THE FINAL MEETING

Time with Jesus - 26 Sept. 2013

Hi all,

We know all about “four letter words”. We hear them constantly from the lips of men and women alike. Why this should be, I’ll never really know. It’s tragic to realise that the English speaking world has adopted as a swear word, a word used to describe the highest form of pleasure experienced by men and women since – and possibly before – the fall of man. 

For Phyllida and me, to hear the word coupled with that of our Saviour, is highly offensive. This “expression”, now in common use, serves to confirm the terrible grip Satan has on this world. It’s not odd that we never hear Mohammad’s name or Buddha’s name used in this way. Only Jesus’ name has been downgraded from that of the King of Kings to the lowest imaginable form of life. Only Satan would wish to do so.

There is another “four letter word” with which most men and women are thoroughly acquainted. Many, particularly misguided Christians, regard the word and associated activity, as anathema. The word is “work”. Please allow me to add another word to this morning’s lexicon. The word is “dead”, better known to most of us as “death”.

We are the strangest people. In the back of our minds, we all know that one day we will die. It is so certain, that no bookmaker will quote you the “odds” against you or me dying. None of us know where or when. The terror attack in Nairobi in the Westgate Mall this week confirms, it could happen to any one of us at any time! Indeed, there is no guarantee that I’ll complete this meditation, or that you will read it tomorrow. Hopefully, we all will. However …….

One of the better known stories in the Old Testament is the account of King Hezekiah’s illness and his brush with death. 2 Kings 20 and Isaiah 38 give the details. ¹ About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: "This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness." ² When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, ³ "Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to You and have served You single-mindedly, always doing what pleases You." Then he broke down and wept bitterly. 

⁴ But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the LORD: ⁵ "Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of My people. Tell him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the LORD. ⁶ I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for My own honour and for the sake of My servant David." 2 Kings 20:1-6 NLT (Isaiah 38:1-5)

Generally speaking, Hezekiah had been a good king. Not good in the sense that God is good. It was more a “comparative” goodness. He had followed the Lord and ruled his people according to God’s law as much as possible. It’s likely he was no more perfect than you or me. Be that as it may, on an occasion when he was ill, God sent Isaiah to tell him to get ready to die. “You are going to die. You will not recover from this illness!” 

Hezekiah's Sundial

Needless to say, Hezekiah did not receive the news enthusiastically. He turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD. He “reminded” the Lord of His years of obedience. He then broke down a wept bitterly. (I can’t say I blame him. I think I would do something similar in his place) In response, God gave Isaiah a second message. “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life.”

Hezekiah's Tunnel

How would you have received such a message? With a sense of immediate relief, just as Hezekiah did? That’s probably what my reaction would have been. But was it a good idea to give Hezekiah an additional 15 years? That’s the problem. God knew exactly what would happen fifteen years later. From God’s point of view it might have been better if Hezekiah had died and not been given the additional 15 years.

In the interim, Hezekiah did some good things and some bad things, during those years. The very worst was to allow visitors from a distant, but up and coming nation, to look round Jerusalem. 

The temple and the nation’s treasures were included in the escorted tour. This nation was the one which eventually would destroy Jerusalem and lead many of the people away into captivity. The visitors had good memories and were from Babylon.

God’s word also tells us of one of the greatest tragedies to befall Hezekiah’s people. 2 Kings 21 tells us:

 ¹ Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah. ² He did what was evil in the LORD's sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. 2 Kings 21:1-2 NLT

According to Scripture, the worst King ever to rule in Judah followed Hezekiah. In many ways he was worse than those whom God had driven out of Canaan to allow the Israelites to take possession of the land. 

Assuming our mathematics is correct, Manasseh was born three years after Hezekiah was given his extra 15 years of life. I know that this is disputed by many.  I know that this is disputed by many. 

