Do you remember the time before you come to Yangon? You searched about it and got some information about it. And you probably had a certain kind of image of the life in Yangon. But unless you experience it, you don’t really know what it really means. You never know what it actually means, as long as you stay in your familiar environment. But you can experience, feel and understand it when you actually enter into it.
　 The same is true with the kingdom of God. While you remain outside of the kingdom though you hear about it, you don’t really understand it. It is only a head-knowledge. It is not until you enter it that you actually experience it, feel it, and really understand it.
　 Then, how can we enter the kingdom of God? 
"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (John 3:5-6)"
　 The Holy Spirit makes us born again. He will make us the people of the kingdom of God. He will make us experience the kingdom of God, and make us taste its riches and help us see the truth of God’s promise.

Personal reflection:
What did you experience about the kingdom of God? What was your feeling for it? How did it help you to grow spiritually? Share it with someone this week.

NLIF is an international church in Yangon. Come and join our English Sunday worship service.

Connect with NLIF here: www.facebook.com/nlifygn

2 Corinthians 11:23-12:9
 
Paul's CV: various kinds of suffering for the sake of the Gospel of Christ
 
The opposite of faithfulness is faithlessness.
 
1. Faith is the root of Faithfulness.
2. It is a gift (1 Cor. 12:7-9a).
 
Faithfulness is impossible without God empowering us to accomplish it.
 
Join us at the English service of our International Church in Yangon. 

​Thanksgiving in Christ
(Eph. 1:15-17)

The more we come to know the Lord, the more our heart will be overflowing with thanks-giving. When we give thanks, we will receive strength. When we give thanks, we will show the Lord’s faithfulness, greatness and power to others. When we give thanks to the Lord even in the midst of hardships, we will testify how real and valuable our relationship with the Lord is.

1. Thanksgiving in prison
2. Come to know the Lord
3. The intercession by the Lord
Read more...

For Lifenet groups and personal reflections
 
1) Do you remember what God has done in your lives, things you are thankful about? Share it with one another. (Is there anything you can be thankful to God about NLIF?)
2) Why did Paul give thanks while he was in prison? How did his thanks-giving affect him?
3) Why could the church in Ephesus make Paul so thankful? Pray to the Lord that NLIF will become a church like that.
4) What do you think is the reason why our knowledge of the Bible and our actual life can be separated? How can we keep them integrated?

NLIF is an international church in Yangon. Come and join our English Sunday worship service.

Connect us here: www.facebook.com/nlifygn 

Genesis 50:20
 
Jacob's family was far from perfect, with the presence of favoritism, jealousy and hatred. It led to Joseph's being sold to slavery in Egypt.
 
Molding of Character in Slavery: Gen. 37-40 as necessary preparation
 Slave of Potiphar, imprisoned for over 10 years, promoted to PM
 
Family Reunion
 Joseph's brothers came to buy food and bowed down before him.
 Joseph struggled in his heart, whether to forgive his brothers or not. Gen. 42-44
 Joseph's forgiveness and love, then the whole family reunion in Egypt. Gen. 35-50
 
 Conclusions
•No family is perfect – and yet God works in and through them/us!
•Jacob’s weakness was that he showed favoritism towards one of his sons and didn’t know how to control/lead the others
•Through the struggles and pain, Joseph and his brother learned deep lessons about humility and forgiveness
•This is a key foundation for a life in freedom and peace  and harmony in any family, community and society 
•God is in charge of everything in our lives
•In his love he works in and through us, even in dark times
•Character supports destiny
•without character development we can’t reach God’s designed destiny for our lives
•obedience to his word and ways and trust in his character will see us through
•Life is not what happens to us, but how we respond to what happens to us
 
Come worship with us at our English Sunday service of NLIF in Yangon!