DAY 830 - What Matter Most? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

                     Today's Reading: Revelation 20:1-6

** 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 Revelation 20:1-6

English(ESV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation 20&version=ESV

Chinese: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=启 示 录 20&version=CUV

Bible Study

     This passage is perhaps one of the most difficult passages to understand in the whole Bible.  It talks about two stages of resurrection, sharing a thousand- year reign with Jesus, the temporary binding of the satan, and then satan "must be set free for a short time". Wow! So confusing, what is it really about? How can we understand this passage?  

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

    

      The clue to the passage is, I believe, in the opening line: 'I saw thrones, with people sitting on them, who were given authority to judge.'…Jesus, according to the whole New Testament, is already reigning; and what John is saying is that the martyrs are already reigning with him…
     We must hold on to the central things which John has made crystal clear: the victory of the lamb, and the call to share his victory through faith and patience.  God will then do what God will then do.  Whether we describe the final events as Revelation 20 has done, or as Paul does in Romans 8.18-26 or 1 Corinthians 15.20-28, it is clear that the one who wins the victory is the creator God, who does so to defeat and abolish death itself and so to open the way to the glories of the renewed creation.  That is what matters. 

N.T. Wright. Revelation for Everyone. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011, p.180-181.

      You can go to find ten different commentaries, having all kinds of information and theories to explain today's passage, but you will never find an answer. What you need to know today is what matter most to the central theme of this passage? What matter most does Jesus wants to tell you through this passage?  

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: What matter most?

    What I receive from Jesus today is a clue to understand all those difficult symbolic meanings in Revelation. What matter most to me is that I am not going to fear the power of the dragon, the serpent, the devil, satan. He has so many names like Deceiver, Destroyer, Separator and more. And, I do not have to fear death and my unknown future. All these are the things people usually fear of.

     Jesus is Lord, is the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. He is my Lord and I have no fear!

     That's what matter most! Wow! How comforting, assuring and rejoicing! 
      

Dear Lord Jesus,

Lead us to be sure what matter most in our lives is that you reign, in control and is Lord of lords and King of kings.  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