JOYFUL IN GOD

Time with Jesus - Friday, 20 July 2012

Hi all,

The meditation today is about joy. Joy is not happiness and happiness is not joy. You can be filled with joy, the Joy of the Lord, when you are extremely unhappy.  The author of Hebrews puts it like this: ² Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the author of faith. He also makes it perfect. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 NIrV Now that’s joy!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 20 July 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	JOYFUL IN GOD
The derivation of words can be fascinating. The word translated “joy” in Gal 5:22 and rejoice in Phil 3:1 come from the same root. In other words joy and rejoice mean about the same thing! It’s important! When I first came into Christianity, I was full of the joy of the Lord. There were a number of other young men and women who had been touched the same way. It sounds a bit cock-eyed, but when we sang Wesley’s Great hymn, “And can it be that I might gain and interest in my Saviour’s blood?” I used to cry like a baby! God’s Spirit had so touched me I would weep tears of joy. It seemed the right thing to do. What disappointed me at the time was the fact that so many of the older people could sing it. But it was without any display of enthusiasm at all. At the time I felt that this was “normal” for older people. There was a problem in those days. People would not discuss religion or politics in public. It seemed to be an unwritten law of the “church” that people would not wax lyrical about Christianity. I’m reminded of a story from those days. A rather excitable Pentecostal visited a Cathedral while on holiday. Naturally, he got a bit excited during the service and kept on interjecting, “Praise the Lord” or “Amen, Hallelujah” Eventually one of the church elders tiptoed up to him and whispered in his ear, “We don’t praise the Lord here”. It would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic. No doubt the church elder and others in the congregation were disturbed by what they thought were the man’s emotional outbursts. Nevertheless, we see that the usual “atmosphere” in the church was one of strictly controlled emotion. Certainly that’s what I saw in the 1960’s. The comment was that the people looked as though they had been baptized in lemon juice! How the church of Jesus Christ has changed. There was a time when men and women were “thrilled” to have been whipped or beaten for believing in the Saviour. I’ve often wondered why it was like it in those dim and distant days. The question is not easy to answer. In every outpouring of the Holy Spirit that I’m aware of, the result was to touch the people in their emotions. People wept, shouted, cried and fell over unconscious as a result of what took place in their lives. There are even stories of people laughing hysterically under the influence of the Spirit of God. Why? I suspect it has much to do with the way they suppress themselves. Then, when they are touched by the Lord, the chains of their suppression are snapped. Then they start doing things they would have liked to do, but wouldn’t. Now they were free. Joy at their release would bubble up and overflow in a delightful expression of their love for the One who liberated them. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			15 All the days of those who are crushed are filled with pain and suffering. But a cheerful heart enjoys a good time that never ends. Proverbs 15:15 NIrV 10 He continued, "Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy of GOD (The Lord) is your strength!" Nehemiah 8:10 MSG 17 The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Romans 14:17 TNIV 18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-20 NLT 15 So let us never stop offering to God our praise through Jesus. Let us offer it as the fruit of lips that say they believe in him. Hebrews 13:15 NIrV 17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT 10 We are sad, but we are always full of joy. We are poor, but we make many people rich. We have nothing, but we own everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10 NIrV 3 That's not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. Romans 5:3 NIrV	God is not a spoilsport, He likes us having fun. It all depends on what it is He sees and what we’ve done. It is our definition of all the things we do. We may think it is funny! But what is it to You? If we abuse our parents, so we can have a laugh, The Lord will blow us all away like little bits of chaff. We may think stealing’s funny; but God is not amused; And entry into heaven, for you will be refused. There’s lying and there’s cheating and other funny jokes; And sexual offences with other gals or blokes. There’s cheating on your husband and there is also pawn. The only things these do to God are aggravate His scorn! God has a word for all of this. He says it’s blatant sin. And when we dabble into these, you’ll never see Him grin. In fact the Bible tells us, in words so very clear, That if we carry on with them, He never will draw near. We will not enter the reward the Lord Himself has planned; And end up in a dungeon, in darkest demon-land. The Lord is not a prostitute. He’s made it clear as day. That He is not a bit like that in the remotest way! He’s not manipulate-able; you cannot twist His arm. The Christians, who think that way, are at the “funny farm”! We really have to understand, that humour isn’t joy. The things I think are funny, may easily annoy, People who think differently. Perhaps you want to cry? But with the joy of Jesus, His peace is standing by. So even if the fig tree has no blossoms we can see. Even if the grape vine fails, perhaps the olive tree, Is barren and the flocks and herds lie slaughtered in the field. You can still rejoice because your covenant is sealed. With the blood of Jesus, there’s sure to be no lack. The Word of God declares that Satan has to bring them back! We don’t know how he’ll do it. We do not even care. He must find a method on time, in place, somewhere! Even if we suffer and they burn you at the stake. It’s an opportunity for joy to surely break, The bonds that are restraining you. So laugh aloud with glee. In just a few short moments, the Lord your God you’ll see. Pain is momentary and joy is evermore. Kept for those who persevere, right up to heaven’s door! Jim Strickland   20th July 2012

