Time with Jesus - 12 Oct 2013
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I'M A CONQUEROR
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I'm
a conqueror and victorious;
I'm reigning with Jesus! I'm seated in Heavenly Places With Him, with Him! And the Kingdom of God Is within me, I know no defeat only Victory! For the Kingdom of God is within me I know no defeat but His Strength and Power! For He strengthens me, He strengthens me, With joy in my heart And Peace in my Soul, He strengthens me! Yes, I'm a conqueror, Reigning with Him Secure as the Blood of Jesus Cleanses me within! |
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By SHIRLEY POWELL
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Being accustomed to “Jesus lover
of my soul”, “Abide with me”, “He who would true valour see” and “Blessed
Assurance, Jesus is mine”, the freedom of the worship style and physical
participation were strange. I’d never seen people worship with their hands in
the air and a foot tapping rhythm. So when I heard people sing, “I’m a Conqueror”
......
It reminds me of an old story about
the very enthusiastic lady who visited a denominational church while she was on
holiday. She was exuberant, filled with energy and found it difficult to
restrain her natural willingness to express herself as she usually did. She
wasn’t quite sure where she should sit. Her charismatic friends normally jostled
with each other for a place near the front. 
But since she was a stranger, she
opted for a place somewhere in the middle, right next to the isle so that she
could slip out if necessary. The fact that the congregation filled up from the
back had her a bit puzzled. But she was comfortable where she was so felt there
was no need to feel intimidated.
The hymns were
slow and approached the level of boring. “Thank God for the choir” she said to
herself. If they hadn’t been singing she would have been stuck. Even so, there
were a couple of verses she recognised from her school days. 
These gave her the
chance to sing lustily, in spite of the looks on the faces of the congregants sitting
close to her.
Finally, the
minister took his place in the pulpit. She responded to his, “Good morning!” in
her usual boisterous manner. Then he began with his sermon. In spite of it
being delivered in a monotone, she recognised some of his words.
“Amen” she
responded when she thought he had said something appropriate. “Praise the Lord”
she commented in a loud voice as he continued. This she did as he proceeded
with his sermon. In fact as her ear tuned in to his verbal delivery, she
continued to interject with the occasional, “Hallelujah” or “Praise the Lord”.
She was just getting into the swing of things when she felt the hand of a
stranger tapping her on the shoulder. “We don’t praise the Lord in this church!”
the man said.
In spite of our
charismatic leanings, Phyllida and I spent several years in the Methodist
Church. We found that our hearts were knitted with the people called
Methodists. How this happened is an interesting story. We had just moved from
Camden Power Station to Hendrina Power Station and were at something of a
spiritual “loose end”.  |
| Camden Power Station |
The next Sunday
we went to the morning service in Middelburg Methodist Church. Our charismatic
leaning prompted us to walk in and find seats in the front row. Like the lady
in the above story, we got a few odd looks from others in the congregation. We
had already decided that we would sing out and respond the way we usually did.
You can do this easily from the front of the building. You can’t see the pained
looks on the faces behind.
The service that morning was conducted by the local
Methodist Minister; a man whom we have both grown to love and value and with
whom we have forged bonds of a firm friendship. On our way home that evening,
we concluded we had found our roots.
The following
day, I took Phyllida to Sandton Clinic for an operation. She was scheduled to
be there for at least a week. The next morning, (Tuesday) I phoned and made an
appointment to visit the minister in Middelburg. On Wednesday evening he and I
met and had a long discussion.
By the time I left for home, I’d signed up to be
trained as a Methodist Local Preacher. Furthermore, I’d also signed Phyllida up
for the same thing. Fortunately, we know each other well enough to be confident
in the decisions we make. I’m glad I did. Phyllida has become an excellent
preacher. She has all the qualities required for doing so.
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Worldlings prize their gems of beauty,
Cling to gilded toys of dust;
Boast of wealth, and fame, & pleasure;
Only Jesus will I trust.
All for Jesus! All
for Jesus!
Only Jesus will I
trust.
All for Jesus! All
for Jesus!
Only Jesus will I
trust.
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Since mine eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside -
So enchained my spirit’s vision,
Looking at the Crucified.
All for Jesus! All
for Jesus!
Looking at the
Crucified.
All for Jesus! All
for Jesus!
Looking at the
Crucified.
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There is one thing the above mentioned lady in
the story, along with Phyllida and I, have in common. It is our love for Jesus!
Some would say we are passionate about God. Some go so far as to say that Jesus
Christ and His Kingdom is our sole interest. What can we say about this? For as
long as we can remember, He has been the focus of our lives. We can’t imagine
life without Him.
By way of
illustration, I’ve included a couple of verses from a Hymn called, “All for
Jesus”. The words of the two verses describe what we both try to express albeit
so inadequately. “Worldlings prize their gems of
beauty; cling to gilded toys of dust; Boast of wealth, and fame, & pleasure;
only Jesus will I trust. / Since mine eyes were fixed on Jesus, I’ve lost sight
of all beside - So enchained my spirit’s vision, looking at the Crucified.”
We
have found experientially, that as we have looked to and at the Saviour, all
else is valueless. He is the Pearl of infinite price. Everything else is
insipid!
