EMMANUEL!

Time with Jesus - Friday, 01 June 2012

Hi all,

Isaiah prophesied it. Mary was the vehicle through whom the prophesy came true! Many Christians object to the overemphasis placed on Mary by the Roman Church; to be fair, we protestants under-value her. But, she was and is a unique channel of God’s blessing to humanity. Today’s meditation looks at this.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8  Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 01 June 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	EMMANUEL!
There was a time when people believed the Bible and believed in God because the prophetic word had been fulfilled. There was no question that Jesus Christ was a real person. His miracles were accepted as fact. Every detail in the Bible was accepted as “Gospel” truth. For me, it is still the truth. It doesn’t really matter what others think. The Bible is true. It is the Word of God. Today there are more sceptics than believers. Indeed, many University professors and lecturers are not just sceptics, they are unbelievers! They may be theologians, but they believe nothing! As far as they are concerned, all religions are equal. They teach about the God they don’t know! In this regard I’m reminded of something Dr Ken Stewart said when I was in Bible School thirty years ago. He said he went to Seminary to prove the existence of God. He shared a room with a man who had gone to the same seminary to prove God doesn’t exist. Ken added that when he entered the seminary, about 20 students believed in God. By the time he qualified with his doctorate, there were only three believers remaining. Unbelief dominated the campus. What baffles me is how these men can be regarded as Christians. Thank God this is not true in all universities. There still remain those who are committed to Jesus Christ. Nevertheless it is a wise Christian parent who will warn their sons and daughters about the onslaught against Christianity they will encounter in many places of tertiary education. Today, it takes a certain amount of courage to face up to the challenge of the unbelieving “masses”. This is not new. It has been on-going for centuries. This world has always ridiculed those who are out of step with them. In this regard it is probably true that the Jews have suffered from this form of treatment since the days of the Egyptian Pharaohs. Some 2000 years ago, the Jewish people believed the time had come for God to send the Messiah. The Son of David who would deliver them from the hands of the Romans. It would have been the desire of nearly all the young women to be the mother of Messiah. No doubt many prayed and asked the Lord to choose her. There could be only one mother of Messiah. There would have been no shortage of applicants. Perhaps we might compare it with the young ladies in the 21st century who would have given anything to marry Prince William. Mary qualified biologically. She was descended from King David. She was young, loved the Lord, unmarried and a virgin. In addition, she was promised in marriage to Joseph, another descendant of King David. This was essential. The Jewish religious authorities knew the Messiah would be a “son of David”. They had all the genealogical records and would reject out of hand anyone called the Son of David unless it was possible. Then the date in history arrived when a young Jewish virgin would conceive miraculously, just as their prophets had foretold. Mary had been chosen “before the foundation of the world”. The time was exactly right. Mary conceived supernaturally. Her baby was the Son of God. It’s not necessary to go into the detail. It’s recorded for us in the Bible exquisitely. There we get a beautiful insight into what took place. A culmination of what is predicted so joyfully in Song of Songs. God’s love for His people through the woman of His choice! