DAY 692 - Let Jesus reigns! (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Four years ago today, April 9, 2010, Michelle went to see her family doctor and was told that she got leukaemia. She was admitted to Vancouver General Hospital the next morning (http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2010/04/day-234-my-wife-michelle-has-leukemia.html ). Michelle is not feeling well lately!  Her family doctor is now having a series of check-up for her to see what is happening. On this day, I would like to invite you to join us in a 100 days of prayer (From April 9 to July 17) for Michelle, our family and my ministry. Please click this link to join us to pray:
New 100 Days Prayer Campaign (2014.04.09-2014.07.17)

What you need to do is very simple. Choose one hour slot for the whole week to pray for Michelle, our family and my ministry. You may use the whole hour in prayer or you can still do you work in your office but use as much time as you can to pray and the other time work prayerfully that hour to pray for us. I encourage you to participate. We need you to join us! Trust in the power of prayers!

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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: Colossians 3:5-11

** 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 Colossians 3:5-11

English(NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians 3&version=NIV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=歌 羅 西 書 3&version=CUV 

Bible Study

     Following yesterday's passage about to live a life "heavenly" and not "worldly", Paul warns the Colossians and us what is "worldly". 

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
     There are two main areas of behaviour which he lists as typical of the old lifestyle that is now to be abandoned. They have to do with sex on the one hand and speech on the other - two central areas of human life, both involving great potential for good and also for evil.  In both cases Paul offers a list which includes most of the problem areas.  These are practices which are abuses, rather than proper uses, of these two gifts of God. The way to deal with such practices, he says, is quite clear…They are like vermin that mustn't be allowed into the house in case they poison the food or the water supply.  They are not to be pitied. They are to be killed off, put to death…
     Sexual misbehaviour can tear a community apart; so can malicious and abusive speaking.  And the point of the new clothes which the Christian must put on is that the new life is about unity, about the whole community coming together in love.  Old divisions must be done away… Jesus the King is present and active in everyone, and indeed in everything.  Nothing lies outside the sphere of his sovereign rule. 

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:The Prison Letters. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.178-179.

     What kind of behaviour need to be killed off, put to death in order that you can put on your new clothes and let Jesus reigns, to be your King? 
     

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: Let Jesus reigns!

    The message I got from Jesus today is a warning as well as an invitation. And, this is not a easy way for us to change. Not a easy way to put off our old clothes and to put on the new clothes to be more like Jesus.

     Why? Because this is about the change of our behaviour and lifestyle. It is somewhat like changing the culture in a society, very difficult. So, how can we change?

     The answer is always one word: Jesus.

     Paul says, "Do not lie to each other"! If Jesus is really your King and you are living in His Kingdom in a true sense, you should be living in a totally new society, new culture. In that way, new behaviour and new lifestyle will develop, lots of time slowly. But, slowly and slowly, you will find yourself to be able to deal with that two problems Paul concerns about in todays passage. Slowly and slowly, other people who know you will find out you are a different person. You have really put off your old clothes and put on Jesus' new clothes for you!

     If you are not able to put off your old clothes and still living in all those sinful behaviours, then you are just lying to yourself and to other people. Jesus is not reigning in you. Jesus is not your King. You have other kings controlling you.

     Let Jesus reigns!

Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to be able to put off our old clothes, old self and put on the new clothes prepared by you so that you can reign in us. 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

Lord, Reign in Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcXnugDRy-U#aid=P5qEg4Jt7qA

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/


Rev. Nicky Gumbel's daily devotion: Bible in One Year
http://www.htb.org.uk/bioy