Manasseh taken Captive and in Chains

However, it seems God knew Manasseh would follow Hezekiah. But if Hezekiah died before Manasseh was born, things might have been very different. Sure, Hezekiah’s prayer was answered. But would it have been better if Hezekiah had died in the first place? You tell me.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 26 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	THE FINAL MEETING
Horace Mann, the great American education reformer is reported to have said, “Education is the great equalizer of the conditions of men”. Our experience in South Africa doesn’t really prove this to be always true. We find highly educated idiots in government, along with ignorant uneducated idiots in governments. Education has not made them equal, the ANC has! There is another “equalizer”. One that has no regard for wealth, education, talent or the needs of the family. The great “equalizer” is death. Every person who has lived on this earth, has shared or will share, the experience of death. It’s guaranteed. God said so and only He can change it. Adam got the ball rolling, when he disobeyed God and decided to “lunch” on the fruit, of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Unfortunately he didn’t only get indigestion. He ingested an incurable condition. It was a “blight” which was passed on to the creation and all Adam’s descendants. Sadly it’s an incurable condition. Hollywood does not have a hero who will leap in front of the camera and shout, “’Eureka!’ I’ve fixed it.” Medical science has done everything it can to interfere with the process. All it can do is postpone the event. Charmers can’t charm it away. No legal system can prevent it. Even our Constitutional court is hamstrung. There have been dreams of somehow discovering the “elixir of youth”. All to no avail. You and I are going to die. Only God can change it. Someday He will. Those who are still alive, at that point in time will “miss out”. (Ag shame!) People have asked, what was so serious about eating the fruit of that tree? My answer is that it was toxic. Perhaps not within 24 hours. I understand it took Satan the best part of a millennium to figure out a way to have Adam laid out. But we all have our problems and this one was uniquely Satan’s. Since then, Satan has become a bit more adept at putting a nail in our coffins. But persistence is the one virtue he emulates. So now that he knows that it takes him ±70 years, to put the X at the end of our equations. Some go a little earlier. Some go a little later. But in the end, every man-jack of us has to go! But there is an answer. Not one of our making. We need a change of ownership. Since the fall of Adam, we have all belonged to Satan. He has called the shots. Today, we can change ownership; our registration on heavens computer. Then, when we end in the junkyard of life, our owner may claim what is left over. It doesn’t take much. A bit of stray DNA is quite adequate. Then when the scrapyard hands over the bits for a fancy piece of reconstruction, the records will say, “property of Jesus Christ”. Satan will “smart” a bit. But he isn’t smart anyway! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 ESV	We need a change in attitude to many different things. It isn’t just a matter of angels having wings. That answer is irrelevant; they don’t affect your life. But how you love your husband, or how you love your wife, Is absolutely critical. It’s what we have to do. It is the Lord’s commandment for folk like me and you. It really doesn’t matter if the body is cremated. A grave is just an overcoat where left overs are gated. The gender’s not important. A woman or a man, Are equally significant in God the Father’s plan. We have one thing in common. Each one of us must die. It truly is a certainty. No matter how we cry. We’ll end in a container which then is put away, To be consumed by fire, or to rot and to decay. Only two have “missed it” Enoch was the first. Perhaps it was the “rapture” that had to be rehearsed? The other was Elijah, in a chariot from God. Even the Lord Jesus “died” so death’s not something odd. We have to get our wages! Death is the “price” of sin. And we are going to get them and death is going to win. There isn’t an alternative till Jesus comes again. And none of us are certain just what will happen then! We know that we will meet Him in a body that is new. What happens to the old one? Why should that bother you? Perhaps it will be left behind as no longer required. The new one will be better; that’s all that is desired. Until the day it happens, we’ll go through the routine, Of living and then dying; regardless how we’ve been. It all began when Eve thought she should alter Adam’s diet. “The snake said it will make us wise. So here’s a bit, just try it.” And so he took a little bit and tested it for taste. That’s when the Lord’s creation by sin was put to waste. We wish it hadn’t happened. But now it’s far too late. And Jesus Christ is needed to come and change our fate. So do not get excited while you’re waiting for your turn. Do you want the carcass to be planted or to burn? It really doesn’t matter. You will not feel a thing. The next thing you will know is when you meet with Christ the King! Jim Strickland Written 26th September 2012
			14 Because God's children are human beings--made of flesh and blood--the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT
			7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with Him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and He will never die again. Death no longer has any power over Him. 10 When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Romans 6:7-11 NLT
			35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below--indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 NLT

JUDGEMENT

Time with Jesus - 25 Sept. 2013

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is on the topic of judging and judgement. It’s not an easy topic to get to grips with. John Gill’s commentary on this is very helpful and is found here-under mixed up with a few additional comments:

Matthew 7:1 - Judge not, that ye be not judged.

