VICTORY IN JESUS!

Time with Jesus - 9 Sept. 2013

Hi all,

Life in boarding school for me was great fun. At first it was a bit strange getting accustomed to being continuously surrounded by youngsters of my own age. It was tough leaving the safety of my own home and going to live in the school. 

WW2 Spitfire

There were a variety of different rules. Don’t go here. Respond to the bell. Remain within the school boundaries. Be in the study at 17h00. Supper at 18h30; back in the study by 19h30; in bed at 20h00; Lights out at 20h30. Sure it was extremely regimented. Up at 06h00; in the study by 06h30; breakfast at 07h00; School began at 08h00. After school was sports time; cricket in summer; rugby in winter. After a couple of days, we all settled into the routine. There wasn’t a lot of time to express your own individuality.

Part of Hitler's German Army

We all quickly established what we would call “rules of fairness”. In the dining room, the tables and chairs were all assembled with 6 per table. Mostly, the meals were already divided more or less into equal portions. We were all growing boys so if I thought you had been given more food than me; there would have been a riot. 

Two things were never divided; the jam and the butter. The butter was on the table in a small round butter-dish. It had been cut in the kitchen from blocks and was about 15mm thick. In a boarding school, this tested our table manners. If we had been ordinary, civilised young men, we would have only enough to cover a slice of bread very thinly. 

Never try this with hungry 13 to 17 year old boys. The third world war would break out across the table. But we were imaginative and quickly came up with the solution. Each place at the table was “numbered” from 1 to 6. No 6 always marked the butter into what he considered equal portions. No 1 cut off a piece for himself being very careful not to depart from the lines on the butter. No 2 then followed. In this way we continued until No 6 took what was left. The method was observed by 6 pairs of eyes all determined that no one would get more than they had. 

Table for Six

The next morning, the numbering system rotated. In this way, everyone had a chance to be No1 and No 6 every six days. We regarded this as being “fair”.

I recall David Pawson pointing out a similar problem. If you have four children, how do you hand out sweets? One way would be to give them one bag of sweets and tell them to share them. The safer way was to buy four bags of sweets. The Scriptural way for perfect children would be one bag they can share. But children are not like that. They have a concept of what they consider is “fair”. If it varies by more than a tenth of a millimetre, there is a riot.

Now please note that God knows nothing about “fairness”. “Fair” is a human concept rigorously enforced by trade unions, young children and hospital patients. Jesus Himself stated ⁴⁵ Then you will be sons of your Father who is in heaven. "He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don't. Mat 5:45 NIrV

In Mark’s gospel Jesus said, ²⁹ "What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus replied. "Has anyone left home or family or fields for me and the good news? ³⁰ They will receive 100 times as much in this world. They will have homes and families and fields. But they will also be treated badly by others. In the world to come they will live forever. ³¹ But many who are first will be last. And the last will be first." Mar 10:29-31 NIrV Where is the “fairness” in “the last being first and the first last”?

God is Never "Fair"

Furthermore, our salvation is not “fair”. You and I are the sinners. We are the “monsters of iniquity”. We deserve to be sent to hell for 1000 eternities and more for spurning the love of a perfect God. Instead, Jesus took the punishment for what you and I have done and, in many instances, enjoyed doing! It’s grossly unfair. The case would be thrown out of every court on earth you can think of. So please don’t talk to me about God’s “fairness”. 

We Deserve our Wages
Sin = Death

No man or woman, who has ever lived, with the exception of Jesus Christ, should escape hell. John Gill stated, Man has run through all, has contracted large and numerous debts, has been obliged to hide himself, has been used as a bankrupt, and turned out of house and home: Christ indeed has undertook to pay, and he has paid all the debts of his people; and has put them into a better state than Adam ever was. (John Gill’s comment on Rom 3:12)

No, God is not “fair”. He is 100% just and 100% merciful. How does this work? God alone knows. We all get a full bag of sweets and don’t have to share them. We don’t have to divide the butter into 6 equal portions. Instead, God pours out from His abundance more sweets than we could eat in a lifetime.

