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!