Today's Passage - 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

1 Corinthians 13:8-13   Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.   Paul mentioned the eternal nature of love in this passage.  Spiritual gifts are limited and they will cease.  When? Verse 10 says "when perfection comes" and verse 12 says "then I shall know fully".  In other words, when the Lord returns and we stand before His throne and see Him face to face.  He Himself is our supplier and can fully meet all our needs, while spiritual gifts are limited. What we know and what we say is limited.  Whether it is prophecies or tongues, these are not perfect. Even pastors are not perfect and cannot guarantee that every word they say is accurate. This is because the human mind is limited and our ability to analyze is limited. As such, the people listening must always discern.   Spiritual gifts are limited and our lives are limited. Who can say that their spiritual knowledge is 100% perfect? Let us come before God and admit that we are but like children. Each time when I read this passage, I will feel a great relief, knowing that my knowledge of God is like a poor reflection in the mirror, and I can only attempt to experience God him through the depths of my soul as much as possible. Only when we meet with the Lord face to face, will we truly discover His glorious beauty that is beyond our imagination.   In our limited life, the greatest is love, because love never fails, and it endures forever until we see the Lord.  May the Lord help us not to overly focus on signs and wonders, or on knowledge and intellect, but to focus on the sacrificial love of Christ. Only when we have the love of Christ inside us, can the world know that Christianity is from God and that Jesus Christ is indeed the son of God and the Savior of all mankind.          Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, may you bless us so that we may not only receive your love, but once again humble ourselves to acknowledge our weakness and limitations.  May we be like children who can come to you openly and without fear, to receive your love.  Help us to live out your love when we work, minister and serve together.  We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!     Find out more about ROLCC Ignite English ministry, a dynamic multi-ethnic young professional congregation!

Today's Passage - 1 Corinthians 13:7

1 Corinthians 13:7   It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.      Paul goes on to say there are four things to note when it comes to exercising "love" towards others: Paul first talked about always protecting. This is to treat each other with a big heart. The truth is everyone is different and each one of us has our own weakness. We have to learn to accept each other's weakness because the Lord has accepted us. There was a missionary who was unsatisfied with another missionary's ministry and he complained to the Lord, "Lord, how could you use a person like him?" The Lord answered, "The same way I used you!" We only look at the faults of others, but we fail to see that God also accepted our shortcomings. In addition, there is often a double standard in the church. If you would treat people who are close to you different from those who are not, that is not the biblical way. We need to learn to always protect one another within the church.   Secondly, always trust. We must first trust in God's promises and do not lose the child-like faith. We must believe that God's promises will always come to pass, and keep our eyes on Him. No matter how circumstances may change, do not doubt God. Believe that He works all things for your good. Believe also in God's ability. Do not back out because of fear. Believe that nothing is impossible for God.  Besides trusting God, we must also learn to trust our brothers and sisters. Always choose to believe that their motives are pure and that they love God.  Believe that what they do is out of love for God, out of love for us and for the church. Only when we learn to always trust, can we see love being poured out into our lives.    Thirdly always hope.  God is ultimately victorious and He will keep us to the end. The pastor of Bread of Life church once said if not for the clear vision that God had given him to build a glorious church, he would have become discouraged in his ministry long time ago. It is the hope of glory and the heart of God to build up His church that has sustained him through the years.  Once you have such a glorious hope in your heart, nothing can stop you from moving forward.    Lastly, love always perseveres - allowing God time to work in our lives and in the lives of others. Every Christian should have the sign "Construction in progress - sorry for the inconvenience caused."  We need to be ready to give others a second chance, and allow others to learn from their mistakes. God is definitely at work in our lives and in the lives of others. Let us learn to minister to one another in love and to grow and mature through serving.         Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you because the love you have for us is indeed such a love. We pray Lord you will help us to have the same kind of love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres, to love our brothers and sisters.  We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!      Find out more about ROLCC Ignite English ministry, a dynamic multi-ethnic young professional congregation!