IT’S YOUR DECISION

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 19 July 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation takes a look at the Israelites at the time of them getting ready to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the Promised Land. It speaks of their experiences in the Wilderness and some of the battles they faced. A parallel is then drawn with 21^st Century Christianity.
Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 19 July 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	IT’S YOUR DECISION
“Decision, decisions”, said the man grumpily as he lay under the bedclothes. “Hurry up my dear, it’s time to get up and go to church” said his wife. It’s Sunday you know!” she added sweetly. “I don’t want to go. I think I’ll stay in bed this morning.” he replied somewhat petulantly. “But you must” replied his wife. “You’re the minister!” Decisions are never easy, particularly when they disturb our comfort zone. No doubt this passed through the minds of many of the people who had wandered round and round in the wilderness for the past ± forty years. No doubt life was repetitive. They had worn the same shoes and clothing for the past 40 years. All they did was follow the cloud by day and the fire by night. Then, in the morning, they wandered round in the wilderness looking for the manna that would feed them for the next 24 hours. It wasn’t very exciting. The presence of Moses brought them a certain amount of comfort but so many of their parents had died en route to where they were going. The days had stretched into weeks; the weeks into months and the months into years. But those days were drawing to an end. They had just defeated the Ammonite Kings, Sihon and Og and were about to go in and take possession of the Promised Land. We are all fairly familiar with this background. What we often don’t spot is how similar this is to our own Christian experience. No matter where we are on the journey of life we have the Jordan of our own personal life to cross. The other side is beckoning us on and we have to take our courage in both hands and go across. We’ve had a number of battles with our opponents. They have been defeated in the strength and power of the Lord, while we were still wandering round in our own self contrived wilderness. Personally, I identify with this phase in an extraordinary way. After committing my life to Jesus in 1960, there were a number of personal battles in front of me. I found that the Lord had performed the miracle of deliverance from sin, but there were some battles He expected me to go through. Yes, these things would be confronted and defeated in and by His power. But the fact is He required me to play my part. By way of illustration, God provides the saving power. But we have to do the repenting. In Acts, Paul tells the Athenians, 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30 ESV. The facts are clear. God provides salvation. But He commands us to repent. No repentance, no salvation! So you and I have trials and tests of the Promised Land in front of us. He is with us and He will give us the power to win. But we have to do it. We can and will if we submit to Jesus and obey His Word. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			3 It's like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that's where GOD commands the blessing, ordains eternal life. Psalms 133:3 MSG 48 So Israel conquered the entire area from Aroer at the edge of the Arnon Gorge all the way to Mount Sirion, also called Mount Hermon. Deuteronomy 4:48 NLT 5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; Hosea 14:5 ESV 2 Let my teaching fall like rain. Let my words come down like dew. Let them be like raindrops on new grass. Let them be like rain on tender plants. Deuteronomy 32:2 NIrV 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11 TNIV 34 For He is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God gives Him the Spirit without limit. John 3:34 NLT 16 We have all received one blessing after another. God's grace is not limited. John 1:16 NIrV A song by David for going up to worship. 1 See how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony! 2 It is like fine, scented oil on the head, running down the beard-down Aaron's beard- running over the collar of his robes. 3 It is like dew on Mount Hermon, dew which comes down on Zion's mountains. That is where the LORD promised the blessing of eternal life. Psalms 133:1-3 GW	They could never have achieved it, if they’d been all on their own. You cannot defeat a kingdom if you’re standing all alone. First of all they beat King Sihon, then moved on to trounce King Og. These two Ammonitish armies, crashed like falling off a log. They conquered it right from Aroer to Mount Hermon’s frozen peak. All along the Arnon Valley to the Salt Sea dead and bleak. From the foothills of Mt Nebo from which Moses saw the land. All of this they saw and conquered, just the way the Lord had planned. God was with them, strong and mighty and He settled like the dew; Like the Lilly of the Valley; like the cedar trees that grew. Why was this? Because they listened and His teaching fell like rain, It came down like falling raindrops, on the grasslands of the plain. Tender plants began their growing, reaching upward to the sky. Fertile and in huge abundance; giving praise to God most High. All of this was just a foretaste of what God was going to do. He would speak a word in season, doing what He wanted to. All the land would bud and flourish; Yielding seed and making bread. Not a single Word was wasted, doing just what He had said. Not a Word would come back empty; it accomplished His intent. No man ever could resist it; it achieved just what He meant. After they had crossed the Jordan, they began to take the land. Thus they entered into Canaan by the Master’s Mighty Hand. This is not an odd occurrence for the Israelites of old. Those of us who are God’s people, if we do as we are told, Also can attain the victory, everywhere we place our feet. One with God can’t be defeated. In His power we are complete! Unity must be our watchword, as we face the Master’s foes. Harmony! How good and pleasant; covers us from head to toes. Yes indeed it’s His anointing. Scented oil upon the beard; Running over robes and collar. That’s the way that it appeared! This is where He gives His blessing, when His people are all one. When all arguments are over; each and every squabble gone. Once more we have crossed the Jordan, like God’s people on that day. Will we stand as one together, or once more be Satan’s prey? Will we be a mighty army? Turned aside by Achen’s sin? Only if our God will help us, is it possible to win. You alone make the decision. You and all of those you lead. There will never be compulsion - honesty or human greed? Take your pick then you must do it. This is where you must begin, Stay with Jesus Christ forever, or forever trapped in sin? Jim Strickland Written 19th July 2012

