Time with Abba, Singing Praising 親親爸父，唱詩歌頌 : DAY 657 - Build, Not Kill (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Saturday, March 8, 2014

DAY 657 - Build, Not Kill (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: Ephesians 4:11-16

** 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 Ephesians 4:11-16

English(NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians 4&version=NIV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=以弗所書 4&version=CUV

Bible Study

Today's passage is the second part following yesterday's passage of verses 1 to 10. So, if you have not read or listened to my blog/podcast yesterday, you need to do it now before you read on.

Let me repeat the most important catch yesterday:
Wow, what Bishop Wright says is unusual. Why? Because everyone reading this passage would think that Paul is talking about the importance of unity. Yes and No.

What I got from Jesus today is perhaps the most important key to the pursue of unity. Actually we all should know the answer. When there is a king in a kingdom, there should be unity. Unless the people in the kingdom do not submit to the kingship of their king.

So, that's what Paul is talking about in verse 1 as he says we need to live up to our calling. Our calling is to follow Jesus as our Lord and King so that we are willing to be under His Lordship and Kingship. And, there is unity!

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
First, Paul envisages this body as growing up 'into Christ, who is the head'…
Second, he points out the mutual need and concern of the different members of the body. Every Christian, equipped by God to play his or her part within the whole community, has a role in enabling the body to function as the complex and interdependent entity that it is. And all, we note once more, must be done in love…
The main point of certain people having special roles is so that every single Christian, and the church as a whole, may be equipped for their work of service. Make no mistake. Verse 12 indicates clearly that the point of God calling people to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers is so that every Christian can serve in the way they are called to do, for the building up of the whole body.

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:Te Prison Letters. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.48-49.

What have you got from todays message? Do you know what kind of role you are being called by God building up His body?

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: Build, not kill

What I got from Jesus today is a warning to all of us to build up the body of Christ and not to kill the body of Christ. What? How can that happen, to kill the body of Christ?

Yes, it happened since the beginning, when God created human beings. Let me show you one of many passages Jesus says about the killing and not building:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Matthew 23: 37-39

Do you think Jesus is talking about those teachers of the law and the Pharisees? Yes of course, but more. Those teachers of the law and the Pharisees are teachers and pastors according to the five fold ministry named by Paul in this passage. They killed all the apostles, prophets and evangelists. Right? Jesus and His apostles are mostly apostles, prophets and evangelists. Of course, they are good teachers and pastors too, but mostly the first three roles that the Pharisees and teachers of the law reject.

If you are teachers and pastors in your church, can you not reject those apostles, prophets and evangelists in your church please? Don't kill them all please! I have seen too many killing in churches because we do not understand the importance of the message today and yesterday.

We need our King Jesus in His Kingdom.
We need to submit to His Kingship, be willing to be appointed to different roles and positions to build up His Kingdom.
And, this is all about how you can identify your role according to the five fold ministry under submission to Jesus' Kingship to build up His body in love.
Build, not kill! Please!

Dear Lord Jesus,
You are our Lord and King. Lead us to be willing to be under your Kingship so that we can taste the sweetness of unity and power of your Kingdom. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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