Time with Abba, Singing Praising 親親爸父，唱詩歌頌 : DAY 593 - True or False Apostle? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Thursday, January 2, 2014

DAY 593 - True or False Apostle? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Want to know why I have been writing and recording my blogs and podcast daily since August 10, 2009? Click these three links:

Confirmation from John Stott in 2009:
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
My MicroMacro Discipleship, A missing DNA in Discipleship Development: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/introduction-micromacro-discipleship.html
Subject Shifting Devotion Method(Inspired by John Stott in 1991: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 11:7-15

** 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 2 Corinthians 11:7-15

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Corinthians 11&version=ESV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=歌林多後書 11&version=CUV

Bible Study

After yesterday's passage of how Paul warning the Corinthians not to be a runaway bride following those false teachers, here in this passage Paul points out that those false teachers are actually false apostles who are working for Satan. Wow! This is a very strong accusation. So, Paul is being accused as false apostle and then Paul accused those who accused him to be false apostles. Who is right and who is wrong? Have you been in this situation before?

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :

Now Paul drops the irony and declares, forcefully, that they aren't 'super-apostles' at all; they are false apostles, proclaiming and teaching a false gospel. Worse: they are servants of the satan. That is one of the strongest accusations anyone can make, but it's not simply a bit of miscellaneous religious name-calling. The teachers in Corinth had been accusing Paul of all kinds of things of which he knew he wasn't guilty.

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:2 Corinthians. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.118.

When someone accuse your pastor or leader as false teacher, false prophet or false apostles, how do you react? How do you know who is right and who is wrong?

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: True or false apostle?

What I got from Jesus today is a situational question. It always happens in all kinds of churches. Rumours, accusations and finger-pointing always happens at church. When that happens, many Christians would become confused. Most of them do not have the spiritual gifts to discern who is right and who is wrong, especially when Satan is acting forcefully.

Actually I have been named false teachers, false prophets and false apostles so many times and many times I was nearly got wiped out. It just happened to Paul, happened to me and happened to many Christian leaders. So, can we get any answer from this passage to have the wisdom to know who is true servant of God and who is not? Yes and No. Why, because you need time to tell the difference. You can get a clue in verse 15 that:
Their end will be what their actions deserve.

But, can we have the patience waiting to see their end. How if you can never see their end? Just as I said in my blog/podcast two days ago:

There is a Chinese saying I quote quite often when someone asks me whether this leader is a good leader or that Christian is a faithful disciple of Christ. I frequently use that saying:
The longer distance it is, the better you know a horse;
The longer time it is, the better you know a person.

Time will tell whether someone is a true or false apostle. And, most of all, your daily intimate personal relationship will lead you not to do foolish things to accuse true servants of God before those time comes! Agree?

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help us to be able to know who are your true servants and who are not because we have a daily intimate personal relationship with you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Happy New Year!

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