STRENGTH OUT OF WEAKNESS!

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 13 May 2012

Hi all,

The Church of Christ has been through several major changes over the past 20 years.

Children speak to us about relationship in an almost Divine way. When they are born they are helpless, except for their ability to bawl and squall. They are totally dependent on their fathers and mothers for everything. That is how we are supposed to be with our Heavenly Father. Then they start to grow. Will they become spoilt brats of little ladies and gentlemen? You tell me. You raised them. How are you with God? Probably like your children to you!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Sunday, 13 May 2012
INTRODUCTION	DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	STRENGTH OUT OF WEAKNESS!
We’ve all probably heard the story of the Chinese Christian who visited America. When he was back in China his comment was, “It’s amazing how much American Christians achieve without God! It’s true. Many men and women are building their own ministry rather then God’s Kingdom. Of course it’s quite possible to do so. The various cults and religious thinking which has come out over the past several years demonstrate this very clearly. In Europe the biggest cult was built by one man. Adolph Hitler. The problem in most cases is pragmatism. If it works, don’t fix it. Sadly it’s also quite possible to start well and go off the rails. The Jim Jones tale is an excellent example. He started off as a fiery young preacher. It ended up with mass suicide. The fact is, God is a jealous God. He watches His people very carefully. If they deliberately want to go astray, He will let them. Remember, partial obedience is disobedience. So before any decision is made; before any plans are put in place, we need to check things out with Him. Furthermore, we must check it out with the other members of the leadership. Always remember that in the New Covenant, a church should be run by consensus by a team with a leader. It should never be by one man; a leader with a team. What tends to happen with a one man band is that the Lord will let them have what they want. The Psalmist states 15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Psalms 106:15 KJV Another problem we have is that leaders don’t like to be seen as weak. They like to be seen as God’s man of power for the hour. This is the very opposite of what He wants to see. His strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul puts it as follows: 10 Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size--abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.2 Corinthians 12:10 MSG In this morning’s meditation I’ve composed a “letter from God” on this topic. It’s based on the Scriptural principle that indicates, “You want it? You got it!” King Saul is probably the best example of this. The people clamoured for a king. In the end, God said, “You want a King? You got one. King Saul. Try this one for size. King Saul was a disaster. Based on this principle, reinforced by the personal experience of Phyllida and me, I’ve composed this meditation. Please don’t regard it as irreverent. What it is trying to indicate is God’s attitude to people who insist of following the Sinatra doctrine. “I did it my way!” There is only one way to go. His way. The poem is not intended as criticism of any person in particular. It’s not focused on you or anyone else. All I may say is that we see it as God’s heart for today. It does not promote anything or anyone other than complete dependence on God and His Son Jesus Christ. It’s merely a warning against disobedience. Jim and Phyllida Strickland	10 My heart is pounding. I have lost my strength. Even the light of my eyes has left me. Psalms 38:10 GW For the director of music. A psalm of David to be played on stringed instruments. 1 God, hear my cry for help. Listen to my prayer. 2 From a place far away I call out to you. I call out as my heart gets weaker. Lead me to the safety of a rock that is high above me. Psalms 61:1-2 NIrV 9 Each time He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT 28 Then Peter called to Him, "Lord, if it's really You, tell me to come to You, walking on the water." 29 "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt Me?" Matthew 14:28-31 NLT 10 If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place. Proverbs 24:10 MSG 29 He gives strength to those who are tired. He gives power to those who are weak. Isaiah 40:29 NIrV 27 The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; He cries out, 'Destroy them!' Deuteronomy 33:27 NLT 11 We ask him to strengthen you by his glorious might with all the power you need to patiently endure everything with joy. Colossians 1:11 GW	“If you insist on doing it, go on then, have a go. What happened to you last time? Did I not tell you so? If you want to do it, I’ll let you carry on. I’ll let you keep on trying till all your strength has gone. It seems you keep forgetting, I only help the weak. So when the wheels start coming off, don’t turn around to seek, If I am walking with you. I’ll let you make a mess. Perhaps when you have had enough, you’ll ask if I will bless, The things which you are trying. But it was your idea! You didn’t even talk to me or ask Me to draw near! Many folk have thought that if you do things in My Name Then I’m obliged to bless it. Such thinking is insane. Of course I will assist you if the suggestion’s Mine. But then it must be done the way of Jesus Christ Divine. I’m not some sort of slot machine with money in the slot! It’s Me Who is omnipotent! I’m sorry, you are not! Don’t try some verbal “arm-lock”. It surely won’t succeed. Even if you bawl and squall. Not even if you plead, You have the wrong idea. It doesn’t work that way. Before you start with anything, just take the time to pray. Check if what you’re wanting is what I want from you. Moses sent a dozen spies and I’d not told him to. It was one big disaster. They brought back a report. It made the folk so terrified the whole plan came to naught I told them they should take the land. They sent in spies instead. The net result was at the end the adults all were dead. They wandered in the wilderness for almost forty years They thought that I would change My mind. They shed so many tears But it was not productive. That was their cost for sin. Unbelief had taken them. They would not enter in. So listen very carefully. I don’t want you to fail. But if you try it on your own! That is another tale. Far better if you listen and let Me show the way. There isn’t an alternative for Christians today. My purpose is to bless you; for you to get it right. Do the things I show you and I’ll bless you “out of sight”. Don’t be in a hurry. Take time to fast and pray. Put things to your leadership. Consult with them each day There isn’t a “Lone Ranger”. Those days are dead and gone. Let them see your weakness. Then when you call upon, My Son for His assistance, He’ll make your weakness strong And all that I intended for you will not go wrong” Jim Strickland – Written 13th May 2012