DAY 641 - Turbulence! Buckle Up! (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

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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 Thessalonians 2:13-17

** 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 Thessalonians 2:13-17

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

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 後 書 2&version=CUV

Bible Study

     Paul reminds the Thessalonians to stand firm because dangerous situation is coming. The consequence of not standing firm means their falling into the traps as mentioned in yesterday's passage or even losing their faith. 

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
     'Stand firm and hold on tight.' When did you last hear those words?
     On an airport bus, perhaps, taking you from the terminal building to the plane… On a narrow mountain ledge when a sudden storm sweeps by.  At a time of movement and danger, a time when something is about to happen which might cause injury or even death.  Plant both feet as solidly as you can, take hold of the safety-rope or anything else you may be able to hang on to, and brace yourself for the shock…
     That is precisely the position Paul is recommending to the young church…There are troubled times on the way…When that's happening, they need to know how to stand upright and what to hold on to.  Here Paul is quite clear: the safety-rope consists of 'the traditions you were taught', that is, the foundational Christian teachings which he gave them when he was with them, and then by letter…
     These teachings are about three things in particular: the basic facts of the gospel; the central actions of the worshipping church, such as baptism and the eucharist; and the fundamental principles of Christian behaviour, particularly the mutual support he calls agape, 'love'.  Hold on tight to these, he says, and you won't go far wrong.  This is as true today as it was in the first century.
     

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:Galatians and Thessalonians. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.150.

      So, when the turbulence comes, do you think you have buckled up? When the trouble comes, do you think you can stand firm?  

      
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage 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: Turbulence! Buckle up!

    What I got from Jesus today is a very practical reminder. A reminder that whether we can stand firm on that three basic foundational Christian teachings as Paul and Bishop Wright describes. Not losing the central message of the Gospel, not messing up the way how we should worship and to be able to live out a true Christian behaviour. That is our safety belt on the plane, that is our safety-rope in mountain climbing. 

     Turbulence is coming. Are you able to buckle up? Are you able to stand firm? Do you know not buckle up may cause injury or even death? Do you know not standing firm may cause similar consequence? 
    
Dear Lord Jesus,

Lead us to be able to stand firm on those basic Christian teachings so that we won't make a mess.  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

Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbN-7guNHRU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st5E8_bIzn8

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/