There is no short cut to follow Jesus

           

Anglican Mission in Canada and Richmond Emmanuel Church have launched MISSION 113 Campaign starting January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026. We have received the baton from Archbishop Yong to continuous the call His Grace received in 1993 to bring more souls to God's eternal Kingdom! Please watch the two videos below to know from Archbishop Yong how Jesus used him to bring MISSION 113 to the Anglican Diocese of Sabah and beyond:

Archbishop Yong’s MISSION 113 videos, October 16, 2022:

https://youtu.be/Mp0-JPx4Vac

https://youtu.be/MyO6hMcOMOI

Please watch this video of our Caroling at President Plaza(We bought three units of  5,800 sq ft at President Plaza and now in the process of renovation. Praise the Lord to give us the Promised Land of our first property - the church in a Mall, Richmond Emmanuel Church in a Mall)on December 16, 2023:

https://youtu.be/7u_EbZjWUMc?si=lwr10ui1jlE5CfLA

Please click this link for the video version:

https://youtu.be/-GF2olF0L0o?si=cPHE6pVJ5XlIwx90

Nicky Gumbel's Bible in one year today:

https://evoturi-zcmp.campaign-view.eu/ua/viewinbrowser?od=3zd157131b6d471dd26510cd1848ef8722&rd=119344be5fa13321&sd=119344be5fa08af4&n=11699e4c232fdc1&mrd=119344be5fa08ac8&m=1

Bible in one year by Nicky Gumbel:

https://bibleinoneyear.org/en/

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 Word, Time with Abba (Psalm 18:25-36, Exodus 13:17-15:18; Matthew 21:23-46; Proverbs 6:16-19)

    Today's key passage:

     7 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

         Exodus 13:17-18

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 from Jesus is: There is no short cut to follow Jesus

 Yesterday we learned how God would reward you and how could we receive those rewards. Today, Jesus wants you to understand there is no short cut for you to receive God's rewards because there is no short cut to follow Jesus!

1. God does not want you to have short cut to follow Him (Exodus 13:17-18)

    a. You need time to build up the trusting relationship with God and won't turn back to your old self, old path 
    b. God gives you a vineyard to work (Matthew 21:33-34)
        A farmer needs lots of time, patience and lots of work to be fruitful
        

2.  God will protect you and build walls and fences, watchtowers, be your shield and teach you how to battle and win:

     a. God will protect you and build walls and fences, watchtowers(Matthew 21:33)

     b. God will be your shield and teach you how to battle and win (Psalm 18:29-30, 35-36: Exodus 14:13-14,19-20)

    

3.  What do you have to do to claim God's promise and rewards? 

     a. Do not take away or kill God's prophets from centuries ago until nowadays. Those servants of God He prepares to help you and to deliver His words to you, including Jesus Himself (Matthew 21:34-43)

    b. Do not do things God hates  (Proverbs 6:16-19)

    c. If you can live out 3a，3b，then, when you are in crisis or in battle, you just need to be still and God will fight for you! Wow!  (Exodus 14:13-14,19-20)

   

 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help us to be willing to spend more time with you each day and not take the spiritual short cut so that we can work hard on the field you prepare for us to work and be fruitful. 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, to be holy - that is to do what Jesus wants you to do and not to do what Jesus wants you not to do?

    

      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/

        My first blog started in July 2009, one chapter a day to read through

     the whole Bible link:

https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/day-1-i-am-blind.html

        Anglican Mission Global Society:

Archbishop Melter’s 1st Connecting Workshop video, September 5, 2023: https://youtu.be/0lL8xNrgJb8

Archbishop Melter’s 2nd Connecting Workshop video, September 12 2023:  https://youtu.be/SM39qX0Q5XM

Archbishop Yong’s MISSION 113 videos, October 16, 2022:

https://youtu.be/Mp0-JPx4Vac

https://youtu.be/MyO6hMcOMOI

Archbishop Yong's born again testimony

1st part: https://youtu.be/eogu1rMpvTQ

2nd part: https://youtu.be/BhyUU1ov1RM