Time with Jesus
16
Nov 2013
What the man needed, was a passport; a document which
identifies you and clearly states that you belong to a certain country. Something
which opens with the words, In the name of …………….. thereby identifying the
issuing authority. Then the individual was identified and given authority to
travel.
At one time, it said something about “In the name of her Britannic
Majesty”. The South African passport was issued “in the name of the President”.
It all sound very grandiose. Whether or not it’s absolutely necessary, is a
different matter. Why there can’t be a standardised International Document, is
something of a mystery. You would think that in this computerised age, it would
be possible to have everything on one card; the same size as a credit card.
i.e. Passport, ID No, Driving License, address etc. There is enough “room” on one
those electronic “chips”, even to identify the names of the fleas on granny’s
dog! The problem with this, for many Christians, would be the possibility that
it would be part of a one world government and the associated dreaded “Mark of
the Beast”.
You and I have probably only got ordinary passports. Diplomats represent their home country in the place
where they are living. Here in South Africa we have men and women representing
their homeland. The American Embassy in Pretoria employs some local staff. But
the ambassador is a recognised diplomat from USA. He has a USA Diplomatic
Passport. It’s a special passport which I’ve never seen.
Ambassadors live in the host country
in an embassy. However, their home is regarded as belonging to the country they
represent. Accordingly, the USA Embassy is considered to be part of USA.
Theoretically, the host nation has no authority within the grounds of the embassy.
However, if the US Ambassador allows outsiders to enter, there can be problems
with the authority devolving upon the Ambassador and his home country.
It so happens you and I are
God’s representatives – ambassadors - from the Kingdom of Heaven. We also have
diplomatic passports. You may not have seen them, but the smile on the face of
every born again believer displays our passport to the world. Our passport is
signed by Jesus Christ. The stamp in the passport is “Grace”. Citizenship was
granted by our being “washed in the Blood of the Ram”.
Satan and his forces have no
authority within our own homes. Excluding him and his cohorts is our
responsibility. If you allow him to come in and rip your home to pieces, you
have only yourself to blame. Your ambassadorship and diplomatic passport makes
it clear he may not wander in and settle down in your embassy.
The problem arises
when he comes in and we don’t have him ejected. You don’t have to dial 999 (UK)
or 911 (USA) to get the police to throw him out. Frankly, you don’t need them.
Your passport entitles you to make use of the authority Jesus Christ has given
to you. You don’t have to be polite when dealing with Satan and his bunch. A
word of command is sufficient to get them all running for cover. Command them
to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. At first they may take no notice of you.
Don’t let this fool you. Repeat the command and insist they leave. Sooner or
later they will vacate your home. Of course, this will only happen if the
command is made in Jesus Name.
In 1974, at Kriel Power Station during the construction
phase, I recall a visit from the Government Inspector of Factories. He was a
charming and very approachable man. But he was also very insistent concerning
his rights and authority. Back then, the Site Construction Manager was Mr Ron
Harris. Ron had been with Eskom (in those days called the “Electricity Supply
Commission” - ESC) for many years. He had a standing instruction to his staff, if
a representative from the Inspector of Factories arrived; he was to be given
every possible assistance.
One day the Inspector arrived unannounced (he was
entitled to do so) and stated he wanted to visit the first boiler that was at
that time being erected. I had the pleasant duty of accompanying him on his
inspection tour to make sure everything was acceptable. While looking round the
site, he noticed that there was a goods lift which was being used by the boiler
contractor’s staff. Suddenly he changed from being amiable and cooperative into
what is best described as a ferocious lion. He instructed me to take him to the
boiler contractor’s offices and to have the boiler contractor’s site manager (not
Ron Harris) drop everything and attend to him immediately.
Let’s not go into
the details of what he said. Sufficient to say he stated he was visiting site
on behalf of the President. “Stop this and get it put right immediately” he
roared at the unfortunate man. 30 min. later we returned to the lift. There
were no more passengers!
We have the same authority in Jesus Name over Satan and
his bunch. Let’s start dealing with him the way the Inspector dealt with the
contractor’s manager.
Shalom
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – 16 Nov 2013
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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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PASSPORT
TO PARADISE
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Have you ever been disappointed? Perhaps you were turned down for
going to a particular place for a reason you don’t really understand? Perhaps
the man you fell hopelessly in love with, walked off with someone else?
