ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME

Time with Jesus - Friday, 15 June 2012

Hi all,

Today we take a look at meanings. What did Jesus mean when He said, ²³ At that time you won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. John 16:23 NLT This is today’s meditation.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 15 June 2012			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	ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME
I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that Jesus found me in 1960. I didn’t find Him. I was the one who was lost. He knew exactly where I was and He found me. What it does mean, is that I’ve been in and around Christianity for just about 52 years. That does not necessarily mean that I’ve got 52 years of experience. There is a subtle difference between repetition and experience. For example, a teacher may have taught grade 4 for forty years. She may have 40 years teaching experience. It is also possible that she has one year’s experience repeated forty times. The same is true in Christianity. Many have not progressed any further than Grade one. They may have gone round and round in circles like the Israelites in the wilderness and learned virtually nothing. Of course our lecture and pew system does almost nothing to get men and women busy serving the Lord. How can they? It’s easier to be entertained than active. One thing I have observed over the past 50 years is that generally speaking, prayer seldom seems to assist. This is not intended as a criticism. It appears to be one of the facts of Christianity. Statistically only 3% of prayers for healing are answered. Incidentally, I’m not excluding my own prayers in this. Why is this? I don’t have a complete answer. But it seems that many Christians approach God rather like a slot machine. You know what I mean. We pray to the Father in Jesus Name. Then nothing happens. This is incongruent with Jesus’ words in John 16. Now we all know that God is timeless. What Jesus said to the 11 disciples back there at the gates of the temple, is as applicable now as it was when Jesus spoke them. So, what’s the problem? Why doesn’t it work out like that? I can’t accept that the problem lies with God. It lies with us. Thirty years ago I was taught that the difficulty was lack of faith on our behalf. We needed to develop our “faith” muscle rather like a body-builder develops his muscles. At first I accepted that. But on reflection it would mean that healing depends on you and me rather than on the grace of God. I’m not denying the need for us to have faith in God. But to say that it depends on our attaining the right amount to trigger the grace of God! That’s nonsense. I’d like to suggest that in Christianity over the past 30 years, the emphasis has moved away from God to an emphasis on you and me. Praying to the Father in Jesus’ Name has become a religious “mantra” Something to “tack on” at the end of our prayer in an effort to get the Lord to give us what we have asked for. This attitude will have as much effect on the Lord as the Tibetan prayer wheels which get blown round in the wind. The “results” over the past few years confirms this. Occasionally the “slot machine” spits out a bonanza. God help us get back to genuine Christianity; putting Jesus and not ourselves, first in everything. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. Romans 8:27 NLT 23 At that time you won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. 24 You haven't done this before. Ask, using My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. John 16:23-24 NLT 18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18 ESV 14 There is one thing we can be sure of when we come to God in prayer. If we ask anything in keeping with what he wants, he hears us. 15 If we know that God hears what we ask for, we know that we have it. 1 John 5:14-15 NIrV 3 God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 ESV 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus. 19 Don't put out the Holy Spirit's fire. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 NIrV	There’s something that is missing when we ask in Jesus Name. The Trinity is constant, eternally the same. So praying to the Father and asking Him for “things”, Doesn’t mean a motor car, nor yet a pair of wings. We know that prayer is needed; along with faith I’m told. And that we should be confident, or even very bold. So why is it the answer, is very seldom seen? There must be something missing; or what did Jesus mean? The passage speaks of questions. They didn’t understand, That He would soon be absent. The Leader of their band, Was going to the Father, for just a little while. Then He would come back to them and bring them back their smile. So they were asking questions and saying “Please explain” What’s this about Your going, then coming back again? He said they would be mourning and the world be full of glee. The world would think it’s finished and they’d seen the last of Me. But for the Lord’s disciples, that grief would turn around. They would be rejoicing at precisely what they found. They could ask the Father and go to Him direct. If they asked in Jesus name, they’d not be incorrect He also indicated, that the Spirit from on High, He’d send as His “replacement”. And that they could rely, On what the Spirit stated; the truth is what He’d bring. And this describes the context of “Ask for anything!” The problem with our thinking in two thousand and twelve, Is that we think it’s anything to squander on ourselves. I can’t see a connection with a mansion by the sea, And what the Lord was meaning going to Gethsemane. We think that it is baubles and a pocket full of gold. Of aeroplanes and bank account and dreams of wealth untold. That wasn’t Jesus’ thinking as they reached the temple gates, And helps our understanding of what the Bible states. The Spirit will not help us, to satisfy our lusts. Nor will He comply with, the list of all our “musts”. To use the Name of Jesus as an “Open sesame”, Is bordering on witchcraft, not Christianity. So let us ask for wisdom; the Father will comply. And then the things we ask for, won’t be a stream run dry. Jim Strickland  Written 15th June 2012