Today's Passage - 1 Corinthians 13:5-6

1 Corinthians 13:5-6   It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.      Paul goes on to describe four things we have to bear in mind when we exercise "love" towards others:   1) Not easily angered: The anger of man does not fulfill the righteousness of God. Some people may say their anger is a "righteous anger" that fights for the truth.  But when you truly search your heart, are you really fighting for the truth or merely fighting to defend your views?  There are many religious wars in the church history that are the result of the carnal man inside of us.  Pray that God will give us a gentle and humble heart to face all kinds of controversy, and not be easily angered. The Bible says "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" because anger gives the devil a foothold over us. Pray that God will help us not to be easily angered.   2) Do not keep record of wrongs. Keeping record of wrongs is like book keeping. Do not repeatedly think about how others mistreated you. The Bible teaches us to meditate on God's word and think about whatever is noble and whatever is right. Do not keep record of wrongs, but submit the wrongdoings we may have suffered to the Lord. He will comfort us and heal us.    3) Do not delight in evil: The thing that brings about the most division both in the church and in the family, is words of criticisms and accusations. Every time I hear these words, my heart is saddened. I find that the human nature tends to think the worst of others and seeks to misunderstand. If there is true love in our hearts, we will not believe in words that bring accusation to brothers and sisters in the church.  Instead, we will seek to resolve the misunderstanding. This is a choice in life.  Do you try to think the worst of others, or give others the benefit of the doubt? Do you choose to misunderstand or choose to understand? Pray that God will help us.   4) Rejoice with the truth: Especially in the area of spiritual gifts, although it is good to debate over the truth, do not insist on your own views. Many people when asked about the charismatic movement will take the Word of God as a shield, and attack the charismatic. May God help us not to judge others with God's Word, but to allow God's Word to transform us and enlighten us, so that we may become more like Jesus and allow the will of God to be satisfied in our lives.    Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, once again we ask that you forgive us for being easily angered, keeping record of wrongs, for delighting in evil and not rejoicing in the truth.  Pray that you will enlighten us today and help us turn back to you. May we be willing to love one another, with the true love that comes from you. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!      Find out more about ROLCC Ignite English ministry, a dynamic multi-ethnic young professional congregation!

Today's Passage - 1 Corinthians 13:4

1 Corinthians 13:4   Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.      Paul said, "Love is patient, love is kind". The love he is describing does not come from man. Peter asked Jesus, "How many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "Not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Jesus was not really asking us to count seventy-seven, but to point out that we need to have enduring love. Enduring love does not come from the human nature, but from God.   First, we need to allow God to love us. Jesus said, "As I have loved you, love one another." If you never received love, it is impossible to love one another. We can only love one another to the extent we have experienced the love of the Lord. In other words, the degree we can love one another depends on the degree we have experienced God's love.  If you have never experienced the love that is patient and kind, you can never be patient and kind toward other brothers and sisters.   Paul goes on to say, "Love does not boast, it is not proud." Boasting and being prideful is the wrong response when we receive grace. The human nature has the wrong concept of merit.  We think that if we receive God's grace we must be doing pretty well.  We often talk about grace, but do not understand that grace comes freely. It is not because we are worthy or because we have earned it.  God dispenses grace at His will and His pleasure. Spiritual gifts are not necessarily proportional to our devotional life.  The Corinthian church had many spiritual gifts, but they had lots of problems as well.  Spiritual gifts and devotional life both require exercising in order to mature. When we have spiritual gifts, we need to God to help us become humble, so that His love may overflow in our lives.   Next, Paul says, "Love does not envy." Jealousy is a sour attitude. Especially when we see God's grace being bestowed on others, we think, "How can God be so generous towards that kind of person? I am so much better." Although we often sing, "Lord, you are the potter, I am the clay, Mold me and make me according to your way.", whenever we see God blessing others more than ourselves, we will feel uncomfortable, and are unable to rejoice with others. The root of this attitude is that we think we are more deserving than others. Doesn't God act according to His will? Aren't spiritual gifts given to each just as the Holy Spirit determines? We really need to humble ourselves once again and pray that God will have mercy on us.         Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we pray that you will examine our hearts once again.  If there is any envy, boasting or pride in our lives, we pray that you will forgive us.  Help us to receive your love once again and see that your love is patient and kind.  Pray that we will receive your love, that we may love others. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!      Find out more about ROLCC Ignite English ministry, a dynamic multi-ethnic young professional congregation!

