Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 4:11

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

2 Timothy 4:11

   

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

   

Paul especially mentioned Mark, who is the cousin of the apostle Barnabas, and also the coworkero f Paul and Barnabas in their first missionary journey. However, in the middle of that journey, maybe due to his young age and the hardships he experienced, Mark beat the drums of retreat and went back. At the time, Paul was very angry, even keeping it in his heart. When it was time for the second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to bring Mark, but Paul immediately opposed him, even to the point of parting ways with Barnabas. They both brought someone to go on separate journeys. Barnabas is truly a person with the spiritual gift of encouragement. In the church we not only need the gifts of teaching and preaching, but even more we need people with the spiritual gift of encouragement, people who know how to support and help those who are weak and know how to give people a second chance. That's why Barnabas brought Mark along, and as a result Mark was used by God. In the end, even Paul acknowledged that Mark is helpful to him.

   

This Mark is the writer of the Gospel of Mark. Thank God. God is willing and pleased to give people second chances. No matter how many time you have experienced failures and setbacks, even discouragements and disappointments in your life, God will never forsake you. He is willing and pleased to give you a second chance. Truthfully in my own life, I have experienced so much grace, not only a second chance, but a third, and a fourth chance. God's grace is truly more than all we ask or imagine. On the other hand, since God is so gracious to us, should we not be gracious to the people around us? When someone says, "Oh, that person is just like that!" What that person is implying is that even God can't change this person. In reality, God has not completed his work in the person's life. How can you or I know God can't turn the person around? May God grant us a gracious heart towards each other. Especially in the church, let us through a loving heart support and help those who are weak and through gentleness bring back those who have stumbled.

   

The Lord says the healthy do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. Yet the Lord came to be the substitute for our weakness, to bear our sickness and disease. Maybe in your life there are many Marks. May the Lord help us to be an encourager. Maybe even you are a Mark. May God help you not to be discouraged and to lose hope. Come back before him once again. If Mark can experience stumbling and later be used by God, in the same way you only need to turn around and come back before God and God can use you in the same way as well. 

                                                    

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Dear Lord, I pray especially for every brother and sister who have experienced failure, weakness, and stumbling. In the victorious name of Jesus, I rebuke the spirit of depression and discouragement inside them. I ask the Lord to help them stand up once again and be instruments used by you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! 


   

  

                                                                                               

Monday, April 29, 2019

Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 4:9-10

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

2 Timothy 4: 9-10

  

"Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia."

                

Because he loved this world, Demas not only deserted Paul, he also abandoned God's work. Loving this world not only speaks of the blind pursuit on the outside, it also embodies the inner attitude. A rich man loves this world because of the attraction of money and power; the poor people also love the world because they are eager to deal with the present life situations. The manifestation may be different, but the mindset is the same. This mindset causes our eyes to drift away from God, using only our means to solve problems. The mindset of loving the world not only takes place in the unbelieving generations, it also takes place among the believers; the New Testament church had Demas, the Old Testament time had Lot. It is because believers have not established the proper Godly values after believing the Lord, so it is natural to accept the worldly values, going after the world.

                

When quarreling arose between Abraham's and Lot's servants, Abraham asked Lot to choose his own place of living. Lot did not seek God's will in the face of this opportunity; the first thing he thought and saw was the whole plain of the Jordan. Sodom was a major business center at that time, Lot chose Jordan valley not to follow the world on purpose, but his values dictated his decision. The Jordan valley embodied power and glory that were the foundation of the world's values.

                

Once Lot failed to establish the proper Godly values, the worldly values took root in his heart, and then dominated his life. So naturally Lot walked the way of the world, while he was among the cities of the plain, and pitched his tents near Sodom. He did not establish the Godly values in advance, so the worldly values gradually affected him, even when the two angels came looking for him, Lot was still sitting at the gateway of Sodom. Only the elders can sit at the city gateway during that era, the elders embodied authority, Sodom embodied the glory of the world, values like authority and glory had a firm grip on Lot, so he walked the way of the world.  Brothers and sisters, if you are not walking the God's way to influence the world, then you are being influenced by the world, walking the way of the world. Lord, help us to turn around walking the God's way today.

