Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 4 16-18

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english 2 Timothy 4: 16-18    "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."                  Paul said, "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength," praise the Lord, He is the God that stands at our side and gives us strength. This is Jesus' ministries on earth; He will always stand at the side of the people in need and give them strength. At the event of five loaves and two fish feeding the five thousand, facing a hungry crowd and many people in need, the Lord stood at their side meeting their needs. A great storm arose during midnight when the disciples were once at the Sea of Galilee; Jesus calmed the storm when they were crying out in great panic. At that moment, the disciples experienced God's peace and joy, the Lord standing at their side and gave them strength.                  Also at the Cana wedding banquet, while the guests gathered to celebrate, suddenly the host found out there was no more wine, and what an embarrassing moment it was. Then at that moment  Jesus came and turned the water into wine, standing at their side to personally help them. Do you still remember the story of Zacchaeus? Zacchaeus is my favorite bible character, he was not accepted by society that time, and the bible says he is short. That day when he wanted to get into the crowd without any success, so he secretly climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus, one did not expect Jesus would see him from far away and He said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately! I often wonder how surprised I would be if I was Zacchaeus, "How would He know me? How would He see me among the crowd?"                  Brothers and sisters, aren't these the doubts that you and I always have in our hearts? We often think, "Does God really recognize me? Does He really know me?" In fact, the word of God shows us once again, just like the times of Paul and Zacchaeus, He is standing at our side ready to help us.                                                         Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, thank you, because just as you have promised, you are going to live in us, staying with us forever. Today you come to our help, and we claim victory over our circumstances through you. We give thanks and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!