VICTORY IN JESUS

Furthermore, His blocks of butter are infinite. I say to Him, “Lord, I don’t deserve all this!” He says to me, “I know! But I love you and you can have it anyway!” I fall on my knees before Him and worship Him. He lifts me to my feet. “Come on, let’s have some fun together. Don’t you know you are My adopted brother?”

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 09 September 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	VICTORY IN JESUS!
The Battle of Britain during WW2 is one of the most remembered events of those long and difficult days. A handful of British and Commonwealth pilots took on the mighty German Luftwaffe. Statistically, they should have lost. The hand of God must have been with them because they won the battle. They shouldn’t have won. It appeared to be impossible and Europe, in its entirety, should have been one huge Nazi “state”. I firmly believe that it was the goodness of God that prevented this from happening. For some reason Hitler decided to forget about Britain and attack Russia. It was at this time Winston Churchill made one of the greatest speeches he ever made. “Never in the field of human conflict have so many owed so much to so few”. As we know, in the end the Allies defeated the German war machine. It was a miracle. There have been a number of battles that have shaped human history. At present there is an on-going battle which has still to be settled. The final outcome is a foregone conclusion. In the battle between good and evil, the forces of God will defeat the forces of evil. The ultimate conclusion is inevitable. Jesus Christ and His people will defeat Satan and his forces. No other alternative is possible. Good will triumph over evil. The problem you and I have is being unaware when the final battle will take place. We have been given eternal life. Death is meaningless to a committed Christian. But that does not mean that the latest battle of this war has been fought and decided. Complete victory will only be achieved when Jesus returns. In the meantime, wars and battles continue to take place! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 TNIV During the interim the wages are the same for all. You and I are sinners. Yes, Jesus has redeemed us. But until He comes back, death is guaranteed for everyone born on this planet. Malcolm Smith pointed out that each of us has worked for and will receive payment in full. Our death sentence was decreed the instance we first sinned. We’ve worked hard for our wages during our lifetime and we will get payment in full! Not exactly good news. But it’s a fact and there is nothing we can do to change it. Jesus came to this planet. He lived a perfect, sin-free life. So death for Him was not appropriate. If a man is perfect before God, death cannot hold him. Jesus did not work for the death sentence. Instead, He gave His life in exchange for us. In a way we will never understand, we swapped. He took all our sin and gave us His righteousness. Grossly unfair! No human court would approve. But God not only approved, He made it possible! Until He returns, we will continue to grow old and die. When He comes, Christians who are still alive will not die. He has already paid that penalty. So we will all be with Him. Those who have died will be resurrected. Paul expresses it as follows: 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 TNIV I’m not in a position to say whether or not the total will be few or many. What I can say; and in this I share Churchill’s view. “Never in the field of human (spiritual) conflict have so many owed so much to one Man”. Jesus Christ! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. Psalms 73:2 NLT	Look where you are going. Be careful not to fall. Never give the devil the smallest chance at all. Watch out for the surfaces, and don’t step in the mire. Making you fall over is Satan’s one desire. Watch what you are wearing. Take care of your shoes. Only foolish people, will ever take their cues, From what the foe is wanting. He’d like to see you dead. And he’d like nothing better than for you to bust your head! Of course the Lord protects you. This always will be true. But don’t provide the devil a chance to murder you! He wants to lift you with a fork and throw you in the air. He does his best to sift you and lead you to despair. But Jesus said He’s praying that you won’t slip or fail. His prayers are always answered in the very best detail. The Lord wants you to testify and strengthen all your friends. So do the things He telling you, for surely life depends, On making Him your Saviour, your Master and your King. This prevents the devil from doing anything That damages God’s Kingdom; on this you can rely. And He’ll continue praying for you until you die! It’s true you are not perfect. At times you won’t succeed. But if you keep on focusing upon your Christian Creed; Even if you’re brutalised and they tear limb from limb, That is an opportunity for you to worship Him! Satan wants to hurt you, but cannot touch your soul. Give a shout of triumph; scream, “Christ is in control!” He’ll declare you righteous and in a state of grace. No matter what the devil does. You’ll soon see Jesus’ face. The foe may all laugh at you; perhaps they’ll even sneer! But know that Christ the Saviour is standing very near. Perhaps they’ll have you locked up in a room as dark as night. In this situation, The Lord will be your light. Nothing you experience will ever be unique. Jesus has been through it and gives the strength you seek. Pain won’t last forever. On that you can rely. And you’ll be in the Master’s arms the instant that you die. So stand firm in disaster. Look Satan in the eyes. He cannot defeat you no matter how he tries. It’s a foregone conclusion. You’re guaranteed to win; To break the chains of Satan and the crushing power of sin. Not because you’ve done it. That never will be true. But Jesus is the victory in everything you do. Jim Strickland Written 9th Sept. 2012
			18 I cried out, "I am slipping!" but Your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. Psalms 94:18 NLT
			31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32 NLT
			16 A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again. However, in a disaster wicked people fall. Proverbs 24:16 GW
			24 Even if the man trips, he won't fall. The LORD'S hand takes good care of him. Psalms 37:24 NIrV
			8 The people of Jerusalem say, "Don't laugh when we suffer, you enemies of ours! We have fallen. But we'll get up. Even though we sit in the dark, the LORD will give us light. Micah 7:8 NIrV
			19 From six disasters He will rescue you; even in the seventh, He will keep you from evil. Job 5:19 NLT
			1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One who is truly righteous. 1 John 2:1 NLT
			25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25 TNIV