Shalom
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus
12 Oct 2013 |
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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THE
KINGDOM OF GOD
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Childhood
is very often a time of fantasy. I recall how, at a very young age, I started
to read comics and newspaper cartoons. Back then, Prince Valiant was popular reading
in the Sunday papers. I can’t recall who wrote the series back then. But I do
notice that “Val” is more or less the same age as he is now. That was some 60
years ago. Val has clearly found the “elixir of youth”. Either that or it is now
written by the original author’s grandson. “Val” was also connected with King
Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table living in the kingdom of “Camelot”.
I didn’t manage to figure out how it all fitted together; but it’s far better
than RSA in the 21st century.
Chivalry
was most important in that series. It was not only permitted, it was
encouraged among youngsters of the 1950’s. Young men and boys automatically
offered their seat on a bus to a lady. Not to do so was unthinkably. My dad
“encouraged” this way of thinking. If I didn’t give a lady my seat, he would
“visit” my seat; if you follow what I mean! It was always, “ladies first”. Always
walk on the road side in the street if accompanying a lady. Help her by carrying
heavy parcels. I was brought up with this behaviour and was disappointed when
it passed away. To some extent the ladies changed this when “Women’s Lib”
came on the scene. The comment at the time was “We are equal to men”! I found
this rather sad. I’d been brought up to think that etiquette was more
important than “women’s rights”. More than that! As a child I was taught that
ladies were a slightly different and special species of humanity. As a young
man I was supposed to treat a lady with dignity, courtesy and respect.
Personally, I enjoyed doing so. That’s how men were supposed to treat women. Then
“women’s lib” came in and turned everything on its head. That “kingdom”
became a “queendom”. If you stood up for a lady on the bus, you were some
sort of freak. More than that; some male would jump in before she was seated.
You didn’t stand aside for a lady anymore. She became just another member of
the melee, fighting to get into the lift or onto the bus. Today the situation
has reached the point where heavily pregnant women remain standing on the
underground trains, while young schoolboys sit and take no notice. That’s
intolerable. Initiated by some female who no longer wanted to be thought of
as special.
In
my young days, we all lived in “Camelot”. This wasn’t a place; not even a
mythical place. It was an attitude toward life and right living. Frankly, I
loved it. Mostly, girls were safe in our company. Sure there were rapists
back then. But nothing like it is today. We had a standard of behaviour that
wasn’t exactly righteous. But it was respectful. It was a time of peace. The
ladies enjoyed being ladies. We also had lots of fun together. They were
happy days. Almost joy-filled. I think we were a lot closer to living in the
Kingdom of God than today. Not in a place; in the heart!
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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10 May your kingdom come. May what you want to happen
be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 NIrV
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The King is in His Kingdom. That’s what a Christian sees.
It isn’t food or drinking or doing what you please.
It isn’t a location; a geographic place.
It’s surely not a venue, in earthly time and space.
You needn’t travel anywhere, because it can’t be found.
But if you are a Christian, you’ll find it all around.
When you come to grips with it, you find it’s nothing less,
Than living for the Master in imputed righteousness.
The sort of righteous living, which no man can attain.
We find that all our efforts are absolutely vain.
But as we look to Jesus and let Him take control,
He gives to us His righteousness to permeate the soul.
Of course we don’t deserve it. It’s granted by His grace.
The finished work of Jesus by faith puts it in place.
He has made us righteous; our hearts are filled with peace.
Not the sort that varies as conflicts start and cease.
It is supernatural and no man understands.
It’s planted in our spirit by the Master’s loving hands.
Peace beyond our knowledge, or human circumstance.
Nothing that’s obtainable, by leaving things to chance.
These are from the Father, assisted by His Son;
Aided by the Spirit and the work in us He’s done.
Giving us a joy that fills our body, soul and heart.
Even overflowing and setting us apart,
From the none believers; and providing a desire,
That if they come to Jesus, He’ll set their hearts on fire,
The Kingdom is contagious. It’s something that is caught.
It is inexplicable and really can’t be taught.
It’s a life of holiness that other folk can see.
Gloriously flowing from deep inside of thee.
Giving a contentment, that only can be found,
When He is your Master and He lets His grace abound.
This then is God’s Kingdom. “Utopia” within!
Garlanded with righteousness, where just the thought of sin,
Has become repulsive. Where joy is manifest.
Peace flows like a river and His followers are blessed.
All this is available! Why do men hesitate;
And resist the Master until it’s far too late?
Jim Strickland
Written 12th Oct
2012
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44
"During the reigns of those kings, the God
of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It
will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.
Daniel 2:44 NLT
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34 As
you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but
not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them
to bits.
Daniel 2:34 NLT
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6 Then
he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the
LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6 ESV
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20
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered
them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with
signs to be observed, 21 nor
will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God
is in the midst of you."
Luke 17:20-21 ESV
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11 He
told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But
to those on the outside everything is said in parables
Mark 4:11 NIV
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26 He
also said, "This is what the kingdom of God
is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed
sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by
itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full
kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the
grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
Mark 4:26-29 NIV
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44
Therefore, you, too, must be ready because the
Son of Man will return when you least expect him.
Matthew 24:44 GW
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17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let
those who hear this say, "Come!" Let those who are thirsty
come! Let those who want the water of life take it as a gift.
Revelation 22:17 GW
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