Thursday, July 7, 2022

The Lord is near to all who call on him - Prayer of Jabez!

 

     


Please click this link for the video version:    https://youtu.be/hU10nTwEkRg 


Bible in one year by Nicky Gumbel:

Nicky Gumbel's Bible in one year today:

https://preview.mailerlite.com/z7s8a1n2v3/1987457299785980229/u5k4/


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 145:14-21,1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17; Acts 25:1-27; Proverbs 18:19)

    Today's key passages: 

    
   The Lord upholds all who fall

    and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.

The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.
Psalm 145:14-21



Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Chronicles 4:9-10

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passages we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to him.

    My Listening
    The topic I received today isThe Lord is near to all who call on him - Prayer of Jabez!

    Psalm 145:14-21 gives us a very important promise from God. But, this promise has a condition! We can see this condition is "who call on him".

    What does it mean by "who call on him"? The answer is the first part of this verse - "the Lord is near to all who ..."

    Oh! Calling on God actually is when we try our best to be close to God to be in an intimate relationship with him. That's what calling on Him really means! It is the "distance" of God and you but not how long and the frequency of your prayers are!

    You know, sometimes you want to be a good friend with someone but he might not like to be so close to you. What can you do?

     Well, God is not like that! Never like that! If you draw close to Him each day then the promise of Psalm 145:14-21 will surely happen. It happens to me and my family!

     Today's 1 Chronicles 4:10 is the famous "Prayer of Jabez" and is a good example of what I just said. Jabez mother named him "Jabez" is because he gave his mother lots of pain when he was born. So, the meaning of Jabez is "I gave birth to him in pain."

     Starting at Jabez birth he was living in a kind of curse by his mother and his family members living a painful and rejected life! But, he called on God and God answered his prayer! God turned his life right side up! Because God is with him, his territory being extended and not in pain any more! He was more noble than all his brothers! Wow! God is good!

     Yes, call on God, draw close to God and He will draw close to you, this is His promise to you today!


     Dear Lord Jesus,  
     Help us  to draw close to you each day that we can receive your promise. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
      
     Reflect on these questions:
     1. How does today's message and the Prayer of Jabez give you inspiration of your relationship with God 
         
      2.  What is your next step to begin living out this kind of successful lifestyle?


      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

        Richmond Emmanuel Church has stepped into the Promised Land

  We got the keys of our newly purchased three unites of 5,800 sq. ft. at President Plaza on June 30, 2022.

  And, we have put in our Church Banner inside the front doors of two units on that day. A glorious day!


 As Archbishop Yong shared with us a prophetic message seven years ago and we have been praying that his encouragement and prophecy will happen to us the past seven years, it happens!

 When we asked him whether 9500 No. 5 Road is the Promised Land we have been waiting for since 2002, Archbishop Yong said, "The best has yet to come." Praise the Lord that the best has come to us now! Thank you, Archbishop Yong! 

  Thank you, Jesus!

  
















        "Church in a Mall" plan of the Anglican Church of Sabah
         Bishop Melter (He becomes the Primate and Archbishop of the Anglican Province of South East Asia in 2021) took Michelle and me, Archbishop Yong and Julia and some leaders to the 5,000 sq. ft. unit
in a Mall of Marriott Hotel two times to pray and sing praises blessing that place and be ready to rent that
place to have a "Church in a Mall" there. Bishop Melter told me that he is going to be the Rector of this new church. Due to some complicated legal issues, they decided not to continue this new paradigm plan.

          I believe Archbishop Melter's vision has become an inspiration from Jesus to me that I support our people to have "Church in a Mall" new paradigm vision. The place is very similar to Archbishop Melter's plan, on the third floor(2F in that Mall in the Marriott is actually 3rd floor), also around 5,000 sq. ft., and with Raddison Hotel in this twin towers building!

        Praise the Lord to send Archbishop Melter as a pioneer to give us a confirmation to courageously step into the Promised Land we could never think of! How wonderful Jesus is!   

         The last photo is Archbishop Melter's message to me through WhatsApp last Friday by blessing us in entering into the Promised Land!        
                 
                  











      


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是時候回頭轉向神了!

   今日博客的錄影: Nicky Gumbel  牧師今日靈修博客: https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?e=590b90010b&u=607cd553028b55c8cfb706e8a&id=94c5e0eae4 Nicky ...