PARABLE OF THE DOG

Time with Jesus - 8 Sept 2013

Hi all,

What happens to a man or a woman when they repent from sin, turn from their former ways and decide to follow Jesus Christ; to commit their lives to Him and make Him Lord of their life? The best way I know to answer the question is to say, “Everything spiritually and nothing physically!”

Physically, you will probably feel no different from what you did a few moments before you made your life changing decision. Some have had a physical experience. John Wesley said his heart felt strangely warmed. Exactly what this comprised is difficult to know. Some have felt a bit like Christian in John Bunyan’s immortal work “Pilgrim’s Progress. It seemed as if suddenly his burden “fell off” his back as he looked at the cross. 

I wish I was able to say the same. Unfortunately, I felt absolutely nothing. From my own perspective, there was no difference between before and after. My “feelings” were unchanged. It was a purely intellectual decision – or so I thought. I was no bigger or smaller, shorter or taller, fatter or leaner. I remember muttering a few prayers with the councillor after the meeting. He showed me a few Scriptures which should have meant something to me. They didn’t and I felt no different. All I’d done was make a decision. What I did not understand was the enormous difference which had taken place in my spirit.

Paul, in his letter to the Colossians described the difference as follows: ¹³ For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, ¹⁴ who purchased our freedom [with His blood] and forgave our sins. Col 1:13-14 NLT

Not the smallest hint of this change was apparent to me. I could have gone back to my “digs” and made silly comments on the emotional and psychological nonsense I’d just experienced. 

How do you eat an Elephant?
In small pieces

Why didn’t I do that? Frankly, I can’t tell you because I don’t know. All I knew was, I’d decided to follow Jesus and would do so for the rest of my life. In a way it was something like arriving at a stop sign at the end of the road. I could go left or right. However, the direction I’d chosen was permanent. There would be – there could be no turning back! As the chorus says, “I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.”

Once again Paul describes this in his 2^nd letter to the Corinthians. ¹⁷ Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. 2 Cor. 5:17 GW. It would take several years of investigation and experience for me to realise that I really was a new creature in Him.

In the meantime, I quickly found that by making this decision, I was a marked man. In the Western world, everyone knows what a Christian should look like. There is a sort of “squeaky clean” image of a man who goes to church every day; spends a couple of hours daily in prayer; has a perfect wife and perfect children; walks round with a Bible constantly in his hand from which he can quote lengthy and vague passages;

 always smiles; contributes at least 10% of his income to his church; has a photograph of the 3 overseas children he is supporting through school; his every word is a quotation from Scripture; he doesn’t smoke; doesn’t drink; doesn’t keep company with “loose women; never looks at a woman immorally; is never sick or tired; always has plenty money in his wallet; never breaks the law, particularly the speed limit; doesn’t “jump” the red light; stops at every stop street and doesn’t use bad language! Please don’t think I’m irreverent if I say that I’m not sure Jesus Himself could “cope” with this!

