Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 6:18-21      "...But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury." When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it - men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.   The "devoted things" mentioned here refer to all things in Jericho. Except for gold, silver, articles of bronze and iron which shall go to God's treasury, everything has to be destroyed. First, it is because that's the command of God. When God proclaimed the law, He clearly instructed Israelites to have everything that is birth born, that is first fruit, to be sacrificed to Him. That is what we called, 'first fruits'. After Israelites first entered Canaan, this is the first city they conquered. God asked them to sacrifice everything in the city to Him. In other words, God gave Jericho to Israelites, but all things in the city belong to God. Canaan was a place that was full of evil. That's why God gave it to Israelites. They died of their own evil, not because God's lack humanity.   Second, God asked them to rid of everything in the city to keep their hearts and minds, such that people not drawn to the things that are in the city. Is there anything in our lives that has robbed our focus to God? Many things in this world look wonderful on the outside. But they bring emptiness and the death of spirit in the end. Like chewing gums, at first it tastes sweet. However, after a while, it tastes like wax such that we can't wait to get rid of it. Moreover, many things in this world occupy our inner world, so that our hearts wander away from God. Not all these are bad. Many things seems to be full of God's blessing. But even the blessing of God could be an obstacle that separates God from us.   When Israelites departed Egypt, they took possession of Egyptians gold, and silver. They had been poor. But now they were suddenly wealthy. It can be said that this was God's special favor. But unbelievably, when Moses was waiting for God to proclaim His Ten Commandments, Israelites, using the blessing given to them by God, built a gold calf as a false God to substitute Jehovah. The people of God used God's blessing to replace God's place in their hearts - How pitiful that was! Brothers and sisters, what's your circumstance today? Do you have things that are devoted? May God help us get rid of devoted things so that our hearts may please God.     Pray with Pastor Tong     May the spirit of the Lord shine unto us again so we can see whether we have devoted things inside of us. May the precious blood of the Lord cover and cleanse, and help us to be victorious over all the attacks from our enemy Satan. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 6:15-17   On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.     When you read this scripture passage, have you thought about why the walls would only fall after the people shouted? Was it really necessary for them to shout, and did they have circle around the city for seven days? If God is omnipotent, why couldn't they just circle around it once? Was it really necessary to circle around the city? If God is omnipotent, why wouldn't the walls fall down automatically? The answer is: Yes, it was necessary for them to shout out, and it was critical because it represented our faith and hope.   A person who didn't want to shout out wouldn't be someone who has more faith, but actually someone who has less faith, because he doesn't really believe that shouting actually matters, for he didn't think that God will work in such ways. If you truly believe that shouting out will crush the work of the enemy, you will shout out loud. When Peter was pleading for help from Jesus in the sea, He cried out for help: "Lord, save me," then the Lord saved him. When King Josefa fought with the enemy and was attacked by them, as long as he shouted Jehovah would help him. It is apparent that shouting is an important discipline in our faith life.   Psalm 47:5 says that "God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets." Isaiah 6:3 says that Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on the throne, and the seraphims were calling to one another "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory" while the Lord sat on the throne and manifested His authority. Revelations 14:2 says " And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps." So, we must first learn to shout praises and adoration to God while we worship and pray, because that's how God wants us to worship and pray.   Next, the principle of God's work is to have people work together with Him in action. If the Israelites didn't shout, the walls wouldn't have collapsed, because God will not accomplish anything for those who do not believe. Brothers and sisters, the real problem is whether we are willing to put aside our rationality, put down our esteem, and simply obey God? We often like to ask why, but God's reply is often very simple: "my child, don't ask why, just trust me!" Are you willing to obey the Lord starting from the smallest thing in life?     Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, please forgive our lack of faith; give us an obedient heart so that we may praise you loudly and lift you high in our daily life. I believe that when we shout your name, you will save us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 6:8-14    ...But Joshua had commanded the army, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!" So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there. Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.   This scripture reminds me of the importance of prayer walk. The six days of walking around the city wasn't done in vain at all. God could have torn down any stronghold instantaneously, but He wants His people to work with Him in prayer. When the people of Israel were circling the city, they did not say a thing or make any noise. It didn't mean that they weren't praying; in fact, marching around the city was a form of prayer. They were expecting God to accomplish great things for them, so the power of prayer piled up one by one, and when the time was right the walls came crashing down.   Today, we also need to proclaim by faith; circle around our home and proclaim that it belongs to God, and pray for each member of the household. If there's anyone who hasn't accepted Christ yet, this is a good opportunity to bless them. May God personally tear down the stronghold that lasted for generations so that the whole family will come to the Lord. You should also pray for the neighbors around you. The gospel cannot spread out primarily because we don't have sufficient burden inside us. Burden doesn't grow out of nowhere; we must get into the harvest field, walking around the streets where people live, and let the burden grow as we pray for our neighbors.   One time when I arrived home, I saw an ambulance outside of my house, then I found out that a woman living next door had long-term depressions, and she overdosed on sleeping pills. God rebuked me that, after being their neighbor for a long time, I didn't actually know that she had depression, and that's because I never prayed for them. Since I didn't pray, I had no burden for them; without any burden, I didn't take any action. May the Lord help us to pray for the city we live in and the government that's ruling us. Don't just complain that it's not safe around or the school district is no good; we must rebuke the curse accumulated upon us for generations, break the bondage of selfishness, and begin to pray for our neighbors and every one who's ruling our city. Let us prayer walk around the city, not to march in protest, but to bless in the Lord's name, so that the government will have hearts that fear God and thus make the right decisions according to God's will. May the Lord help us, let us begin to learn the lesson of prayer walk starting today!     Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, I thank you because you allow us to work with you. May the Lord help us, let us learn to pray for the people around us in our daily life. Let us tear down the strongholds and turn the hearts of people around, so that your will may be done. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 6:6-7   So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it."  And he ordered the army, "Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord."     We can see the obedience of Joshua from the scripture passage above.  If we think about it, how is it possible for anyone to fight a war like that?  Joshua had lots of experience with warfare, but to circle around a city without making any noise totally defies all the principles of military that he has learned.  Experience can help us when we face difficulties, but it can also be a hindrance for experiencing God's renewed grace.  When we worship, some of us are not used to raising our hands, because that's not what they did before.  Some people are not used to praying out loud in public because they've never done it before.  I remember that when we first participated in the gatherings up in the prayer mountain in Korea, we discovered that there were no chairs around because everyone was kneeing on the ground.  To those of us who were not used to kneeing down, it was easy to go down but hard to get up, because our legs became numb.  Not only that, there were no restaurants on the prayer mountain because everyone was fasting.  Some people prayed loudly in the prayer caves all night, and their sound from up in the mountain made me unable to sleep all ngiht.   I felt really detested the whole setup in the first few days of gathering.  Then God's Spirit reminded me that when I reject these formalities, I'm also rejecting the grace behind the formalities.  Indeed, who claims that once must fast or eat and drink in order to become closer to God?  The question is what our hearts truly value.  If we value the action of raising our hands or not raising our hands, then we've missed the true meaning of worship.  Our experience from the past often hinders us, but thank God that Joshua was not hindered by his past experience, but he simply followed the guidance of God.   Also, we can see the obedience of the people from this passage.  If we are told to circle a city once, what would we say?  Not just for one day, but for six days in a roll, and only gets more difficult day after day.  After first day, nothing happens; after second day, not even a single dust fell.  After the third day, the wall remained sturdy.  Are we supposed to keep on going on the fourth and fifth day?  We thank God because the Israelites at the time were probably as obedient as they ever were throughout the history of Israel.  They completely obeyed, so this miracle could have been accomplished through them.  Brothers and sisters, are you willing to discipline yourself in the lesson of obedience?   Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, we thank you because Joshua was a great example of spirituality for us.  