Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 10:8-10    The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.    In order for a miracle to happen, there must be promise of God and obedience of men. God once again promised Joshua: "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand." That meant Joshua was a little intimidated by the joint force of five kings. He knew that he didn't hold the key to victory in the battlefield. If he held the key to victory, he wouldn't be so afraid. He knew that in the last two battles, the key to victory in both cases was God. Therefore, he was afraid because he didn't know how God would fight this battle. To Joshua, every battle was a humbling experience, because he had to completely depend on God. This once again reminds us that we must seek God's guidance and promise in all things; once we have His promise, God's word becomes our strength, and it will overcome all fear.   Having God's promise, however, is not everything, because there must we must obey after we receive His promise. Because Joshua obeyed, God destroyed the joint force in front of the Israelites. If Joshua didn't obey God, this miracle would not have happened. We often hide God's promises in our head, or put God's promises on our bookshelf, but seldom follow the conditions of His promises. Therefore, we seldom experience God's miraculous work.   One time I was in a meeting where a prophet was ministering. A prophet prayed for me and told me that God will give me the gift of evangelism. When I preached the gospel, I will carry authority to break the bondage of idols. I was surprised to hear it because I seldom led evangelistic meetings; when I was invited to lead evangelistic meetings, I would pray hard before deciding whether to accept. Since that day, many churches have invited me to lead their evangelistic meetings. I used to turn down many invitations, but God's promise was so clear that I could not refuse them. Therefore, I accepted all the invitations to lead evangelistic meetings. I thank God because every time I extend the invitation to accept Lord, God would give the church many new believers. During one of the evangelistic meetings, over thirty people accepted the Lord, which never happened before! I learned an important lesson from this experience - Miracle equals to God's promise plus our obedience. May the Lord help us, teach us the lesson of obedience in our life, so that signs and wonders may be done through us!   Pray with Pastor Tong         Lord, we thank you because you are the God who commands us, and you also accomplish great things for us. May you give us a sensitive heart, help us to understand your promise, and give us an obedient heart so that we can move forward courageously like Joshua did. You will give our enemies into our hands! 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 10:6-9   The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us." So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise.    Psalm 18:3 says, "I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.". This is not only the life long experience of the poet, it is an everlasting spiritual truth. When Gibeonites were facing the coordinated attack from the five kings, they had only one hope, i.e. their treaty with the Israelites. The distance between Gibeon and Gilgal is not short. Even if Israelites were willing to come, it could be too late. But they still harbored a sliver of hope, and called Israelites for help. The result was not anticipated. Joshua came from Gilgal in the dead of the night, suddenly descended upon Gibeon.  The rescue of Gibeon came as a surprise even to Gibeonites!    Do you know that you have a redeemer who has a treaty with you? Hebrews 8:10 says, "This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." We believe in God who has established a covenant with us. We have the right to call Him for help. He has a responsibility to save us. This is the meaning of a covenant. Through the Lord's precious blood God has established a covenant of everlasting life with us. Hallelujah!    Therefore, we should simply let Him take care of our lives. Even though you may doubt, "Can God really help me this time? Is He willing to help me on this matter?" Even though you may be in doubt, you should still bring your needs to the Lord, because our God is a God "by surprise". The way God works may not be what you expected, or what you hoped, but His way is higher than our ways. His will always higher than our wills. Have a simple heart to seek, and you will find that the way of God is in deep seas, and His footsteps are mysterious. Just as Israelites were frightened in front of Red Sea, who knew that God's way is in the death of the sea? When the people were in trouble, who thought that Joshua would come by surprise? You and I might think that's just a way of expression. But no, it was really a surprise.  So, go ahead and cry out to God for help all you want, because He will surely save you! Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, we thank you because you are a wonderful God, and you are The Lord with whom we have a covenant. You surely will be the shepherd in our lives, and you will strengthen us and rescue us throughout our lives.  May you manifest your salvation to brothers and sisters clearly today. 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 10:5   Then the five kings of the Amorites - the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon - joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.     Paul said in Ephesians 6:12: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against ... the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Every Joshua's battle symbolizes the principle of spiritual battles. When the five kings united in attacking Gibeon, they had a strategy. They intended to sack Gibeon when Israelites were still in Gilgal, unable to provide reinforcement. They never anticipated that Israelites acted faster than they thought. 10:9 says, "After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise." I like the words "by surprise", completely unanticipated. The work of God will always exceed enemies' ploys. On the other hand, we have to understand that when enemies attack us, they come with a plan: to build a stronghold in our lives that belongs to them.    First, it's the stronghold of mind. Enemies often deceive our mind. When God told Adam that the fruits of tree of good and evil are forbidden fruits, devil came to deceive Eve, such that she went on to disobey God. Similarly, devil often obstruct us from getting close to God in our minds: When we pray, we believed that whatever we ask God will not give, whatever God gives we will not like, such that we are afraid of submitting ourselves to God. Second, it's the obstruction of feelings. Past wounds and pride in our hearts make us misunderstood God's love, believing that He will not accept us. In fact, God has opened His arms to embrace us. However, we often refuse God.    Third, it's the obstruction of the will. People often are accustomed to traditions or way of doing things, and are resistant towards change. It's not that we are unaware of the goodness of God, the preciousness of the Lord; however, deep down inside of our hearts, we are unwilling to return to God. When we come to God, realize this is a spiritual battle, understand the strategy of our enemies, and are willing to lean on God to deal with all these, it will be as told by 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  Do you have devil Satan's stronghold in your life? May God help you destroy it now!   Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, may you bring every brother and sister to you. In your name I rebuke all the work of our enemies. May your spirit do the work of tearing down and rebuilding in their lives, so that the joy of The Lord will fill their hearts.  