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!