TESTS AND TRIALS

Time with Jesus - 21 Dec 2013

Hi all,

Phyllida and I have found that life as a Christian comprises a series of tests and trials through which we must pass in order to overcome. Don’t be surprised. It’s the same for all of us.

In life we are not born as fully mature adults. We all come into this world as helpless babies, completely reliant on our parents. Indeed, there was a time in the not so distant past, when we were entirely dependent upon our mothers or a wet nurse for nourishment. Princes, princesses and paupers have the same experience. From the moment of birth, we set out on a journey of growth into adulthood. Even our Lord was subject to the same growing regimen we pass through. Although He never ceased to be God, it was necessary for Him to be fully human. Thus it was that He started life as a human being. It could be no other way.

In His discourse with Nicodemus in John 3, Jesus made it abundantly clear that two “births” are required for you and me to enter the Kingdom of God. ³ Jesus replied to Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." ⁴ Nicodemus asked him, "How can anyone be born when he's an old man? He can't go back inside his mother a second time to be born, can he?" ⁵ Jesus answered Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 

John 3:3-5 GW Physical birth into this world is to be born of water. Every woman who has given birth to a child in the normal way can confirm that her baby was born of water! If we regard physical birth as the “starting point” in our physical lives, we soon realise there is a long way to go before we reach maturity. Indeed, life in the Western world comprises a series of learning phases; school; sports; eating and drinking etc. Jesus and Nicodemus both knew this. They both “had the T-shirt”! They were on that route themselves. So are we!

What was revolutionary for Nicodemus, was to hear there was another birth. Jesus referred to it as being born from above. In other words, there had to be an additional birth. One in which the individual is born of the Spirit. Charismatics speak of being born again. In this particular passage Jesus refers to being “born from above”. Perhaps this is a better way to “put it”. Certainly this expression removes any assumption that it must be a “physical” experience. At the same time, for many us, being born again was a very physical event. For me it was a time of great emotion and tears. For others, it has been no more “physical” than getting on or off a bus.

Occasionally, we’ve been asked if the two births can be simultaneous. We have answered that although theoretically it may be possible, we’ve not heard of anyone making this particular claim. What we can say is that we’ve come across men and women who were born again when they were very young.

Jesus’ comment that we need to be “born” of the Spirit, suggests that life in the Spirit is as much a growth process as we see in babies. We are not fully mature when born of the Spirit. In some ways it’s similar to what happens when a baby is born. The instant I was born I was my father and mother’s son. I didn’t have to pass a test for this. It will still be true when I’m 99, assuming I live that long.

Being born of the Spirit is similar. We “change fathers” from Satan to God. Now before you point a finger at me and shout “heretic” read what Jesus said in John 8. Speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus said, ⁴¹ You're doing what your father does." The Jews said to Jesus, "We're not illegitimate children. God is our only Father." ⁴² Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me. After all, I'm here, and I came from God. I didn't come on my own. Instead, God sent me. 

⁴³ Why don't you understand the language I use? Is it because you can't understand the words I use? ⁴⁴ You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn't know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, he's doing what comes naturally to him. He's a liar and the father of lies. John 8:41-44 GW

The implication is that sin makes us the children of Satan. We may not like it, but it’s a fact. The humanists are wrong when they say we are all good people who sometimes do bad things. The truth is, we are all bad people who sometimes do good things. We are all “monsters of iniquity” and we like it that way. To be born again is to change fathers from Satan to God.

While we are children of Satan, we behave like he does. From the moment we are born again we start out on a journey into being the Children of God by what we do and what we say. We have to learn how to behave; how to live; how to speak. It takes time and persistence. Satan doesn’t leave you alone. He wants you back. Not because he loves you. He hates you and wants to see you destroyed. He will if he can and he can if we let him.

I began my journey in October 1960. Phyllida began hers in 1952. We don’t claim to have overcome. We claim to be in the process of overcoming. Satan wants us back into his fold. Only the strength the Lord makes available to us, prevents Satan from winning. We have been through many trials, tests and temptations. 