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			23 "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" Matthew 1:23 NLT 18 "But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain You. How much less this Temple I have built! 2 Chronicles 6:18 NLT 14 The Word became a human being. He made his home with us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the one and only Son. He came from the Father. And he was full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIrV 16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16 NLT 2 And now in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son He created the universe. Hebrews 1:2 NLT 19 That Sunday evening, the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you!" 20 When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were glad to see the Lord. John 20:19-20 GW 26 A week later Jesus' disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Take your hand, and put it into my side. Stop doubting, and believe." 28 Thomas responded to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" John 20:26-28 GW 6 For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NLT	Isaiah spoke about it, a long, long time ago. He had it written in his book, so everyone would know, There would be a Messiah long after he had died. Someone Who would save us from our sins of stubborn pride. He told us it would happen. He didn’t tell us when. And from that very point in time, the “Jews” saw it as “gen”. Examine what he prophesised. The Lord God would draw nigh. His name would be “Immanuel”, God with us from on High He said a virgin would conceive. That’s rather strange to me. How could that ever happen? It surely cannot be? But this is what would happen, just when the time was right. And from that time in history, the girls would pray at night, And ask to be the virgin who’d bring forth the Divine! She had to be descended from the Davidic line. We know that Mary qualified, her genealogy Complied with every aspect of Isaiah’s prophesy. So now we have the woman. A virgin through and through, Praying she would be the one whom this would happen to! Then when the Lord was ready and when the time was right, God’s Spirit “overshadowed” her one very special night. And here we see the miracle; a virgin girl conceived. We think it is impossible and hard to be believed. But nothing is impossible; not for the Living God. So why are we so sceptical and think that it was odd? But there’s something important. After the baby’s birth, She couldn’t be a virgin. Not on this present earth. I don’t need to explain it from man’s biology. I’m sure that every mother will totally agree! So Mary was a virgin until the birth was done. And she brought forth “Immanuel”, God’s One and only Son! They gave Him the Name “Jesus”, and people couldn’t tell. That He was God in overalls while being man as well! This was no schizophrenic! He made the universe. But when He came to be with us, He needed a wet nurse! Was this humiliation? He didn’t think that way. He only ever did the things He heard His father say. He lived among His people a life of truth and grace. And He became the Saviour, of all the human race! Exactly what Isaiah said, down to the fine detail, Took place when Jesus Christ was born. It happened without fail. A Son was given to us; a virgin girl gave birth. The “Everlasting Father” was sent from Heaven to Earth “The Prince of Peace”; the “Mighty God”, “The Counsellor Divine”, Came as had been promised to take your sins and mine. Indeed this really happened. Believe that it is true. For Jesus came and gave His life, for folk like me and you. Jim Strickland Written 1st June 2012

