JIMMETS – MAN’S PEACE - MY PEACE

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 04 November 2012

Hi all,

Today we take a final look at Isaiah 9:6. The Scripture is Prince of Peace. To help distinguish between the world’s peace and divine peace, I’ve compiled two Jimmets. One is entitled, “Man’s Peace” and the other is entitled “My Peace”. The difference is very significant.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 04 November 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	JIMMETS – MAN’S PEACE - MY PEACE
Choruses. We all remember them from long ago. I remember singing, “I’ve got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart”. I sang it with the other youngsters back in the early 1960’s. It was very popular. One of the reasons was we could include our own words in place of “Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy”. A popular addition was “the guarantee of His salvation”. Mine was, “the peace that passes understanding”. We would sing it with great gusto. Sadly, on reflection, I’m forced to the conclusion that the words were from my head and not my heart. But when you are in your early 20’s who knows the difference? I certainly didn’t. How do you recognise “the peace that passes understanding?” Sure it was on several bumper stickers but what did it mean? The fact is if we don’t know, it truly passes understanding; mine and yours! It seems a terrible thing to say, but most Christians are basically dishonest! We would sing about peace in our hearts. But what were we singing? Did we or didn’t we? Most of us would have vehemently said we have “it” and wouldn’t admit we didn’t. After all, as a Christian, it should be true. Furthermore we would rather die than say anything to the contrary. Twenty years later this was taken to a new level of dishonesty by the statement, “fake it till you make it”! Most of us did, for fear of making a “negative confession”. I remember in 1981, while going through a terrible divorce, people would ask me how things were going at home. I would put on a somewhat forced grin and say, “Fine, just fine”. It was an out and out lie! Things at home were not fine. They were unbelievably horrible. But I didn’t dare say that. It would have been a negative confession and that was forbidden. There was a feeling going round that to say the wrong thing, invited Satan to destroy you. But he already had! Saying so would at least have been truthful. What then is this “peace”? John Wesley tells us a little about it. He was crossing the Atlantic and a huge storm arose. The people on board were terrified. All except a family of Moravian missionaries. When he asked them why, they told Him that they were in God’s hands and whatever happened He would be with them. Wesley was “gob-smacked”. They had peace and he didn’t! Today we are surrounded by Christian men and women who don’t realise that peace is not an emotion. It’s supernatural. It is knowledge, based on Scripture that “It is well. It is well with my soul!” Do you have it? Do I have it? Does anyone have it? The answer is a definite “yes”. But it’s not based on me or how I feel. Often I don’t think I do have it. But when I take time alone with God’s Word in a quiet place, suddenly He becomes “real” in a special way. That’s His peace touching you and me. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			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 2 He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. 3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. Psalms 72:2-3 NIV 6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. 7 In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. Psalms 72:6-7 NIV 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14 MKJV 78 Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace." Luke 1:78-79 NLT 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), Acts 10:36 ESV 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 ESV 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 ESV 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 ESV	MAN’S PEACE What do people understand by “peace”? A word that tells them that there is no war? That inter-human conflicts are deceased, And man won’t kill his brother anymore? The dis-United Nations seem to think; That if the nations put away their arms; Quicker than the fastest eye can blink It will be the end of all the harms, We inflict on others every day! Sorry, but they have the whole thing wrong. Wickedness is in our hearts to stay, And power’s always hijacked by the strong. Pretty speeches never have sufficed. Peace will only come in Jesus Christ. Jim Strickland Written 4 Nov. 2012 MY PEACE In the upper room that fateful night, Jesus said, “My peace I give to you. There will be no need for you to fight, In the way that worldly people do. Peace is only ever found in Me. Peace that tribulation can’t prevent. Peace which I bestow eternally. Peace that can’t be shaken bowed or bent. Peace that, come what may, you can endure. Peace with God! That is what I bestow. Peace to help you realise for sure, You are someone I will always know. Persecution is a certainty. But My peace will always be on thee” Jim Strickland Written 4 Nov 2012

