Wednesday, December 9, 2009

DAY 112 - How blessed we are being encouraged and protected!



Today’s Reading: Acts 23

Please read Acts 23: 1 – 35 and listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ would like to tell you before reading my Spiritual Journal below. If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from this blog. You may click this link directly for the method: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf . (You may begin with a song to praise the Lord and complete you devotion by singing another praise song.)

Please click the links below to Acts 23:
Chinese: http://www.o-bible.com/cgibin/ob.cgi?version=hb5&book=act&chapter=23
ESV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2023&version=ESV
NIV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2023&version=NIV
Message: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2023&version=MSG

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Acts 23:11

Since Joshua’s time, the Lord strengthens and protects His servants using one word, “Take courage!”. How often that even Moses had been discouraged and that we, when facing the same opposition, are discouraged. We need to know that the Spirit of Discouragement is one of Satan’s mighty 'Generals', always pouring down discouragement on us when we are most unprepared!

I received this word from the Lord today, “Take courage!” You need to know the secret to take courage is to abide in His Word and in His mighty presence as how Joshua was commanded:
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go"
Joshua 1: 6-9
" EMMANUEL!”

According to my recent statistics, there are less than 10% of Christians that are having daily devotions. Some of those 10% are having daily devotions because of duty and some because of guilt. No wonder that so many Christians, and even Christian leaders, are so discouraged and burned out!

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1
“Take courage!” Acts 23:11



Oh Lord Jesus, thank you for encouraging me in a very special way. I am in my hotel room in Toronto at 3a.m. and with a severe snow storm outside. Alone! Bless me to have a good sleep and when I wake up tomorrow, I will be filled with your encouragement and anointing to glorify your Holy Name. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Prayer items today:

For ACiC/AI

Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Silas Ng
Network Leader: Rev. Peter Klenner
Administrator: Mrs. Zenia Cheng

Pray for one ACiC/AI church one day at a time

Victoria Church Plant, the Table: Church Planter: Rev. Josh Wilton
Church Planter: Rev. Andy Withrow

We have started our 2nd phase of 100 days of prayer. I am calling you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to fill in your names in the new list below. Many wonderful things have happened in the past 100 days. Can we follow our King, our Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ to use an hour’s time to pray for His protection and blessings to my new ministry as the Bishop of ACiC/AI, all our ACiC/AI clergy, leaders and people? Pray that in the Holy and Mighty Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we can win over Satan's tricks, in order to strengthen our brothers and sisters so that His Kingdom will be extended. Please click this new link to participate in our 2nd phase 100 days/24 hours Prayer Campaign (Nov 29, 2009 to March 8, 2010)

4 comments:

  1. Dear Lord,

    We ask that Bishop Silas' arm will be lifted up as he attends the ACNA Bishops gathering today in Toronto. May the time be very fruitful, full of your grace, mercy and wisdom. Redeem the time according to your Word in Ephesians 5:16.

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  2. Thanks Ed and everyone for your prayers today. I survive through the snow storm!

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  3. Thank you for this reminder - A thought as I prayed over this: Courage must be "taken." It is offered by the Holy Spirit as a gift. It is commanded as an imperative - "Fear not." It is "taken" by the believer as a necessity. The Lord commands us to do what is necessary for our well-being and then supplies us with a "Spirit, not of fear..." so that we can please Him. God is good.

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  4. Yes indeed! As states clearly in 1 Cor. 13: 9 Faith is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Faith and courage go together. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit "is given for the common good"(1 Cor. 13: 7) and what we need to do is prepare ourself daily to be filled by the Holy Spirit and to "recieve" His gifts.

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