Today's Passage - Phil 3:17-19

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Philippians 3:17-19   "Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you... many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things."   Paul more than once wrote in the epistles to encourage the believers to follow his example.  It doesn't mean that Paul is an arrogant man.  In fact, in 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul said "follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."  Paul dared to instruct believers to follow his example because he was completely dedicated to Christ.   Would you like to be a person who is complete?  Are you eager to be used by God?  Then you must follow Paul's example of dedication to the Lord.  Things in the world will always be evolving around us, but our eyes don't need to follow them closely, but rather we need to keep our heart in God so that it won't swerve or become apathetic.  Paul said that we ought to "join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you," and there are indeed many more great examples around us besides Paul.  For generations, many devoted saints have sacrificed their lives for the Lord.  One example is Christiana Tsai, who is the author of the book Queen of the Dark Chamber who laid bed for 50 years.  When I visited her, she told me that in the past 50 years she never asked God why.  She only asked God, "Lord, what would you like me to do for you today?"  Through her, God led many to Christ and brought spiritual revivals to many.  I also thought about the Christians in Mainland China, who solely focused on the Lord and served the Lord.  Because of their testimonies, China has become the country where the gospel is spreading the fastest, and on average twenty thousand people accept the Lord each day.  If we think about the testimonies of these saints, we will not be in fear or discouraged.   In the path of your spiritual pursuit, have you ever been in fear or discouraged?  You must follow Paul's example and realign your focus, so that there is only one thing in your life, and that is Lord himself!           Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord Jesus, I thank you for your reminder, and I thank you for preparing so many witnesses around me, surrounding me like cloud.  Lord, please help me so that my eyes won't be distracted by things of the world or attack from the enemy.  I am willing to follow Paul's example and focus solely on you, so please come and draw me closer to you.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Phil 3:13-16

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Phi. 3:13-16   "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus..."   For Paul, no matter what the circumstance is, there was only "one thing" that he did!  Paul was a simple person before God.  Simple doesn't mean that he didn't understand the perils of the world, for he is simple because he is focused.  There is one characteristic with everyone who pleased God, and that is all their life their eyes were focused on God.  In Psalm 27:4, David said that "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD."   When Jesus was in the house of Martha and Maria, He heard Martha complained about how busy she was and said ""Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better."  No matter how much you have to do and how much pressure is in your life, and regardless of how things are coming and going in a flash, is your heart still focused on one thing before God, which is to have more of Christ and let Christ have more of you?  Why do we need to forget what is behind us?  Because what happened in the past often become the obstacles for our growth in life.   Failures in the past can become accusations in our heart, making us live in fear, and successes in the past can make us depend on stocks, talent and relationships over depending on God.  Is that how you are living today?  "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize."  No matter whether you succeed or fail, the Bible says that the world and everything in the world will come to pass, and only those who follow God's will can be preserved for eternity.          Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord Jesus, I once again come before you and I ask that you help me to focus on you.  I am willing to everything that my hands and my heart are holding on to tightly.  May your Spirit renew me again, have me and use me!  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Phil 3:10-12

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Phi. 3:10-12   "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead..."   Many people often say, "I want to know more about Christ."  The question is, what would you like to know about Christ?  Some study about Christ as a philosophy, others research about Christ as a historic figure.  What would you like to know about Christ when you come before Him?  Paul mentioned here two aspects of the Lord that He would like to know:    1.     To know the power of His resurrection.  Lord's resurrection does carry power.  Roman 1:4 says that Jesus "declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord."  After His resurrection, the Lord said that "all authorities on earth and in heaven have been given to me."  In other word, He has the authority to overcome sin and the authority of death, and even the authority of disease.  This authority can release tremendous power that can release us from sin, the world and the devil.  Such is the power of resurrection.   2.     To know His suffering and be like Him in His death.  This doesn't mean that we actually die like He did, but it's to be like Him in sacrificing ourselves.  It's much like how Lord Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane - "Not my will, but yours be done."  Lord Jesus obeys the heart of the Father God and He was willing to lay down Himself to follow God's will.  Paul wanted to be like the Lord in His suffering, which on the outside may look like a loss, but it's a trade between something temporary with joy and satisfaction in the Lord.  Paul also wanted to "attain to the resurrection from the dead," which means through obedience he would like the resurrected life of the Lord to manifest in his life.   The truth of the Lord's resurrection will never change, so don't let it stay in your rational mind, but make it flow out from your life! you willing to do it?         Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord Jesus, I thank you because you died and resurrected for us so that we can overcome sin, death and authority of diseases.  Lord, I am willing to let you become my Lord in every part of me, so that the resurrected life will be manifested in me.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Phil 3:8-9

