Monday, May 29, 2023

"In one complete unity" or "Separate and betray" ?

             

   

Please click this link for the video version:

https://youtu.be/2QqryoWFpK8


Nicky Gumbel's Bible in one year today:


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) 

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 Word, Time with Abba (Psalm 122:6-9, 2 Samuel 14:1-15:22; John 18:1-24; Proverbs 16:8-9)

    Today's key passages: 

    
In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:9



13 A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”
14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”
2 Samuel 15:13-14

Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
John 18:2-3

16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
John 18:16-17

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 from Jesus is"In one complete unity" or "Separate and betray"? 

    Yesterday we talked about how John Stott reminds us that the prayer of Jesus in John 17 is the most important thing in life is that we can love God and other people and to have that oneness. Because the major work of Satan is to destroy this oneness, to separate the world, nations, societies, husbands and wives, families and churches!

Today's passages give us a most frightening examples of what would happen when Satan's plan to destroy the oneness succeeded:
- Absalom became king and chased his father wanting to kill him even though David had given him many opportunities to repent
- Judah betrayed Jesus who used three years to nurture him and trusted him
- Peter denied he knew Jesus who used three years to nurture him and trusted him

Why Absalom, Judah and Peter could be so inhuman to do this kind of thing?

Today's Proverbs 16:9 gives us an answer:
In their hearts humans plan their course

What should we do?

I think only if we can have Jesus as our Lord, being filled with the Holy Spirit and to be with Abba Father each day to follow our Triune God each day that we won't step into Satan's traps to be the lord of ourselves leading us to separation and betrayal!


     Dear Lord Jesus,  
     Establish our steps each day that we won't step into Satan's traps. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
    
     
      Reflect on these questions:
     1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?
      
      2.  What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus?
    
      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:http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

    

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