DAY 624 - What Have You Given up? (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: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

** 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 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1+&version=ESV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1&version=CUV

Bible Study

     Paul gives thanks to the true God for what the Thessalonians have given up in order to worship God and to believe in Jesus Christ. 

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
      The remarkable thing was the instant effect the gospel had had.  At the heart of it - and this is never far from Paul's mind throughout the letter - was the call to worship the true God rather than idols.
      That was simply unheard of in Paul's world.  It would be like asking people in a modern city to give up using motor cars, computers and telephones.  The gods of Greek and Roman paganism were everywhere.  If you were going to plant a tree, you would pray to the relevant god.  If you were going on a business trip, a quick visit to the appropriate shrine was in order…
     The Thessalonians Christians had only been believers of not more than a year.  But already people from hundreds of miles around were talking about this unheard of thing; quite ordinary people had done something extraordinary, in response to an unexpected message.  The only explanation was that the living God had been at work through the gospel message about Jesus.  And the only appropriate response to that is thanksgiving and celebration. 
    

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:Galatians and Thessalonians. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.91,93.

      How many things have you given up since you received Jesus as your Saviour, Lord and King? How many things you know that you have to give up but still not yet given up? Why? What are you waiting? 

      
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

    The title I heard from Jesus today is: What have you given up?

    What I got from Jesus today is a call to give thanks to the Lord and also a check-up time:
1. A call to give thanks to the Lord for how wonderful He has been leading you that you have given up those things you have already given up in order that you can worship the true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

2. A check-up of your spiritual life whether you have something you know you have to give up and still you have not done that. And Jesus is asking you now, why are you waiting?

3. Are there people wondering the new changes you have made just like the situation in Thessalonica?

     Actually, I am quite sad when I was recording this podcast, because it comes to my mind that I have been 

     The most important thing Jesus wants to challenge you today is that: Do you know what is the thing He is calling you to give up now in order that you can worship Him truly ? 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Open our eyes so that we can see the thing that you are calling us to give up in order that we can worship your more truly. Holy Spirit, come, reveal that to us and fill us, strengthen us so that we can be able to give up that thing. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Please click this link to worship with us -

從心合一

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

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Matt Redman

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

You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 

http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/

Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- For Renewal or First Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 

http://emmanuel330.blogspot.ca/

This blog:

Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)

http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/