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Philippians 3:8-9   What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things... and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.   Before Paul believed in Jesus, he lived under the law.  Although he was blameless under the law, he knew that he still had a problem of sin that couldn't be resolved.  Law makes people acknowledge their sin, but does not help people to solve the problem of sin.  It's just like the more you say "no no" to a kid to prevent him from doing something, the more he's tempted to do it.  That's also why there are always a few handprints on the wall beside the sign "Wet Paint;" it tempts people to try and see whether the paint is dry.   Not only is law useless in solving the problem of sin, it actually prompts people to sin, so people definitely cannot depend on the law to be righteous.  One day, we will stand trial before God, and all the righteousness we gained by following the law will not help us before God.  It's like a person cleaned up a room in the dark and couldn't see any dust in the room, but as soon as sunlight comes in he'll realize that the room was still filled with dust and spider webs.  Why was he able to see the dirtiness?  It's because there was light.  When a person think he's righteous by following the law, he's like living in a dark room, and he can only see the darkness deep inside himself after God's holy lights shines in.   If you want to stand firm before the future great trial by God, you must not rely on your own righteousness, but rather accept salvation by God.  Only through the blood of Jesus can our sin be forgiven.  The righteousness that comes from our faith in Christ can save us from the trial in the future, and the blood of Jesus also allows us to have no fear when we stand before God today.  Through prayer, we can communicate with God everyday.   Are you living in anxiety, fear and worries?  Do you feel powerless in life?  God wants to remind you that you need to start praying today.  Are you willing to do it?          Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord Jesus, I thank you because you not only saved me from sin, you also allow me to stand fearless before you.  Lord, I thank you for the authority to defeat any sin and rule of the darkness.  I ask that your spirit will remind me to pray in your will any time in any way.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Phil 3:4-8

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Philippians 3:4-8   ...But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.   A line in a hymn says: "The greatest thing that happened to me in my life is knowing you."  When I sang this hymn before, I always wondered that isn't getting married or starting a company the greatest thing that may happen to us in life?  How could it be knowing God?  Years later, I finally understand why the Bible says everything in the world and of the world will pass away.  The world is changing, society is changing, and even relationships are changing.  If we establish our values on short-lived things and relationships, we will ultimately be disappointed.  When we really know the love of Jesus, understand His will in our live, and establish our value in Him, then we can find true value of life.  After Paul knew Christ, he constantly compared Christ with what he had pursued before.  It's like comparing a rag with an emperor's robe - there's no comparison!  No wonder Paul talked about "the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."   Do you know the God you believe in?  For many people, faith is merely a set of theological concepts or principles for living.  For some of us, our faith is only a routine, just go to church on Sunday and we're all set!  The reason why many Christians are weak spiritually and in life is because they don't truly understand Lord Jesus, and even TV becomes more attractive than Lord Jesus.  The God you believe in is a loving heavenly father.  He will provide you with all your needs; He's your Savior and He's the same yesterday, today and till eternity!  He can save you today and become your comforter, and He wants to be with you forever.  He's your best friend and He can understand your loneliness, so He will accompany you on your journey of life.  No one can take care of us like the Lord can, and you must come and love Him, spend time to seek Him, and you will understand what Paul meant by "the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."         Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord Jesus, I thank you because you first know me, and you're even willing to call me a friend, what great love it is!  I ask that you open my eyes and help me to understand how real and precious you are.  Let me come near you today and get to know you more.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Phil 3:1-3

