Time with Jesus - Saturday, 15 June
2013
Hi all,
My home language is English.
Both my parents were born in England. So was I. For all three of us, to speak
English was normal. In fact, not all that many years ago, the English people of
England believed they were “normal”. All the others were b----- foreigners.
This attitude toward other languages, no doubt, comes about as a result of
living on a small Island, some 20 odd miles from the coast of continental
Europe. But English “as she am spoke”, varies all across England, with a
plethora of English dialects all the way from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.
Frankly, I’m rather “proud” of the
fact that I’m an English speaker. It’s not an easy language to learn. “My Fair
Lady” indicated how difficult it is to master what we all call “Queen’s
English”. I saw the show in London in 1960. A number of the members of the
original cast were still performing. It remains one of the best “shows” I’ve
seen.
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Why can't the English teach their children how to
speak?
This verbal class distinction, by now, should be antique. If you spoke as she does, sir, Instead of the way you do; Why, you might be selling flowers, too! |
For me one of the highlights was
the part where Professor Higgins asks the question, “Why can't the English
teach their children how to speak?” A couple of lines are included above and on the left.
This reminds me of the story of
the shy Frenchman who was determined to learn to speak English flawlessly. So
he devoted a couple of years to mastering the language. He didn’t want to visit
England until he was thoroughly familiar with each and every aspect of it.
Eventually he was satisfied. Accordingly he went to Paris and caught the high
speed train to London.
Christians have a similar
problem when it comes to reading the Bible. We read it and believe that it
means just what is written. So when we read the words, “I am the door of the
sheep”, (7 Jesus again said to them,
"Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door
of the sheep. John 10:7 ESV) we begin
to look for handles and hinges. But that’s not what the Scripture means. Another
example is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(Phil 4:13 MKJV) People get the weirdest
ideas about what this includes. For example, as a man, I’ll never fall
pregnant.
A careful examination of the Scripture indicates what Paul was referring
to: 11 Not that I was ever in need; for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know
how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of
living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with
plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Phil 4:11-13 NLT The passage speaks of Paul’s
way of dealing with the hardships and luxuries he experienced in life.
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| I AM THE DOOR |
Against this background what did
Jesus mean when He said, 23 At that time you
won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the
Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name.
John 16:23 NLT We live in a greedy world
with greedy people. Inevitably, we associate Jesus’ words with a desire to ask
God in His name, to satisfy that which springs from greed. It won’t work! He
knows all about us. If there is a trace of selfishness in our prayer, we have
missed the point and wasted our breath. James tells us 3 And even when you ask, you
don't get it because your motives are all wrong--you
want only what will give you pleasure. Jas
4:3 NLT
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| Sometimes the only way to get through the storm is to Weather It! |
Perhaps the time has come for us
to establish what was meant when it was said. In addition we need to make sure
our motives are pure. Answers to prayer depend on these factors.
Shalom,
Jim &
Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Saturday, 15 June 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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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
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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ASK
THE FATHER IN MY NAME
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I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, that Jesus found me
in 1960. I didn’t find Him. I was the one who was lost. He knew exactly where
I was and He found me. What it does mean, is that I’ve been in and around
Christianity for just about 53 years. That does not necessarily mean that I’ve
got 53 years of experience. There is a subtle difference between repetition
and experience. For example, a teacher may have taught grade 4 for forty
years. She may have 40 years teaching experience. It is also possible that
she has one year’s experience repeated forty times. The same is true in
Christianity. Many have not progressed any further than Grade one. They may
have gone round and round in circles like the Israelites in the wilderness
and learned virtually nothing. Of course our lecture and pew system does
nothing to get men and women busy serving the Lord. How can they? It’s easier
to be entertained than active.
One thing I have observed over the past 50 years is
that, generally speaking, prayer seldom seems to assist. This is not intended
as a criticism. It appears to be one of the facts of Christianity. Statistically
only 3% of prayers for healing are answered. Incidentally, I’m not excluding
my own prayers in this. Why is this? I don’t have a complete answer. But it
seems that many Christians approach God rather like a slot machine. You know
what I mean. We pray to the Father in Jesus Name. Then nothing happens. This
is incongruent with Jesus’ words in John 16. Now we all know that God is timeless.
