Do we walk together?

   

Please click this link for the video version of today's blog :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucWHsVLN_Cc

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 the Lord

      

     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 read 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."

Today's Time with Abba:  Psalm 139:1-6; Amos 1:1-3:15; Revelation 2:1-17; Proverbs 29:19-20

Please click this link for today's Time with Abba one year Bible: http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

Key passages:

 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash[a] was king of Israel.

2 He said:

“The Lord roars from Zion
    and thunders from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds dry up,
    and the top of Carmel withers.”

Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:

2 “You only have I chosen
    of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
    for all your sins.”

3 Do two walk together
    unless they have agreed to do so?

                                                      Amos 1:1-2; 3:1-3

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.

    

The topic I received today from Jesus is:  Do we walk together?

Amos was an 8th century B.C. prophet who lived during the same time as Isaiah and Micah (in the southern kingdom of Judah) and Jonah and Hosea (in the northern kingdom of Israel). Amos was a prophet whose home was in Judah, yet whose message was to Israel, the northern kingdom. The name Amos means "burdened" or "burden bearer." His name reflected how he carried the heavy responsibility of confronting Israel's sin and injustice and pronouncing judgment for the nation's rebellion against God and his standards.  

When God sent Amos to Bethel to deliver the message "repent or perish", the prophet was expelled from the city and ordered not to prophesy there again.  After that, Amos apparently returned to his home in Judah and put his message in writing.

Amos begins by pronouncing judgment on Israel's seven neighboring nations.  He lists each nation's particular sins. In each case, the Lord also vows not to hold back his wrath. Amos prophesies that turning to God for mercy and avoid destruction was over, judgment was certain.

In Amos 1- 2,  Amos pronounced judgment on Israel's seven neighboring nations, after that, He  pronounced judgment on God's chosen people, Judah and Israel, for their sins.

In Amos 3, When God said he spoke against Israel and against the whole family he brought up out of Egypt, God wanted them to know that they deserved his punishment.  

God asked them a very important question: Do two walk together?

They were God's chosen people, the ones through whom he intended to reveal his plan of salvation to the world, and they had to be held accountable for their stubborn, pride and rebellious. 

They did not walk with God, insisting on their own way of destruction. And so, that was destruction they deserved to have. 

What I received from Jesus today is a personal question challenging us to examine ourselves whether we are walking with God. 

If we are not walking with God then what Amos describes in Amos 3 is talking about us and God is speaking against us!

If we are walking with God then our lives would be very different from those describes here in Amos 1-3. And, God may send you as He sent Amos to deliver the message of Amos to those who do not walk with God. 

When that time comes, do you think you have the courage to do that? 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Lead us that we can be able to walk with you and that we can have the courage as Amos had to deliver your warning to those who do not walk with you.  In Jesus Name I 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. 

     

     You are welcome to join our Monday to Friday 7am-7:30am(Pacific time (Vancouver)) Worship, Devotion, Prayer

    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3962567042?pwd=4qqbcGJ2zQl3tlTUvus4Qv6g7byZKy.1&omn=88167363288

Meeting ID: 396 256 7042

Passcode: 12345

     

Please click this link to worship with us - 

Open the eyes of heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViBNqNukgzE&list=RDViBNqNukgzE&start_radio=1

    Please click this link for today's Time with Abba one year Bible four passages: http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

   For the Chinese version of this daily blog and video, please click this link (中文版請按此連結):

    https://timewithabbaprayinglisteningchinese.blogspot.com

     

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

       My first blog "Devotion on Fire"  was written in English only  (July 17, 2009年7月17日至November 22, 2012年11月22日). Each day one chapter of Bible, from New Testament and then Old Testament. Completed in four months and three years:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/blessings-from-rev-dr-john-stott.html

My second blog "Discipler 123"  was written in both Chinese and English (March 6,2011to December 31, 2016 ):

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2011/02/day-1-choose-light-away-from-darkness.html

and "Time with Abba" blog and video (January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024): 

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2017/01/1-2017.html

 

 

Connecting Workshop 2025(Session 2)

Bishop Silas Ng on Three Streams

 https://youtu.be/xiSOSFF9Iw0?si=puDWFD9Cx01ADm-o