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Philippians 3:1-3   Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh...   Paul said that those who have received circumcision should put no confidence in the flesh.  It is indeed easy for people to depend on the flesh.  When we have some achievement, we become proud of ourselves, and we feel that God is on our side.  WE also easily boast on spiritual matters.  Some in the church boast that they read the scripture a lot, some boast that they are diligent in helping others, and some boast about their spiritual experience.   So why did Paul teach us not to boast by our flesh?  It's because even though these things might looks "spiritual", if we value them more than we value the will of God, they might actually hinder us from getting closer to God and pleasing Him.  In John 5:39-40, Jesus severely rebuked the Pharisees: "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life."  Pharisees value the scripture, but they boast by their spiritual knowledge; they feel that they are the authority on the scripture, which made them reject the teaching of Jesus.   Paul said that those we have truly circumcised worship God by His spirit, not by their own interest or traditions that never change.  They are willing let the Holy Spirit guide them freely.  "Boast in Christ Jesus" means a person cannot do anything apart from Christ; he needs to constantly depend on Christ but he's afraid of depending on himself.  Are you someone who depends on Christ?  May the Lord help us to lay down the baggage of our body, tradition and experience; let us have a renewed expectation to experience the abundance in Christ.        Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord Jesus, we thank you because you are the Lord who will do new things.  I am willing to lay down all my baggage, my concepts, traditions and interests.  May the Spirit of the Lord raise me up, let me once again experience how real and abundant you are.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Phil 2:27-30

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Philippians 2:27-30   Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.   Epaphroditus got really sick in the prison and he almost died.  Through prayer of people and mercy of God, however, he was healed.  Our God is a merciful God.  Isaiah 54:10 says that "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shake, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you."  One time Jesus was near Jericho; a blind man heard Jesus passing by and cried out: "Son of David, have mercy on me!"  The Bible said that Jesus stopped.  When you cry out for God's mercy by faith, the Lord will surely stop.  Lord asked the blind man: "What do you want me to do for you?"  He said, "I want to see!"  Jesus said, "you can see now, for your faith has saved you!"  The blind man's vision was immediately restored.   Effective prayer doesn't come from eagerly begging God.  Praying to God with eagerness comes out from the helplessness of the body, but not from true faith.  Effective prayer comes from knowledge of God's nature, believing that He is a merciful God, and praying to God by holding on to God's mercy by faith.  Epaphroditus was healed from his sickness, not only because God had mercy on him, but also because God had mercy on Paul.  In other word, God's healing will come to someone not just because the faith of the sick, but also faith in God of the intercessor.  I believe God wants to release the faith for healing through this message.  If you have any illness right now, I invite you to hold on to God's mercy by faith, lay hand on wherever the illness is, and let's pray for it together!       Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, may your mercy come upon all the brothers and sisters.  May you rescue those who are dying from the hands of the enemy.  Turn the weak ones to strong ones, and let them no longer be bound by illness.  May you receive all the glory!  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - Phil 2:25-26

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Philippians 2: 25-26   But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.   Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippian church to serve Paul who was imprisoned, but he got sick as soon as he reached Rome and almost died.  Paul, however, didn't look down on him.  From how Paul addressed Epaphroditus we could tell how much Paul loved him.  First, Paul called him "my brother."  Paul was not proud because he was greatly used by God, and he knew that before God the most important relationship between brothers and sisters is not as coworkers, but brothers and sisters.  Coworkers are distinguished by position and role, brothers and sisters, however, have equal and intimate relationship before God.  As long as we understand this truth, we will not look down on any brother and sister, and we won't allow anything to come between us.   Second, Paul called him a coworker.  From our perspective, the work of Epaphroditus seemed to be quite trivial compared to the mission trips taken by Paul, but Paul didn't look down on him at all.  Paul knew that the work of Epaphroditus was not only for him, but it was done for Jesus Christ.  No matter how trivial a person's work for Jesus is to us, in the eyes of the Lord they are not trivial, and they will be rewarded in heaven.  Lord never look down on any minor work that we do for Him, so how could we look down on them?   Third, Paul called him a fellow soldier, someone Paul fought with.  Anyone who's served in military would know that fellow soldiers are to live and die together; not only do they persevere hardship together, they are also rewarded together.  The biblical principle was rewarding those who fight together it that those who guard the weapons will be rewarded equally as those who fought on the frontline.  In spiritual warfare, every ministry needs to be supplemented and supported by other ministries, and no ministry can claim to be the most important one.  We all belong to the same army with the same commander; we are fighting the same war and we'll receive the same glory from our victory.  How do you regard the brothers and sisters around you?  Are you willing to once again accept them as your brothers, coworkers and fellow soldiers?      Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord Jesus, I ask for your forgiveness if I've ever looked down on other brothers and sisters.  May the Lord once again open my heart, so that we may accept my brothers and sisters as my brothers, coworkers and fellow soldiers.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!