                                                 

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, help us not to love the world like Demas, and not to pitch the tents like Lot, and walk the way of world to the end. Help us adjust our strides, and walk the Godly ways. We give thanks and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!


 
 

   

  

                                                                                               

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 4:8

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

2 Timothy 4:8

 

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

                

Many people long for the Lord, but what they long for is only a set of good doctrines and ideas, as well as some practices arising from their own self-righteousness. When the Lord really appears before them, they struggle to accept it, especially the work of the Holy Spirit. Many people often pray for the filling of the Spirit, but they reject it when the Spirit is working at the meeting. Our God is all-encompassing and generous; Lord, help us, do not allow our tunnel vision to hinder His workings.

                

Moody is a servant greatly used by God, he preached with power since he was young. Once while preaching at the pulpit, he saw a sister praying below, afterwards he asked what she prayed about, and she said, "I was praying for you." Moody asked in great surprise, "What are the things you pray for me?" she said, "I asked the Holy Spirit to fill you." Moody was not very happy upon hearing it, he thought, "I preach with such power, why do you still ask the Spirit to fill me?"

                 

After he went home that day the sister's words stuck with him, and then Moody asked the Lord, "Lord! Do I really need the filling of the Holy Spirit? Am I not getting something in you? Holy Spirit, come and fill me!" As recorded in his biography, ever since that time he would pray every day while walking on the streets of New York, "Holy Spirit, come and fill me! I cannot continue the ministry without you!" There was great thirst in him, then one day the Spirit suddenly came upon him, he fell on the street, and at that instant the Spirit awarded him speaking in tongues. This is an embarrassing scene from the human perspective, but how glorious it is to a person who is thirsty for God.

                

Are you really thirsty for the Lord? Are you willing to step out of the so-called "comfort zone" into the flowing streams of the Spirit? The appearing of the Lord is not just for the present, it also points to His second coming. Many Christians never give it a serious thought, only cherishing the lives of this world, and ideally the Lord would not come so soon. We always claim we are thirsty for the Lord; in fact we are thirsty for our own satisfaction. Are you thirsty for the Lord appearing to you? The Lord will award the crown of righteousness to those who are thirsty for His appearance.

                                              

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, we ask you to award the thirsty spirit, let us thirst for your appearance before us in our everyday lives, so that our lives are completely transformed, and we serve with power. We give thanks and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!


 

   

  

                                                                                               

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 4:6-7

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

2 Timothy 4: 6-7

   

"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

                

When Paul wrote 2 Timothy, he was coming to the end of his life. Many people are often full of regrets when facing the end of their lives, but Paul faced death with positive attitude, without any trace of remorse, instead it seemed he had prepared himself for that moment. He said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith," it resembles the analogy that he used in chapter 2, that a seasoned worker is like a good soldier, or anyone competing as an athlete, and a hardworking farmer.

                

As a good soldier of Christ, Paul said, "I have fought the good fight," here it refers not the battle of flesh and guns; instead it is the spiritual warfare.  People serving God will meet all sorts of spiritual warfare in their personal lives and ministry journeys, some come from the lust of the flesh, and some are attacks from the outside environment. But Paul said he has fought the fight and it's a good fight. What is the spiritual warfare that you're facing? Do you know the fight in front of you and rely on God to win every one of them?

                

Next, as an athlete competing on the field, Paul said, "I have finished the race," he has reached the finish line that God gave him. God has prepared a certain race for every believer; His heart is we have to reach the finish line given to us, receiving the prepared rewards. For Paul, he has finished the race, are you running the race that God has given you? Many believers run a worldly race instead of a Godly race; if you run the wrong race, it's impossible to receive God's rewards. God, help us adjust our strides to follow Him.

                

Third, as a hardworking farmer, Paul said, "I have kept the faith," like the Lord said in the parable of the sower. Our given Word of God need not only to grow on good soil, they also need timely watering by the farmers. God's workers are to help the Word of God growing in the believers' lives; have you kept your given Word of God? Are you reading God's words daily as well as following them in your lives?

