IT’S UP TO YOU

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 13 December 2012

Hi all,

On my birthday in 1981, I attended the Rhema Faith Convention in the Portuguese Hall. The speaker that night was Ken Hagen Jr. The topic he chose was, “Why are you sitting here when the prison doors are open?” For me it was a life-changing moment. Today’s meditation reflects something of that occasion. There is a “modernised” picture of what Jesus has done followed by the statement, “You’re not compelled to stay there. The choice is up to you!” You are as free as you want to be!

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 13 December 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	IT’S UP TO YOU
Did anyone enjoy their history at school? I found it boring. In the 1950’s, history only really began in 1652 with Jan van Riebeeck arriving at the “Cape of Storms”. We went through a hotchpotch of assorted Governors while the Brits and the Dutch argued and fought each other. Somewhere mixed up in this, the Boer’s wanted to keep their independence and, presumably, their slaves, so they set off to populate the hinterland via Bloemfontein. I could never find out why Bloemfontein was chosen. I’m told that when the Ox wagons reached “Bloem” there were two giant signs erected for the direction of the trekkers. One pointed straight ahead complete with a sign that said, “Transvaal”. There was another pointing in the general direction of Durban with the words “Natal”. Those who could read went in their desired direction. The others, stayed where they were. One other comment about Bloemfontein. The late Spike Milligan of Goon show fame said he had spent a lifetime in Bloemfontein one afternoon. He also said it was the only city he had visited where the cemeteries were above ground. For some inexplicable reason, Biblical History was different. I enjoyed wandering through the sands of ancient Israel. In my mind I could imagine the sand between my toes. The stories of the wanderings of the Patriarchs and the people of the Exodus were fascinating. Likewise, Jesus tramping round Judea and Paul’s missionary journeys always seemed fun. Painful for them, but fun to read. There is only one problem for me reading Biblical history now. It never changes. That is a good thing but after a while your imagination gets a tad stagnant. Rather like the little boy who came home from Sunday School. When asked what he had learned that day he told his parents about General Moses. He led his forces in a massive tank battle with the Egyptians. He attacked them with his 88mm canon and finally destroyed them with his French Mirage jets. The mopping up was by his soldiers with their AK47’s. It was a great success. The Egyptian equipment was then used to get the people to the other side of the Red Sea. “I don’t think that’s what they taught you”, commented his father. “No!” said the youngster. “But mine is a lot more believable than the story they told me!” So for this morning’s meditation, I’ve gone through the story of Jesus coming to save us from our sins. What I’ve done is try to imagine a slightly different scenario. The outcome is the same as it was for Jesus in real life. My aim was to tell the same story slightly differently and add a challenging twist at the end. It was fun composing. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. Ephesians 2:18 NLT 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. John 17:23 ESV 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:13-17 ESV 4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV 2 And He said to them, When you pray, say: Our Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, as in Heaven, so also on the earth. Luke 11:2 MKJV 19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT	He stood upon a mountain and took a look around. It all looked very terrible; there was a wailing sound, Coming from the castle. The noise crashed on His ears. And as he looked upon it, His eyes were filled with tears. It was a massive prison confining all mankind. Compassion rose inside Him. These people were consigned, To spending their eternity locked tightly in their cells. It looked like a precursor to what they’d know in hell. The people were all sinners. He knew it as a fact. “I can’t let this continue. It’s time for Me to act”. He wondered how to do it; He thought of God most High. He thought about the comfort of His Home up in the Sky. “I think I have to leave it! I have to set them free. There’s no one else can do it. I guess it’s up to Me. I have to take their places. Release them from this yard. But how will I get in there and past the prison guard?” He thought about His options; He knew what He must do. His Father and The Spirit said, “Son it’s up to you. You’ll only get admission, if you are one of them. Put aside Your Godhood and join the world of men!” He nodded in agreement. “My Father’s never wrong. The Father, Son and Spirit; We three are always One”. Exactly how He did it remains a mystery. He became an infant, the likes of you and me. Somehow He compressed Himself to be a baby boy; Nurtured by a Mother. He was her “pride and joy”. Satan tried to murder Him each chance that he could get. Their final confrontation could not take place just yet! Jesus’ life was sinless. He wasn’t once deceived. And He was on a mission no one would have believed. He would take on Satan in his fortress lair. Then He’d tell the prisoners to “Go on! Get out of there!” Satan couldn’t touch Him while He was free of sin. But if He made a blunder; for sure Satan would win. He let the devil take Him and Have Him crucified. But when Christ Jesus perished; the instant that He died, The gates of that old fortress were simply torn apart. Liberty for prisoners!  This is the time to start. Each of them could walk out. The choice was theirs alone. No longer did they have to kneel or cower at Satan’s throne. The gates of heaven were open. Now they could go inside. Each could be a member of Jesus’ Holy bride. The castle walls were shattered and Satan’s realm was through. You’re not compelled to stay there. The choice is up to you. Jim Strickland  Written 13th December 2012