What Jesus said to the 11 disciples back there at the gates of the temple, is
as applicable now as it was when Jesus spoke them. So, what’s the problem?
Why doesn’t it work out like that?
I can’t accept that the problem lies with God. It
lies with us. Thirty years ago, I was taught that the difficulty was lack of
faith on our behalf. We needed to develop our “faith” muscle, rather like a
body-builder develops his muscles. At first I accepted that. But on reflection,
it would mean that healing depends on you and me, rather than on the grace of
God. I’m not denying the need for us to have faith in God. But to say that it
depends on our attaining the “right amount”, to trigger the grace of God? That’s
nonsense! I’d like to suggest that in Christianity over the past 30 years,
the emphasis has moved away from God, to an emphasis on you and me. Praying
to the Father in Jesus’ Name has become a religious “mantra”. Something to
“tack on” at the end of our prayer, in an effort to get the Lord to give us
what we have asked for. This attitude will have as much effect on the Lord as
the Tibetan prayer wheels which get blown round in the wind. The “results”
over the past few years confirms this. Occasionally the “slot machine” spits
out a bonanza. God help us get back to genuine Christianity; putting Jesus and
not ourselves, first in everything.
Jim &
Phyllida
Strickland
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27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying,
for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony
with God's own will.
Romans 8:27 NLT
23 At that time you won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father
directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. 24
You haven't done this before. Ask, using My name,
and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
John 16:23-24 NLT
18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with
all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all
perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Ephesians 6:18 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. 15 If we know that
God hears what we ask for, we know that we have it.
1 John 5:14-15 NIrV
3 God's will is for you to be holy,
so stay away from all sexual sin.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this,
disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 ESV
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to
thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus. 19 Don't put out the Holy Spirit's fire.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 NIrV
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There’s something that is missing when
we ask in Jesus Name.
The Trinity is constant, eternally the
same.
So praying to the Father and asking
Him for “things”,
Doesn’t mean a motor car, nor yet a
pair of wings.
We know that prayer is needed; along
with faith I’m told.
And that we should be confident, or
even very bold.
So why is it the answer, is very
seldom seen?
There must be something missing; or what
did Jesus mean?
The passage speaks of questions. They
didn’t understand,
That He would soon be absent. The
Leader of their band,
Was going to the Father, for just a
little while.
Then He would come back to them and
bring them back their smile.
So they were asking questions and
saying “Please explain”
What’s this about Your going, then
coming back again?
He said they would be mourning and the
world be full of glee.
The world would think it’s finished
and they’d seen the last of Me.
But for the Lord’s disciples, that
grief would turn around.
They would be rejoicing at precisely
what they found.
They could ask the Father and go to
Him direct.
If they asked in Jesus name, they’d
not be incorrect
He also indicated, that the Spirit
from on High,
He’d send as His “replacement”. And
that they could rely,
On what the Spirit stated; the truth is
what He’d bring.
And this describes the context of “Ask
for anything!”
The problem with our thinking in two
thousand and twelve,
Is that we think it’s anything to
squander on ourselves.
I can’t see a connection with a
mansion by the sea,
And what the Lord was meaning going to
Gethsemane.
We think that it is baubles and a
pocket full of gold.
Of aeroplanes and bank account and
dreams of wealth untold.
That wasn’t Jesus’ thinking as they
reached the temple gates,
And helps our understanding of what
the Bible states.
The Spirit will not help us, to
satisfy our lusts.
Nor will He comply with, the list of
all our “musts”.
To use the Name of Jesus as an “Open
sesame”,
Is bordering on witchcraft, not
Christianity.
So let us ask for wisdom; the Father
will comply.
And then the things we ask for, won’t
be a stream run dry.
Jim Strickland
Written 15th
June 2012
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