Today's Passage - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

1 Corinthians 13:1-3   If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.   In this passage, Paul mentioned that in the church, not only should people with different spiritual gifts work with each other, but there must be love.  God creation is always fresh, dynamic and changes daily.  I studied meteorology before, and I always remember the tremendous challenge we face while forecasting weather at school, but there's only an one-degree difference between a rainy day and a snowy day, but the outcomes are totally different.  No two typhoons are identical, and no two snowflakes are identical.  Not only that, everything that God created is different; no two people are exactly the same, even twins or two leaves are somewhat different.  It's the same way in church - There are all kinds of believers, much like a garden of God; there's not just one kind of flower, but hundreds types of flowers bloom at the same time.  Although each type flower manifests only one style of beauty, when they are put together, they manifest the complete beauty of God.   When we believe in the Lord and we join a church, we become part of a body with fellow believers; we, however, must also recognize that even though we are in one body, the interaction between body parts doesn't just happen naturally.  Between believers in the church, there are often two types of relationships simultaneously; one is friendship, the other is coworker.  These two types of relationships do not naturally converge; good coworkers may not make good friends, and good friends may not be good coworkers.  This is especially true in churches that are growing rapidly, because many believers become coworkers first, then they become friends, and there's constantly friction between these two types of relationships.  This helps us to understand why Paul discussed the concept of parts of a body in chapter twelve, and then went on to talk about love.   When we serve God, the most important thing is not our power and gifts, but love in Christ.  Can sacrificial love flow out from our lives like it did from Jesus Christ?  When sacrificial love starts to flow out from us, people will come before God because of our love.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, I want to thank you once again, for we can love because you first loved us.  We thank you for your sacrificial love, and we ask that you help us to keep on loving those around us with the same sacrificial love.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!     Find out more about ROLCC Ignite English ministry, a dynamic multi-ethnic young professional congregation!

Today's Passage - 1 Corinthians 12:28-31

1 Corinthians 12:28-31   And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.  ...But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.   In this passage, Paul clearly talked about all types of gifts that God has given to the church.  In the Book of Ephesians, he wrote about the cornerstone of the church, which is Jesus Christ.  God first established disciples and prophets; disciples, such as Paul, are important because wherever they go they can establish churches.  Disciples begin their work at a place by breaking away from the local authority of darkness and leading hearts of people out from such authority and bondage, and churches will naturally be established.  Once the churches are established, work of the prophets is needed.  Prophets let people hear the voice of God and receive His guidance, so that everyone would know what their spiritual gifts are and thus may collaborate according their distinct gifts.   In the church that I served previously, one time we invited a prophet who ministered to the brothers and sisters to provide guidance for their future path and direction in ministry.  The prophet told one brother: "God will call you to serve in youth ministry."  Back then, we really didn't think this brother was suitable in leading the youth, so we never thought about it.  After the meeting, the brother came to me and asked: "The prophet said I should serve in youth ministry, where should I begin?"  I then placed him in youth ministry, and many youths turned back to God under his leadership.  Even though no one thought that he'd be capable of leading the youths, a prophet can easily reveal it.   Not only that, we also need other types of gifts to be manifested among us.  The gift of teaching can guide us onto the right path.  When a church is newly established, truth needs to prevail clearly so that people may depart from sin and self-centeredness.  There are workers of miracles and those with gifts of healing who can help with the work of evangelism.  Miracle workers can soften the hearts of people, let them feel the love of God and experience His abundance.  There are also those with gifts of helping others and administration, because when the church grows in size people need to support each other more.  WE need to know what our gifts are, and exercise them orderly, such as in the example of tongue, where someone has the gift to speak the tongue while others can translate it.  May God strengthen our hearts for us to help one another, so that we may experience His glory together.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you because you have granted us multitude of gifts.  Please give us strength so that we may support one another and minister one other according to our gifts.  May your will be done among us.  We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!     Find out more about ROLCC Ignite English ministry, a dynamic multi-ethnic young professional congregation!

