Today's Passage - John 4:46-54

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 4:46-54   ..... And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. "Unless you people see signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." "Go," Jesus replied, "your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him. Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and his whole household believed. .......                  While signs and wonders cannot save our souls, yet we cannot deny that they are a channel that helps us understand God's love and mercy. Many times we turn to God and accept His salvation because we have experienced His love and mercy. There are, however, several elements for this miracle to happen.                  First, this miracle is based on the Word of God. When Jesus heard the royal official saying that his son was dying, he replied: "Go, your son will live." It takes the presence of the Word and promise of God for miracles to happen. God is faithful and He is true to His words. Signs and wonders happen not because of our wishful thinking; once God utters His words, He is keen to complete this work.                  Second is the people's obedience. The royal official believed Him when Jesus said his son would live. You must believe the Word of God, knowing that His Word will get fulfilled. The official not only believed; he demonstrated his true belief with his actions by departing. Similarly when we read the Word of God, we have to believe the Word of God, and pray with a firm hold on the Word of God.                  When you face difficulties in life, you need to come to God, not only to read the Word of God, but also to hold on the Word of God, pray to God. Because the Word of God is powerful, the Word of God is not in vain. Lord helps us, not only to believe in the Word of God and believe God will reward the ones that seek Him. After the official departed, his servants greeted him and said: "Your son lives!" When did the healing take place? Just when Jesus said: "Your son lives." Hallelujah! Our God is faithful, you need to believe Him, trust Him, and you can experience God's abundant miracles!           Pray with Pastor Tong           Thank you, dear Lord, because you listen and answer our prayers. May you increase our faith, let us hold on to you Words, and sustain our prayers until we see wonderful things happen. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 4:39-45

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 4:39-35                  Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." ......                  After meeting Jesus, the Samaritan woman went to town to proclaim the message of Jesus and within two days many believed in Him. Think about it, nobody believed the Lord when the disciples came to town. Then the woman came to town and almost shocked it entirely! Why so? These disciples are by all means fine soldiers of Christ! But they came to town only to buy food to satisfy their hunger, so they only saw fried rice and chow-mein, rather than the souls of the Samaritans. This Samaritan woman has an authentic testimony! Once she believed the Lord, she set out to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. The changes in her life are the very authentic testimony.                  Brothers and sisters, our lives must be authentic. Once people see our real living testimonies, they will become attracted and turn to Jesus Christ. Our lives, however, are not that real, especially within the churches. When you ask somebody: "How is your work, brother?" "It's great, praise the Lord!" "How's your family" "It's great, praise the Lord!" "How are you doing?" "It's great, praise the Lord!" They do not sound that authentic at all. If you go and ask some non-believers: "How are you?" "Oh, it's terrible! My wife is giving me such a hard time; I'd get a divorce and get it over!" While we may not agree with him, he is rather authentic though.                  Nowadays what the world wants to see is an authentic testimony! The testimony we give to the world today is how God truly changes us. The Samaritan woman was full of the filth of sin, despised by others; once her life changed it shocked the town. We also need this type of testimony, let us live an authentic life, so that others see how faith is truly reflected in our lives, then we can influence our families and communities!           Pray with Pastor Tong           Thank you Lord, because the gospel can bring changes. May you help us live an authentic Christian life, and may your power manifest through us, such that the multitude will turn to you. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 4:36-38

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 4: 36-38   Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."                  Here Jesus says "one sows and another reaps, the sower and the reaper may be glad together when harvest comes." Our own selfish thinking would put the sower as the unfortunate one because he reaps not while the reaper quite often reaps without sowing. The truth is we have unity in God's kingdom inheriting the mission; besides receiving the same mission, we also receive the same power from the Holy Spirit. Therefore we do not distinguish sowing and reaping altogether, sometimes other people sow and we reap, sometimes we sow and others follow to reap. Let our eyes not see our own selves, rather seeing we have unity in God's kingdom and we can rejoice!                  Reinhard Bonnke is a German evangelist that God greatly uses in Africa where millions attend his evangelistic meetings. Once he led many people to Christ while holding a large evangelistic meeting in a small village. Later that night he went back to his tent and opened a church history book and found out that David Livingston had preached there. Livingston wrote in his journal: "I preached the Gospel for such a long time here and no one would accept the Lord, yet the Lord tells me in spirit that the spirit of God will work here one hundred years later this day and there will be great harvest!"                  It is exactly a hundred years later when Reinhard Bonnke read that journal! Livingston sowed there a hundred years ago and now he reaps here after one hundred years; He is walking down the shed blood of that missionary! We have real unity in God's kingdom! Together we strive to preach the gospel, sometimes we sow and sometimes we reap, and together we rejoice in the Lord.           Pray with Pastor Tong           Thank you dear Lord! This is the time of harvest; let us work diligently because your kingdom will come soon! May your Spirit come and make us into your vessels. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 4:35