                                           

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, please help us to become seasoned workers that we can rely on you to win the warfare facing us. Upon facing the ways of ministry and life, we can change from the worldly race to your own race, so that we'll receive your rewards. We give thanks and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

 
 

   

  

                                                                                               

Friday, April 26, 2019

Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 4 3-5

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

2 Timothy 4:3-5

   

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

   

Paul says, "For the time will come". In reality, the time Paul is talking about is today.  Today is a time when people pursue the newest and most exciting things. We can see this even in the amusement parks. I find that every year the roller roasters need novelty and change, the more novel and exciting the better. People's ears are already bored with things that don't change. They are asking for novelty and change, thinking that must be good.  These forces drive industrial production. However, in the truth, we should stand firm in God's word.

  

The "New Age Movement" is very popular at this time. They think they can interact with all the spirits in heaven and on earth. Therefore, they left the pure gospel of Christ in search for the so-called divine mystical experiences. Therefore, they fall into the worship of heresies, evil spirits, and idols. They are bored with the truth, even refusing to listen to it. Isn't this describing the world today? Faced with the unrighteousness and immorality in the society, they cover up their eyes and not look, refusing to listen with their ears, and not willing to humble themselves to repent and confess their sins, and even more they are not willing to receive God's word.

  

Faced with an unbelieving generation, the Lord exhorts us: keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, and discharge all the duties of your ministry. First, we need to be careful and keep our head in all situations in order to avoid falling into temptations, because the battle we face is a spiritual battle. Many times the enemy will get us when we are not paying attention. Also, we need to be prepared to endure hardship. When you follow the truth, not only does the world not welcome you, sometimes even brothers and sisters may not support you. They may make fun of you or intimidate you. You need to be prepared to endure hardship, because the time will come, and God will come to our aid and release us. Lastly, we need to discharge all the duties of our role and be faithful to the work that God has entrusted to us. God will surely reward us for his own sake. May the Lord help us not stop sharing the gospel, whether in season or out of season. 

                                         

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Dear Lord, please give me a strong and courageous heart to be a glorious witness for you in this generation. Help me to have a faithful attitude and courageous heart and will. Give me the power of the Holy Spirit and confirm the word I preach by signs and wonders. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! 


   

  

                                                                                               

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 4 1-2

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

2 Timothy 4:1-2

  

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.

   

Paul exhorts every believer that we need to share the gospel, because the Lord will judge us in the future. For believers, we may not need to go through the great white throne judgment, yet we will go through God's judgment for our works. In Matthew 25, the Lord tells a parable of the talents. On the one hand, the parable tells us that as long as we are faithful in offering ourselves to serve God, God's reward is the same. On the other hand, for the inattentive servant who was not faithful in the work God entrusted him, he was thrown outside with weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is not saying he was not saved, but it is saying his salvation is like someone who escapes the fire, and he was not able to get any reward from God. I think of the one day when you and I will stand before God's judgment seat to settle accounts. Therefore, we need to strive to share the gospel.

   

How should we share the gospel? Verse 2 says, "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season." Sharing the gospel needs to be done at every moment, non-stop, all the time because our life is a witness for the Lord. Sharing the gospel is not necessarily by the words from our mouth, more importantly, it is from our life. Can other people see in us a life that they would admire? Someone said, "Actually, there are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, plus yourself." Other people see the other 4 books, but for the people around you, they see the 5th book - you. Whether you are prepared for it or not, whether you want it or not, God has already put you in the position to share the gospel. On the other hand, sharing the gospel is not only to be done when things are going well. In reality, when the church in China was in the midst of persecutions, the gospel was widely spread. Their testimony was like in the early church. At the time, many people in the prison do not have enough to eat, so the Christians gave their own bread to others who need it. Their testimony caused many people to be touched and to believe in the Lord.

    

Lastly, it is the attitude when sharing the gospel. We must do it with great patience and careful instruction. For many people you share the gospel with, one time is not enough. Sometimes, even one year, two years, three years and there's no fruit. But you must not stop caring about them. You need to faithfully continue to pray for them until God's Spirit works in them. Not only do you need to have patience, but you need to lead them with "great patience". May God give us this kind of attitude, so that we can be fishers of men. 

