Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!

 

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okjP7utFFC0

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 2:1-6; Genesis 3:1-4:26; Matthew 2:13-3:6; Proverbs 1:7-9

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

Key passages:

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”                                Matthew 3:1- 2 

Jesus said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."            Matthew 4: 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.

The topic I received today from Jesus is:  Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!

What Jesus told me today is the importance of the first thing He and John the Baptist said:

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!"

If both John the Baptist and Jesus started with the same words in the beginning of their ministries, then this message must be very important to them and to each one of us. This should be a key of our self examination and a key of our message to others. 

What does "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" means to you today?

Today's theme "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!" leads us to link up the other three passages of today's TWA readings: 

Psalm 2:1-6 tells us about the prophecy how kings and rulers came together against God and the Messiah.

Genesis 3:1-4:26 tells us about how Adam and Eve came together against God and how their son Cain killed his brother Abel.

Proverbs 1:7-9 tells us about if we fear the Lord and listen to the Lord's commands we will be richly blessed.

So, if we know what to repent and are willing to repent, we will experience the presence of God and be with Him in His Kingdom each day. Today's Psalm 2:1-6, Genesis 3:1-4:26 won't happen to us and that we will taste the sweetness and fruit of today's Proverbs 1:7-9, to be richly blessed by God in a very special way. 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help us to know that we have things to repent because we are human beings and far from the standard of the kingdom of heaven. Come, Holy Spirit come, fill us that we are being anointed, strengthened and empowered by you that we can be in the kingdom of heaven every day and be able to deliver this message to the others. 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. 

      

     Please click this link to today's Old Testament Genesis 3-4 blog and video: 

  https://timewithabbaprayinglisteningenglish.blogspot.com/2025/01/how-can-you-master-crouching-tiger.html

     

       Please click this link to today's Old Testament Psalm 2 blog:

       https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2021/01/day-2-2021-blessed-are-all-who-take.html

       Please click this link to today's Old Testament Proverbs 1 blog:  

       https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2021/07/day-151-2021-listen-and-obey-to-god.html

     

    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 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