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 4:35   "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest?' I tell you, open your eyes and look at the field! They are ripe for harvest."   When we see the work of God in this world, it is just   like what Jesus said, "The crop is ripe for harvest." In order words, we should wait no longer , and as we move forward with faith, we will  experience God's bountiful harvest!  When God's revival came to  Argentina and many South American cities, what used to be single digit attendance in many Argentine churches, now experience attendances exceeding ten thousand. Thus   many people have turned to God  because of the  revival  of God's spirit, resulting in  the spreading of the gospel with  the power of healings and casting out demons.  There are many churches now in Argentina with attendances exceeding ten thousand people.   As in Argentina, by God's spirit, the gospel is likewise being spread in China, resulting in many people becoming His followers, in spite of many cults and persecutions.  Even under the most conservative estimate, on average more than twenty thousand people become believers every day!  In addition, God spirit is also working in Korea, Singapore and many countries in Asia; Christians may now constitute over 30% in these countries!  God's spirit is also doing miraculous work in the Muslim world.   The door of Christianity previously closed in those countries is now slowly opening.  Jordan is one example; this has never happened before when Benny Hinn held evangelistic healing meetings in Jordan previously.   Furthermore, "The Story of Jesus" has been a very effective gospel tool in many Muslim countries.  After this movie was shown, many testified that Jesus appeared to them during their sleep.  How miraculous this is!  God has greatly used    Reinhard Bonnke, the German evangelist, to spread the gospel in Africa.  Resulting from the many evangelistic meetings in Nigeria, each with more than a million attendance,   3.4 million people had made decisions to become Christians!    Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth Mission,  once  shared  in with us  that  1.2 million people attended  a unified  Christian prayer gathering in Nigeria.  Hallelujah!  May God help us to see the harvest is ripe.  Let us be encouraged and work together with our Lord to harvest the field in this generation.            Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, we thank You for this is indeed the time for bountiful harvest!  This is exactly the message for our generation.  May You revive our churches, and all the Christians so that we may work together with You in this age.  With thanks we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 4:27-34

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 4 : 27-34   ".....then leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,  'Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.  Could this be the Christ?' They came out of town and made their way towards him.  Meanwhile, his disciples urged him, 'Rabbi, eat something.' But he said to them, ' I have food to eat that you know nothing about,'  Then the disciples said to each other, 'Could someone had bought him food?' "My food,' said Jesus ,' is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.'"   After this woman had talked to Jesus, she realized Jesus was the Christ.  She then entered the city joyfully and spread the news of Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to Samaria mainly for this woman.  When she repented and turned to the Lord,  Jesus' heart was fulfilled.   So, when the disciples came back with food and told Jesus, "We have food , come and eat!" Jesus replied, "I have eaten." The disciples felt strange as nobody had bought Him food. Jesus then continued," My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."   Jesus knew that food could only fill us up temporary.  Once we are fully fed, we will be hungry again in a lillte while.  Water can quench our thirst, but we will be thirsty  again.  There is nothing in this world that can satisfy our needs.  Real satisfaction comes from fulfilling the needs deep in our hearts.  When we follow God's will and finish His work, our hearts will be fulfilled as we have a sense of great accomplishment because we know we are walking on God's path.   Brothers and sisters, what are you thirsty for?  If we are still thirsty for those that are earthly, it is like we are given a loaf of bread by the disciples, we will be hunger and thirsty again.  May the Lord give us a new desire, so that we have a hunger in seeking for His purpose and guidance in our lives.  If a person can neither recognize his role nor position, there is a sense of loss and defeat as he may often be treading on the wrong path and taking a wrong position.  It is only when we return to our  Lord can we recognize  the path and understand  role entrusted to us by Him, and only as  we are running faithfully  on this journey,  can we say like Paul said, " I have finished a my course, and I have fought a good fight!" The greatest fulfillment in our hearts is to know we have finished the course entrusted to us by God.  May God help us, and let us commit our lives to God  , and let Him be our guidance.         Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, we pray that we may understand Your will so we would not waste any time in seeking for things that are perishable. Let us turn to You again and live fully for You.  With thanks we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 4:24-26