This is not to be understood of any sort of judgment.

1.     It is not of judgment in the civil courts of justice, by proper magistrates. This ought to be made and passed, according to the nature of the case;

a.     We need to bear in mind that the courts have been established, in which we may all obtain justice. But this justice can only be in terms of the laws of the land.

b.    In cases where God’s law contradicts the laws of the land, we may have a problem. A case in point is the liberal abortion laws in South Africa. A woman is legally entitled to have an abortion if she so chooses. However, SA Law does not release her from God’s Law. The woman should bear in mind that ultimately, she is accountable to God for her decision. As Phyllida and I understand the Bible, abortion is sin. It is deliberate sin if she proceeds with the abortion, if she acknowledges that it is wrong. Nonetheless, she must make the decision and live with the consequences.

                                  i.    Whatever she may decide, our responsibility is not to try and over-rule her. We are required to love her. It is not optional.

                                 ii.    She will have to live with the consequences, regardless of deciding for or against abortion. Our task is to help her find her way through her trauma. Don’t expect it to be easy!

2.     Also, it is not of judgment in the churches of Christ, where offenders are to be called to an account, examined, tried, and dealt with according to the rules of the Gospel. Jesus instructed His people how to deal with sin within the church. In Matthew18 He tells us. ¹⁵ "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. ¹⁶ But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won't accept the church's decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. Mat 18:15-17 NLT

a.     Today, church courts are seldom used to obtain justice within the church, although they should be.

                                  i.    The difficulty today is that if the church you are attending dislikes someone or doesn’t agree with someone; that someone simply leaves the church and goes to a different one.

                                 ii.    Churches need to communicate with previous churches before receiving new members.

1.     A “release note” from the previous church should be issued by an approved person.

3.     It is also not of every private judgment, which one man may make upon another, without any detriment to him;

Paul brings clarification on the question of lawsuits. He writes in 1^st Corinthians, ¹ When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! ² Don't you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide even these little things among yourselves? ³ Don't you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 

⁴ If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? ⁵ I am saying this to shame you. Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? ⁶ But instead, one believer sues another--right in front of unbelievers! ⁷ Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? ⁸ Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers. 1 Cor. 6:1-8 NLT

Yes, it is hard. But the Christian life is not meant to be easy. If we put others ahead of ourselves, we may well find they take advantage of us. Does it really matter? Jesus experienced injustice of the worst possible kind. He was “cheated” even out of His own life. His example is not easy to follow. But it is not impossible. To allow someone to cheat you is surely a supreme example of putting him/her ahead of you. That way we will be obeying Jesus!

What then does Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged” mean? John Gill states: “It means rash judgment; interpreting men's words and deeds to the worst sense. Do not then, censure them severely. Do not pass sentence on them, with respect to their eternal state and condition”.