Over the Top

Do you think this is “over the top?” Most Christians will say, “Jim you’re being a bit extreme!”. Am I? Well, as a Christian, how do you live? Are you pursuing a Christian standard of life that is beyond what you can do? Another question: Do you expect the Christians in your area to behave like this?

Let’s go to the next step. Do your non-Christian friends, neighbours and relatives expect you to be like this? Sadly, they do! More than that, they expect you to behave like this 24/7. They watch every step you take just waiting for an opportunity to point at you and say, “Hypocrite. Calls himself a Christian! Look at what he’s doing!” Is it any wonder that when the “vicar” takes the money and runs away with the organist, everyone nods their heads and says, “I knew they were like that!

What everyone fails to realise is that a Christian is just as human as a pagan. We may be new creatures in Christ Jesus but, to quote Shakespeare and the words of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice, “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?” OK, Shylock was a Jew. Nevertheless, his comment is equally true for Christians.

There is only one way to cope with people who point fingers at you for being or trying to be a Christian. That way is to adopt, “the silence of Jesus”. No matter what people say about you, do not rise to the bait. You are never obliged to answer anyone outside a court of law. Jesus knew who He was. With one word He could have summoned 100,000 angels. With a word He could have obliterated Jerusalem. He was and is God. He could have prevented the whipping. 

With the breath of His mouth, He could have blown away all the soldiers, priests and Levites. He could have stepped down from the cross. He chose not to do anything. He did nothing and said nothing. Without being irreverent, He showed us the “way of a dead dog”. 

Be Like a Dead Dog!

Praises, curses, applause or abuse made no difference to Him. He offered no resistance and allowed them to do anything they wished. Isaiah prophesied, ⁷ He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not open His mouth. Isaiah 53:7 NLT

This is always the best way to deal with both supporters and opposition. Be like a dead dog. Say and do nothing. No excuses and no explanations. Allow God to be your Judge. The worst thing they can do is crucify you. Bless those who hold you down on the cross. Welcome the nails! 

Welcome the Nails

As you breathe your last, heaven will be cheering. Jesus will welcome you and you will hear the words, “Well done, Good and Faithful Servant".

