Monday, October 7, 2013

BE A WITNESS

Time with Jesus - 8 Oct 2013

Hi all,
In the 1950’s, Springbok radio was almost the only entertainment available for the average English speaking South African. I’m not too sure, but I think there were also the “English” service as well as the “Afrikaans” service. Nearly all the people I knew listened to Springbok Radio. 

Eric Eagan was on in the morning. We listened to his program as we dressed and went to work or school. He nearly always broadcast something special for children. Things like “Tubby the Tuba”, “Flick the Little Fire Engine” “The Ugly Duckling” and Danny Kaye’s “Tongue Twisters” or the “King’s New Clothes”. There were so many!

Some of the programmes were also popular. “The OK Pot of Gold Show” was well-liked. At one time, OK Bazaars was just about the only store in South Africa. Now it has been replaced by ShopRite/Checkers and Pick ‘n Pay. In the 1950’s, that would have been thought to be impossible. 
Peter Chiswell was popular with his “Strangers from Space”. Then there was “Mr Walker Wants to Play” I think the broadcaster was Johnny Walker? However I may be confused with the whiskey distiller.
Every Tuesday evening there was “Consider Your Verdict”. It was one of the few programmes that were still on Springbok Radio when I returned to South Africa in 1974. It had a unique “signature tune”. There were no words and I don’t think I’ve heard it anywhere else. Now I’m not a lawyer. But if anything introduced the South African public to court room procedure it was “Consider Your Verdict”. 
Who can forget the words, “I promise that the evidence I give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help me God!” Similar words were included in a number of subsequent TV court room dramas. Perhaps the most memorable was Perry Mason, popular in the UK and Canada in the 1960’s and early 70’s.

Something I did learn back then was that the witness never volunteered evidence or information. It was unthinkable. All a witness was required and permitted to do was answer questions. Very often, the questions were cleverly phrased in such a way that, very often, all that was necessary for the witness to say, was to answer with a simple “Yes” or “No”. 
This made a great impression on me. I can remember thinking that it must be something very hard to learn to do. This was reinforced by court room dramas on UK TV. All the officers of the court were dressed complete with wigs and gowns. At times it looked a bit like something out of “Monty Python”. Yet at the same time, there was very little frivolity. What it did do for me was make the point that life as a barrister (senior counsel in RSA) was not something I’d like to pursue.

After committing my life to Jesus, I found that court room procedure was loosely based on Biblical Law. For example, according to the Law of Moses, 15 "A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. 16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. 
18 The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. Deuteronomy 19:15-19 ESV. 
As a Christian, I must say I rather like the accountability placed on witnesses. The penalty for lying “in court” was most severe. Read verses 20 and 21 and see the “eye for an eye” principle.
A lesson Christians need to learn is, witness procedure. A witness only answers questions; he doesn’t volunteer information. A witness must be credible and speak truthfully. 5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. Pro 14:5 TNIV. Another important lesson is that a witness is seen before it is heard. 
It’s something like the moon or a rock pile erected to bear witness to something. 37 It will be as eternal as the moon, My faithful witness in the sky!" Interlude Psalm 89:37 NLT In Joshua we see the principle of stones bearing witness. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD.
27 "See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God." Joshua 24:26-27 TNIV
These same principles should be observed by Christians as they seek to “witness” for the Lord. Jesus commissioned each and every disciple/follower to do the following: 
19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mat 28:19 MSG and 8 What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world." Act 1:8 MSG