Mary and Martha

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 14 June 2012

Hi all,

The story of Mary, Martha and Jesus is featured today. I’ve tried to make it relevant for the 21^st century including the pressure placed on working men and women in South Africa.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 14 June 2012			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	Mary and Martha
In January 1974, I returned to South Africa with my family. Altogether I’d been out of the country for fourteen years. Getting into RSA in those days was rather complicated. The application forms were horrendous. Apartheid was in full swing and the authorities wanted to make absolutely sure that I wasn’t bringing undesirable elements here. Of course, in those days, anything Non-European was undesirable. South Africa had left the Commonwealth and many of the laws were draconian. They wanted to know everything about everything. Presumably all this was examined by the security people. It took about six months to process. Then we got the green light to travel from Heathrow to Jan Smuts airport, as it was called in those days. The plane landed at Nairobi and most of the passengers were allowed to stretch their legs in the transit lounge. Those who had South African passports were not allowed to get off the aeroplane. So my first view of Africa at ground level was of Kenya, through the aeroplane windows. The South Africa I had left and the one I returned to was different. Although apartheid was well and truly entrenched, the flavour of society, as a whole, appeared more prosperous than in the 1950’s. The Rand was very strong. The exchange rate was R1.8 to the £. Twenty years later it was nearer R10 to the £. The pace of things was much slower than it is today. I was taken on by what was called the Electricity Supply Commission; abbreviated ESC. The comment was that it represented Easy, Slow and Comfortable. Certainly the pace was much slower than today. My working hours, were from 08h00 to 17h00. There was no question of working after hours, unless it was for a specific task. This meant that there was time in the evenings for family life. This changed rapidly as sanctions began to bite into the life of working men and women. By the middle of the 1980’s, a twelve hour working day had become normal. Today people are under such pressure, that there is hardly any time for family life. I’m reminded of a “hit song” of the 1950’s called “16 Tons”. Each verse included the phrase, “I owe my soul to the company store”. It seems as though there is no longer any choice. When Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Mary had time to sit down and listen to Jesus as He taught the people. Today all three have become so busy working for the “Company Store” that there is no time to spare. I suppose if Jesus visited any South African home today, He would be hard pressed to find anyone there at all. He may well rebuke us for not finding time for Him or His ecclesia. But if we don’t work the sort of hours industry demands today, we will be dismissed and the job given to someone willing to put up with the hours and conditions. In South Africa with unemployment being a major problem, few people are willing to take the risk of being put out of work. There are also many deeply committed Christians in our country. People who want to have a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In view of this we need to revisit our concept of what we see as “Church”. We have to make time to sit at His feet in a way that is meaningful. The early church managed it at a time when the great majority of the Christians were impoverished slaves. We haven’t quite got there yet. But we all need to take a close look at our priorities and find a way whereby every aspect of life can reflect the greatness of Jesus. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			41 The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. 42 There's only one thing you need. Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42 GW 24 "Think about the ravens. They don't plant or gather crops. They don't have any storerooms at all. But God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds! Luke 12:24 NIrV 27 "Think about how the lilies grow. They don't work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in all of his glory was dressed like one of those flowers. Luke 12:27 NIrV 29 "Don't spend time thinking about what you will eat or drink. Don't worry about it. 30 People who are ungodly run after all of those things. Your Father knows that you need them. Luke 12:29-30 NIrV 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:8-10 NLT 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. Mark 4:19 NLT 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 NLT	Tom, Dick and Harry, Felicity and Joan. “We are always tired”, is their collective moan. “They seem to be so busy; they’re running round all day. They never seem to have the time, to meditate or pray. “I’ll do it when I’m finished. There’s still so much to do. It would be very helpful to share the work with you. I’ve got to spread the table and position all the knives. The guests are so important. Perhaps they’ll bring their wives? These curtains must be taken down, then quickly washed and dried. I hear they like potatoes; whole or mashed or fried? I’d better telephone them. But what about the tea? The water’s nearly boiling. Please see to it for me. The towels in the bathroom; the sheets upon the bed; The paper for the toilet; They have to be well fed; The napkins for the table; This cloth is getting old; What about the cutlery? The silver or the gold? What about the seating? There could be ten or more. Should I put the coat rack, right next to the front door? What if it is raining and everything gets wet? What about the airport? My brother may forget. It may be he is rather late. Perhaps a traffic jam?” My daughter, pause and listen, your every need, I AM! Does it really matter if it’s wet or if it’s dry? If there is an error, you do not have to cry. Look at your priorities. I think you’ve got them wrong. If you run around like this, you’ll hasten death along. Change your way of thinking. Look at the birds that fly. You know My Father feeds them; on that they all rely. Now think about the lilies that grow out in the field. They’re better dressed than anything a “fashion mag” might yield. And as for food and clothing. There’s always been enough. I challenge you to look around and call the devil’s bluff. You don’t need pots of money. Man’s wealth can be a snare. I want you free from worry. Don’t think I do not care! Don’t let your frantic actions kill you while you’re young. There’s so much more in front of you; So much still to be done. Slacken off a little and strip off every weight. The witnesses are watching. Walk with me through your gate. Jim Strickland – Written 14th June 2012.

SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Hi all,

Jesus was The Son of God and the Son of Man. Jesus mostly used the title Son of Man. John’s Gospel makes it clear He said He was Son of God. ³⁵ Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? ³⁶ He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? ³⁷ And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. ³⁸ And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. John 9:35-38 KJV

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 13 June 2012			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	SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN
“Who’s who in the zoo?” I think we are all familiar with the tale about the self-opinionated man who rushed to the front of the queue and demanded immediate service. When the receptionist tried to proceed with her duty in spite of this irritating man, he interrupted her. “Do you know who I am?” he thundered at her. Without batting an eye she picked up the public address system microphone; at maximum volume said?” Is there any one here who has lost a passenger? There’s a man here who doesn’t know who he is. Then she politely continued with her work. What a “put down” Well deserved, with just a tinge of reproof. This raises the question, “what do you do as a Christian when confronted with such behaviour. Some would like to deal with the man with a sawn off shot gun. They have my sympathy. Others would go into “poor me” behaviour. They would allow themselves to be intimidated and go along with the bully. They think it is Christian to allow others to beat them up. That isn’t true either. A Christian should never be a bully or a wimp. Jesus was neither. He responded to everyone with love. At the same time, He was not afraid to call a spade a spade. He said to the Scribes and Pharisees, 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Matthew 23:33 ESV Obviously Jesus had not read, “How to Make Friends and Influence People” On the other hand His dealing with the woman taken in adultery recorded in John Chapter 8 shows that He was kind and loving, even to sinners! His dealings with the man born blind, reveals more about intolerance and religious attitudes. It is suggested that the blind man had nothing in his eye sockets. Of course this cannot be verified. But Jesus’ actions speak of a creative miracle similar to the creation of Adam. The sightless man stood in front of Him. Then Jesus, mixing the very breath of God along with spittle for water, formed eyes for the man out of mud. He then placed the Mud/eyes into the man’s eye sockets and positioned them correctly. The Mud would dry very quickly in that climate. Then came the one act of obedience required to complete the miracle. “Go and wash in the pool of Siloam”. The man did. How he got there we do not know. What he said about his mud filled eye sockets is not stated. What we do know is that when he washed, immediately he could see. Read the story without religious blinkers. It reads a bit like the first act of creation. “Light be!” said the Lord and it was so. “Eyes see!” is the unstated instruction based on the man’s faith in what Jesus said. How did the man feel at that moment? It would be pure guesswork on my part. What is it we see when first we see? The feelings stated by the man are probably “Once I was Blind and now I see”. That says it all! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			35 When Jesus heard what had happened, He found the man and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man? " 36 The man answered, "Who is He, sir? I want to believe in Him." John 9:35-36 NLT 3 The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. Hebrews 1:3 NLT 15 For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. 16 He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honour and power to him forever! Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15-16 NLT 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. "I am the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come--the Almighty One." Revelation 1:8 NLT 38 "Yes, Lord, I believe!" the man said. And he worshiped Jesus. John 9:38 NLT 12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return. 2 Timothy 1:12 NLT 6 As the Scriptures say, "I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honour, and anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced." 7 Yes, you who trust Him recognize the honour God has given Him. But for those who reject Him, "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone." 1 Peter 2:6-7 NLT	The Son of Man; The Son of God, were actually the same. And this was so much more than just some silly little game. The name comes from Ezekiel; God called him “Son of Man” And Jesus Christ adopted it. Part of His greater plan. All through the generations it didn’t give offence. So Jesus used it as His name. It made a lot of sense. If Jesus had revealed Himself, before the time was right, It seems fairly conclusive. He’d end up in a fight. So all throughout the Gospels, the “Son of Man” was used. It made all His opponents, a little bit confused. But there is one occasion, He made it very plain. The man who was born blind, had told the Pharisees in vain; That somebody had healed him. He couldn’t tell them Who. He’d smeared some mud upon my eyes and told me what to do. “Go off to Siloam and wash the mud away”. And after he had done it, he could see as plain as day! The Pharisees were furious. They liked it not one bit. “Who could work such miracles with only clay and spit?” He answered to the Pharisees, who’d asked, “Who’d done the deed?” He couldn’t give an answer which satisfied their creed. It’s only when they threw him out, he came across the man, Who’d given him his eyesight and the miracle began. “The Son of God has healed you.” Is what the Master said. “Who is He Sir?” the “blind man asked, “To whom must I be led?” That’s when Jesus stated, The Son of God is Me. I performed a miracle. That’s why you now can see! The “blind man” bowed in worship. He didn’t tell Him nay! Jesus told it plainly, upon that very day. For He is Supernatural. In fact He is the Lord. Worthy to be worshipped, .exalted and adored. Here is the example to which we all can look. Spelled out very clearly in Father’s Holy Book. You don’t have to believe it. You’re well within your rights, To say it is impossible within your mortal sight. Please don’t think I’m threatening. I haven’t got a gun. It isn’t me Who’ll come and ask, “Why ever not My son?” You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone like me. But when it comes from Jesus Christ, what will your answer be? Jim Strickland  Written 13th June 2012