Time with Jesus - 22 Aug. 2013
Hi all,There are three Jimmets this morning. The focus is on Solomon and Jesus. Solomon failed because of his 700 wives and 300 concubines. They led him astray.
King Solomon |
King of King Lord of Lords |
Wicked Queen Athaliah |
Mary and Jesus |
Jesus Christ - The Only Hope we Share |
Our God and Our King |
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – 22 August 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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JIMMETS
– SOLOMON AND JESUS
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Writing Jimmets is great fun. Today, all three are
connected. The first is about King Solomon’s sad failure. The next two about
King Jesus’ success.
Whenever I think about King Solomon, I think about a
man whom God blessed with wisdom, wealth and power. A man of whom it was said,
that he was the wisest man who ever lived. There is no doubt that in the
early days of His reign, this was true. And yet there is a most unusual
statement in the first book of Kings: 1 Solomon
made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished
building his palace and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem.
1 Kings 3:1 TNIV The strangest thing about
this statement is that it took place before he had the dream in Gibeon in which
God promised him wisdom, a long life and great prosperity. (1 Kings 3:5-14)
We cannot say for certain that the two stories were
consecutive. In other words, it may be that the marriage to Pharaoh’s
daughter took place before or after his encounter with God.. But if we may
rely on the sequence of the two Scriptural events, it seems that Solomon was
in a great hurry to get married and cement an alliance with Egypt. It also
introduces to us the great failing in his life. Women! We are told 3
He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300
concubines. And in fact, they did turn his
heart away from the LORD. 1 Kings 11:3 NLT
For what it’s worth, any man who has that many wives and concubines
demonstrates a great lack of wisdom. If he saw only one wife/concubine per
day, it would be 2.7 years before he had “done the rounds”. That’s not
wisdom. That’s madness! Furthermore, how do you marry 700 wives? There must
surely have been several “mass” weddings?
The second Jimmet deals with Isaiah’s great prophecy
of the coming Messiah. Notice the way this prophetic word is introduced. “For
unto us a child is born. Unto us a Son is given. It seems clear that this is
the same person. But let’s look at these words a little closer. “A child is
born”. Here we see the humanity of the coming child. A baby will be born
physically by his mother in the normal way. He would look 100% human. Indeed,
it was essential that He be fully human. So we have a fully human baby boy. The
next few words tell us something different. A Son would be given. Only a
father can “give” a son. There is only one way this could “fit”. The “given
Son” would have to be the Son of God! So here we see Jesus’ divinity. He was
100% Divine. In other words, Isaiah was telling the people that a child would
be born who was 100% human and 100% divine. This accounts for the many titles
we read in the rest of the verse. To me, “Wonderful Counsellor” speaks of a
man with extraordinary ability. Someone who is fully man. But he is also,
“The Mighty God”. In other words fully Divine and fully human at the same
time. The description fits Jesus perfectly. I still wonder what was in Isaiah’s
mind when this was prophesied. 2 Peter 1:21
describes the “process”.
The final Jimmet speaks of Jesus’ life of obedience
to His Father. How He put aside His Divinity so He could be our sacrificial
offering on Calvary’s cross. To me this is one of the greatest of all the miracles.
That God could come and give His life for me while I was still a sinner.
That’s mind-blowing!
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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29 God gave Solomon wisdom--the deepest
of understanding and the largest of hearts. There was nothing beyond him, nothing he couldn't handle.
1 Kings 4:29 MSG
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Solomon
He could have asked for money or for
fame. 1 Kings 4:29
Instead, he asked for wisdom and to
rule
His people,. such that he would get a
name,
For fairness; not another wealthy
fool.
God was very pleased with his request.
So He gave him wisdom, power and
wealth.
A promise that he always would be
blessed.
And kept in a fitting state of health!
Solomon the king was soon well-known,
For justice and for always being fair.
God gave wisdom and a peaceful throne.
Soon his fame was spread out
everywhere.
He destroyed it with too many wives;
And the gods they served throughout
their lives.
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Isaiah
Isaiah spoke about the coming King. Isaiah 9:6
A Child who would be born for
everyone.
A Son be given to us Who would bring,
That which man desires to look upon.
A Wonderful Adviser from the Lord;
The Mighty God, who lives forevermore.
The Prince of Peace, who’d rule
without a sword!
For He is Whom the Father had in
store.
To think that mortal man could be this
way.
I wonder what was in Isaiah’s head.
Did he know that Jesus Christ one day,
Would fulfil the words which he had
said?
But two Peter one verse twenty-one
Shows how Holy men were moved along.
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Jesus
Jesus didn’t think equality
Philippians 2:6-8
With God, was that on which He had to
cling.
He gave up His pure Divinity,
So that, to the people, He could
bring,
Full salvation. As a humble slave,
He appeared when taking human form.
You would think that He would rather
crave,
Living with His Father. That’s His norm.
But, in His obedience to God,
He would come and die upon the tree.
We may look at this as something odd;
But He did it for humanity.
No one else could pay the cost of sin.
Give His life so we may be with Him.
Jim Strickland
Written 21st August 2012
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42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on
judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the
wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon
is here--but you refuse to listen.
Matthew 12:42 NLT
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6 A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule
over us. And he will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also
be called Father Who Lives Forever and (The) Prince
Who Brings Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NIrV
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7 Finding someone who would die for a godly
person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person.
8 Christ died for us while we were still
sinners. This demonstrates God's love for us.
Romans 5:7-8 GW
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6 Though He was God, He did not think of
equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble
position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human
form, 8 He humbled Himself in
obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8 NLT
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19 May you experience the love of Christ, though
it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete
with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Ephesians 3:19 NLT
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24 But to us who are personally called by God himself--both Jews and
Greeks--Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom
all wrapped up in one.
1 Corinthians 1:24 MSG
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3 All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are
hidden in him.
Colossians 2:3 NIrV
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8 Though I am the least deserving of all God's people, He graciously gave me the privilege of telling the
Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.
Ephesians 3:8 NLT
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30 It is because of him that you are in Christ
Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness
and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30 TNIV
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