ABIDING IN JESUS

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 31 May 2012

Hi all,

Today we meditate on what it means to “Abide in the Vine”. Truth is best brought with humour. 

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

PO Box 1694, Randpark Ridge, 2156, South Africa.

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 31 May 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	ABIDING IN JESUS
Looking at the first Scripture today; abide in Him, is the topic for today’s meditation. I’ve included most of the other Scriptures. Hopefully you will enjoy the humorous touch! Humour is the best way to convey bad news. This approach has come about as a result of what is implied by “abiding” in Jesus. Essentially, abiding in Him means to live like He did; imitating Him as much as humanly possible. The expression “living seamlessly” could well be a good way to put it. Of course, for us that is impossible! Not without the help and guidance of His Spirit. Abiding in Him does not mean speaking the way He did. We can train parrots to do that; parrots can never be Christian. It means to live a lifestyle like His. It’s a question of behaviour rather than speech. In this way, behaviour underlies speech. I’m vividly reminded of the expression, “Do as I say, not as I do!” Parents are often accused by their children of such hypocrisy. John Gill, the 18th century theologian commented on 1 John 2:28-29 as follows: - The visible proof of being a Christian is right behaviour. Many people do good deeds but don't have faith in Jesus Christ. Others claim to have faith but rarely produce good deeds. A deficit in either faith or right behaviour will be a cause for shame when Christ returns. Because true faith always results in good deeds, those who claim to have faith and who consistently do what is right are true believers. Good deeds cannot produce salvation (see Eph. 2:8-9), but they are necessary proof that true faith is actually present (see James 2:14-17). It is particularly distressing that men believe they could “make a decision” for Jesus 30 years ago. From then on they believe they can do anything at all. They may sin indiscriminately and God will not hold them accountable. But it is inconceivable that the same God Who condemns sinners will not condemn “Christians” for the same sins! Those who live like the world are not abiding in Him! Personally, I’m not prepared to risk it. My love for Him compels me to follow His lifestyle, the essence of abiding in Him. Am I sin free? No! But His blood cleanses me from all unrighteousness.  I’m trusting that abiding in Him will inevitably result in my producing good “fruit”. Sure, He gets all the credit! But as Paul wrote to the Romans in the Message translation; 1 So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? 2 I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Romans 6:1-2 MSG There will come a day when God judges everyone. I’d hate to flirt with sin and be included among the disobedient. My way may be more difficult but it is the “safer” approach. Abiding in Him assures me of His eternal reward. Continuing to live like a sinner is likely to lead to destruction. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 1 John 2:28 ESV 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:5-8 NLT 6 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to Himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. 8 Let God's curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. Galatians 1:6-8 NLT 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace. Galatians 5:4  NLT 7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? Galatians 5: 7 NLT 4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. 5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:4-7 NLT 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV	We used to sing it often, in the church to which we went. But no one ever told us just what “abiding” meant. “Abiding in the Vine”; these were the words we used to sing. Reflecting back upon them now, they didn’t mean a thing. They brought a “gooey” feeling as we sang in one accord. Enthusiastic praises to our Everlasting Lord. Webster’s Dictionary says it is a transitive verb. Assuming that you understand such highfaluting blurb! It talks about the syntax and means that we must wait. But if SARS puts a tax on sin, we’d all be in a state. Another definition means, to bear things patiently. Not a favourite pastime I can state assuredly. Another way to put it is, “endure and never yield”. A sort of fun expression on the rugby playing field. I hope you understand it. It’s clear as mud to me. And really doesn’t help me with my daily poetry. So much for dictionaries. That didn’t help a bit. I think the Lord meant, “be prepared” and “never ever quit!” He’s told us He is coming back, but none of us know when! What will we be doing and what will happen then? Will we be ashamed of all the things which we have done? Will we wish we didn’t have to meet with God’s own Son? Not if we use wisdom. He’ll generously give, All the wisdom needed for each of us to live. But a bigger danger, is we may fall away, Following a “gospel” which is not the truth today! There are many teachers who pervert the Word of God. None of them will pass beneath the Master’s measuring rod. Just like the Galatians they’ve fallen from God’s grace! I for one don’t envy all the problems they will face. Sadly, they had started to “run the race” so well. Why they were deflected? I’m sorry, I can’t tell. There is a solution. Abiding in the vine. Tapping into Jesus will keep us doing fine. Never ever leave Him; without Him we are lost. Furthermore, to leave Him, is much too great a cost. Think about His promise. If we will but remain, Abiding in the Master; then when He comes again, We will be rewarded. But more importantly, We will be with Jesus throughout eternity. God has many promises. In Christ they are AMEN! It’s only just a question of when He comes back again! Jim Strickland   Written 31st May 2012

