HOSEA’S TEST

Time with Jesus - Wed. 15 August 2012

Hi all,

One of the glibbest statements we can ever say as a Christian is to listen to God and instantly obey Him. It sounds wonderful. Laudable even! But can we do it? I’d love to say, “Yes!” No doubt many will say, “What are you talking about?” There are a couple of things I don’t know what I would do if I was calle3d upon by God to do. The first would be to be willingly crucified. The other would be to go, find a prostitute and marry her! (Fortunately, I’m very happily married) Could I do it? I don’t think so. Today’s meditation looks at this.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 15 August 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	HOSEA’S TEST
There has been a lot of talk in recent years concerning the validity of modern prophets. It appears that there are three main views on this. The one view is that there is no such thing. Those who claim they are modern-day prophets must be charlatans, or liars, or both. This is always a possibility. I suspect that every Old Testament prophet, with the exception of Moses, would have disassociated themselves immediately with the claim. The truth of prophet-hood would be established about 100 years after they had died! The second view is that they are plentiful today. The difference is the understanding of what is meant by being a modern-day prophet. Mostly what they bring is in line with Paul’s comments to the Corinthians: 3 But those who prophesy speak to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.1 Corinthians 14:3 TNIV In the good old King Jimmy version these words are, for edification, exhortation, and comfort. In that sense, each and every Christian may prophesy. That includes you and me! (Perish the thought) The third and final group are those who don’t care one way or the other. If they like what they hear – great! If not – “What’s for lunch?” My position is very convenient. I’m a “card- carrying, fence-sitter”! There are aspects of the first and the second views I love. I believe there are men and women called prophets today. But I object strongly to those who are self-proclaimed Prophets. Frankly I’ve heard and read some of the most outrageous garbage masquerading as the prophetic word. I’ve also come across very ordinary men and women through whom the Spirit of God has spoken. They seldom realise it. If they thought for one moment that they were “prophetic”, they would run away. The Old Testament Prophets were often called upon by God to do some extraordinary things. In this regard, read some of the things Ezekiel was required to do. Isaiah was told to go and speak to a people who would not listen. Jeremiah went through the most horrendous life experiences. However, for me the one who really “takes the biscuit” was the prophet Hosea. He was told to marry a prostitute who would not love him. The Lord was showing through the life of His prophet, what it was like to be in covenant with a people who didn’t love Him. They preferred to go and chase after other gods. That’s exactly what Hosea did. He married a woman called “Gomer” the daughter of Diblaim. In “fairy stories”, they all lived happily ever after. In real life this seldom happens. This woman had no intention of changing her ways and being faithful to her husband. In no time at all, she was back “on the streets” following the oldest profession in the world. She left him and became the slave of her lover! Then the Lord commanded Hosea to buy her back, for the price of an ordinary female slave. He did! What shocks us today is that God would do such a thing. We are told in the New Testament not to touch the filthy things of unbelievers. So what do we do today with men like Hosea and women like Gomer? I don’t have the answer. I do know what usually happens when a Christian marries an unbeliever. My recommendation from personal experience is, “Don’t do it!” Jim & Phyllida Strickland			14 "But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. Hosea 2:14 NLT 17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don't touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 18 And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty. " 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NLT 1 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make His people holy by means of His own blood. 13 So let us go out to Him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace He bore. Hebrews 13:12-13 NLT 31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:31 ESV A psalm of David. 1 The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:1-4 NIV	Hosea; O Hosea! What a dreadful test. To have to marry someone who was second-hand at best! A prostitute; delighted to be with other men, Who didn’t do it once or twice, but time and time again! To then be told to look for her; return her to the fold. What a shock to find her, while she was being sold. And yet, you bought her back again and spoke so tenderly. I’m not sure I could take it Lord, if that was done to me. I think that I would run away as far as I could go! To go back to a prostitute? – O Lord I do not know. But Gomer was a picture of Your people, Israel. Who thought that they could serve You and serve other gods as well. This was prostitution in Your tender, loving eyes. Serving Baal or Molech was a thing which You despise. Hosea’s test was something, to tell us about You. About the things, Almighty God, that You have had to do! Your people were unfaithful; with other gods they whored. The covenant they had with you, they totally ignored. And though you took them back again innumerable times, The day would come when they would have to pay for all their crimes. “Leave the unbelievers! Don’t touch their filthy things! Shun all their unfaithfulness, their jewels and their rings! Be My sons and daughters and I will welcome you. Dedicate yourselves to being faithful, pure and true. Clothe yourselves with holiness in body, soul and mind. Jesus’ blood will cleanse you and you will surely find, That when you’ve gone to be with Him and dwell outside the camp, There’ll be no incentive for you to be a tramp! Come aside and be with Him where you can rest awhile. Come to a deserted place where you can’t be defiled. Then I’ll be your Shepherd and you will be my sheep. Thoroughly restored; by quiet waters, you I’ll keep. Let Me lead and guide you in the paths of righteousness. Leave that ugly lifestyle and surely I will bless. And you will be forever, in pastures which are green. No longer a prostitute; instead you’ll be My queen!” Jim Strickland Written 15th August 2012

