Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 13:10-11

 

This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority-- the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

 

Paul gave the Corinthian church some words of encouragement, which are teachings for the Christian life. Firstly, he prayed that the brothers will be joyful. Do you have joy in your life?

Some people say that joy is the barometer of spiritual life. When a person draws closer to God, there will be a glorious and unspeakable joy that flows out from his heart. Faith should bring about joy because if there is no joy what meaning is there to heaven? Some people may say that we need to learn the lesson of repentance first. Although that may be true, the book of Ecclesiastes tells us "there is a time to weep and a time to laugh". If we always have difficulties in our lives that cause us not to be joyful, there must be some bondage of fear and worry. We need to ask the Lord to release us from that bondage so we can experience true freedom in Christ.

 

Next, aim for perfection. Perfection here refers to perfection in Christ. We need to learn to live under the covering of the blood of Christ. Each time when we wander away from the Lord, we can experience the covering of the precious blood of Christ and stand before God once again. Thirdly, be comforted. Sometimes our hearts are hardened and we refuse to be comforted. The hurts we experienced in the past, the wrongs we suffered, the things we have been through can cause us to hold on and not let go. As such the comfort of God cannot come.

 

Fourthly, we need to be of one mind and live in peace. This is the most important thing in church. If a family is divided, how can it stand firm? Similarly, the church faces all kinds of spiritual battles and unity is even more important. Just as Jesus mentioned in a parable, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? In order for the church to move forward, it needs to ask the Lord to grant a humble heart so that everyone can work together to manifest the Lord's glory. When there is the spirit of unity, others can see that we belong to the Lord. This is the best method of spreading the gospel. When we do this, Paul gives us this promise: And the God of love and peace will be with you.

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I thank you because for your words of encouragement. May the Spirit of God touch us so that our spirit may once again be comforted, and be released from the shadows of darkness so that our lives can be surrendered to God. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! 

 

 

 

 
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Monday, July 23, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 13:5-9

 

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.

 

Paul was reminding the weak in faith of their responsibility and at the same time comforting them. Sometimes when we say we have faith, we actually do not really have faith, because the faith we are talking about is merely intellectual faith, not a living and active faith. Intellectual faith allows us to understand that the Lord has resurrected and overcome sin and the world and we are co-heirs with Christ. However, many believers find it hard to believe that we can do nothing without God, and with God we can do everything. Our faith is not living and active, but merely faith in theory. If we truly have faith, we need to live out our faith and declare victory over the enemy, over the world and over sin.

 

Next we need to understand that as long as Jesus is in our hearts, we are not forsaken. Many believers often think that they are forsaken. They are deceived by the accusations of the enemy and think that they do not belong to God. They think that their sins cannot be forgiven and live in the nightmare that God will not completely accept them. The truth is that our spiritual life is God's mercy from beginning to end. Because of God's mercy, we are born again, we can be used by God and we can stand before God. God does not bless us because we are better. In the same way, it is not because we are weak that God hides His face from us. As long as we are born again Christians, Christ is living in us and God has given us the Holy Spirit who is the Comforter to dwell in us forever.

 

Do you know that we are never forsaken? Hallelujah! You need to declare victory over the enemy every day. Praise the Lord each day when you get up in the morning. In everything you do, praise the Lord and declare that this day belongs to the Lord. In this way, you can experience God's victory.

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I thank you because you have won the victory. May you personally comfort brothers and sisters who are weak. Help them see that they are not forsaken because you dwell in their hearts. You are seated on the throne and are leading them towards victory. May you comfort them today. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!


 

 

 

 
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Sunday, July 22, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 13:1-4

 

... since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.

 

"Because Christ is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you." Paul was encouraging the Christians not to be discouraged although they live in a sinful fallen world. Many Christians continue to struggle with their daily lives and live under bondage although they know the freedom they have in Christ. Just like Paul said in Romans 7:24, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Some people think there is no hope, so why fight and why seek? There are also those who know that they were wrong and they are weak, but refuse to change. Brothers and sisters, are you living in such a situation?

 

Paul said, "Christ is not weak in dealing with you." A Christian's life is not one that is helpless, rather it is filled with power. Because Jesus became weak for us, died on the cross for our sins, and was resurrected by God's mighty power, this living Savior now dwells inside us through the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11 says, " And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."

 

No matter what kind of obstacle we face in the physical realm, we have the resurrection power within us to overcome it. However, we continue to live in the bondage of the enemy. The most important reason is because we do not allow the power within us to flow out. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to move freely in our lives, so that He can bring peace, joy and by faith declare that the works of the enemy are cancelled. The Bible says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." A victorious Christian life does not come by naturally. You have to pay the price of resisting the devil. What kind of strongholds do you have in your life? Ask the Lord to strengthen us, so that we may take back the territory that once belonged to God, and submit it to Christ Jesus.

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I thank you because you are the victorious one. You dwell in us through the Holy Spirit and gave us the power of victory in the name of Jesus, to overcome the strongholds in our lives. Remove the spirit of disappointment and give strength to our hands and feet so that we may stand up for the Lord. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! 

 

 

 

 
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Saturday, July 21, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 12:19-21

 

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

 

Paul said, "And everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening." This was Paul's heart in ministry. Actually, Paul already taught the church in 1 Corinthian 10:23, " Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive." Paul not only taught that, but he set an example of this himself. In all things, he did not seek his own benefit, but sought the benefit of others. This should be the standard for all Christians. In 1 Corinthians Chapter 10, Paul also mentioned, we need to watch out for the conscience of our weaker brothers. If things that we do cause them to stumble, we should choose not to do those things. As a pastor, we need to make many choices in life so that we remain a good testimony. If you see me at the casino playing the jackpot, how would you feel? Although I have the freedom to do so, I will choose not to do so for the Lord. In the same way, as a believer, if your friends see how you live your life, will they feel uneasy as well?