                                         

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Dear Lord, I thank you for giving me the mission for the gospel. Please help me so that by careful instruction and patient attitude, I can faithfully pray for my friends and family members. And may the Holy Spirit personally work in their lives. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

 

 


 

  

                                                                                               

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 3 16-17

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

2 Timothy 3:16-17

   

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

   

"Inspiration" in the original text is "God-breathed".  The entirety of the Bible is from God written through the hands of men with the inspiration from the Holy Spirit.  There are forty-four authors in the Bible written in a span of 1,600 years with the central theme focused on Jesus Christ.  Science today progresses in lightning speed, but today's truth may be refuted tomorrow.  Nevertheless, the truth depicted in the Bible never changes.  There has never been a book like Bible that has been so critically scrutinized including those about history, archaeology, science and arts. 

 

We thank God because the more this book is scrutinized, the more faith we have on the Bible being the Word of God. Somebody has once said, "The Bible did not get famous because of Christians!"  Bible was not written because of Christians, but, on the contrary, people become Christians because of the Bible. God's word has the power to transform lives enabling the repentance of sins; enabling the departure from one's path willingly and walk onto God's path.  Therefore, the transformation of every Christian is the best evidence that "The Bible is the word of God."

 

One's desire to pursue a fulfilling and blessed life increases with increasing social interactions; the Bible provides the only authoritative guide.  Following the principles in the Bible, families would be filled with love and happiness, human relationships become harmonious.  No wonder people refers the Bible as the "Life's manual" not only should we read this book, but recognize that it is the authority guiding  our lives when we practice according to its teachings.

 

Both "doctrine" and "reproof" refer to our religious faith.  The Bible is the foundation on which our faith is established.  This foundation cannot be built   on pastors' preaching as they are also human who may prone to error.  Our faith is built on the entirety of this Bible and as we learn, we need to discern what is the truth and what is heresy. There are many heresies and cults today because those people only listen to others without spending time to study the Bible themselves.  When facing the judgment throne, there is no excuse saying, "This is the pastor's fault, I was led astray."  God will then respond, "Haven't I given you the Bible?  Why aren't you reading it?"

 

 "For correction" and "instruction to righteousness" refer to our daily living.  The Bible provides not only the true teachings, but also how to walk on the right path with the goal of becoming glorious like Christ.  Besides receiving knowledge in studying the Bible, our lives would also be transformed so that we would lead of live that is both glorious to God and beneficial to others. 

                                         

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, help us study and follow your word every day of our lives so that Your life would be manifested in us. With thanks we pray, in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!


 


 

  

                                                                                               

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 3 15

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

2 Timothy 3:15

  

"...and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

 

Paul indicated the Bible makes us wise for salvation. The Bible is not a scientific text book, nor a book of astrology and hexagram. This is a book about the word of life revealing God's creation, His plan of salvation, the sinful fall of mankind, the way to redemption, and also finding meaning and goals to our lives.  More importantly, not only does the Bible provide us with the knowledge of God, but it is also a guide for us to know God.

  

Without denial, I grew up in the church and have been a good child all along - even our friends agreed wholeheartedly.  Until one day in  Sunday school,  when the pastor talked about the sins in the eyes of God, I then came to realize that pride is  also a sin.  I was proud compared to others; I thought I was a good person, and yet in God's eyes this is also a sin. The word of the Bible is just like a mirror; we come to recognize the darkness inside us when facing it, and as a result, we repent and we come to recognize the cleansing power of His blood

 

God's word enables us to know Him, and as we come before His presence, we also discover that He has already known us. The Bible says, "Before I form you in the womb, I knew you."  It is such a comfort knowing this truth!  God's word becomes our strength and guidance in our lives giving us real freedom and power.  It is also precious to know that God's word gives us wisdom and helps us walk with Him every day.  Do you understand God's word?  Do you let His word to be your help? May God help us so that His word will become our wisdom as we read them everyday.

                                         

Pray with Pastor Tong     

    

Lord, we thank you for the wisdom of your word even before we come to know You.  May we experience the wisdom of your salvation until the day we see You.  With thanks we pray, in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!