JIMMETS – COVENANT GIFT

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 14 August 2012

Hi all,

Today we meditate on God’s Promise to David and on Ephesians 1:3-6. There is also reference to Romans 8:28 in the introduction. 2 Tim 1:12 is not referred to directly, but Paul’s conviction that God is able to guard that with which He has been trusted is clear. This conforms with Romans 8:28. Thus all four Scripture references are utilised. Expressing Ephesians 1:3-6 in Jimmet form was fun!

Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus Tuesday, 14 August 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	JIMMETS – COVENANT GIFT
A couple of days ago we looked at an occasion early in David’s reign. At that time he had wanted to build a “house” for God. The Temple that would be built by his son Solomon. David was told by the Lord through His prophet that he was not permitted do this. He was a man of war with blood on his hands. The temple would be built by his son who would be a man of peace. However, he was informed that God would build him a house! A throne on which his descendants would always sit. David’s reaction to this was that he felt completely overwhelmed. It’s worth pointing out that God would build this line. He would be the One who would design and supervise the building of David’s “house”. In a way, David would emulate what God had promised to do. He became the architect of the Temple and went about accumulating materials for the task. He also made provision so that on his death, all his personal wealth would be donated for the building of the temple. In this respect, although Solomon built the temple, it was based on his father’s provision. Perhaps we should refer to the Temple as “David’s Temple” rather than “Solomon’s Temple”. We don’t do that for good reasons. But we do remember Sir Christopher Wren as the architect of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Does anyone know who did the building? In today’s first Scripture, we move in time to the end of David’s reign. By now, he was an old man. In spite of this, we notice that he had not forgotten God’s everlasting covenant with him. It’s interesting to read how confident David was that God would do this. The New Living Translation expresses his confidence in God’s undertaking to him and his family: 5 "Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, He has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success. 2 Samuel 23:5 NLT David’s attitude sheds additional light on the assurance Paul describes in Romans 8: 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT  David had no idea that it would be some 1000 years before Jesus would be manifest in the flesh. During the interim, David’s line had almost disappeared. But it could be traced back through his mother’s antecedents as well as His stepfather’s antecedents. Here was the fulfilment of God’s promise to David; the everlasting King of Kings! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			25 "Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, He has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success. 2 Samuel 23:5 NLT 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 TNIV 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:3-6 TNIV 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:27-30 TNIV	EVERLASTING COVENANT An everlasting covenant was cut; That David would forever have a son, Who sat upon the throne; no ifs or buts; Until creation’s time on earth was done. I wonder if He really understood, How God would bring this promise into fact? He realised that God, the Father, would Keep His Word and was obliged to act; The way He had declared to him that day. Who else but God had the ability, To bring about the things he heard God say, And keep it going for eternity? But there was one thing David knew for sure. God’s promises forever would endure. Jim Strickland written 14th August 2012     HIS FREE GIFT Praise be unto the Farther of our Lord; Who blessed us in the heavenly realms above. All Spiritual blessings He has poured, On us, through Jesus Christ, the King of Love. In Him. He chose us in the “days” before, He started to create the things we see. Predestined our adoption to be more, Than creatures who are lost eternally. This was according to His Sovereign will; The Sons of God; Not merely men of mud. And by His grace, decided He would spill Christ Jesus’ own and very precious blood! O what a plan! To take our punishment! The very reason why His Son was sent! Jim Strickland written 14th August 2012

