Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 22:31-38   'Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.'  But he replied, 'Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.'  Jesus answered, 'I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.'   Before the Lord died, He prophesied that Peter will deny Him three times, but Peter insisted that "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."  That's Peter - He's always impulsive and used to count on himself; he was the personification of our natural life, which represents the flesh.  When we are serving God, we easily become dependent on our own strength; perhaps you and I are not as impulsive as Peter, but we may still say things like "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will" after carefully analyzing the situation.  Human rationality of part of our flesh, and anyone who tries to accomplish the work of the Lord with our natural life will ultimately fail completely.   When I was the chairman at a Bible study group in Philadelphia, I was anxious to serve God and wanted to see the Bible study group grow quickly.  When my coworkers were busy with school work and not interested in serving, I started writing letters to them every week.  I tried to encourage them to love the Lord, and also rebuked them for being unfaithful in ministry.  After a while it didn't seem like anyone had any response, so I wrote even more.  One day I went to coworker's house for dinner, and after dinner he told me that every time he received my letter, he didn't even dare opening it because he knew it would have a heavy message, so he just threw the letters away.  When I first heart it I was really hurt, but then I thought of what the Lord taught me - serving God by our flesh will bring out no result.   Brothers and sisters, a successful ministry doesn't depend on your personality or competence, because it only depends on the power of the Holy Spirit!  May the Lord help us to depend on Him wholeheartedly!       Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because although we often fall, you are still full of mercy.  Please teach us not to depend on our flesh and abilities any more, but to depend on the Holy Spirit, so that your power can be manifested through us.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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