Rev. Tong Liu: How Chinese Churches Arise for the Lord Under the Pandemic?

Tong Liu, senior pastor of the River of Life Christian Church of the Silicon Valley, preached a sermon in CMC Global 2021 on December 29, 2021.
Tong Liu, senior pastor of the River of Life Christian Church of the Silicon Valley, preached a sermon in CMC Global 2021 on December 29, 2021. (photo: screenshot)
By Li ShiguangJanuary 31st, 2022

At the virtual Chinese Mission Convention Global 2021 conducted in late December 2021, Reverend Tong Liu encouraged the Chinese churches to be brave in evangelism. 

Organized by the Ambassador For Christ, this convention was sponsored by the partnership churches in Texas, the United States. 

On the morning of December 29, Tong Liu, senior pastor of the River of Life Christian Church of the Silicon Valley, shared a sermon titled “Chinese churches Should Be Brave in Evangelism”.

Below are the main ideas of his message:

It is now the time for Chinese churches to arise since there are no more of the so called “historical burdens” on the Chinese. No matter whether Chinese citizens are in African countries or in Islamic countries, they will easily be accepted by others. The more dangerous the generation is, the more God works on it through His hands. So how we can arise for God?

1. To receive the power of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus Christ has risen from death, which is proof to show that he can conquer the power of death and to show that he can conquer every attack from the enemy, Satan. Today, Jesus is living in every spirit of those who believe in Him through the Holy Spirit. The risen God is living in us with His victorious power.

God’s power is such that he sends us and asks us to go and make disciples of all nations. That’s why we must take the power from the Great Commission. God’s spirit is in us to help us, letting us conquer the enemy.

2. Seeing the expansion of God’s kingdom (Matthew 13:24-32)

Many times, we lose hope for the things happening in the world. Actually, God has explained from the very beginning on how He will work in the world.

Jesus tells us from the verses that the kingdom of heaven coexists with the generation nowadays, which is a very important concept. Therefore, we don’t have to be surprised by the weeds we have, but we can see the wheat grow. Actually, the kingdom of God has been in rapid growth. How is it growing? God uses the mustard seed as a parable of the kingdom of heaven.

The beginning of God’s kingdom might not be that obvious, and people might not notice its existence or feel the power of its existence. But the fact is, the kingdom of God has been growing rapidly. In the moment that God’s hands start working, there is no power in the world that can stop Him. God’s kingdom will be achieved in the end.

God’s gospel has been evangelizing around the world.

About 2000 years ago, when beginning his evangelism to the West, the apostle Paul preached the gospel from Jerusalem to Europe, from Europe to America, and from America back to Asia. Since then until 1942, a staff worker of the Northwest Spiritual Band had received the vision from God to evangelize back in Jerusalem, meaning that the evangelism of the gospel should move forward to the West until it reached the holy city. In the last 40 years, it has been moving not only to the West but also to the South. In these 40 years, there have been two places where Gospel has been proliferating, which are South America and Africa.

In Africa, there are many evangelistic meetings bringing people into God’s kingdom. Once upon a time, there was a missionary who mentioned that among the one-week evangelistic meetings, there were 600,000 people who believed in God and turned back to Jesus Christ. 600,000 is a number that is hard for us to imagine. God’s work in Africa has been so deep and so wide.

It is also the same in Iran. In the past, I don't think there were that many Christians there. One pastor in Iran told me that underground churches in Iran have been growing rapidly in recent years. Until today, it was predicted by the pastor that there are about 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 Christians in Iran. The number is far beyond our imagination.

3. Understand that the season for harvest is short.

We have to understand that the season for harvest is short. On one hand, we have to see the expansion of God, and on the other hand, we need to be aware of the urgency of the Great Commission.

Islam claims that it will rule Europe in 30 years. On one hand, there are many Muslim refugees merging into Europe, on the other hand, Muslims have been giving birth in increased numbers. Unfortunately, many Christian families are no longer having as many children nowadays in Europe and in America. Apart from in Europe and America, the fertility rates have also become very low in Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and even in China.

"So I always encourage Christian families to have more children, even to just have one more baby if it is possible. Recently, England has become the biggest center of Islam apart from the traditional Islamic countries," the pastor said. 

In Africa, much of the population is pure and simple; whatever you tell them, they will believe. So the point is to see who will be the first one to arrive in the village, and who will share first in the village. 

Knowing that the season for harvest is short, we should seize the chance and be brave to move forward.

4. Be brave to react to the Great Commission (Luke 15:3-5)

We must understand that Jesus Christ’s will towards the people in this generation is very urgent. God’s will is not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance. That’s why God has been urgent in seeking the suitable jars of clay, and seeking those jars of clay who can work with God.

Was there no other prophet at that time? Yes, there were many. But God said, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” There are many people who are working for himself/ herself but not for God. Like today, many people prefer to serve, but they are serving themselves instead of serving others. There are only a few who are simply running towards God to offer themselves completely.

We should be vigilant, especially for Chinese churches in Northern America. God has given us so many resources and the perfect equipment. Aren’t all these opportunities for today? This is the moment for Chinese churches to arise and to be brave in sharing the Gospel. This is the right time for Chinese churches to arise to share the gospel. 

Only if we are willing to be obedient to God’s guidance, and be brave to react to his call, are we then able to achieve God’s big works for this generation. In this generation, we would like to experience a big harvest in spirits.

- Translated by Jessie Cheong

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