DAY 644 - We Need Authority And Discipline (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

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Confirmation from John Stott in 2009: 
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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 3:14-18

** 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 3:14-18

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Thessalonians 3&version=ESV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 後 書 3&version=CUV

Bible Study

     Paul concludes this book exercising his apostolic authority. The authority as a bishop to keep his people in certain order. 

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
      The difficult notion of discipline rests, of course, on another notion many today find difficult: apostolic authority.  We are far more inclined, in leadership roles, to suggest to people that they might perhaps like to do this or that, rather than to tell them that this is how things must be done.  Again, of course, sooner or later someone has to make decisions, from the ordering of worship to the moral standards that will hold the community's life together.  Unless there is a clear authority structure something else will take its place, quite possibly the force of certain personalities or the loudness of certain voice.  The value of a clear system of authority is that it avoids allowing things to degenerate into bullying by the powerful or sniping by the petulant.  Paul believed - he staked his life on it - that God had given him this authority, not to lord it over his churches, but to deep them in line. 

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:Galatians and Thessalonians. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.160.

      How does your church exercise authority and discipline? How well are you willing  to be under authority so that your church can be in line? 

      
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: We need authority and discipline

    What I got from Jesus today is a call for us to examine our willingness to be under authority. It is such a blessing that we are in an Anglian tradition and system that we have the authority of a bishop, the Rector/Senior Pastor, the Council and then other leaders. It is not easy to exercise the "apostolic authority" as a bishop. But once our people understand what "apostolic authority" really is in an Anglican system, we have a better chance to be in line and in order. And more easy to exercise suitable discipline action when it is so needed.

    The question is, are you willing to be under the authority of those leaders whose authority is given by God. If you are willing, then you have a better chance to be in a better church. You may not agree, but that is what Paul says today. 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Lead us to be willing to be under the authority of those servants appointed and anointed by you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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從心合一

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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/