Today's Passage - Psalm 24:1-6

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 24:1-6    The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.    Our hearts often thirst for God, but it might not be God Himself that we are seeking for. Sometimes we just want to have our problems solved so that we can resume our normal life. After our needs are met, we just say: "Lord, thanks so much! Now we can go our separate ways." Between one problem to the next one, we don't think about that God's plan in our lives. God doesn't just want to have our problems solved - He also want us to develop the likeliness of Christ in our lives, and let Christ become the glorious hope in our hearts.   When people of the Western world talk about faith, they often stress on whether it's rational or not, as they tend to believe in rationalism. People of the Eastern world often focus on whether a faith serves their purpose, which is utilitarianism.   The Bible, however, describes our faith as relationship with God. Faith in Christ, therefore, is not based on whether it makes sense or works, but more importantly whether we have a direct relationship with God. That's why God often wants us to wait upon Him, because when we are waiting, God can remove the impurities from our self-dependency and increase our faith, thus let Jesus Christ shape our hearts. Moses waited forty days and nights for God to speak to him on Mount Sinai. Disciples waited ten days at the house of Mark for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. Today, people are operating by minutes and seconds, so we don't really have the patience to wait, because we only value the result, but God values the establishment of our relationship with Him!   Everything is actually in God's hands, but God wants us to turn our eyes upon Him first. Do our hearts long for God Himself? Are we seeking for solutions to our problems, or are we seeking for God Himself? We use our hearts to seek solutions to our problems, but we overlook how God is using problems to discipline our hearts! May the Lord help us, let us turn back before Him and become "the generation of those who seek him." Let us seek God's face and thirst for Him in our daily life!     Pastor Tong         Lord, pease give us a spirit that thirsts for you; not just thirst for solutions to our problems, but to thirst for you alone. Let us be close to you every day, and when we are close to you our lives will be filled with strength and satisfaction. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Psalm 23:5-6

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 23:5-6   "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."             Not only we are delivered from the fear of lacking, the fear of uncertainty, and the fear of suffering, God also want to deliver us from the fear of enemy's attacks. Sometimes we are fearful towards spiritual warfare, and some mistakenly think that the attack is stronger when you follow God more, which is a lie. The fact is enemy will attack you regardless you follow God or not, but He will prepare a table for you if you follow God! We can eat and drink before the enemies because the Lord will fight for us, Hallelujah! Even if enemies are attacking you powerfully, you can praise the Lord and declare His victory!             Even though there are enemies attacking you, God is helping you. Romans 8:31 says that "if God is for us, who can be against us?" Even though enemies will attack, God will help. Even though you don't see sunshine at times, but God is your sunshine; even though you will walk through the wilderness, but God will provide manna, water, and cloud covering you to shield you from the burning sun, these are why we can proclaim that goodness and love will follow us! Goodness is the blessing to be seen, and love is the mercy of God, something that we don't deserve. In other words, both blessings seen and unseen, both blessings deserve or not deserve will follow us because God is our shepherd and will lead us as we come and follow Him.             Lastly, David said "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Let us choose to follow God and hide under His wings regardless of our circumstances. Because He is still our shepherd and our fortress and the marshal who leads us into victory!   Pastor Tong         Dear Lord, I thank you, for You are our shepherd and we shall not be lacking. For sure goodness and love will follow us all the days of my life, let us follow You and trust You. May the Spirit of the Lord add to our strength. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - Psalm 23:4

