on every side. When the enemy attacks us, its words are like rockets firing at us, but we must proclaim loudly that the Lord is our shield and it will block all these rockets of word. He is also our glory; if we only value of our own name, we will feel sad, ashamed and hurt. When we, however, know that the Lord is our glory, we will not be harmed by the word of criticism and judgment from others.  

  

Not only that, the Lord is also the one who lifts our head, for He is the one who vindicates us. Don't ever try to vindicate yourself, just leave everything to God's hand and He well save you! You must pray to God like it says in the verse 4 - "I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain." It says here that we should "call out to the Lord", not just pray quietly. Often when we are suffering, we would just pray silently, but silent prayer may not bring out of power and bring forth deliverance in our soul. You must call out loudly in order to experience how God answers your prayer from His holy mountain!

  

In your circumstance in life, are you like this psalmist, who was faced with much criticism and judgment? We can call out to God loudly, and let Him save us and become our help and strength. When we call out to Him like that, we will also experience how the Lord protects us when we lie down, when we sleep, or when we are awake, because salvation belongs to God!

 

Pray with Pastor Tong  

   

Lord, I once again give you thanks and praise. Even though we sometimes are faced with difficult circumstances, or even criticism and judgment from others, Lord you are still our shield and our glory. You are the one who lifts our head! We want to call out to you and experience protection in Christ. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!