Time with Jesus - Saturday, 17
December 2011
Hi all,
Attached
herewith, please find a copy of my latest Daily Light Meditation in rhyme and
metre.
The
people of God are divided into two camps. I’m referring to Bible believing
Christians, not denominationalists and Roman Catholics. There are many
beautiful born again, Bible Believing Christians in both. I am of course referring to Evangelicals and Charismatics. The division usually centres on the
work of the Holy Spirit in the 21st century. Generally speaking,
evangelicals believe that gifts of the Holy Spirit were no longer required
after the apostles died and the New Testament was in the hands of the Church.
These beautiful Christian men and women believe that the Bible is the Word of
God. They believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and seek to live life as best they
can in terms of Scripture. Generally they are well versed with the Old and New
Testaments. In the main, experiences tend to be mistrusted. Indeed, they are
inclined to say, “The Word says it; that settles it; I believe it. This group
of people have much to be commended. To a large extent it is from this group of
people that most of the evangelistic work of the 19th and early 20th
century was carried out.
Generally,
the Charismatic movement began early in the 20th century and gave
birth to modern Pentecostalism. This group believe that the gifts of the Holy
Spirit are alive and well today. They tend to be experiential and believe that
the gifts did not cease with the receipt of the New Testament. There is
evidence to suggest that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have been active
throughout the past 2000 years in small pockets of born again Bible believing
Christians. These men and women have been heavily persecuted by the church.
Charismatics have faults primarily because of the way the gifts are abused. In
some respects, many of the same excesses which prompted Paul to write his first
letter to the Corinthians, is apparent today.
Personally,
I believe that both streams need to be together. The Charismatics need the
Biblical knowledge of the evangelicals. Likewise, the Evangelicals need the
spontaneity of the Charismatics. My wife and I claim to be both.
Charismatic-evangelicals,
This
introduction is necessary because today’s Scriptures and meditation looks at the
prayer in the Holy Spirit and leans more toward the Charismatic position. And
yet, having said that, there is also a thread of the evangelical position.
The
verse and rhyme content from previous days can be seen on my blog – http:
//jimnphyllida.blogspot.com
Please
forward my poetry to others you think would enjoy it. All I ask is that it is
not used f or commercial purposes
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland.
PRAYER IN THE SPIRIT
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O Lord we come and pray to You, “Revive us once
again.
We need to turn once more to You for all our hopes
are vain.
O Lord of Heaven‘s Armies; please make Your face
shine down.
Salvation is in no one else, in any earthly town.
Please send Your Holy Spirit; in Him alone is life.
Only speak Your Living Word and end our earthly
strife.
We are all weak and helpless; we don’t know how to
pray.
But when Your Spirit dwells in us, He knows just
what to say.
We do not understand Him; His prayers are far too
deep;
And when He groans inside us, those prayers are
never cheap.
He knows our hidden motives; He knows what makes us
tick.
To try and do without Him; that thought makes us
feel sick.
Please come now Holy Spirit; Please come and
intercede.
We cannot cope without You; You are the Lord indeed.
You know the circumstances; You know what’s going
on.
And when Your Spirit in us prays; The problems are
all gone!
In every situation Lord, we all make this request.
Help us pray for others, so that they may be
blessed.
Help us change our focus and help us be alert.
How can we make a difference; if with this world we
flirt?
Our flesh is not important; it will all pass away.
It’s only in the Spirit Lord, we benefit today.
And Lord the words You’ve spoken, alone can give us
life.
No other factors matter; they only cause us strife.
O Father, by Your Spirit, You’ve caused us all to be,
Competent as ministers, of something new and free.
A wonderful new covenant, inscribed upon our hearts;
Where, by Your Holy Spirit, a brand new life now
starts.
A life that’s filled with Jesus, Your Spirit and
with You.
Where we can hear the Words You say and do what we
should do.
A special place for meeting; a home where we can be,
Constantly united in love eternally;
Talking with the Living God and knowing You will
hear,
The prayers that we are praying Lord, for You are
always near.
And we will call You Father; Your Holy Name we’ll
praise;
Your Spirit will empower us to speak of Jesus’ ways.
How else can we be faithful? How else can we be
true?
Unless the Holy Trinity is Lord of all we do.”
Jim Strickland – Written 17th December 2011
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