ANSWERED PRAYER

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is about prayer and some of our strange ideas!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 30 May 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	ANSWERED PRAYER
Being a Christian is a blast! I’ve never had so much fun in all my life. Sure there are enormous difficulties and problems confronting us. But getting to know the Lord Jesus Christ and walking with Him is more exciting than riding a roller coaster in the amusement park. One of the first things we learn as Christians is that prayer is the “life blood” of the relationship with Him. Any personal relationship is two-sided. You cannot have a relationship with a rock – except for the Rock of Ages. Each and every relationship is at least two-sided. You can have a relationship with a person. Inanimate objects fail to qualify. So if you are trying to relate with a cast idol, forget it. All you will hear is the sound of your blood pumping round your body. Prayer must be two sided! You may ask, “But how does that work? I can’t hear God speaking?” Actually, you can hear Him perfectly well. Dig into His Word and you will know what He is saying to you. Refining your hearing may take a period of time. But we can all do it. Jeremiah said, 13 If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me. Jeremiah 29:13 NLT If you look at this passage of Scripture you will find that you are not excluded. So now we have briefly dealt with hearing from Him. The Lord wants to speak to you far more than you realise. Your part is to seek Him. If you don’t seek Him you won’t find or hear Him. The fact is, He has said this to everyone in every generation. We are included! The other part is to speak to Him. Speak the same way as you would speak to someone you respect. If you speak to the President you are respectful. Similarly, you speak respectfully to your father. I didn’t have much choice. Being rude to my dad was a “No-No”. It’s much the same when speaking to God. Yes, He is our Heavenly Father so we needn’t shake with fear. But He is God. Don’t mess with Him and you won’t have a problem. This is important. Prayer is, or should be a dialog. Speaking and answering is normal. If I spoke to you and you never replied, I would be making a speech. Don’t make speeches to God. He’s heard them all! Listen carefully to what He says. You may even ask Him for things. This is where we need to be careful. Find out what He would like. He will tell you. Then ask Him for that! The psalmist puts it this way. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4 ESV. Read this “un-religiously”. He will put in your heart His desires. In other words, when you ask Him for what He wants He will give you what you ask. It’s a sure-fire guarantee. Ask Him to give you what He wants and He will do it! Is that difficult? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me." John 11:41-42 ESV 28 Father, bring glory to your name!" Then a voice came from heaven. It said, "I have brought glory to my name. I will bring glory to it again." John 12:28 NIrV 7 Then I said, 'Look, I have come to do Your will, O God--as is written about Me in the Scriptures.'" Hebrews 10:7 NLT 42 saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." Luke 22:42 ESV 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 1 John 4:17 ESV 14 There is one thing we can be sure of when we come to God in prayer. If we ask anything in keeping with what he wants, he hears us. 1 John 5:14 NIrV 22 And he will give us anything we ask. That's because we obey his commands. We do what pleases him. 1 John 3:22 NIrV 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NLT 25 Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Hebrews 7:25 NLT 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1 ESV	I asked Him for an aeroplane, I got a little toy. I asked Him for a race horse; He said, “What for My boy”?” I asked for an apartment which overlooked the sea. “That isn’t what I have in mind My son to give to thee”. I asked Him for a camel. I got a big green frog. I asked Him for a buffalo. I got a sausage dog. I asked Him for a Jumbo jet for the Olympic games. “I’m sorry that is not My will. You’ll use it chasing dames!” This sort of made me shudder. Why didn’t He agree? I had been taught that I could ask whatever pleases me! It seems I was mistaken. I have to do His will Before He will consider me and all my dreams fulfil. There has to be a reason. I thought I understood, That He would give me anything provided I was good. They taught me to demand it. He cannot break His Word. But when I checked it out with Him, I found that I’d misheard. It isn’t “faith” He honours! It’s “faithfulness” it seems. The substance of things hoped for in all my wildest dreams. The evidence of things unseen would only manifest, If I was doing what He said and giving Him my best! “But Lord, that isn’t Scriptural”, I had the cheek to say “But I’m the One Who makes the rules and must give My OK”. “Look carefully at Jesus”, the Master said to me. He asked Me to excuse Him from a trip to Calvary. I’m sorry I won’t do it. I know You are My Son But there are things outstanding and by You they must be done. For sure He had an answer. There was no other way. He had to die upon that cross; to perfectly obey, The sacrifice demanded. No substitute would do. And what I said to Jesus, My son I say to you. I’ve put in place requirements for Me to answer prayer. These are the preconditions applying everywhere. I know you do not like them. No Christian ever did. But I am not an auctioneer Who’s waiting for a bid. I’m also not a slot machine who comes up with a prize For getting all the numbers right in everybody’s eyes. My son, I want to bless you. But if you would receive, Then everything within My book My son, you must believe. So if you want an answer to any prayer request, Do what I have told you and give your very best. Then something strange will happen. Your selfish prayers will end, And you’ll find you are praying for that which I intend! It won’t be what you’re wanting, but that which is My will. Then you will find that what you ask is what I will fulfil. For you will not be asking with any selfish aim. But for the things I’m planning in Jesus’ Precious Name!” Jim Strickland – Written, 30th May 2012