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 8 Sept 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	PARABLE OF THE DOG
How do you eat an elephant? It can be done. But not in one sitting. Then, eat a little piece at a time. Eventually, the whole thing will be gone. Of course you could also invite your friends, family and neighbours. You’ll get through it much quicker that way. You may even be able to finish it before the meat goes “off”. During the meal, no doubt you’ll get all sorts of comments. Some will love what you have done and tell the world what a wonderful elephant chef you are. Your fame may spread and you may even get a knighthood or something similar from your President. People from all five continents may fight to get tickets for your next elephant braai. Public recognition; your name and face on postage stamps; a slot on TV dubbed into 17 languages at the last count. Fame and fortune because of your elephantine heating and eating skills. Others may hate what you have done. “Do you know he bastes it with beer?” “Keep away from the tail. It’s noxious.” “The trunk is tremendous but it leaves a terrible aftertaste.” “He only buys his elephants from poachers”. “Too much elephant will seriously affect your cholesterol”! People are like that with everything. The apex; the zenith will be achieved if you are a Christian. You will either be loved or hated. Some will call you a prophet. Others will say you’re a profiteer. Get used to it now. It will happen. Some will love you. Others will accuse you of being Satan’s brother. The bottom line is whether you’re a criminal or a Christian. If you’re a criminal, now is the time to repent and come to Jesus. If you’re a Christian, what will you do with your supporters and your detractors? You will certainly get both. So what do you do when you are in a meeting and someone stands up and sings your praises? He/she may say you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread. He/she may be the leader of your supporters club. Perhaps you’ll be greeted as the next Pope! They may even refer to some miracle that took place in one of your meetings. What do you say or do about this? Take a leaf out of Jesus’ book. Say and do nothing. Remain impervious to all comments. Be like a dead dog. Be unmoved by praises. This is tough. There is something in the human psyche that “thrives” on compliments. We love them. Some well-known actors and actresses have DVD’s of all their films. They play them over and over again and bask in what they have done. My recommendation is to say and do nothing. Leave that to the Lord. No explanations and no recriminations! What about the times you’re criticised and hurt; what about when people told lies about you and accused you of monstrous evil deeds. Perhaps they hate you with passionate fury for no reason whatever. David foresaw this and mentioned it in Psalm 35. 19 Don't let those who are my enemies without any reason laugh at me and make fun of me. Don't let those who hate me without any reason wink at me with an evil purpose. Psalms 35:19 NIrV Jesus was hated without reason. You will be hated without reason. Jesus handled this by saying nothing! Mind you, I suspect that from the time of His being taken prisoner to the time of His death on the cross, Jesus prayed more or less continuously, “Father, forgive them for them know not what they do”. So if you want to say anything aloud or quietly, do what He did. Pray!  Otherwise, say nothing. Pretend you’re a dead dog. Learn from them and do what they do. Nothing! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			23 But here is the order of events. Christ is the first of those who rise from the dead. When he comes back, those who belong to him will be raised. 1 Corinthians 15:23 NIrV	I have a little parable to share with all my friends. I hope you’ll find it useful. I guess that it depends, On whether you like stories that are not always true; By nonetheless give insight to me as well as you. Before I even start it, I really have to say, No animal was ever harmed by what I now portray. It’s all imagination. A figment of my mind. I won’t hurt an animal; to them I’m always kind. Tommy and his father went walking one fine day. Both of them were Christians and walked the Jesus way. “What about Men’s praises” asked Tommy of his dad? “Never let them come to you in any way my lad!” Is what his father told him. “They’re often only words. Do not give them credence. That stuff is for the birds”. And what about my critics? What do I do with them?” “Do not even listen. They’re seeking to condemn.” Then tell me, “What’s the attitude that other folk should see?” Asked Tommy of his father. “Please listen close to me. Suppose you have a favourite dog. How do you call him home? You whistle or you call his name and he will cease to roam. What happens if the dog is dead? You whistle and you shout. But if the dog is really dead an answer is in doubt! Next you find the carcass. You say to it, ‘nice dog, Let us play together with yonder piece of log’, Will the doggie answer? It will not twitch a hair. The reason is, that down inside, the doggy isn’t there, Suppose you sing its praises. What will the doggy do? It won’t take any notice because it can’t hear you. Suppose you get so violent you kick it on the head. What is going to happen? Well? Nothing if it’s dead. Suppose you start to shout at it and curse it high and low. Do you think the animal will then get up and go? What if you sing praises from morning until night? Even then it won’t get up. It will not snarl or bite. That is how a Christian should forevermore react. Political correctness is not the way to act. Keep on smiling at them, then shake or bow the head. Compliments or curses; to all of them you’re dead. Point them all to Jesus! That is the finest way. It really doesn’t matter what people think or say. Never be discourteous, but do not ever budge. Leave it all to Jesus and let Him be the judge. Ask for His opinion and let Him put you straight. My son, if you do all of this, you’ll find that life is great.” Jim Strickland Written 8th September 2012
			24 I can guarantee this truth: A single grain of wheat doesn't produce anything unless it is planted in the ground and dies. If it dies, it will produce a lot of grain. John 12:24 GW
			16 If the dough offered as first-fruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. Romans 11:16 ESV
			20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT
			5 If we've become united with him in a death like his, certainly we will also be united with him when we come back to life as he did. Romans 6:5 GW
			20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Saviour. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control. Philippians 3:20-21 NLT
			18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. Colossians 1:18 ESV
			11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 ESV
			25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, John 11:25 ESV