From the above we see that a witness only answers questions. First a witness is seen. It’s what is seen that gives credibility. Then, from a position of being credible, answer questions concerning Jesus. Don’t rush in with information before you are asked. 
That’s not being a witness. As St Francis of Assisi said to his followers, “Go into the world and spread the gospel. Then, only if you have to, speak!” That’s real Christianity!
Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
Time with Jesus – 08 Oct 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
BE A WITNESS
It’s a terrible thing to say but the fact is the Christian Church today, is apparently more or less powerless. We look at programmes on TV and notice that although there is a measure of healing taking place, the power and the presence of God appears to be lacking. I’m not accusing anyone about this. If anything I’m pointing at myself. Think about this for a moment. The Holy Trinity is the same forever. So what was done by the Living God in the past should be seen today. Sadly we see hardly any observable and documented healings that can be medically attested. Why? Don’t tell me God doesn’t do that anymore. Don’t tell me that it’s a lack of faith on our behalf. If this is the case, it means that God is tucked away in some “hidey-hole”. He won’t show Himself until our Faith level has reached some prescribed quantity! To say that implies that the power of God depends on you and me! That’s not true.
Now I know the Word says 58 And so He did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58 NLT. The question that must be asked here is what Jesus meant? There are two possible reasons. One is that He was not able to perform a miracle because of their unbelief. That can’t be true. Whether we believe or not, God’s power and ability remains the same. Nothing we do can ever change that. The second is that Jesus responds to the faith of the people. In better words, if you don’t believe, He won’t heal. This is probably nearer the facts and may well be what took place. Certainly we know that if you don’t believe, you won’t receive. It follows that this is probably the Scriptural reason. We also know that 17 Faith comes from hearing the message. And the message that is heard is the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NIrV
The fact is the vast majority of those who attend a church meeting, are already believers. So “faith” must be there. Even so, almost nothing seems to happen. People do not receive their healing. Why? Don’t tell me they do receive and lose it immediately. That’s a “cop out” and is nonsense!
I suspect that the problem is our own motives. We go to hear a message. We should go to meet Jesus. The preacher gives a message. Even so, nothing happens. Question: Have we gone to listen to a man or woman instead of going to be with Jesus? Our big name and small name evangelists and their ilk are there to promote their own ministry and – and this is usually the case – to make money or to point to Jesus? Sure it looks very professional; the speakers are eloquent and inspiring. But is the focus on Jesus or on us?
One of my “favourite” saints of yesterday – yes he was a Roman Catholic – St Francis of Assisi would commission his followers with words to the following effect. “I want you to go into all the world and spread the Gospel. Then, only if people ask you, speak”. Speaking should follow seeing. What people say should be seen to be their life in action. This was Jesus’ model. The voice of Jesus created all that we will ever see. “Light be” and it was so! But Jesus knew people. He knew they would not listen, even to Him, unless they knew His lifestyle corresponded with His words. How should we respond to this message? Easy. Next time we meet; let’s not focus on what any person says. Let’s focus on Jesus entirely. If we have to sit in absolute silence worshipping and praising Jesus, that’s fine. Let’s get the focus on Jesus and not man!
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland

For the choir director: A psalm of David. 1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
Psalms 40:1-2 NLT

What do we do with “hate-speech” in two thousand and thirteen?
Does it mean our witness, is heard and seldom seen?
There’s great misunderstanding about this very thing.
We have not been muzzled. Our praises to our King,
Are still just as important as they have ever been;
And Jesus told us clearly, our witness must be seen!
A witness answers questions. He doesn’t volunteer,
To give his information to everyone who’s near.
Try that in the courtroom. They’ll tell you to be quiet.
If you want to go to jail, just carry on and try it.
Don’t give your opinions. We’re looking for the facts.
Courtrooms aren’t the proper place for distributing tracts.
Listen to the lawyer. Do not rabbit on.
Give an answer truthfully. You’re not number one!
We are living in a world which truly is a court.
Don’t fall into error. You must not resort,
To blabbing and to chatting about the Lord Most High.
You must be a witness men look at with their eyes.
They can spot a liar and recognise a fake.
Every little word you say could show them you’re a flake.
Go and preach the Gospel That was the Lord’s command.
Do it with a lifestyle which men can understand.
Everyone is looking and if the things you say,
Contradict your actions in just a tiny way,
They’ll call you a hypocrite and what they say is true.
But, if they first see it, they’ll listen unto you.
Back in the Old Testament a witness was a stone
Set up by the people so everyone was shown,
What was commemorated. A rock says not a word.
But every time men looked at it, its message could be heard.
If it had started speaking, the folk would run away.
They’d think perhaps a demon was visiting that day!
Christians must remember that credibility,
Is not what people listen to, but that which people see!
The people in the Bible first saw what Jesus did.
Heal the sick and raise the dead. His witness wasn’t hid!
They could see it plainly. That’s how He got their ear.
If He had only spoken, the folk would not draw near!
He told each of His followers. His words were “follow Me”!
And that is still the only thing a Christian should be.
Walking in His footsteps and speaking not a thing.
We won’t find the Living God by idle chattering.
But when people see it, their hearts will open wide.
And they’ll know the living God is down on your inside.
Jim Strickland
Written 8th Oct 2012

4 They all drank the same supernatural water. They drank from the supernatural rock that went with them. That rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:4 NIrV


16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Matthew 16:16-18 NLT


12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:12 ESV


22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
Hebrews 10:22-23 NASB


6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6 ESV


35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39 ESV