BEHAVIOUR

Time with Jesus - Monday, 13 August 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is on the topic of behaviour. It was written 28 years ago as a result of my observation of what was taking place in and around where we were living. Today’s Scriptures strongly reminded me of that poem. I’d like to say things are different today. It seems that little has changed since then.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 13 August 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					©
	BEHAVIOUR - 1		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	BEHAVIOUR - 2
There's such a contradiction in things that I have seen. The sinners love each other and say just what they mean. When something doesn't please them, they speak and spit it out. Perhaps they're not God's children, but that's what love's about! They do not judge each other. They know they all fall short, Of how they know they ought to live. They do not resort, To sifting through the Bible to find out what it says, And then draw a comparison with all their brother's ways! They do not use The Word of God as some form of excuse, For leaving people helplessly to suffer man's abuse. They do not spend their waking hours, holding in their fist, Some doctrinal barometer or spiritual checklist. Few of them are hypocrites; They do just what they feel; Following their consciences with fervency and zeal! It's true they are not 'Christians'. They do not 'Praise The Lord', But sometimes it occurs to me, THEY should get the reward! We Christians have missed it! We've heard all about love, But in our 'willingness to serve', we push and pull and shove Anyone who's different right out of the way. We cannot help each other because we have to pray........! We have to go to 'meetings', organised at 'Church' And leave our friends and neighbours alone and in the lurch. It seems that all that's missing are our phylacteries, For most of us behave like the Scribes and Pharisees. Even all the artefacts and clothing that we wear Are frequently selected to make the sinner stare; And gaze in admiration as we walk proudly by, Pretending that we're 'holy' with noses in the sky. The language we keep using is pious and a pain. The sinners know we're different and most of them complain, About the way we witness. They say it’s 'verbal stones', Thrown by 'whited sepulchres, filled with dead men's bones'. It seems there's little difference between the things You saw, When, Lord, You dwelt among us. Except, perhaps, we're more Adept at self-deception. Religiosity, Is just as much in evidence, as what You used to see. It's just the mode that's altered; our ways are more refined; Our 'brand' of legalism's doctrinally defined;			28 God chose things despised by the world; things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 1 Corinthians 1:28 NLT 9 Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people--none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NLT 1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil--the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else. Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT 5 He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Titus 3:5-6 NLT 8 "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT	All is compartmentalised, clinical and pure, Organised and marketed and packaged to ensure, That everything is perfect; designed and guaranteed, To meet specifications, religious men decreed! O Lord! Where is Your Spirit? Why have we gone so far, From what, in the beginning, You wanted? Lord, we are, Exactly what men stated ... Pious, pompous freaks, Peddling religion and stealing from the weak; Living as it pleases, in immorality, While paying our lip service to what we know should be. Only You can change us. Only You know how, To help us see what we should be, right in the here and now. Lord please consecrate us to being what we could; To live as men and women, who really love You should. Father, dedicate us to being, day by day, The love of God incarnate to all along the way; To crucifying everything that doesn't glorify, The God of all Creation. Lord Jesus, please draw nigh And take away religion. Replace it with a verve, To serve You, Lord and Master, with sinew, bone and nerve. All that we comprise of, Lord, please purify, In order that, in what we are, with You, we do comply. Mould us by Your Spirit; Bring us to our knees; Modify our attitudes and make us what does please. Until the final product is Christian in fact. Not Religious Thespians whose life is just an act! Jim Strickland Written 1984
				This 1984 poem seems as fresh today as it was 28 years ago. Almost nothing has changed. Sadly I find myself stumbling into this sort of thing too often. What makes it a bigger problem is we fail to see our own behaviour in this light. The English say, “The pot is calling the kettle black”. Recently the Lord has been whispering the word “rebellion” in my ears. First Samuel states: 22 Samuel said, (to king Saul) "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, He has rejected you as king."1 Samuel 15:22-23 NLT. I rather suspect The Lord is asking all of us to check out our behaviour. Are we in any form of rebellion and/or stubbornness? Jim & Phyllida Strickland  13th August 2012