Time with Abba, Singing Praising 親親爸父，唱詩歌頌 : DAY 385 - Are You Willing to Be Ananias? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Saturday, June 8, 2013

DAY 385 - Are You Willing to Be Ananias? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Thanks for your response!!! Still have lots of empty space, waiting for you to believe in the urgency to pray for me, my family and the Kingdom ministries the Lord appoints me to do.

It's been 1400 DAYS of prayers that I have been covered and protected, but not now! The list is almost empty!

Please sign up for the new 14th 100 days 24/7 prayer campaign,

I need your prayers!!!

Please click link below.

**NEW link for the 14th: 13th 100 days 24 hours prayer campaign (We are going to use this 13th list leads up to the 14th. 13th from March 15 to June 22, 2013. 14th from June 22 to August 31, 2013)

This is the message from Nevia at 10:14p.m. yesterday(June 7 Friday):

Leslie awakes for the whole day. He complained the scars itchy and pain. i gave him some ice then he felt better. Hope he can sleep better tonight.We know Jesus will take care of him.

Let's pray on until Leslie is completely recovered.

Today's Reading: Acts 9:10-19

** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html .

To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:

Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.

Please click this link to read Acts 9:10-19

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts 9&version=ESV
Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts 9&version=CUV

Bible Study

This passage shows us the very special role of Ananias. This is the only place in the Bible talking about Ananias. It seems that he did a quick and little job. We do not know how long was Ananias with Saul after that. The only thing we know from Galatians 1: 17-18 that Saul was in Damascus for a while, then went to Arabia alone and then went back to Damascus. The period was three years before he went to Jerusalem to see Peter.

N.T. Wright's says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright):

N.T. Wright. Acts for Everyone, Part 1. Louisville,KY:Westminster John Knox Press, 2008, p.143-144.

If you are able to listen to God's similar voice, do you think you have the courage and obedience to do what Ananias did? Do you know the consequence not doing that?

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

What I heard from Jesus today is: Are you willing to be Ananias?

What I got from Jesus is an invitation to follow the good example of Ananias to lead those new Christians to make their first "baby" step. There are lots of Christians doing lots of big, big things but only a very few are willing to help new Christians like helping babies to walk. And, many babies do not know how to walk even being in the church for many years, still babies! How sad!

Since the Lord uses me to launch Discipler123, Evangelist123 and now Mentor123, more and more Christian leaders catch this vision and begin their new journey to help one to two people to make that first "baby step" or steps. What is that? That is daily devotion. A daily intimate personal relationship with Jesus.

Four years ago I used 2 1/2 years time to help our younger son Athanasius and his best friend Vance to this spiritual daily journey with Jesus. They are now both serving as Game Director in our Awana ministry. Athan is playing bass guitar in our English service and Vance is having a weekly discipleship training for more than one year under our English Pastor Josh.

Three months ago I started same thing with two young leaders, Bernie and Gary. They are enjoying a daily intimate personal relationship with Jesus now.

I am not talking about theory. I am talking about the joy and effectiveness of being Ananias. That is perhaps the most forgotten piece of discipleship development, a missing DNA!

When you see those pictures when Athan and Vance were still kids four years ago and then pictures two years ago, you can see how much they grew up. But, you won't know how hard I tried. When you see those pictures of Bernie and Gary having devotion together with me, you will praise the Lord for this simple thing could happen to two fine young men. But, you won't know how hard I have been trying! That's sweat and tears!

So, brothers and sisters, wake up, rise up to be Ananias!