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 23:4   "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."               Not only God delivers us from the fear of uncertainty, God also delivers us from the fear of sufferings. Everyone is afraid of pains and sufferings, but God never promise a trouble free life. We will all walk through the darkest valley in our lives and in our ministry. Sometimes we are being mistaken and hurt, or even thought that God has forgotten us. But in reality, the presence of God can do things that more that you could ever think or imagine.               In the August of 1990, missionary Stephen Ha was hosting a three nights Praise and Worship conference in a stadium of Taibei, Taiwan. During the conference a typhoon was bringing heavy storms but more than ten thousands attendees bowed in the rain and repented for Taiwan each night. Pastor Nathanael Chou prayed for the conference many times, asking the Lord to stop the storms but it kept raining after the prayer. At that moment, the Lord said to him "Do you not believe that I am with you in the midst of rains?" So by faith he continued the conference regardless of the storm. Pastor Chou later testified that sounds of wind, sounds of storms, as well as sounds of worship and prayer go side by side. Thousands were healed, strengthened, and delivered. They declared in unison that "We have victory in the Lord! When we are not afraid of the storms, the storms will be afraid of us!" Hallelujah! That conference turned out to be a turning point for the spiritual atmosphere of Taiwan.               Is your life in the midst of storms? Don't forget that even though you walk through the darkest valley, you don't have to fear evil, for the Lord is with you. In Psalm 23, the turning point is in verse four. In verse 1 to 3, the psalmist used third person pronoun when referring to God, is He who makes me lay down, is He who guide. But in verse 4, when the psalmist was walking through the darkest valley, suddenly he said, "Lord, You are with me, Your rod and Your staff comfort me" His relationship with God changed from "He and me" to "You and me." Dear brothers and sisters, if you don't walk through the valley of darkness, your faith would not change from "He and me" to "You and me." So let's welcome His leading with joy, even though we might walk through the darkest valley, we will fear no evil, for His presence is everlasting and His grace is forever enough.   Pastor Tong         Dear Lord, I thank you, sometimes You allow us to walk through the darkest valley, but Your presence is not decreasing and Your rod and Your staff will comfort us. I pray that You let us experience the power of Your presence. I thank you and I pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - Psalm 23:2-3

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 23:2-3   "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake."             Not only God delivers us from the fear of lacking, he also delivers us from the fear of unknown future. Many times our hearts are fearful because we only look at the circumstances. Stock marketing crashing and companies doing massive layoff are all real circumstances. Our hearts become fearful because of our analysis based of our intelligence. Our intelligence tells us that "seeing is believing," but we need to learn that "believing is seeing." We need to believe that God is enthroned, His Word is still steadfast, His eyes are still on us, His arms are not shortened. In fact, God is guiding us using His own way, not to the green pastures and quiet waters that we think is good but to the green pastures and quiet waters that He has prepared for us.             We need to believe that God is in control, that He is holding the steering and we can trust in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says that "for we live by faith, not by sight." This is because what we see would change and could be deceiving. Just like the times of Elisha, when the King of Aram and his army attacking Dothan, the servant of Elisha saw the army he asked "Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?" But Elisha said to him "Don't be afraid" for "those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Elisha prayed that God would open the eyes of the servant, then the servant's eyes were opened and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around them.             What we see with our eyes could be deceiving and cause us not to see the real situation. What is the real situation? It is the presence of God. The Lord says that he guides us along the right paths for his name's sake. It is not for our sake, for our faith goes up and down. He does this for His name sake, for His name is high above all names, the most holy and honored name who never fail. Therefore He will guide us into eternity for His name sake.   Pastor Tong       Dear Lord, I thank you, for You will lead us in facing the unknown future. Through You we have faith to overcome. May You grant us a courageous heart to trust in You in our daily lives. I thank you and I pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - Psalm 23:1

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 23:1   "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."             Not only God is our creator, He is also the Lord that rescues us and the chief shepherd of our lives. Bible always uses sheep to describe human, because it is easy for sheep to be lost and to be fearful or frightened. But in Psalm 23 we see that God is able to release us from all fears and anxiety. Lacking is the number one fear in life. Isn't it common for us to worry about not being able to survive or not being able to success, just like Martha?             When the Lord called me into full time ministry, the first thought that came into my mind when I knelt and pray is: how if I have no foods to eat in the future? This seems laughable, but it was a real struggle in me, and with my many considerations I have not considered that the Lord is my shepherd and I lack nothing. Do you know that He is your shepherd? Do you believe that He is your shepherd? There is a distance from knowing to believing. If you believe that God is your shepherd, then know that He knows you and understands your needs.             In John 10:11 the Lord says that "I am a good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" and in verse 14 the Lord says "I know my sheep." Dear brothers and sisters, do you know that God knows you? He really knows you! In John 10:3 it says the Lord call us by name, so He knows our names! Maybe your pastor doesn't know your name, but the Lord know your name, for He called you by name. Just like even though sheep look the same, but the shepherd would know this sheep foot is not strong, that sheep is mischievous, another sheep likes to eat, yet another bleats all day long. The shepherd knows each sheep by its weaknesses. In the same way, God know you by your weakness and needs. Once you have confidence in this, you would understand how precious the promise of God is! Indeed the Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.   Pray with Pastor Tong       Dear Lord, I thank you, for You are the chief shepherd all throughout our lives. For You are our shepherd, and I lack nothing. May You help my brothers and sisters to be delivered from the fear of lacking. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - Psalm 22:22-31