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 4: 24 -26   "God is a spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth...."   In the original text "truth and spirit" means  worshiping  God both in the Holy Spirit and in truth.  If we do worship Him in spirit and in truth,   and as this is from our hearts,   will God   accept us for sure?  But in reality, this may not be the case.  I recall in one student-parent meeting at school, teacher told the students, "Your parents have been serving you all these days, but today you are going to serve your parents instead!  Go to the table there and serve your parents with some snacks."  The children were delighted and brought their parents red and green cookies.  Then a mother shouted, "Not the cookies, get the fruit!"  But the children could only see what they liked - the cookies, not what the parents desired - the fruit.  Nevertheless, the parents then affectionately laughed and shouted,  "Oh, we appreciate your gesture, but this is not what we want!"   Isn't  this  similar  when we come before the Lord only  according to our own spirit and truth?   Even though it is offered from our inner hearts, would this truly please  God?  Of course, this offering is very good, but what does God really want?  When we come before God and worship Him, we need to re-consider:  what worship can  truly be  attuned with  God's  will?  Acts 15: 16-17 says, "As it is written, 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent.  Its ruin I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name.'"   God has clearly shown to the last generations that He will restore David's tent.  In others words, God will restore the praises and worship of David's era!   If we examine closely  what is  recorded in Chronicles I chapters 15 and 16,  we will find that many instruments, praises  and even lifting of hands and  worshipping on knees,  were   used when  singing and worshipping God!  God is going to restore this kind of worship in the last generations to the point that all the Gentiles will turn toward Him.  May the Lord give us a heart of humility, worshiping this true God according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His own words so that God's heart will be fulfilled through our worship.          Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, we thank You because You have clearly taught us to  worship  You according to Your Holy Spirit and truth, and in our daily living, we may worship You with hearts of praises to glorify your Holy Spirit.  With thanks we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

Today's Passage - John 4:19-23

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 4:19-23   "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."  "Woman," Jesus replied, "believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.  You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.   It is God's will for us to worship Him alone.  In the church, we have many styles of worships.  It's like what the woman said here: "Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."  Some churches stress that on traditional hymns are true worship hymns and some churches more modern and lively music to worship; some churches forbid any instrument besides piano, as they believe that all other -- instruments are from the devil, and some churches even forbid pianos and make everyone sing without any instrument, because all instruments belong to the world.   These, however, are all human thinking.  We like to come before God with our own will, opinion or custom, but we don't think about the true purpose of worship.  Is the purpose of our worship to exercise our own custom and opinion?  Everyone feels that they must insist on their own opinion, just like how the woman thought that worship should take place on the mountain, but not in Jerusalem.  Jews, however, thought that worship should take place in Jerusalem, not on the mountain.   Churches often quarrel on this type of questions too, and they may even criticize and judge each other, resulting in no unity among the churches, how pitiful that is!  We like to argue about these details, but overlook the true meaning of worship.  When we worship, we want seek to please God wholeheartedly.  If traditional hymns can help us to free our heart and soul to worship God, isn't that a beautiful thing?  If drums and contemporary hymns can help us to completely open up our hearts to worship God, isn't that also a beautiful thing?  The most important thing is whether our love for the Lord becomes deeper when we worship Him!   May God give us an open heart; the Lord said here that we should worship in spirit and in truth, which means that worship must come from our heart.  Let us use all kinds of psalms, hymns and God's word to praise and worship Him from the depth of our soul, because only He is worthy!       Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, may you teach us to worship you in spirit and truth, with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind.  Let us lift your holy name high in our daily life, so that your will may be done.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

Today's Passage - John 4:15-18

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 4:15-18   The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."  He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."  "I have no husband," she replied.  Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."   When the woman heard that Jesus Christ could give her living water, her heart was filled with thirst.  She said to the Lord: "Lord, please give me this living water!"  Jesus, however, clearly knew that there was hindrance in her life, which is her sin, something deep inside her that she didn't want to acknowledge, or even recognize that it was a sin.  When Jesus asked her to call her husband, she wanted to deny that she had one, for she just wanted to be blessed by the living water.  In all these years, she was pursuing happiness in vain, and now she just wanted to receive an abundant life from God.   We are often like this woman; we also want to receive abundant life from God, but we forget that we need to first confront our sin.  We cannot receive God's grace when we ask because we have not dealt with the sins in our life.  If sin is still ruling our life, then God's grace cannot come upon us.  Let us honestly face ourselves and honestly face the problem of sin in our life.   Jesus also clearly pointed out: "you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband."  Apparently this woman kept on failing and stumbling in this matter.  This reminds me of the prevalence of pornography in mass media and internet in our generation.  It causes many people to fall into sin and constantly think about committing adultery.  We need to ask God to forgive us like how he forgave this woman.  We need to once again bring all things before God, let God shine His light upon us.  Let us see our own darkness and sin, so that we would acknowledge our sin and allow God's grace come upon us.        Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, please forgive the sins deep inside our heart, especially with the impact that pornography on internet had on us.  We have sinned again you and against people.  May the Lord's precious blood cover us, and once again may you give us your grace.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!