DAY 699 - "Perhaps" Is The Key Word (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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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: Philimon 1:15-25

** 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 Philimon 1:15-25

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

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=腓 利 門 書 1&version=CUV

Bible Study

     This is a passage following Paul's plead to Philemon for reconciliation. A very special passage starting with the word "perhaps".  

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
      We can't very often look at the details of our lives and see exactly where they fit into the larger plan of God.  If we try, we'll either become grandiose, imagining that we are the centre of God's universe, or depressed, wondering whether there is any pattern or meaning to it at all.  From time to time, though, if we watch in faith and trust, we can glimpse something of what God is about, of what the divine painter has in mind.  When we glimpse it, we are wise to go with it.
      But it must always have a 'perhaps' or a 'maybe' attached to it.  Never trust someone who tells you that they are 100 per cent certain that God wants you to do this or that particular thing… 
      Paul is virtually certain of what Phileomon must now do.  But he is still restrained enough to insert the all-important 'maybe' in front of what is perhaps the most important sentence in the letter. Supposing, Paul says - just supposing God had a purpose not just for you at this moment, but even in the fact that Onesimus ran away in the first place?  That's an extraordinary thought, and he tactfully doesn't refer to the running away itself, merely to Onesimus 'being separated from you'.  God moves in a mysterious way…
     So, now, maybe God has been secretly at work, even through what seemed like sad, unfortunate or even wicked human actions, in order to bring about a situation which would shine his light not only in Colossae but around the world ever afterwards…
     That's what God's love is always like…Ask yourself: where in your world, in your church, in your family, at your workplace - where is the healing and restorative grace of God most badly needed?

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:The Prison Letters. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.206, 208.

     We so often make wrong judgement about God's plan, God's will and about other people's intention. Paul starts with the word "perhaps" to persuade Philemon to understand God's plan of his run away slave Onesimus. "Perhaps" that's God's plan for Philemon to experience the story of the Prodigal Son. What have you got from Paul's word "perhaps" today? How can this word change your life that you can enjoy God's blessing better?  
     

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: "Perhaps" is the key word

    The message I got from Jesus today is a very important key to solve misunderstanding and division in family, church, workplace and elsewhere.

     We often do not want to give a space for God and other people to work by judging that it is surely this, no way to have other possibility. 

      But, the reality is, lots of time God teaches us to trust his provision is just one step at a time. If we trust, and have that one step, then in times, the picture will be revealed, sometimes slowly, sometimes fast.

      Perhaps you have misjudged God's plan and other people's intention that you do not want to take part in God's plan that you can never understand.

      Perhaps you need to pray to our Lord Jesus Christ in a new way to have a new discernment so that God's plan can be completed through your willingness, just as what Paul is pleading to Philemon. I am pleading to you now! 

Dear Lord Jesus,
Teach us to understand that your plan is sometimes mysterious and that we can never understand. Lead us to walk hand in hand with you and other brothers and sisters that we can walk step by step to execute your will.  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