Time with Abba, Singing Praising 親親爸父，唱詩歌頌 : OT DAY 561 - Experienced Numerous Miracles, But Can't Take Just One Blow (Please click here for English podcast)

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

OT DAY 561 - Experienced Numerous Miracles, But Can't Take Just One Blow (Please click here for English podcast)

Silence

1. Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

2. Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.

Praise and Thanksgiving

1. Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2. Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

3. Open your heart to praise the Lord

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house,

and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

Psalm 36:7-8

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html)

1. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in you:

“Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2. Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sin to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gift to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

The Word (2 Kings 20:12-21)

English(ESV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=列+王+紀+下+20&version=ESV

12 At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13 And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. 14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.”15 He said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”

16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: 17 Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord.18 And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”

20 The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and all his might and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 20:12-21

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

My Listening

What a shame! How many times God saved Hezekiah? And, he did something God dislike because of his fear to a new rising Kingdom, Babylon. He wanted to befriend with Babylon so that he could be able to deal with Assyria.

Big mistake! God sent Isaiah to warn him hoping he woke up and repent. But, what he said is that, "OK. No problem. I don't mind my people being carried off to Babylon, just after I die, please!"

It is so selfish, unfaithful and senseless! Actually it is so funny and sad!

So, there is nothing about King Hezekiah from then on, just tell people that he died and his son succeeded him as king. What a waste!

All the time, God wants to teach His people just to fear Him and then they will fear no one or anything. But, in the course of human history we have never learned that and we fear so many people and so many things but not God!

I sincerely hope and pray that because you have experienced God's mighty protection and miraculous deeds, when the examination paper comes to test your faith, you will pass and not like King Hezekiah to fail and fail greatly and foolishly!

Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to be prepared to face the next examination paper that we will stand firm and trust you totally. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Reflect on these questions:

1. What kind of challenges do you think you are going to face in the course of your life? Do you think you can pass the next examination paper?

2. What do you have in order to pass the next examination paper?

3. What have you got from Jesus today?