 

How Christians view their pastors is about the same way as how unbelievers view Christians. Hence, the principle of strengthening others should apply to every believer. However, we must be careful how we apply this principle, so that we are not living based on man's expectations and neglecting God's expectations. We need to ask the Holy Spirit for confirmation. If the Holy Spirit prompts us, we need to surrender to the leading of God. If not, we need to ask God to help us to release us from the bondage of the enemy's lies. I remember there was one time I was eating with a child. He saw me eat and was shocked, saying, "Why does a pastor need to eat?" Obviously my eating has caused his faith to stumble. How can a holy pastor eat secular meals? Although this was the case, I am not going to starve myself because the Holy Spirit did not prompt me to do so. This was also a great opportunity for me to explain to the little child the biblical view of pastors.

 

These things do not only happen to pastors, but to every believer as well. We need to remember that all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial. All things are permissible, but not all glorify God. The most important thing is to listen to God's voice and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. God will use you to be a vessel to strengthen others.

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I pray you will give us a sensitive heart to understand the needs of brothers and sisters around us. Help us to become people who strengthen others. May we be willing to pray for others and not just seek our own benefit. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

 

 

 

 
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Friday, July 20, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 12:14-18

 

Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? ...

 

Paul often prayed from brothers and sisters in Christ. Every letter that Paul wrote mentioned how he was praying for them. His prayers are not mere utterance of words, but each time, he was praying for the needs of brothers and sisters and for some particular matter. Paul knew how to pray for others. Today, God is also looking for people who are willing to pray for others.

 

Paul gave us a few examples here. In verse 14, he says, "What I want is not your possessions but you." In other words, we must pray for brothers and sisters in a selfless manner. When we pray for others, it is not for the benefit of ourselves. On the other hand, selfless does not mean trying to prove that you are better or more righteous that the person you are praying for. Many people are filled with a critical attitude when they pray for others. This goes to show how prideful they are. Just like in Luke 18, Jesus pointed out that the prayer of the Pharisee was filled with criticism of the tax collector and self-righteousness. As a result, Jesus said the Pharisee was not praying, but merely mumbling to himself. There was once I was encouraging a couple to pray together. Before I finished talking to them, the husband shook his head and said, "It's not that I don't want to pray. I just can't stand how she kept confessing my sins for me in her prayers." May the Lord have mercy on us, so that when we pray for others, we are not praying for our own benefit or elevating ourselves, but that we will truly seek the benefit of others.

 

Secondly, in verse 19 it says, "And everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening." We need to pray for opportunities to strengthen others. In other words, we need to pray for the spiritual health of others and ask God to pour out His spiritual blessings on them. When you pray, ask the Lord, "Lord, show me how you want to bless my brothers and sisters." When you pray this way, the Holy Spirit will guide you. Many years ago, I was praying for a family whose children were retarded because of brain damage. The atmosphere in that household was very bad. The husband did not have any joy. The wife was stressed out. When I was praying for them, the Lord showed me a picture of joy. I started to bless this family and pray that God will grant them the spirit of joy. Many years later, when I saw this family again, praise the Lord, the children's condition was improving and the parents faces were joyful, just like what I had prayed for. Have you prayed for brothers and sisters as well as your own family? Have you prayed for your pastors and your church? May the Lord help us to start becoming an intercessor today.

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I thank you because you are our mediator. You pray for us day and night from the throne of heaven. Pray you will help us be people who will intercede, so that your heart may be satisfied. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! 

 

 

 

 
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Thursday, July 19, 2012

Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

2 Corinthians 12:11-13

 

I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. The things that mark an apostle - signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance. How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

 

Fathers often feel neglected. Compared to Mother's Day, Father's Day is much less emphasized. Fathers labor all day to provide for the family, but often without much return. That's exactly how Paul felt: He cared for the needs of the Corinthian church and he felt that they were still in spiritual infancy; therefore, he'd rather provide for himself by weaving tents than becoming their financial burden. Paul didn't accept their money, but in return he was attacked as not a real apostle, which was a rather sad situation.

 

When other misunderstand us, how are we supposed to resolve it? First of all, if nothing contradicts with the truth, we should try our best not to defend ourselves, because the more we defend ourselves the more pitiful we look. It doesn't mean that we will deal with it passively, but rather we must look upon God and live more actively for Him. The Bible says God is our vengeance, so we must believe that God will do what's right. On the other hand, if the issue concerns the truth, we must ask the Lord for wisdom and courage, and stand up to defend the truth. This is why apologetics is so important - We need to know how the enemy will distort the truth and attack the church, so that we need to rise up to point out the errors on the Lord's behalf.

 

We must, however, be careful as we rebuke those in error First, we must be sure that we're prompted by the Holy Spirit, but not from our own will or the ploy of a small group of people. Second, we must carry an attitude of kindness, because Proverbs says that "gentle answer turns away wrath." Among all your words, if one out of ten lines carries rage, that's the only line that others will catch, and the other nine lines won't be remembered. Therefore, our tone and attitude are very important. Paul was in the second situation. His authority as an apostle was challenged, and as a result the brothers and sisters could not receive God's abundance and grace. Paul was very anxious, so with courage from God he defended for the Lord.

 

Are you in a circumstance of unfairness? May the Lord give us the willingness to be disciplined, so that we will never go astray from the way of the Lord.

     

Pray with Pastor Tong Liu     

   

Lord, I thank you and I ask that you give us strength to face all kinds of slanders and attacks from the enemy. May the Lord help us to stand firm, and give us more perseverance, as we believe that the vengeance is in you and you will reveal your faithfulness to us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

 

 

 

 
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