To be Jesus' disciples or being captive by this world?

 

 

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

Bishop Silas conducting Vancouver Oratorio Society, VOS Chamber and Schola Cantorum singing Parry's I was Glad:

https://youtu.be/Qr4RThsdEjY?si=wh3sT_i3QE8kTgX6

Bishop Silas conducting Schola Cantorum Emmanuel and Vancouver Oratorio Chamber Choir singing Palestrina's O Beata Trinitas:

https://youtu.be/O4wiyr8oa_Y?si=l_cp4aRfVMRzaL6b

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

      Please click this link to worship with us - 

      

       Be with You: City Harvest Church, Singapore

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epkh71WTUFs&list=RDEpkh71WTUFs&start_radio=1

      10,000 Reasons

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3K3roEF36k

      

     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 109:16-31, Jeremiah 6:15-8:17;  Colossians 2:8-23; Proverbs 24:26

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

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

Key passage:  

 “  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

                                                                 Colossians 2:8-12     

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through today's TWA passages we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him.

The topic I received today from Jesus is: To be Jesus' disciples or being captive by this world?

      What I received from Colossians 2:8-12 is that we have two choices of our lives:

    1. Being captive by this world

        Paul reminds us that even if we are Christians but we might not be Christians. Why? Because we might be influenced by all kinds of worldly philosophy, traditions and superstitions. Being captive by this world that Jesus cannot lord us or so called Christians might have no relationship with Jesus at all!

    2. Be Jesus disciples

        If we are true Christians, disciples of Christ, then we must have changes in our character, thinking and behaviour to demonstrate that Jesus is really lording us. Without those real changes in our lives, there is a high possibility that we are being captive by this world without our knowing!

     2022 today, Michelle and I had the honour to have a four hours time to be with Archbishop Yong Ping Chung and Julia. His Grace shared about how he received Jesus as His Saviour and Lord of life and then led his two younger brothers to Jesus afterward. Then, their parents watched their lives very closely for a few years and they also received Jesus because they saw how Jesus changed their sons lives and they also received Jesus and baptized. Then, Archbishop Yong said, his father's lifestyle changed drastically from living a worldly life as a captive of this world to a true life of Christlikeness! So powerful and wonderful witness to go with today's message. I do think this is not a coincidence! This is a message for you to catch and to follow the examples to change to be more like Jesus each day!

                             Archbishop Yong's born again testimony

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

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

    It is so sad that less than two months after we left Sabah, Archbishop Yong passed away on December 22, 2022! I miss him so much!

   

     Dear Lord Jesus,  

    Help us to be able to follow your servant, Archbishop Yong's model to have changes in our character, thinking and behaviour to demonstrate that you are really our Lord and Savior. 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 Old Testament Psalm 109 blog: 

       https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2021/05/day-109-2021-how-do-you-treat-your.html

       

     

       Please click this link to today's Old Testament Jeremiah 4:19-6:14 blog and video:

https://timewithabbaprayinglisteningenglish.blogspot.com/2025/10/hear-this-you-foolish-and-senseless.html

       Please click this link to today's Old Testament Proverbs 24 blog:  

       https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2021/08/day-174-2021-be-rescue-team-member-for.html

   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

     

     

       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