Today's Passage - Psalm 9:11-20

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 9:11-20      ...Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation. The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God. But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. Strike them with terror, Lord; let the nations know they are only mortal.   Our God is able to lift us up from the gates of death, because Jesus resurrected from death. When Jesus was hung on the cross, soldiers pierced his side, blood and water came out, and He died on the cross for our sins. The resurrection of Christ from death not only proved that He can overcome death, but also proved that He can overcome sin, for the sting of sin is death. Christ died for us and also resurrected for us, because He wanted to save us from the authority of sin and life us up from the gates of death.   "Gates of death" can mean two things. First, we can be lifted from the last judgment by God, which is our second death; in other word, we are no longer bound by sin. One day, we will stand before God's great white throne but we won't be judged again, because God has already saved us from judgment because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ. May God help us, if you do not have such assurance, then you must trust that God can save us from the last judgment by God.   Second, God can also save us from the threat of death right now. Some brothers, sisters and friends are terminally ill or have cancer; doctors have given up on them and they're in the brink of death. When that happens, we must proclaim the word of God, that Jehovah can lift us up from the gates of death, and that the power of resurrection in Christ will be manifested in our lives! Don't give up, but continue to pray, because the Lord said "God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish." This is the time to pray, so let's proclaim by faith!   Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, we praise you and thank you, because you are our God who lifted us up from the gates of death. In the victorious name of Christ we proclaim that all the diseases, cancers and attacks from the enemies will depart from our life, because the Lord is already victorious, and you will listen to our prayer! I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!