Time with Jesus - 28 Oct 2013
The following was written by Dr AW
Tozer in the 1940’s or 1950’s. His assessment, no, doubt was true in those
days. Has anything changed since then? His writing referred specifically to the
evangelicals churches of his day. Today ±75 years later, the Charismatic
churches are, generally speaking, just the same!
It is a basic doctrine of the New Testament that, after His
resurrection, the Man Jesus was declared by God to be both Lord and Christ; and
that He was invested by the Father with absolute Lordship over the church,
which is His Body. All authority is His in heaven and in earth. In His own
proper time He will exert it to the full. Presently He allows this authority to
be challenged or ignored. Now it is being challenged by the world and ignored
by the church. |
| The Pillow Fight |
The present position of Christ in the gospel churches may be
likened to that of a king in a limited, constitutional monarchy. The king, in
such a country, is no more than a traditional rallying point, a pleasant symbol
of unity and loyalty much like a flag or a national anthem.
Among gospel churches, Christ is now in fact little more than
a beloved symbol. In the week-by-week services of the church and the day-by-day
conduct of her members, someone else, not Christ, makes the decisions.
Under
proper circumstances, Christ is allowed to say "Come unto me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden" or "Let not your heart be troubled,"
but when the speech is finished someone else takes over. Those in actual
authority decide the moral standards of the church, as well as all objectives
and all methods employed to achieve them.
Not only does Christ have little or no authority; His
influence also is becoming less and less. I would not say that He has none. Only
that it is small and diminishing. A fair parallel would be the influence of
Abraham Lincoln over the American people today. After we have gotten control
over our tender emotions what have we left? No more than a good example which,
as it recedes into the past, becomes more and more unreal and exercises less
and less real influence. Every scoundrel is ready to wrap Lincoln's long black
coat around him.
The Lordship of Jesus is not quite forgotten among Christians,
but it has been relegated to the hymnal. If it is taught as a theory in the
classroom, it is rarely applied to practical living. The idea that the Man,
Christ Jesus, has absolute and final authority over the whole church is simply
not now accepted as true by the rank and file of evangelical Christians.
What we do is this: We accept the Christianity of our group as
being identical with that of Christ and His apostles. The beliefs, the
practices, the ethics, the activities of our group are equated with the
Christianity of the New Testament. Whatever the group thinks or says or does is
Scriptural; no questions asked. It is assumed that all our Lord expects of us
is that we busy ourselves with the activities of the group!
We evangelicals also know how to avoid the sharp point of
obedience by means of fine and intricate explanations. These are tailor-made
for the flesh. They excuse disobedience, comfort carnality and make the words of
Christ of none effect. And the essence of it all is that Christ simply could
not have meant what He said. His teachings are accepted, even theoretically,
only after they have been weakened by interpretation.
Yet Christ is consulted by increasing numbers of persons with
"problems" and sought after by those who long for peace of mind. He
is widely recommended as a kind of spiritual psychiatrist with remarkable
powers to straighten people out. He is able to deliver them from their guilt
What church board consults our Lord's words to decide matters
under discussion? Board meetings are habitually opened with a formal prayer,
after that the Head of the Church is respectfully silent while the real rulers
take over.
What Sunday school committee goes to the Word for directions?
Do not the members invariably assume that they already know what they are
supposed to do and that their only problem is to find effective means to get it
done?
Plans, rules, "operations" and new methodological techniques
absorb all their time and attention. The prayer before the meeting is for
divine help to carry out their plans. Apparently the idea that the Lord might
have some instructions for them, never so much as enters their heads.
Who remembers when a conference chairman brought his Bible to
the table with him for the purpose of using it? An absolute dichotomy exists
between the devotional period and the business session. The first has no
relation to the second.
In the conduct of our public worship where is the authority of
Christ to be found?
The truth is that today the Lord rarely controls a service,
and the influence He exerts is very small. We sing of Him and preach about Him,
but He must not interfere; we worship our way, and it must be right because we
have always done it that way, as have the other churches in our group. |
| The Belt of Truth |
What Christian when faced with a moral problem goes straight
to the Sermon on the Mount or other New Testament Scripture for the authoritative
answer? Who lets the words of Christ be final on giving, birth control, the
bringing up of a family, personal habits, tithing, entertainment, buying,
selling and other such important matters?
The causes back of the decline in our Lord's authority are many.
I name only two. One is the power of custom, precedent and tradition within the
older religious groups. Not Christ but custom is lord in this situation.
The second cause is the revival of intellectualism. This is
not so much a thirst for learning as a desire for a reputation of being
learned. Because of it, good men, who ought to know better, are being put in
the position of collaborating with the enemy. I'll explain.
Our faith is being attacked these days from many different
directions. In the Western World he comes against us no more with sword and
fagot; he now comes smiling, bearing gifts. He raises his eyes to heaven and
swears that he too believes in the faith of our fathers, but his real purpose
is to destroy that faith so that it is no longer the supernatural thing it once
was. 
He comes in the name of philosophy or psychology or anthropology, and with
sweet reasonableness, urges us to rethink our historic position, to be less
rigid, more tolerant, more broadly understanding.
He speaks in the sacred jargon of the schools, and many of our
half-educated evangelicals run to fawn on him. He tosses academic degrees to
the scrambling sons of the prophets as Rockefeller used to toss dimes to the
children of the peasants.