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 22:22-31   I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows. The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him - may your hearts live forever!             Because of the sufferings experienced by Jesus and the salvation that He has accomplished for us, we can see that God has indeed opened a new and living way for those who trust in Him! Dear brothers and sisters, how long have you not giving thanks for your salvation? Let us give thanks to Him, for we are delivered from the dominion of darkness because of His salvation on the cross.             In the past we lived in sinfulness and have no power over sin, but Jesus Christ will become our lives and our strength when we choose to trust in Him. He is our help, and we will overcome the dominion of darkness! If you are living under the dominion of darkness, or idol worshipping, or even demonic oppression, you can praise God joyfully because all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus Christ! And in Christ we proclaim victory over the enemies and darkness! Let us proclaim: By Christ we have overcome all bondages! Hallelujah!             Dear brothers and sisters, let us learn to be glad towards our God! Here it says: "You who fear the Lord praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!" We need to be reminded of God's grace, that He has saved us and know our needs, that he is willing to hear our cries and help us, therefore let us praise Him and bow in worship. In the future, not just us as individuals but all nations and all people will come and bow before Him, for He alone is the enthroned king that is worthy of all. Let us give all the glory and praises to Him!   Pray with Pastor Tong       Dear Lord, I thank you, for You have risen from death and show us that You have overcome sin and death. You have enthroned, therefore we praise You and exalt You! Let me proclaim victory to enemy, the world and sin in our daily lives through You. I thank you and I pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - Psalm 22:11-21

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 22:11-21      Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.  I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.    Psalm 22 foretells the suffering of Messiah. Through David's suffering on earth, God foretold the sufferings that Jesus Christ will endure for us on the cross. Psalm 22:1 says "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This is one of the seven sayings on the cross by Lord Jesus Christ. When He was on the cross, He bore all the sins of the world, and suffered separation from Father God. Verse eight says, "let the LORD rescue him.  Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." That's exactly what people said when they ridiculed Jesus beneath the cross. Jesus suffered enormous humiliation on the cross. Verse 16 says "Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet." When Lord Jesus was on the cross, the soldiers poked His body with spears; not only that, verse 18 says "they divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment." Soldiers under the cross did exactly that and fulfilled what Psalm 22 says.   I've noticed that we have a mistaken perception of the cross. When we think of the cross, we'd think about three empty crosses on top of a faraway hill, with a pink cloud in the back drop, feeling rather beautiful. Or, we think of the hymn, "In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever," and it sounds beautiful. The fact is that the cross is a sign of extreme humiliation. When Jesus was nailed on the cross, not only did three nails hang His body on the cross, He also suffered much humiliation. Jesus gave His life when we were still sinners, so that we may receive resurrected life and glorious hope. As Jesus Christ turned humiliation into glory, let us also once again give thanks to Jesus Christ for our salvation!   Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, I thank you by the humiliation and pain you suffered on the cross for us, we may receive new life. May the Lord help us to live for you daily, so that your life may be manifested through us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Psalm 22:1-10

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 22:1-10    My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.    Sometimes we feel that God has forsaken you, like what verse one says: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" What do you do in such circumstance? Verse three gave us the best answer: "Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises." Did you know that God's throne was established on the praises by God's people? When we praise and worship God, God's throne is established among us, and God's throne represents His authority and His work.   When you are in extremely difficult circumstances, when you see how everyone's attacking you, or even when you are eminent danger and do not know the way out, there's only one option - Learn to set your eyes on the Lord on the throne and worship Him! Even though there might not be much to praise in your circumstance, when you start to praise and worship God, He will take control, Hallelujah!   We need to learn to praise and worship in our daily life, and also when we gather together. Did you know when we are together, not only are God and angels in our midst, but devil Satan is also in our midst! Therefore, during any meeting, devil can fly over us and devour the work of God. Therefore, when we gather we need to praise and worship God first; when we praise and worship God, his throne is established among us, and all the work by devil Satan will be eliminated! Not only that, when we praise and worship, God's presence and His work will be manifested among us. Back in the Old Testament time, when Jehoshaphat fought the enemy, he sent the choir to walk ahead of the army. The Bible says that when they were singing, God sent ambush against the enemy of Israel, Hallelujah! Do you feel that the enemy is attacking you? Praise and worship God so that His throne will be established!     Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, I thank you, because we praise and worship you, your throne will be established among us. In the victorious name of Jesus Christ we rebuke the work of enemy Satan! May you come to save us and deliver us from danger. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!