SUFFERING - WHAT IT DOES

“Suffering is good for us”. Those are the words we find. I also know we sometimes need a kick on the behind. For people often lay about, preferring not to move. How else can Jesus motivate to get us out the groove? We didn’t pay attention and ignored His just decrees. He wanted our attention to see the way He sees. And suffering is perfect; for nobody likes pain. And that is why He uses it; to start us up again. He learned this from His Father and He was qualified; Because of all the suffering, He knew before He died; He had to be perfected, to be our Great High Priest. He went through awful agony, before He was deceased. That’s how He was qualified. His body was a wreck. A High Priest known just once before; The King Melchizedek. It seems that there’s a pattern that we all need to know. The “higher” you’re “promoted” the more the pain will grow. That seems to be the principle of how we’re glorified. The more you’re elevated the more you will be tried. To be a Christian leader, we need to understand, The suff’ring will be greater, than what our thoughts had planned. But we are not alone in this; creation also groans. Waiting for the sons of God, to all be truly known. It started of with Adam. So when he sinned and fell. The whole of God’s creation went down with Him as well. There’s only one solution. To humbly submit; And always be obedient and consequently fit, In with the way the Master has laid in front of you. There isn’t an alternative for what you have to do. And if you are uncertain, think back in history. The things that you have suffered and how it used to be. He humbled you with hunger; and then He gave you bread. The manna fell from heaven and that’s how you were fed. For forty years of wandering, in that dry wilderness, Your clothes and shoes did not wear out. He came to you to bless, You so your feet were blister-free and not once did they swell. Although you were all wand’ring in a desert “hot as hell”. The Lord observed your suffering and treated you like sons. He put you through His discipline that no one thought was fun. But when you entered Canaan, it all came to an end. The trial was then over and it was time to send, You in to take possession of the land He said He’d give. To drive out all the occupants; so none of them would live. So when you go through suffering rejoice; you are His child. And He has one intention. A people undefiled. Jim Strickland – Written 5th December 2011

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PRAYER

We’ve learned the ten commandments; we know them off by heart. Perhaps we cannot quote them, but they are such a part, Of Jewish-Christian culture, they’re part of how we live. It’s only to the tenth one, that most of us must give, A little more attention. We covet with our eyes, The wife of someone’s neighbour, or yearn for other guys. Of course it’s our sin nature and how we are inclined. But when we get right down to it, that’s what we always find. There’s only one solution; to come to God in prayer. To ask Him for His mercy and for His loving care. But never take for granted, that He will set you free. Your attitude must be correct, or you will find He’ll be, Deaf to your petitions. He knows you inside out. You get away with nothing; of this there is no doubt! But if you have repented and asked in humble prayer, You’ll find His ears wide open and always listening there. He has a reputation for mending broken souls. His perfect understanding, God’s Holy Word extols! So go in true sincerity and fall upon your face. Tell Him all your troubles and ask Him for His grace. You won’t be disappointed. He will not let you down. Give Him your anxieties and cast away your frown. He knows before you ask Him, exactly what you need. Let His peace flow over you; and let your spirit feed, On all of His abundance. Make Him your sure delight! Your heart’s desire He’ll grant you; Your prospects will be bright. Commit your every action, to Him and He will show; The thing you should be doing, so that in Him you’ll grow. Spend each moment with Him, whenever there’s a chance. Be a willing partner in His Divine romance! This way you will develop a true relationship, With Father, Son and Spirit, you never will let slip. And as you walk together, your righteousness will shine. You’ll be a true reflection, of Jesus Christ Divine! You’ll intercede for others and He’ll incline His ear. And He will give an answer that’s exceptionally clear. You’ll find there is power, because you know Him well; And rescue many people on their journey toward Hell. Jim Strickland – Written 3rd December 2011