The evangelicals, who have been accused of lacking
true scholarship, now grab for these status symbols with shining eyes, and when
they get them, they are scarcely able to believe their eyes.
For the true Christian the one supreme test for the present
soundness and ultimate worth of everything religious must be the place our Lord
occupies in it. Is He Lord or symbol? Is He in charge of the project, or merely
one of the crew? Is Jesus Christ Lord in this act?
What, then, are we to do? Each one of us must decide, and
there are at least three possible choices. One is to rise up in shocked
indignation and accuse me of irresponsible reporting. Another is to nod general
agreement with what is written here but take comfort in the fact that there are
exceptions and we are among the exceptions.
The other is to go down in meek
humility and confess that we have grieved the Spirit and dishonoured our Lord
in failing to give Him the place His Father has given Him as Head and Lord of
the Church.
Either the first or the second will but confirm the wrong. The
third, if carried out to its conclusion, can remove the curse. The decision
lies with us.
Shalom
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus
28 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
FIGHT
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Authority can be a frightening thing. Lord Acton is quoted as having
said, “Power Corrupts; Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”. He was not the first
person who brought this expression into English. But it is appropriate that
it be quoted by an Englishman.
Absolute power was considered the birth-right of most of the monarchs
of history. One of the best known is the sad saga of King Henry 8 and the struggle
for power after his death. This is not the place to give a history lesson.
Sufficient to say that Henry broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and
established the Church of England with himself as head. He became
anti-Catholic. He had two daughters and a son. Princess Mary was a convinced
and fanatical Roman Catholic. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Edward were in
favour of the Church of England. Henry defined the line of succession after
his death would be Edward, then Mary then Elizabeth. Edward continued his
father’s Church of England reforms. When he died he was succeeded by Mary.
Queen Mary, often called Bloody Mary, assumed absolute power and England
experienced one of the most violent and bloodthirsty reigns of terror, as she
did everything in her power to restore Roman Catholicism to England. Among
those who were burned at the stake were Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, Bishop Hugh
Latimer and Bishop Nicholas Ridley, They are often referred to as the Oxford
Martyrs.
Such was the authority of the monarch of the day. We also have a
monarch. King Jesus. He also has absolute power and authority. But His power
is endless. He has also delegated His power to His people. We have His
authority over all the forces of the devil. So although His people come and
go through death, the authority devolves on the next generation of those who
make Him their Lord and King. Jesus told the 72 when they reported back to
Him 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the
enemy, and you can walk among snakes and
scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. Luke 10:19 NLT After His resurrection and prior
to His ascension he appeared to his disciples. It is recorded 18 Jesus came and told His disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore,
go and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Matt. 28:18-19 NLT. In this regard,
nothing has changed since He walked among us 2000 years ago. He has delegated
His authority to you and me. Whether or not we use it is up to us. Satan and
his cohorts continue to try and usurp this authority. They will if they can.
Whether or not they succeed is up to us. The Blood of Jesus provides us with
all we need to win. If we don’t, there is only ourselves to blame.
Jim
& Phyllida
Strickland
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19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents
and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy,
and nothing shall hurt you.
Luke 10:19
ESV
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There’s never been a question about authority.
The Lord has given lots of it to folk like you and me.
The enemy can’t hurt us; no matter how he tries.
We stand on snakes and scorpions, regardless of their size.
There is nothing to it and we won’t come to harm.
So don’t get excited or raise a false alarm.
Of course we must be careful; he’s always on the prowl;
He wants us to be frightened and to throw in the towel.
A master of disguises, we hear a lion roar.
We think he wants to eat us. But he can do no more.
Than make a lot of noises. He’s little more than that.
When Jesus Christ is in you, he’s a toothless pussy-cat.
Show him some resistance and he will turn and flee;
When you’re in submission to the Christ of Calvary.
If you are a soldier and have to go to war,
To fight the devil’s forces and bust them on the jaw.
There’s a list of armour that you will surely need,
To stand against the devil and foil his evil creed.
This is not a contest, against some human foe,
You will need God’s armour, everywhere you go.
Wrestle with the rulers and the powers of the air.
They will not surprise you, if you constantly prepare.
Have God’s truth around you like a belt about your waist.
With His righteous breastplate, that army can be faced.
Don’t forget the sandals to wear upon your feet.
They will keep you moving and his forces can be beat.
Sandals of the good news. The gospel that brings peace.
Sharing it with others, will bring them their release.
Don’t neglect the shield of faith, to carry in your hand;
To quench the fiery arrows, preventing them to land,
Upon you or your brothers. The enemy you’ll foil,
And his plans for victory forever you will spoil.
Salvation is the helmet you wear upon your head.
If you are not wearing it you may as well be dead!
Praying in the Spirit is a weapon you can wield.
And there is another which makes the devil yield.
The Word of God is mighty. So use it as your sword.
You cannot be beaten while Jesus is your Lord.
Jim Strickland
Written 28th October 2012
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8 Stay alert! Watch out
for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion,
looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter
5:8 NLT
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7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
ESV
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11 Put on all the armour
that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil's strategies.
12 This is not a wrestling
match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities,
the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that
control evil in the heavenly world. 13 For this reason, take up all the armour that God supplies.
Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have
overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground. 14 So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your
waist like a belt. Put on God's approval as your breastplate. 15 Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the
Good News that gives peace. 16 In
addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With it you
can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians
6:11-16 GW
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8 Do not gloat over me,
my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light.
Micah 7:8
NLT
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