METHUSELAH

Time with Jesus - Monday, 05 November 2012

Hi all,

Methuselah lived to the age of 969. That’s a long time by anybody’s standard. It would mean that you and I could have been alive at just about the time when William the Conqueror invaded England. (1066). Today if someone lives to be 100, it’s exceptional. Today we meditate on Methuselah and related issues.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 05 November 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	METHUSELAH
Anyone remember reading Oliver Twist? Well, if you haven’t read it, did you see the movie? I regret to say it’s the only Dickens book I’ve read. Not that I’ve a problem with Dickens. He was a brilliant writer. My grandfather had a library which included every book Dickens wrote. Unfortunately, for me, when it came to a choice between Dickens and Springbok Radio, Dickens was a non-starter. When it came to books and their characters, I preferred young Teddy Lester to young Oliver Twist! What most Christians don’t know is the possible connection between Oliver’s diet and longevity. You may remember that when young Oliver “stood up for himself” Mr Bumble stated that Oliver’s behaviour was attributed to meat! Now I rather doubt Dickens was familiar with the possible reasons for longevity, or in our case “shortevity”. (A new Jim type word) But there just might be a case to put forward. We are all aware that before the flood, people seemed to live a lot longer than they do now. Scripture tells us Methuselah lived 969 years. No one can say for certain why? Perhaps God wanted us to live that long? In this regard an analysis of the lifespan of Adam, Methuselah and Noah’s sons tells us Methuselah was a contemporary of them all. Of course they may not have known each other. But the fact remains Adam was alive when Methuselah was born. Furthermore, Methuselah died when the flood came. So he may have known Noah and his three sons! Incidentally, Noah was 4 when Adam died. So much for today’s bit of useless information! Why did everyone live so long? One view is that it took Satan all those years to work out how to kill Adam. Another view is tied up with the flood. We understand there was a canopy over the earth. Something a bit like a UV filter preventing harmful sunlight falling on the inhabitants. It’s thought that this canopy contained water which was released with the flood. Another thought is that after the flood, man started to eat meat. Before that time it was forbidden (see Gen 9:3) After the flood, man’s lifespan slowly reduced. Why? Sure, God had so willed it. But God would most likely have used a “natural mechanism” to achieve this purpose. The absence of the canopy could well have been a major contributing factor. We are informed that if a similar flood occurred today; taking the water content of the polar ice-caps into consideration, the water level could be as much as 7km above Mt Everest. It is suggested the run off from the land as the water levels retreated, could account for many of the geological features on our planet. But could the effect of meat in our diet perhaps also be a contributing factor? So was Mr Bumble right after all? Yes? No? Can you help? No! Neither can I! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			31 Those who use the things of the world should not become all wrapped up in them. The world as it now exists is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:31 NIrV 27 Methuselah lived a total of 969 years. And he died. Genesis 5:27 MSG 9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honoured them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. James 1:9-11 NLT 14 You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. James 4:14 MSG 17 The world and all it’s wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out--but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 1 John 2:17 MSG 4 "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered--how fleeting my life is. Psalms 39:4 NLT 3 When people are saying, "Everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman's labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 4 But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 NLT	Methuselah: The oldest man who lived upon this earth. “It will happen when he dies” they called him from his birth. His father’s name was Enoch and sixty five years old. He knew a flood was coming, for that’s what he was told. Nine sixty nine years later, when he had passed away, The rain-drops started falling, upon that very day! At least that’s what is stated and what we understand. For Noah and his animals, were in the Ark as planned. That’s what the Bible tells us and I believe it’s true. No matter what the scientists will ever say to you. For almost a millennium, the people had been warned. But sadly, God’s opinion was put aside and scorned. “What is this funny substance? This “stuff” that you call rain? We’ve never even seen it, so Noah, tell us plain, What is going to happen? Tell us; we insist. What’s this about rain water, there’s only been a mist That comes up from fountains and waters all the ground. (Gen 2:6) There is no other method that we have seen or found.” Noah tried to tell them but they did not believe. They thought he was a crazy man; that he had been deceived. But when it started raining and the great flood waters rose. Everyone was washed away. Everyone who chose, To ignore God’s warning, were swept away and drowned. Almost twelve months later, the Ark returned to ground. God is very patient. He waited all those years. Methuselah’s whole lifetime, He warned them, it appears. But did they pay attention? It’s clear that they did not. So they deserved the judgement, that all of them then got. We try and find the reason, why people had to face, Such terrible destruction to wipe out the human race. Genesis has answers; in chapter six verse five, The things that men imagined, or thought while still alive, Consistently and totally, was evil through and through. The planet was polluted. What could the Lord God do? It needed disinfecting, so He could start again, Without all the descendants of the wicked line of Cain. Thus Noah and his family would be the one blood line, Through whom God would send Jesus, the Son of God Divine! Jim Strickland  Written 5th November 2012