FORGIVE! - PSALM 112

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Hi all,

If we tried to compress into one word the God we serve and adore, the word is likely to be love. In fact John tells us: ¹⁶ We have known and believed that God loves us. God is love. Those who live in God's love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16 GW The next word we would probably think of is “forgive”. Forgiveness is so closely entwined with love that they become hard to distinguish from each other. Forgiving within a framework of love is one of His fundamental qualities and is our meditation today.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 18 July 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	FORGIVE! - PSALM 112
“What is God like?” A few days ago we looked at this and observed that Jesus is like God. This has nothing to do with physical appearance. The connection is character. In fact God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are indistinguishable. You and I cannot see any differences. But when it comes to His appearance, we have a problem. God is Spirit. What that means is unknown. There may well be some sort of a clue evident in the post resurrection appearances of Jesus. He appeared and vanished apparently at will.   So, what is the significance of the descriptions of God in His Word? What is likely is that the Prophets and Psalmists were using “anthropomorphisms” in their descriptions on God. i.e. Using familiar terms to describe the indescribable. Moses’ illustration in Psalm 91 is a good example. 4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection. Psalms 91:4 NLT The factors that really scare me about God is His Holiness, Purity and Righteousness. Outside of His Son, Jesus Christ, to draw near to Him would be fatal. We know and have some understanding of this. His Righteousness scares me the most. In this regard, He is utterly consistent. Judgement is an excellent example. You and I have certain values and standards by which we measure others. Perhaps it’s a thimble-full. Perhaps a table spoon-full. It could be a shovel-full or even a front end loader-full. In other words someone fails our test if it is bigger than the standard we’ve set. If we are pernickety or pedantic, our standard will be a thimble-full. If we are generous and forgiving our standard would be a front end loader-full. We know the “size” of that standard. Furthermore, we evaluate and judge others in terms of that standard. God also knows its “size. He then uses the same standard on us. He will judge you and me in terms of the standard we set for others. So the more forgiving and generous-hearted we are the better for us. Most of us love the first half of Luke 6:38. The second half is not so well known or understood. 38 Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you." Luke 6:38 GW We need to be very generous with our forgiving others. In fact we need to be more than merely four-giving. Let’s go for five-giving or even twenty six-giving. If we don’t, God will judge us in terms of the standards we have set. That really scares me! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			8 She (Mary Magdalene? or Lazarus’ sister Mary?) did what she could. She poured perfume on my body (Jesus) to prepare me to be buried. Mark 14:8 NIrV 3 He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. Luke 21:3 MSG 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly be rewarded. Mark 9:41 TNIV 12 Do you really want to give? Then the gift is received in keeping with what you have, not with what you don't have. 2 Corinthians 8:12 NIrV 18 Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18 NLT 15 For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved 16 and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup--where does that get you? James 2:15-16 MSG 6 Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NLT 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" Luke 17:10 ESV	FORGIVE! Forgive the sins of everyone, whatever they've committed; Loose them all from what they've done and let them be acquitted; Follow the example of Him who reigns on High; Who cleanses and remits the sins of all who would draw nigh. For those who would pass sentence on any of their peers, Will find that all the wrath of God is heaped around their ears! Those who judge their brethren, are certain to obtain, That very self-same judgment. The One who does ordain, That we ourselves are always judged, in ways that will comply, With all of the parameters which we sought to apply! We receive THAT measurement; THAT standard which we set, Is How He'll deal with all of us and that is what we'll get! So Christian, be careful. If you desire to live, There isn't an alternative. You simply must forgive! Jim Strickland Psalm 112 i)          Blessed is the person who fears the Sovereign Lord, Who takes a great delight in His command. ii)         His children will be mighty in the land. And his reward? A blessed generation who can stand; iii)        Wealth and riches in his house, with righteousness forever; Where the light obliterates the dark. iv)       Gracious deeds, compassion, will forsake the righteous never. An upright, righteous man will have this mark. v)        Good will surely come to him, who generously lends, Conducting his affairs and being just. vi)       He will not be shaken; will not need to make amends; Remembered as a person one can trust. vii)      He will not be fearful of bad news for he will be, Steadfast, ever trusting in the Lord. viii)     He will be secure and will not fear what he might see; Triumph o'er his foes is his reward. ix)       He has scattered gifts unto the poor. His righteousness Endures until the very end of time. His horn will be exalted and with honour he'll be blessed. He will not be guilty of a crime. x)        Wicked men will see it and be vexed as they observe; Will gnash their teeth and quickly waste away. Their longings come to nothing, they’ll get what they deserve; Reaping what was sown yesterday. Jim Strickland Written 1987