Wednesday, June 26, 2013

DAY 403 - Is Unity So Difficult to Happen? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)



**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)


 Update from Kenny for Leslie yesterday 9:48p.m.:
Doctor changed their mind, want to delay his solid food. He did great today. Sat on chair three times and mask off more than three hours.


Today's Reading: Acts 15:1-11

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Please click this link to read Acts 15:1-11

Bible Study

      Today's passage gives us a good example of how the Early Church dealt with argument. It was the first council ever with the presence of apostles(bishops) and elders(priests). 

     Acts 15 is about the reassertion and the working through of the principle already established in chapter 11, which concerns not a general or abstract point about tradition and innovation, but a very specific and concrete point which is central to the whole of early Christianity: precisely because God has fulfilled his covenant with Israel in sending Jesus as Messiah, the covenant family is now thrown open to all, without distinction.
    
N.T. Wright. Acts for Everyone, Part 2. Louisville,KY:Westminster John Knox Press, 2008, p.41.

     The issue of this Council was about the most essential point of salvation and it was settled. But, Christians in so many churches have always been arguing about lots of non-essential matters spitting the church into pieces. To some people, something is a life and death issue. And if both parties insist that that is a life and death matter, then division happens and people are being hurt. Could we learn from the good example of the first Council of the Early Church to make the real big deal the big deal. And, put aside other non-essential matters that your church can have unity at last. 
    
                                 
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"



Spiritual Journal

     What I heard from Jesus today is: Is unity so difficult to happen?

    What I got today from Jesus is a question to solve the problem of unity. How do you answer this question?

    I have seen and experienced too many divisions and hurt because people insisted on non-essential matters. Of course, when people argue, they always think that that is a real life and death issue. Well, but you can not make your life and death issue to be my life and death issue, right? No, it is not all right. Then, bullets everywhere and war start! Sad! Sad!

    Could we welcome each others in love and to talk about it just like they did in the Council of Jerusalem? We need unity! Real unity! 

Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to learn from the good example of the Council of Jerusalem that we have a better chance to taste the sweetness of unity.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.



**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)


 Leslie is in good progress. Let's pray on until Leslie is completely recovered.

My email address: bishopsilasng@gmail.com

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