Time with Jesus
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Thursday, 19 April 2012
INTRODUCTION
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Back in the early 1990’s, Mike Bickle wrote a book
called, “Passion for Jesus”. The details are not the issue. The statement is!
Passion for something is what has set this world
alight from the earliest days of recorded history. It was a passion for God
that kept Noah building the arc. I’ve heard it said that Noah was a terrible
preacher. Only his wife, his three sons and their wives joined him in the
arc. But he was a fabulous builder. Through all those years he laboured to
build this enormous “thing” in his “back yard”; to save them from what? From
something no one had ever seen before? After all, what’s rain, the unbelievers
asked?
What about Abram’s passion for God. He left his
comfortable home; a two story house in Ur to follow the voice of God. “Madness!”
must have been the reaction of the other “Ur-ites”. Sure, a few members of
the family joined him. But he had Passion for God. It must have been quite
extraordinary. Would I have done it?
The Bible is full of such men and women. Would you
go and marry a prostitute? For further examples read Hebrews 11. Some refer
to this as the Faith Chapter. It’s not a bad name. Certainly it speaks of men
and women who exercised great faith. But think for just a moment. Isn’t
passion an expression of what you believe? I suspect that these men and women
had a passion for God that inspired them. Perhaps we could say it drove them?
Consider the words of Jeremiah. 7 O LORD, You misled me, and I allowed myself to be
misled. You are stronger than I am, and You overpowered me. Now I am mocked
every day; everyone laughs at me. 8 When I speak, the words burst out. "Violence and destruction!"
I shout. So these messages from the LORD have made me a household joke.
9 But if I say I'll never mention the
LORD or speak in His name, His word burns
in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying
to hold it in! I can't do it! Jer 20:7-9
NLT
Can you sense his passion! It’s unmistakable. Paul
said much the same to the Corinthians: 16 For
when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Cor 9:16 TNIV
One of the problems with many Christians in the 21st
century is that they have no passion for Jesus. Many have adopted observer
mode! It only features on Sunday mornings in their Church service. This won’t
inspire passion. It can’t. There is no personal involvement. I can watch a
piano teacher for 50 years. To play the piano, I must do it. Are you passionate
for Jesus? If not, why not?
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-oOo-
DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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Sometimes I think, "I won't talk about him
anymore. I'll never speak in his name again."
But then your message burns in my heart. It's like a fire inside my very bones.
I'm tired of holding it in. In fact, I can't.
Jeremiah 20:9 NIrV
If I proclaim the Message, it's not to
get something out of it for myself. I'm compelled to do it, and doomed if I
don't! If this was
my own idea of just another way to make a living, I'd expect some pay. But
since it's not my idea but something solemnly entrusted to me, why would I
expect to get paid? So am I getting anything out
of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message at
no cost to you. You don't even have to pay my expenses!
1 Corinthians 9:16-18 MSG
Once again the leaders called in Peter
and John. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus' name.
But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves. Which is right from
God's point of view? Should we obey you? Or God? There's nothing else we can
do. We have to speak about the things we've seen and heard."
Acts 4:18-20 NIrV
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died
for all, therefore all have died;
2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV
I was afraid I might disappoint you,
so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'
"The master was furious. 'That's a
terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew
I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest
the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little
interest.
Matthew 25:25-27 MSG
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the
demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn't let him. Jesus said,
"Go home to your own people. Tell them your story--what the Master did, how he had
mercy on you."
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-oOo-
PASSION
FOR JESUS
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The moment that I met Him, my world was changed
around.
Listen while I tell you exactly what I’ve found!
Silence is impossible; I know I must declare,
What’s bubbling inside me; If I do not, I swear,
There will be an “explosion”; and I will go off “pop”.
His every word consumes me; I cannot make it stop!
It feels like there is fire that’s burning in my
bones.
And even as I think of it, my soul and spirit
groans!
If I spin round in circles it might just ease the
pain.
But Jesus and His Gospel keeps ringing in my brain!
If I do not make public, the glory of His name,
There’s only one way I can go and that’s to go
insane.
Mammon can’t control me. I’ll preach His Word for
free!
What’s more it is the only way and how it has to be.
I haven’t asked for finance. I really can’t resort,
To charging for the Gospel. I’ll preach His Word for
naught.
Forget about expenses. Just point the way to go,
And I will take His message; His Word consumes me
so!
They tried to silence Peter and also threatened John.
There isn’t an alternative. “We have to carry on!”
They told the Jewish Council and asked, “Whom to obey?”
They had to speak of Jesus. There was no other way.
The love of Christ consumed them. His Words they
couldn’t hide.
And if they didn’t do it, they thought they’d burst
inside.
They couldn’t take God’s treasurer and hide it in the
ground!
They had to keep on preaching to spread His Word
around!
To spread His Word to everyone, of every ethnic
group,
Was churning deep within them; they’d both be in the
soup,
If they neglected preaching to people everywhere.
Regardless what might happen, they really didn’t
care.
The cost was not important; their lives they’d
sacrifice.
To take His Word to others was not too high a price!
Peter knew the day would come when he’d be
crucified.
This did not deter him. His life he’d put aside!
I know about this feeling. I long to do the same.
To labour for my Master and glorify His Name!
I only have one small request, that those who hear
me speak,
Will go back to their houses and tell those who are
weak;
That Jesus Christ will strengthen them; that mercy
they would find.
To help them know for certain, He’d snap the chains
which bind!
That He will never cast them out, provided they are
true;
And follow in His footsteps! “That’s what I have to
do!”
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