Today's Passage - Luke 15:8-10

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 15:8-10   'Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin."  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.'   The Lord talked about lighting a lamp here, which represents the work of the Holy Spirit.  Holy Spirit is like light in our life, it proactively seeks us in many ways.  First of all, Holy Spirit is like light that prompts us to rebuke ourselves for the sake of sin, righteousness and judgment.  The greatest difficulty in spreading the gospel is to let someone recognize his sin; not only is it difficult for non-believers, it also difficult for believers.  We often think we are righteous, and it's hard for us to see how we have forsaken God and other people.  Our self-righteousness is like a person cleaning up a house in the darkness.  He's making an effort to clean up the house and he thinks he's doing a good job, but as soon as sunlight comes in, he will see that the house is filled with dust and spider web.  He didn't see the dirtiness not because his eyes are not good, but because there was no light in the house.  In the same way, Holy Spirit is the light in your life, and only when the light of the Holy Spirit shines in will one sees his own filthiness, and thus turn back to God.   Second, Holy Spirit is like light that it provides guidance.  In the darkness we often cannot see what's ahead of us, but when the light of the Holy Spirit comes, our way become brighter.  Psalm 16:18-29 says that "you, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.  With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall."  There is a lamp inside our hearts, but because of sin the lamp has become dark.  No matter how we examine our life, it looks like we are trapped in four walls with no way out.  When the Holy Spirit comes into our life, however, the lamp inside is lit, and we start to see the path forward in our life, which brings us much joy.  In the parables preached by the Lord, the word "rejoice" was used repeatedly, because it is a great joy for a personal to turn back to God.  Not only is the personal joyful, all the angels and army of the heaven will rejoice with him, and even more precious would be the joy shared by people around him.  Are you prompted to work with the Holy Spirit with joy to bring hearts of people back to God? Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I ask that you help us to see how you want to find the lost sheep; Holy Spirit wants to light the lamps in our lives, and to bring our hearts back to you.  Let us be touched by your heart, and to work together with you each day in our life to spread the gospel to everyone around us who needs it.  I ask that you especially bless the non-believers in our family, and let them turn back to you as soon as possible.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!