THE SPIRIT IN ACTION

Anointed with the Spirit. That’s how He went about. It happened when He was baptised; from then there was no doubt. A voice was heard from heaven, “He’s My beloved Son; I’m pleased with Him” The voice declared. His ministry begun! Then, standing in the river, the Holy Ghost came down. Resembling some heavenly dove, it lighted on His crown. We’re not sure what had happened; but from that very time, As Jesus walked upon the earth, some thought He was Divine. And that is very typical of how His Spirit acts. He seemed to know instinctively just what comprised the facts. From then on, Jesus understood exactly what to do. The Holy Spirit prompted Him and kept Him safe and true. The Spirit in His fullness, was resting on the Lord; And showed Him what He had to do; The Spirit had been poured, Upon Him from that moment; like an anointing oil, And covered Him from head to foot, equipping Him to foil, The devil and his purposes; He knew what lay ahead. A contest with the devil and He would end up dead! Then, miracle of miracles, before He had ascended, He told his special followers just what He had intended. And on the Day of Pentecost; exactly as He said, The tongues of Holy Spirit fire descended on each head. The Spirit brought them power, to minister His Word. It started in Jerusalem and many people heard, The sound of men and women, all speaking in strange tongues; As though some new dimension, was deep down in their lungs. Then much like the Lord Jesus and always in His name, The Spirit moved among them and they could do the same, As what the Lord had taught them. But everyone declared, His Spirit worked the miracles, His power unimpaired! Like Him they’d been anointed, to do the things He’d done. There was a major difference; They said, God’s Holy Son, Had caused each sign to happen. They just laid hands and prayed, And in the Name of Jesus Christ each circumstance obeyed. The Spirit was their helper; He is the paraclete. And He empowered everyone, demonic powers to beat. And right down to this very day, we know things are the same. True Christians are empowered, to act in Jesus’ name. And even in our weakness, the Spirit does today, The self same things that Jesus did, before He went away. So we have gone full circle; and in His name can do; The very things that Jesus did through folk like me and you. Jim Strickland – Written 2nd December 2011

WHY A MAN?

There has to be a reason why the Lord became a man. There had to be a purpose; one that’s better than, To merely come and demonstrate that He is in control. What was the objective? Not just to take a stroll! Of course He is Almighty; so none could tell Him “Nay!” Nobody could say to Him, “What doest Thou today?” But why a human being? Why not become a dog? A turtle or a camel; an insect or a frog? We know that this is silly. And God is not a fool. But we must find an answer, not told in Sunday School. Another little question. Why was He born a man? Were women too inferior, to fit into God’s plan? The reason’s fairly obvious. It’s all in the blood line. He had to be the offspring, of Someone Who’s Divine. It couldn’t be a woman; the gender must be male. And if this didn’t happen, the plan would surely fail. Adam was responsible, for bowing down to sin. And by his disobedience, he let the devil in. Which meant a human being, must kick the devil out. A man would have to do it; of that there is no doubt. But there’s a little problem, of man’s representation. It had to be person, who included every nation. One who was equated, to all the human race. And only God could ever stand in all of mankind’s place. Jesus as a human, was one person on His own! But since He is Divinity, He doesn’t stand alone! He takes the place of everyone who’s ever lived on earth. So when He conquered Satan, His victory was worth, Far more than just one person. We live because He died. He paid the price for all of us and Satan is denied. He cannot keep us captive. For we have been released. And now it’s Satan’s power that truly is deceased. That’s why He had to do it. He had to be a man. There is no other creature could fit into the plan. A donkey or an elephant, a vulture or a moose. In terms of our salvation, were not of any use. It had to be a human. It had to be a male. Any other creature was surely bound to fail. And so He walked among us and Satan’s reign was through, Because of what the Saviour did, for folk like me and you. And no one else could do it, for Jesus is unique; Divine while He was human! With Satan up the creek! Jim Strickland – Written 1st December 2011

THE PRINCE OF PEACE

What do we mean when saying He is the Prince of Peace? Is He the one who’s destined to cause all wars to cease? I’m certain He will do that. But how it will be done? It seems that many people won’t think of it as fun. The famous “Pax Romana” kept may wars at bay.      There wasn’t much alternative, the Romans had a way, Of keeping people quiet, by using deadly force.

Those who raised objections would soon be dead – of course. So people were in terror of getting Rome upset. And those who dared to do it, would never quite forget, The way that they were dealt with. That’s if they were not slain. So there was great encouragement to never once complain. That wasn’t Christ’s intentions. True love does not use force. He never wants to throw us out, or give us a divorce. He has a plan for all of us, a plan that is sublime. A way of life that never leads us to a life of crime. He takes the situation. Whatever it may be; And in that very circumstance He tells us, “Come to Me! Lay aside your problems. In Me you are secure. You know I will be with you, whatever you endure! Perhaps you’re in the fire; in the middle of the flames. My presence will go with you to fulfil all My claims. No matter what they do to you, they cannot touch your soul. You may experience suffering, but I AM in control. Perhaps you have to die for Me. But what is that to you? I’ve given you a promise; My promises are true. For you will be rewarded, beyond what you can think. You’ll soon be at my table; and I’ll cause you to drink, Until you are more satisfied than you will ever know. So if they want to kill you, relax and just let go! They don’t know what they’re doing. There’s only you and I, Can understand the purpose; the who; the where; the why. So let My peace enfold you; You are condemned to win! No matter what might happen you’re pure and cleansed within. Perhaps you’ll be a martyr; but I have died for you. Surrender unto Me your life; and see what I will do! You’ll be a mighty conqueror. Your peace will be complete; And through your act of dying, you’ll witness sin’s defeat.” Jim Strickland – Written 30th November 2011