Good advice was given by the famous Hillel who lived a little before Christ's time: - "Do not judge thy neighbour, (says he,) until thou comest into his place.'' It’s hard to know whether or not to comment on his actions until you stand in his shoes.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 25 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	JUDGEMENT
As a young apprentice in England, I came across many tradesmen. Some were excellent. There was one “old man” I’ll never forget. He must have been well into his seventies and continued to work. He took care of the tool caravan. He could chisel a channel in a piece of metal that you would think was cut by a machine. He sharpened drills by hand just as well as it had come from the manufacturers. He was from the “old school” of tradesmen who did just about anything. Another man from those days was in his mid-thirties. But when you listened to him, he must surely have been in his early nineties. No matter what anyone said or did, he had been there and done it. He had become a “pathological liar”. He believed everything he said. Over the past fifty odd years, I’ve found some honest and mature Christians upon whom Phyllida and I can depend. As honest as the day is long and with deep devotion to Jesus Christ, they were men and women from whom we could learn. Not many, but they were there if you took the trouble to look. Sadly, we’ve also came across others who were not trustworthy. Our problem has always been trying to find a way to cope with what they have done and are doing. The difficulty we both face is how to deal with this from a Christian angle. How do you handle lying, dishonest people who claim to be Christians? How do you do this without “judging” them? The easy way is to be like the priest in Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan. Walk by on the other side of the street and take no notice. We all have this ability. Stopping them and talking would only “waste time we haven’t got in ministry”! But what about our responsibility to the Lord and to our brothers and sisters in the Lord? If we say nothing and do nothing, are we not allowing that person to continue harming other Christians? Is that the right thing to do? Not at all. Paul comments as follows; 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are  arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.1 Cor. 5:1-3 ESV How do we equate Paul’s statement with Jesus’ command, “Judge not, that you be not judged”. The idea of judging the sin and not the sinner is a convenient “cop out”. If Joe Soap has murdered someone, do we let him go but say murder is a sin? You can’t do that. Justice must be done and Joe Soap must be held responsible. In this case, to let him go because we mustn’t judge is nonsense. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			16 And this is the message I proclaim--that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone's secret life. Romans 2:16 NLT	"Judge not, that you be not judged.” Is what the master said. And yet we keep on doing it; His words aren’t in our head. Matthew Chapter seven verse one is where you see The warning that the Master gave to folk like you and me. In fact, we’re rather good at it; and here’s the reason why. We think we’re so much better than all whom we espy! “I am the Master’s favourite. He thinks I am the best.” But when it comes right down to it, I’m sorry friend, you jest. For all the playful joking which we have all rehearsed. Determines every attitude with which we have been cursed.  “You’re not as bad as what you think” the Master said to me! You’re worse and what is tragic you do not look and see! I know what’s down inside you. You can’t hide it away. I know what you are thinking each second of your day. It isn’t edifying and if the others knew, They’d shun you like a rabid plague and have nothing to do, With anything you say to them. Their praise would be disdain And nobody would speak to you until I come again!” “I know You’re right Lord Jesus. I love to judge my peers. Help me change my attitude and help me dry my tears. Help me know that others are not as bad as me. That I deserve Your judgement. Lord Jesus hear my plea. Cleanse my inner motives. Disinfect my mind. May I only see my sin. And never seek to find, What’s happening to others. That isn’t my concern. You are the only Righteous judge. From sin please help me turn. I see your eyes of fire; Your bronzed and burnished feet. You know what has been tucked away. The lying and deceit. O Lord, please don’t expose me. Put all my sin away. Come and cleanse my inner man. To You O Lord I pray. Help me be converted in heart and mind and soul. May the life of Jesus be my one and only goal. Try me Lord and test me. Help me take off the mask Is this too much to pray for? Is it too much to ask? But Lord you are forgiving. Please come and set me free. That everything I think and say will be controlled by Thee. Jim Strickland Written 25th Sept. 2012
			5 So don't judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord returns. He will bring to light what is hidden in the dark. He will show the real reasons why people do what they do. At that time each person will receive praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 NIrV
			22 "Also, the Father does not judge anyone. He has given the Son the task of judging. John 5:22 NIrV
			27 "He has also given the Son authority to pass judgment because he is the Son of Man. John 5:27 GW
			18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. Revelation 2:18 ESV
			11 They say, "How can God know what we're doing? Does the Most High God really know that much?" Psalms 73:11 NIrV
			21 I kept a quiet patience while you did these things; you thought I went along with your game. I'm calling you on the carpet, now, laying your wickedness out in plain sight. Psalms 50:21 MSG
			2 You can't keep your true self hidden forever; before long you'll be exposed. You can't hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. Luke 12:2 MSG
			9 Lord, everything I really want is clearly known to you. You always hear me when I sigh. Psalms 38:9 NIrV
			2 Examine me, O LORD, and test me. Look closely into my heart and mind. Psalms 26:2 GW