Perhaps that beautiful young lady you admired from afar took one look at you
and said, “No thanks!” Perhaps you had a driving ambition to go to university
and become a doctor. Then, at the end you found your marks at school didn’t
get you the place you wanted.
One of the greatest tragedies I have come across happened to my Dad’s
half-sister. In the early days of World War 2 she met a wonderful young soldier.
They married and he had 14 days embarkation leave. Then he was shipped off to
somewhere to fight in the army. He never came back. She received a telegram
from the home office advising her that her husband had been killed in action.
She would never see him again. I don’t know how she coped with this terrible
disappointment. I know that she never married again. She lived into her 90’s.
How do we cope with things of this sort? What do we do when something
we have prised so highly doesn’t happen? Hebrews
11:13 in today’s Scripture refers to the patriarchs, their wives and
children. They had been told by God that the land they were living, in would
one day be theirs. In some ways, the promise of this portion of land, was
their inspiration for carrying on trusting in God and having faith in His
promises. They only saw it in their mind’s eye. But this enabled them to
rejoice in what The Lord had said He would do.
Hebrews 11 is often called the “Faith Chapter” because it lists the
men and women of faith who achieved great things as a result of their faith
in Him. The list is not exhaustive but highlights some of what they achieved
because of their faith in God. The chapter ends with an extraordinary
statement. 39 All these people were known
for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. 40
God planned to give us something very special so that
we would gain eternal life with them. Heb.
11:39-40 GW If we look at these verses, we are drawn to the conclusion,
all these great men and women of faith, are still waiting to receive what God
had promised them. But there is a delay. The delay comes about, because God
has decided, all of us will be rewarded together. Yes indeed, we do derive
much courage from the example of those who have gone before us. But these
same men and women are watching and waiting. Watching us to see our struggle.
Waiting for the time when all of us are together. Only then will The Lord
hand out the prizes. They are waiting for us! The Lord has collected their diplomatic
passports. They are returned to Him, when we die. I feel greatly humbled to
think that the likes of Isaiah is waiting for and watching me.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but
you are fellow citizens with the saints
and members of the household of God,
Ephesians
2:19 ESV
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We went to visit Europe in two
thousand and ten,
It was a special visit. On the
occasion when,
The passion play was featured in
Oberammergau.
We knew we had to see it. Back then,
the time was now!
It only really happens in ten year
interludes,
And when you’re in your sixties, you
know it must be viewed,
As soon as it is possible. Who knows,
in ten years’ time,
We may have left this planet, to live
with Christ Divine?
The first thing that we needed, when
tickets had been booked,
Was getting the right passport. We
hadn’t overlooked,
These documents to get us into France
and Germany.
There had to be credentials for
Phyllida and me!
It wasn’t very difficult, for both of
us are Brits.
A European document, was what exactly
fits
In with what then was needed. And soon
were be away,
To pay a special visit to that Special
Passion Play.
It truly was magnificent. We came away
impressed,
With what we had seen featured. We
knew we had been blessed,
With something deeply moving, to
captivate the heart.
By going off to Europe, we’d both done
something smart!
Our passports made it easy. They
satisfied the guards.
It proved we were not strangers for
marked upon our cards,
Was something which identified and
proved we had the right,
To go into those countries on any day
or night.
We have another passport that anyone
can see,
A means of signifying our
Christianity.
It is the blood of Jesus that washed
us white as snow,
And anyone can see it, no matter where
we go.
My wife and I are bond-slaves. By
Jesus we are owned.
He gave His life for both of us. His
precious blood atoned,
For all the sin and evil, that both of
us had been.
He is the King of Glory and we are
both His queen.
He took our mortal bodies. He gave us
His passport.
To enter into heaven, without our
being caught,
And told we have no business, to come
into His place.
Engraved into our “passports” is
written the word “Grace”!
And that is all that’s needed. That
mark in Jesus’ name,
Says “Welcome to My Kingdom. I am so
glad you came!”
Jim Strickland
Written
16th November 2012
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22 But you have come to
Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to
innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in
heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous
made perfect,
Hebrews
12:22-23 ESV
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13 All these people died
having faith. They didn't receive the things that God had promised them, but
they saw these things coming in the distant future and rejoiced. They
acknowledged that they were living as strangers with no permanent home on
earth.
Hebrews
11:13 GW
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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
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13 For He has rescued us
from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear
Son,
Colossians
1:13 NLT
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11 Dear friends, I warn
you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly
desires that wage war against your very souls.
1 Peter
2:11 NLT
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