Wednesday, November 6, 2013

WEEK 21 - New Provision: How Not to Worry? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)



Today's Reading: Matthew 6:25-34

**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.


Please click this link to Matthew 6:25-34


Bible Study
     
     Worry! Worry! Worry! Worry! Worry! Worry!

     The word "worry" appears six times in this passage of ten verses. Is Jesus talking about the problem of worry? Is He talking about how not to worry?

     Well, the answer is in verse 33:
     "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."                     Matthew 6:33

      Why we have so many worries?  Because we can't get those things we want to have. We worry about almost everything. Many people can't sleep because of too much worries. The Mayor of Boston said today in the news after the FBI caught the bomb -suspect, "The city of Boston can sleep tonight." The whole city has been in worries the past four days and the whole city can't sleep.

      Most of us know how to sing "seek ye first the kingdom of God". But, do you know the context in this passage when Jesus says that? It all starts with two things:
1. Seek first the kingdom
    When you want to seek a place you want to go into that place, right? Jesus says, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." So, Jesus is talking about the first thing first.  The first thing he said is that we need to repent so that we can be in the kingdom. I guess you have repented, so you should be in his kingdom now.

2. And his righteousness
   When we are in his kingdom then we live in a new standard, a new lifestyle, that is his righteousness.  Actually that is the whole message of the Sermon on the Mount. 

     Our lifestyle starts first with our new being. We live out what Jesus talks about the Beatitudes. That's our being, that's how people will see us: admitting we are poor in spirit, able to mourn for our own sinful nature and keep on repenting, becoming more like Jesus who is meek and humble, hunger and thirst to learn more about Jesus, the Bible and more, become merciful, being more transparent before God and other people, becoming peacemakers and willing and ready to be persecuted. That's our new being! A new "you". That is you, and people see the new you can see Jesus in you! Wonderful!

    Then we live out a new "doing". Our new lifestyle leads us to give more, to pray more and to fast more. Jesus says the Pharisees got it all wrong. They made use of giving, praying and fasting to let other people to see that they were more holy and righteous than other people. But, Jesus wants us to understand that the new being leads to the new doing. You can't give more, pray more and fast more to be more like Jesus. It's the other way round that your being in the kingdom through repentance transforms you to be more like Jesus and then naturally you will give more, pray more and fast more. 

     And if you can give more, pray more and fast more, how can we live each day in worries? It's impossible! 

     If you are more being like Jesus, you must have been experiencing that God is your Provider and He will surely provide everything you need. 

     Do you know how not to worry now? 

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"



Spiritual Journal

     The topic I received from Jesus today is : 
     New Provision: How not to worry?

      What I received from Jesus today is the key for us to enjoy each day through our new being and doing. 

     You can't do those eight blessings because that's not doing but being. If you are being with Jesus daily then you will be transformed by Jesus into this new being. Then from this being you will start your new doing. From getting as much as you want, not having a daily intimate personal prayer time with Jesus, not practicing fasting to focus your life on Jesus to giving more and more, have good daily devotion and more prayer time and more fasting. It comes naturally.

     Then, worries will disappear naturally. Do you believe that could happen to you?

     Remember, new provision starts with new being and new doing. 

    Dear Lord Jesus,
    Lead us to live out our new being and doing so that we can enjoy the new provision from you and that we won't live our day in worries.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.  

Questions for group discussion

New Provision: How Not to Worry?
新的供應: 不再憂慮?

Passage: Matthew 6:25-34

Questions for group leaders
1. Read Matthew 6:25-34 again now. What are those things that you have been worrying recently? How can your being with Jesus each day helps you to lessen your worries?

2. How do you experience Jesus as your Provider?

3. Do you have that new being and doing as described in today’s message?

4. Don’t worry, Jesus is Lord! How can this message helps you to enjoy each day more and have less or even no worry? Don’t worry, Jesus is Lord

5. What is your highlight in today’s session?


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You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 
Discipler123(Daily Devotion, with English and Cantonese podcast)

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(One year New Testament): 

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

Break.Build(40 days daily devotion- First Baby Step for new Christians, with English and Cantonese podcast): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study, with English and Cantonese podcast): 

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