DAY 812 - How Willing Are You to Witness for Christ? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

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                               Today's Reading: Revelation 11:1-14

** 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:

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Please click this link to read Revelation 11:1-14

English(ESV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation 11&version=ESV

Chinese: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=启 示 录 11&version=CUV

Bible Study

     Today's passage is perhaps one of the few most difficult passages in the Bible to interpret. 

Let's take a look at what Bishop N.T. Wright says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :

     John's 'measuring of the temple' (which echoes similar prophetic actions in Ezekiel 40 and Zechariah 2) has nothing to do with the Jerusalem Temple, or with the heavenly temple/throne from of chapters 4 and 5.  By the time John was writing - indeed, this was true from very early on in the Christian movement - the followers of Jesus had come to see themselves as the true temple, the place where God now lived through his powerful spirit…John's marking out of this human temple, this community, is a way of signalling God's solemn intention to honour and bless this people with his presence…
     The 'two witnesses'  of verses 3-13 are a symbol for the whole church in this prophetic witness, its faithful death, and its vindication by God…
     Why two witnesses, then?…because John has two great biblical stories in mind as the backdrop.  First, there is the story of Moses… Second, there is the story of Elijah…John doesn't mean, though some have thought this, that Moses and Elijah would literally return to earth and carry out what chapter 11 says.  That is to mistake the sort of writing this is.  What John is saying is that the prophetic witness of the church, in the great tradition of Moses and Elijah, will perform powerful signs and thereby torment the surrounding unbelievers, but that the climax of their work will be their martyr-death at the hands of 'the monster that comes up from the Abyss'…
     We should not mistake the powerful impact of the symbolism in verse 13.  When God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, he might have spared it if ten righteous persons were found there (Genesis 18.32).  Now, however, only one-tenth of the wicked city is to fall, and nine-tenths is to be saved.  When God was judging Israel through Elijah, only seven thousand were left who had not bowed the knee to the pagan god Baal.  Now, however, it is only seven thousand who are killed, and the great majority are to be rescued. Suddenly, out of the smoke and fire of the earlier chapters, a vision is emerging: a vision of the creator God as the God of mercy, grieving over the rebellion and corruption of the world but determined to rescue and restore it, and doing so through the faithful death of the lamb and, now, through the faithful death of the lamb's prophetic followers. 
     
N.T. Wright. Revelation for Everyone. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011, p.98-99, 101.

      We have more than usual commentary from Bishop Wright because he gives us a clear picture of this difficult picture. Now, what have all these related to you? How willing are you to be part of this faithful and fearless Church to witness for Christ? 

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: How willing are you to witness for Christ?

    What I got from Jesus today is an invitation to enter into this faithful and fearless Church He discipled and prepared.  Quite a number of Christians and Christians leaders are using the church somewhat like a club enjoying all the club-life activities. Some of them are using the church as a place to grasp power, control and influence. But, what Jesus wants us to do is to witness and be a prophetic voice. Are you willing?
     More than that, because of our willingness we might be facing with accusation, persecution and execution. Are you willing?

     How willing are you to witness for Christ?

     Today at around 9:00p.m. Michelle and I will go to Mr. Lam's daughter and her husband's home (if you don't know what is happening, please read yesterday's blog) to deliver what I received from Jesus to Mr. Lam and invite him to received Jesus as His Saviour and Lord of life. I do think this is not a co-incidence when we are talking about the same thing through the Revelation these few days. This is a vivid example of how willing we should be when we receive message from our Lord to deliver to those who Jesus wants us to deliver. Please pray at that hour, Vancouver time 9:00p.m.! Pray that there will be one more soul saved, Mr. Lam! Pray that from now on you are also willing to be a prophetic voice to witness for Christ bringing more souls to His Kingdom.  

Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to be willing to witness for you in all circumstances. Help us Lord.  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

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Matt Redman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

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