Today's Passage - 1 Corinthians 12:22-27

1 Corinthians 12:22-27   ...And the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.   Paul stressed here again that we are all the body of Christ and we are different parts of the body.  There are always stronger and weaker parts of the body, and in the same manner there are different types of people in the church.  Some are born to be disciplined, but others are not; some have lived a very smooth life, but some have always been troubled by issues; some are spiritual strong, others are weak.  The church always teaches people to practice spiritual discipline and life; some are willing but too weak to follow, and they slowly fall behind.  Eventually, the ones who are spiritual strong cannot identify with those who are weak, and the weak ones don't feel that they belong and end up leaving.   Whenever I see such situation, I feel sad.  The church should be the first place for people to seek and find help, but now it's the last resort.  When those who are suffering inside or single parents come to church, they are instantly condemned and criticized by the likes of Pharisees, and thus cannot receive the help they need.  The church must turn back in this regard, because it means that the church has not restored the gifts of the full gospel from God.  When the Holy Spirit is moving, there should be deliverance, healing, faith, power, charity and providence.  Just like what Paul said, we ought to give "greater honor to the parts that lacked it."  It is only possible when the Holy Spirit is moving.   Indeed, we must learn to care for other parts of the body, so that all those in need but be provided for.  Why do we need to care for each other?  Because you never know when you will be the fallen one, and you will need someone's help and prayer.  May God help us to humble ourselves and care for one another, and let the grace Jesus come upon us.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, please remember those of us who are weak.  Give us a heart that supports those who are weak, so that we may give greater honor to the parts that lacked it.  Let us be humble and care for each others; let our virtue cover the shortcomings of others, and let our shortcomings be covered by the virtues of others.  We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!     Find out more about ROLCC Ignite English ministry, a dynamic multi-ethnic young professional congregation!

Today's Passage - 1 Corinthians 12:14-21

1 Corinthians 12:14-21   Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.  If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.  And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?  But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, but one body.  The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"   Paul said here that even though we are one body in Christ, we are still different, as a body has many different parts.  Such variety is a good thing, but also carries potential for crisis.  First, there's the crisis of sense of belonging.  When we see that others are different, the first reaction is to feel that we don't belong.  People like to find the sense of belonging wherever they go by looking for similarities with others.  If we are similar to them, then we feel that we belong; if we are not, then we find an excuse to leave.  It's the same way in the church - We wish that everyone's same as we are.  Never forget, however, that while we are different, we all belong to the same body of Christ.   In the early church, it was a miracle that prophets and teachers could serve together.  Prophets and teachers have drastically different temperaments, but because they belonged to the same body, they could collaborate and function.  Paul said that we cannot avoid each other just because we are different, because once we are all in heaven we will have to meet each other.  May God give us an open heart to face any difference between us and others.   Second, there's the crisis of sense of superiority.  In the church, we often value one type of spiritual gift over others.  Traditional churches usually value preaching and teaching, but not encouragement and charity, and they seldom mention the gift of prophecy or healing.  Actually, every God-given gift has its purpose, and they work together to help the body to grow healthily.  May God help us to recognize that all gifts are important, just like what Paul said in verse 19, "If they were all one part, where would the body be?"  Eyes are important as the window to our soul, but if our body is filled with eyes, then we're a monster.  May God help us to see that all gifts are important, and when working together we can manifest the glorious beauty of Jesus Christ.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you once again for making us different, so that in the body of Christ we may supplement for each other's needs with our differences.  May you open our hearts to understand such truth, and help us to live it out in our life.  We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!     Find out more about ROLCC Ignite English ministry, a dynamic multi-ethnic young professional congregation!