DAY 624 - What Have You Given up? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Want to know why I have been writing and recording my blogs and podcast daily since August 10, 2009? Click these three links:

Confirmation from John Stott in 2009: 
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
My MicroMacro Discipleship, A missing DNA in Discipleship Development: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/introduction-micromacro-discipleship.html
Subject Shifting Devotion Method(Inspired by John Stott in 1991: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

                               Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:

 .Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf

Please click this link to read 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1+&version=ESV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1&version=CUV

Bible Study

     Paul gives thanks to the true God for what the Thessalonians have given up in order to worship God and to believe in Jesus Christ. 

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
      The remarkable thing was the instant effect the gospel had had.  At the heart of it - and this is never far from Paul's mind throughout the letter - was the call to worship the true God rather than idols.
      That was simply unheard of in Paul's world.  It would be like asking people in a modern city to give up using motor cars, computers and telephones.  The gods of Greek and Roman paganism were everywhere.  If you were going to plant a tree, you would pray to the relevant god.  If you were going on a business trip, a quick visit to the appropriate shrine was in order…
     The Thessalonians Christians had only been believers of not more than a year.  But already people from hundreds of miles around were talking about this unheard of thing; quite ordinary people had done something extraordinary, in response to an unexpected message.  The only explanation was that the living God had been at work through the gospel message about Jesus.  And the only appropriate response to that is thanksgiving and celebration. 
    

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:Galatians and Thessalonians. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.91,93.

      How many things have you given up since you received Jesus as your Saviour, Lord and King? How many things you know that you have to give up but still not yet given up? Why? What are you waiting? 

      
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture 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

Spiritual Journal

    The title I heard from Jesus today is: What have you given up?

    What I got from Jesus today is a call to give thanks to the Lord and also a check-up time:
1. A call to give thanks to the Lord for how wonderful He has been leading you that you have given up those things you have already given up in order that you can worship the true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

2. A check-up of your spiritual life whether you have something you know you have to give up and still you have not done that. And Jesus is asking you now, why are you waiting?

3. Are there people wondering the new changes you have made just like the situation in Thessalonica?

     Actually, I am quite sad when I was recording this podcast, because it comes to my mind that I have been 

     The most important thing Jesus wants to challenge you today is that: Do you know what is the thing He is calling you to give up now in order that you can worship Him truly ? 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Open our eyes so that we can see the thing that you are calling us to give up in order that we can worship your more truly. Holy Spirit, come, reveal that to us and fill us, strengthen us so that we can be able to give up that thing. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Please click this link to worship with us -

從心合一

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJWZQyLzDRQ

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Matt Redman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 

http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/

Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- For Renewal or First Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 

http://emmanuel330.blogspot.ca/

This blog:

Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)

http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/

DAY 623 - (English podcast click here)

DAY 623 - Live out Faith, Love, Hope (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Want to know why I have been writing and recording my blogs and podcast daily since August 10, 2009? Click these three links:

Confirmation from John Stott in 2009: 
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
My MicroMacro Discipleship, A missing DNA in Discipleship Development: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/introduction-micromacro-discipleship.html
Subject Shifting Devotion Method(Inspired by John Stott in 1991: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

                               Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:

 .Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf

Please click this link to read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1+&version=ESV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+1&version=CUV

Bible Study

     This blogs/podcasts is following Bishop N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as the main source. That's why we are now in 1 Thessalonians and not on Ephesians after Galatians.

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
      The church in Thessalonica is very young, probably not more than a few months old.  Already they have faced great difficulties;  they have been persecuted, and some of them have died.  By way of rooting them the more firmly in the gospel, Paul reminds them at length of what happened when he arrived and preached there; of the example he and his companions set them…
     In particular, he recalls how, even in the short time he spent with them after the initial preaching, they already demonstrated three things which he saw as signs of life. Faith, love and hope: Paul uses this threesome elsewhere, particularly in 1 Corinthians 13.13, but clearly it was a regular part of his thinking and teaching about basic Christian living. 
    

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:Galatians and Thessalonians. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.89.

      How long ago did you receive Jesus as your Saviour, Lord and King? How do you live out this basic Christian living of faith, love and hope? 

      
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture 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

Spiritual Journal

    The title I heard from Jesus today is: Live out faith, love, hope

    What I got from Jesus today is a reminder of our present spiritual maturity. No matter how young or how old we have become a Christian, are we living out this basic Christian living: faith, love and hope.?
    When was the last time you lost faith? Love? Hope? How are you now? Remember, this is basic Christian living, without these three, you should be in a very dangerous place!

     How can you give other people to have an example, a model of living out faith, love and hope today? 

Daddy,

Lead us to be able to live out this basic Christian living that other people can live out faith, love and hope through our example.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Please click this link to worship with us -

從心合一

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJWZQyLzDRQ

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Matt Redman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 

http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/

Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- For Renewal or First Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 

http://emmanuel330.blogspot.ca/

This blog:

Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)

http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/

DAY 622 - (English podcast click here)

DAY 622 - Show Me Your Wounds of Jesus, A New Creation (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Want to know why I have been writing and recording my blogs and podcast daily since August 10, 2009? Click these three links:

Confirmation from John Stott in 2009: 
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
My MicroMacro Discipleship, A missing DNA in Discipleship Development: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/introduction-micromacro-discipleship.html
Subject Shifting Devotion Method(Inspired by John Stott in 1991: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

                               Today's Reading: Galatians 6:11-18

** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:

 .Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf

Please click this link to read Galatians 6:11-18

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians 6&version=ESV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=加 拉 太 書 6&version=CUV

Bible Study

     Paul concludes the whole book teaching the Galatians that what matters is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision.  What matters is that whether they are a new creation, whether they have the wounds of Jesus but not the sign of circumcision. It is the mark of the cross but not the mark of circumcision.   

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
      The cross marks the great division, not only between the church and the world, but between those in the church who are prepared to face persecution for the Messiah and those who aren't.  The 'agitators'  have been keen to mark the bodies of the Galatians with the sign that says they belong to the ethnic family of Abraham.  Paul declares that the only marks that matter on his body are the wounds he has suffered as a result of his allegiance to Jesus (verse 17).  
    

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:Galatians and Thessalonians. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.81.

      If you are a new creation, can you show me your wounds of Jesus? 

      
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture 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

Spiritual Journal

    The title I heard from Jesus today is: Show me your wounds of Jesus, a new creation.

    What I got from Jesus today is the way to find out that who belongs to that new creation Paul describes. It is not the sign of circumcision, your baptism certificate, your contribution to your church or any other outward signs you can name.  It is the cross. It is your wounds of Jesus. It is because of your allegiances to Jesus that you suffer similar attacks Jesus suffered. Can you show me your wounds of Jesus? Your sign of a new creation?

     On the other hand, are you taking part in hurting Jesus' disciples that they suffer because of your spreading rumours, pointing fingers, accusation and persecution? Stop doing that right now! Don't take the place of God to judge others! 

Daddy,

Lead us to be willing to suffer for you so that we can show our wounds of Jesus and to be sure that we belongs to your new creation. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Please click this link to worship with us -

從心合一

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJWZQyLzDRQ

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Matt Redman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 

http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/

Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- For Renewal or First Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 

http://emmanuel330.blogspot.ca/

This blog:

Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)

http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/