DAY 495 - All Authorities Are Being Put by God Himself, Really? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

**NEW link for the  15th: 13th 100 days 24 hours prayer campaign (We are going to use this 13th list leads up to the 15th. 13th from March 15 to June 22, 2013. 14th from June 22 to August 31, 2013, 15th from Sept. 1, 2013 to Dec. 9. 2013)

Today's Reading: Romans 13:1-7

** 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 Romans 13:1-7

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans 13&version=ESV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=羅 馬 書 13&version=CUV

Bible Study

      After reading this passage, you may think that it is all talking about we as Christians need to obey the government and authorities, right? Well, "yes" and "no". Bishop N.T. Wright gives us a deeper insight of what it is all about. 

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

     Paul declares that the civic rulers and authorities have been put in place by God himself.  This would be news to Nero and the other emperors, who believed in their own divinity, certainly that they held power in their own right rather than as a gift from the One Creator God the God of Israel.  They would have laughed at such a suggestion.  The Christians are called to believe, though, that the civic authorities, great and small, are there because the one true God wants his world to be ordered, not chaotic.  This does not validate particular actions of particular governments.  It is merely to say the some government is always necessary, in a world where evil flourished when unchecked. 

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:Romans: Part 2. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.86.

    So, do you agree of what Paul says? How about Hitler, or any other tyranny in the history of mankind? How about Nero in Paul's time? Well, history tells us that God has His own time to remove whoever think he is invincible. How can Paul's thinking help us to be more willing under authority? How about authority in your church? 

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: All authorities are being put by God Himself, really?

    What I got from Jesus today is something we need to believe, experience and take action. Nowadays nobody is willing to obey to anybody. We so often challenge, fight and turn our ears against any kind of authorities. 

    Three years ago I went to one of the church under my overseeing authority. The Rector told me, "Silas, do not wear like a bishop because our people do not like bishops." I did as he suggested and got a very good new impression by his parishioners after I had some deep sharing and they said that I am a "real" bishop. Praise the Lord! Later, I found out they were bullied by quite a number of bishops using their authority to press hard against them. Anyway, in God's time, that kind of authority is being taken away.

    So, do you have a new understanding of why you need to be under authority of your government, your pastors and leaders now? First thing is that if you choose not to obey then there will be chaos. We need to live in an ordered, properly functioning society. Second, we need to trust God that in His time He will take those rotten authorities away. 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Lead us to be willing under authorities trusting that you are always in control.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Matt Redman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E