May the Lord help us not to be influenced by our past experience.  Help us not to just focus on the formalities, but to focus on the Lord yourself.  May the Lord give us an obedience heart so that your will may be done.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 6:2-5   Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in."   God always has His own thoughts.  Marching around the city for six days while remaining silent represents the oppression and bondage that the people of God suffered in the past.  The Bible clearly tells us that after Adam and Eve sinned, the world has been ruled over by the curse of sin.  That's why Psalm 90 says: "All our days pass away under your wrath...  we finish our years with a moan...  yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away."    We seem to be completely helpless when it comes to the routines of life and endless demands and burdens on us.  That's how the Israelites circled around the city - It happened day after day in silence.  We thank God, however, that on the seventh day God made way for them.  Seven is a perfect number in the Bible, for it represents the work of God; it is a number of completeness, meaning the work of God has completed.  In the New Testament, all of God's work has been completed in Jesus Christ, and the grace of salvation that Jesus granted us has overcome the authority of devil.  Therefore, on the seventh day, God commanded the Israelites: "Have the whole army give a loud shout."  The loud shout here is not just randomly making noise, but it's to shout praises to God and to proclaim that the wall will collapse.  When they shouted in praise and proclamation, the wall which was sturdy started shaking!   If we want to find a way out of the pressure from work that is routine and helpless, we must begin with praise and proclamation.  We cannot appreciate the authority of God unless we proclaim by faith.  Even though we might feel entrapped in all areas of life, if we do not proclaim God's authority in each and every area in our life, we will not be able to experience how real God is and His presence with us.  May the Lord help us to depend on Christ's name and the Holy Spirit each and every day, to praise and proclaim so that we may be freed from any kind of oppression and bondage!   Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, please take control of all aspects of our life.  No matter if we are at home or in our office, we proclaim that the Lord will rule over each area of our life.  In the victorious name of Jesus I rebuke all the work of the enemy, and we ask that the Lord will take leadership in our life!  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 6:1   Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.   The city of Jericho is situated in the mouth of Jordan River, and it is an important gateway into the Jordan River plain and highland of Benjamin. It was important strategically for defense ever since the ancient time. Years ago, when I visited Israel, I saw the impressive city walls that were excavated by the archeologists. Those walls were there about six thousand years ago, so it's clear that city of Jericho has always been an important stronghold. When the Israelites came near the city of Jericho, not only were the walls strong, the gates were also shut tight and no one was allowed in or out. It seemed impossible for them to conquer such a city! When we serve God and share the gospel, we might encounter such difficulties as well. There seems to be a strong wall around the spirit of the people today. We can talk to people and weather and sports, but deep down inside there's always a wall where the gates are kept shut, and no one is allowed in or out.   This is especially true for true for the intellectuals in North America, who are capable, diligent and competitive. Everyone, nonetheless, has loneliness deep down inside the soul, and no one wants to acknowledge that they are helpless inside. The greatest difficult for sharing the gospel with the intellectuals is not to reach his rationality, but rather to overcome a sealed soul. It's an area that is closed to everyone except himself, and that's why it's often difficult for us to penetrate it with the gospel. We've tried many methods, but nothing seems to work, because the souls of the people are shut tight.   That's not an exclusion issue for the intellectuals either. Years ago I visited a family of Vietnamese refugees; both parents just became unemployed and were surviving on unemployment benefits. They openly acknowledged their physical needs and hardship, but they didn't want to talk about the needs of their soul when we mentioned it. It is an area that no one could come in. If we want our church to grow and gospel to be spread, then we must not just rely on our own experience or capabilities, for this is not a war of the physical realm, but rather a war in the spiritual realm. Brothers and sisters, are you eager to share the gospel with your family and friends? Don't ever underestimate the power of prayer, because only God can change the hearts of people!   Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, I want to bring my family and friends before you. May the Lord's mercy touch them so that their hearts may open towards you. May they be touched by your love and become your children. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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