The grace of Jesus Christ has enabled us to carry on. John Bunyan in his book “Pilgrims Progress” tells us that in Pilgrim’s dream he saw “a road to hell from the very gates of heaven”. We think we’ll only be “safe” when we are beyond those gates.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 21 December 2013			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	TESTS AND TRIALS
Jesus Christ is an enigma for Christians and non-Christians alike. From experience, the more we learn about Jesus, the more we are confronted by the enigma of Who He is. We are told He is 100% man and 100% God. Theologically this is imperative. He had to die as a man for the sins of all men. One man can die for one man. But only God can die for all mankind. Does that mean that God the Son died? Is it possible that God can die? Really it depends on the nature of death. Our usual understanding is that it’s the condition when life has departed from the body. A corpse is what remains when the spirit and soul have departed. The corpse is lifeless. But the spirit and the soul do not die. The body of Jesus was left behind on the cross. Exactly what happened to His soul and Spirit is not clear. Our creed tells us “He descended into ‘Hell’” For us today, this is misleading. We understand “Hell” to be the place of suffering prepared for the devil and his angels. Other translations use the words Sheol, Hades, Gehenna or Tartarus. Take your pick. Personally, I’m not really interested. He is now resurrected and next to His Father in heaven. In a way, this only deepens the enigma of Jesus. Today’s meditation examines this. The Bible tells us Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat. Jesus, the man, was tired. Was the Son of God also sleeping? It’s unlikely. The Psalmist tells us, 4 Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Psalms 121:4 NLT What does this mean? I suspect it means Jesus was fully aware of all that was going on around Him. If this is the case, it suggests that this passage of Scripture was a way for Him to try and test His disciples and reveal Himself to them more fully! All Jesus’ miracles demonstrate He had complete control over everything in creation. We are told He only carried out miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. This has always been the case. Nothing changed while He walked the earth. All of creation came about as a result of God’s spoken Word empowered by His Holy Spirit. He only ever did what His Father told Him to do. But this has always been true. It’s the way the Trinity functions. In over simplified terms, the Father has the “idea”, the Son “speaks” and the Spirit “makes it happen”. So what was happening while Jesus was asleep in the boat? I suspect Jesus, the man, was sleeping. But He was fully aware of what was happening. Jesus, the man, needed His rest. His disciples “needed” to learn that He was in control of everything. Let the storm do its worst! He could stop it instantly. But His disciples needed to know that He was in charge even when He seemed to be doing nothing! It’s still true. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't You care that we're going to drown?" Mark 4:38 NLT	Jesus Christ lay sleeping, somewhere in the stern. His head was on a cushion. His followers would learn, That, though He was in dreamland, they were all secure. Evil couldn’t harm them. Of this they could be sure. Was He really sleeping or was this just a test? Certainly the storm had come at Lucifer’s behest. Did they have the faith to face this storm without His aid? Would they merely panic because they were afraid? The boat was filling quickly with water from the waves. Did they need the lesson that only Jesus saves? Perhaps it was His motive? Perhaps it was a test? We don’t know for certain; but their fear was manifest. “Teacher don’t you care that we are all about to die?” Jesus was awakened to this sad and anguished cry. He arose and ordered the raging wind to cease “Be still!” he told the waters and all was then at peace. Instantly it happened. The storm gave way to calm. “Why are you such cowards? No cause for your alarm!” Gently He chided them, “Why is your faith so small?” Now they knew for certain, He is Lord of all. They began to realise, that here at their right hand, Was He who made the universe by giving a command. A word was all He needed and creation came to be. No wonder they were asking, “Who is this Man we see? Two thousand odd years later, we too pass through a trial. Jesus isn’t sleeping but His face takes on a smile. How will we all handle, the little tiny storm, We have been confronted with? Will the trial form, Character within us? Will we pass the test? If we do, be certain, He’ll see that we are blessed. Will we start to panic and tremble in our fear? Or will we remember that Jesus Christ is near! He doesn’t need a pillow and doesn’t ever snooze. He’s supplied the things we need; but are we going to use, The faith we have been given? How will we react To the little trial? Is our faith a fact, Or merely wishful thinking? What will the answer be? I can’t speak for others; I can only speak for me! Jim Strickland Written 21st December 2012
			9 The LORD is good to everyone and has compassion for everything that he has made. Psalms 145:9 GW
			3 "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. I have already given you the green plants for food. Now I am giving you everything. Genesis 9:3 NIrV
			22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." Genesis 8:22 ESV
			7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7 ESV
			17 But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, "Hagar, what's wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants." 19 Then God opened Hagar's eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink. Genesis 21:17-19 NLT
			31 "Don't ever worry and say, 'What are we going to eat?' or 'What are we going to drink?' or 'What are we going to wear?' 32 Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. Matthew 6:31-32 GW
			17 Tell those who have the riches of this world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, they should place their confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17 GW