Sunday, June 12, 2022

God is testing your heart! Do you know that?

   


Please click this link for the video version of this blog:   https://youtu.be/l_6-15_knW4

  

Bible in one year by Nicky Gumbel:

Nicky Gumbel's Bible in one year today:

https://preview.mailerlite.com/x3e4o3c3l3/1970787632224934265/n4g3/


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.   Sing a song to praise God (you are welcome to use "Father, I adore you" which I have been singing every morning for the past 20 years or your own choice to praise God)

          Father, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
          Jesus, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
          Spirit, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
      

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

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:


     “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 and having Jesus as my Lord. 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 sins 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 gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

3.  John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)

(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/

           "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

             Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

             Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."


    
    The link to today's Time with Abba passages:   http://api.pastoralcareschool.org/twa/
    Time with Abba passages: (Psalm 132:1-5, 1 Kings 9:1-10:29; Acts 8:14-40; Proverbs 17:2-3)

    Today's key passage: 

     The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
      but the Lord tests the heart.
   
      Proverbs 17:3

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 to Jesus as you listen to him.

    My Listening
    The topic I received today isGod is testing your heart! Do you know that?

    Today's all four passages is about how God tests human hearts through sufferings:

    1. Psalm 132:1-5
        King David in his sufferings and self-denial always planned to build a temple for God in Jerusalem. He is being described as "a man after God's own heart" as in Acts 13:22. 

    2. 1 Kings 9:1-10:29
        King Solomon completed his father King David's wish to build the temple and in the peak of his kingship. But, it is so sad that he started to live on his own and sat on God's throne to do things God forbidded all kings to do according to Deuteronomy 17:16-17. He collected lots of silver and gold, he went to Egypt to purchase the best horses and he had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. He failed in the test of "Money, Power and Sex"! At the end of 1 Kings 11 records his death!

     3. Acts 8:14-40
         Because of the death of Stephen as the first martyr of Christians, the early Church was under great persecution. And because of this great sufferings, disciples of Jesus were being scattered to Samaria and many Samaritans accepted the Word of God and then being baptized by the Holy Spirit. Also, the power of the Holy Spirit led Philip to bring Gospel to an important official from Ethiopia and the eunuch was being baptized! The great persecution and sufferings tested the disciples hearts and the Kingdom of God is being extended!

     4. Proverbs 17:3
         The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
                but the Lord tests the heart.

     Do you know that God is testing your heart through this pandemic?  

     Let us be willing to be tested by God to have a spiritual revival and to bring more people back to Jesus that His Kingdom being extended, His Name be glorified!

     Dear Lord Jesus,  
     Help us to be willing to be tested by you through this pandemic that Your Kingdom being extended and Your Name be glorified. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
    
   
     Reflect on these questions:
     1. How can you grasp this diamond opportunity to be tested by God?   
        
      2.  What is your next step to make this happen?


      Family Corner:
     Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 
     

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org

    

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你在這整個世界的危機中要做甚麼?

  今日博客的錄影: https://youtu.be/mFtFJ6eFGok?si=eZfTK9W8_ZD0Lq_Z   Nicky Gumbel  牧師今日靈修博客: https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?e=590b90010b&u=...