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 10:1-4    Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and were living near them. He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters.  So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. "Come up and help me attack Gibeon," he said, "because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites."                     John 15:19 says, "... you do not belong to the world, ... That is why the world hates you." This truth is thoroughly revealed in this verse. Originally, the people of Gibeon belong to the same dark authority as did these Canaanites. They had lived peacefully. But now that people of Gibeon had made a peace with Israelites, living together, those who had belonged to the same dark authority felt threatened. They united in attacking Gibeon. This is the same reaction before and after one believes in God: before one starts believing God, she belonged to the world, drifting in the world, focusing on the things that this world is focusing on. After one believes in the Lord, the world around her not only is unable to understand her, but also starts attacking her. 1 Peter 4:4 says, "They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you." The reason for their attack is because they found the other one is on a different direction. Attacking and abuse the other makes them feel righteous.    What kind of attacks do believers often face? First, it is the pressure from trends of the world. After one becomes a believer, his/her way of making a live might have changed. Before, he/she may be used to giving red envelops. But now, it doesn't feel right. Before, he/she may focus only on money. Now, the heart is yearning for the Lord. Tithe no longer feels painful. No Sunday Mahjong, nor doing business. But getting up even earlier for Sunday services. Those kinds of changes are not readily understood by the world.   Second, it is the coercion from the family. In a Chinese family, one's believing in the Lord may be regarded as having no faith, having no filial piety. I knew one sister in college who was driven out of her home by her father because of her believing in Jesus. Her father severed their father daughter relationship. Third, it may be teases from friends. I remember giving grace before lunch. After I opened my eyes, my lunch box was gone. When talking about Jesus with classmates, I had to face their mocking. These attacks made us difficult walking down the path of faith. But brothers and sisters, don't be discouraged, because God is the one that fight for us. And He has already won. As long as we lean on Him, He will surely come to rescue us immediately when we ask Him for help!   Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, you are a trustworthy God. We pray for the many brothers and sisters who face difficulties in their lives, and we ask that you reach out to help them.  Even though the world has surrounded them, it cannot destroy them. Even though devil is attacking them, devil cannot overcome, because those brothers and sisters belong to You.  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 9:24-27    They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you." So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.   God truly blesses those who humbly call on His name.  Throughout generations, this principle has never changed. Gibeonites came to seek peace and were even willing to be servants of the Israelites, and that shows their humility. They also admitted that what they did was wrong before the Israelites and didn't try to defend them. Most importantly, they showed their obedience to God. Even though they didn't know God yet, they did hear about all the signs and wonders through the Israelites. Therefore, they were filled with fear for God and willing to submit to Him. In verse 25, when they responded to Joshua, it was not an easy thing to say. You might think that the Gibeonites consisted of old and weak solders who had no choice but to seek peace, but according to verse 10:2 in the town of Gibeon "all its men were good fighters." It was more precious that they were willing to humble themselves to call on the name of Jehovah. Those who are humble are truly blessed; the Bible tells us again and again that "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."   When the Gibeonites humbly sought God, God started to bless them in many ways.   First of all, their lives were turned around because they called on God. They were supposed to die, but they were spared from the judgment of death. Second, they became God's servants in His house, which was a tremendous blessing. Even though they were just woodcutters and water carriers, Psalm 84:10 says that "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." In God's eyes, all ministries are equal, because He only examines our faithfulness. A servant of God, even as woodcutters and water carriers, will still be blessed. Therefore, do not trivialize your own gifts and positions; since God has placed you in your ministry position, He will bless you on this position as long as you are faithful. Third, the book of Ezra mentioned about the temple servants, who are the descendants of the Gibeonites, and they were even listed together with the descendants of Israelites! Gibeonites served God faithfully for generations, and thus they were lifted up to enjoy the same grace of God as the people of Israel, God's chosen people. We thank God, because He will surely bless those who humbly call on Him!   Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, please grant us a humble heart to call on you. May your spirit open our eyes so that we can see your mercy and grace through the Gibeonites. Let us also have a firm faith to believe that those who humbly call on you will be blessed by you. 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 9:22-23   Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, "Why did you deceive us by saying, 'We live a long way from you,' while actually you live near us? You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."   Gibeonites used a ploy to deceive the Israelites, which does not please God. Even though they had the right intention, but they did it the wrong way. They wanted to be closer to God, but they were using human wisdom. That's why Joshua told them: "You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." Even though their hearts pleased God, their action brought forth punishment.   This is like how Christians used their own way to be closer to God. We all wish to come before God, but we forget to ask God first. In worship ministry, we often stress that God is a spirit, so we must worship in the Spirit and in truth, but we thought that "Spirit and truth" means we that worship our own ways, and get closer to God with our own "Spirit and truth," not the Holy Spirit and truth of God. We ought to worship according to God's will, not according to our own will.   Acts 15:16 clearly tells us that, during the end time, God will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Through praise and worship, our hearts will indeed be brought back to God. This shows that God has His own will in everything that He does. If we neglect God's will but do everything according to our own will, even though our intention might be good, we will ultimately suffer loss. What happened to the Gibeonites taught us that we must not try to be closer to God in our own way. May God have mercy on us!   Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, we thank you because your love is revealed through your righteousness, but your righteousness is always revealed from your love. May the Lord's Spirit examine our mind and our action. Help to keep our hearts pure, and let us please you in your way. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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