WORKING OR SHIRKING?

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is about integrity. It’s about working or shirking. We look at the problem we have with many brothers and sister who do not want to work. Be aware that I’m not talking about those who cannot work because of whatever. It’s about those who don’t want to work and would rather others provided for them

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 11 September 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	WORKING OR SHIRKING?
Naivety is one of the most prevalent difficulties associated with Christianity today. We tend to believe anything and trust everyone. It doesn’t take long before the gilt wears off the gingerbread and for us to realise that, generally speaking, Christians are not much different from unbelievers. I know it’s a terrible conclusion to reach but it’s true. We know it shouldn’t be this way. Christians should live a Christ-like lifestyle. We seldom find this to be the case. The biggest surprise in this regard was when I went to Bible school. My expectation was that all of us would be doing our very best to live a Biblical lifestyle. Many did. But the lifestyle was more like that of Ahab and Jezebel than of Jesus. Within three weeks a man was “unmasked”. He could “flow in the Holy Spirit” and “prophesy” most convincingly. Sadly he was like Elmer Gantry. His purpose was to rip-off young ladies. He was most impressive and total shyster. I had been able to save the fees for Bible School and paid for the full year in advance. The norm seemed to be people who wanted to attend for free. They had been “called” to attend Bible School but had no money to pay the fees. For several months the school staff pursued them before eventually either the people left or they paid up. They found someone to pay their fees! What really shook Phyllida and me was the way so many Christians were not interested in working. They said they were trusting God for their finances. But the idea of working was anathema. They struggled on day after day, week after week and year after year. At the end of the period they were still waiting for God to fill their pockets. It’s rather sad. Much of this originates from our passion for taking Scripture out of context. A good example comes from Phil. 4:13 It’s qualified by Phil. 4:12, the preceding verse. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Phil. 4:12-13 NLT Looking at both verses together we see that Paul was talking about living with and without the essentials of life. He was saying Jesus empowered him to do all this in and through His strength. Phil. 4:19 NLT has also been misinterpreted. In the previous verses, Paul was referring to how their gift had provided for his needs. Paul was confident that others would provide for their needs in a similar way in and through Jesus. What was sad was that 2 Thess. 3:10 (Anyone who will not work will not eat) & 1 Thess. 4:11 (do your work, and earn your own living), were ignored. Not that we were surprised. Why work if you can find someone who will support you financially? I’m trying not to be cynical, but it’s not easy. Christians are not welcome by many businesses, because they don’t pay their bills. They steal from their brothers and sisters when they ask them to do a job and have no means of paying their bill. That makes them liars and thieves! This happens regularly. Personally, I prefer not to do business with a Christian unless I know he/she will pay up. I can’t afford to work without them paying their bills. Am I being too fussy? I don’t think so. What I’m longing to see is integrity among my brothers and sisters in Jesus. Is it likely to happen? You tell me. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			23 Meanwhile, men and women go out to work, busy at their jobs until evening. Psalms 104:23 MSG 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:19 TNIV 10 Even when we were with you, we gave you a rule. We said, "Anyone who will not work will not eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10 NIrV 11 Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living, as we ordered you. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 GW 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. John 9:4 NLT 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV 58 My dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Don't let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the Lord. Because you belong to the Lord, you know that your work is not worthless. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIrV 9 So there is still a Sabbath rest for God's people. Hebrews 4:9 NIrV 12 'These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.' Matthew 20:12 MSG 12 to whom he has said, "This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose"; yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:12 ESV	I’m told that we are swearing when we use four letter words. A lot of people do so. Still do, from what I’ve heard. Some words are quite disgusting and banned from Christian speech. But even so, for some of them, these words are still in reach. But now there is another word which seems to haunt the church. Some Christian when they hear it, it knocks them off their perch. Please read it very quietly and don’t spread it around. Some people say it’s toxic and never should be found, In any Christian circle, because they’re trusting God, To get another hand out, while on the road they trod. What is this frightful little word that makes folk run off scared? I’m going to have to use it, although you’re unprepared. It only has four letters and rhymes with the word “shirk”. So please excuse me using it; the little word is “work”. I know it isn’t popular, but it’s what God requires. Sadly, many Christians, find that the word inspires Many to be busy.  They’d rather spend the day, Jabbering and chattering in every sort of way. “I’m trusting God” they tell us. “I hate activity; And I’ve received a calling that’s totally work free. Please do not be offended. I think I’d rather pray For God to send me money, in His mysterious way”. We meet them by the dozen and mostly they are poor, Some are getting hungry, but they are very sure, That just around the corner, someone will help them out; That they’ll be given millions, they do not ever doubt. They do not read the Bible to find what it contains. The thought of their employment, is banished from their brains. It seems they are allergic to working with their hands. And haven’t ever read the Word, that says the Lord demands, His people to be working. Without it, they won’t eat. That’s what the Lord is saying. Man has to earn his meat! Whatever you can find to do, do it with all your might. That way the Lord will bless you, with blessings “out of sight”. There is a sure connection about our daily bread. God says, “Go out and earn it, without food you’ll be dead”. And if you are a father, it’s you who must provide, To feed all of your family. From this you cannot hide. The Lord holds you responsible for all your family. If anyone is starving, He’ll put the blame on thee. And though it sounds unsavoury, make work your way of life. Then He will take good care of you, your family and wife. Jim Strickland – Written 11th September 2012

THE GREAT EXCHANGE

Time with Jesus - Monday, 10 September 2012

Hi all,

Mount up with wings as eagles. Have you ever watched an eagle in flight? There is a pair of eagles which have a nest in the rocky heights above the Jo’burg Botanical Gardens. I’ve watched them in flight briefly. They use the thermals to go higher and higher. Their wings seem motionless. But they rise higher and higher. Isaiah says that this describes those of God’s people who are willing to wait patiently for Him! This is our meditation.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 10 September 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	THE GREAT EXCHANGE
When I committed my life to Jesus Christ, I started to get excited about the things of the Lord. In 1961 I heard about an event in Derbyshire called the “Cliff Convention”. Cliff College was a school for evangelists, teachers and ministers in the Methodist Church. Since I was in the Methodist Church, I decided I’d like to attend. Their convention took place over the “Easter” long weekend. I was an apprentice at the time and couldn’t afford the conference fees. So I volunteered to be one of the workers for the duration of the conference. The college agreed. I managed to get away early and arrived there at about lunchtime on the Thursday. Like many of the other volunteers, I spent the rest of the day preparing for the conference. One task was scrubbing the floor of the dining hall. It wasn’t exactly what I would have liked to do, but since I was there for “free” it seemed reasonable. The next morning, the people arrived by the hundreds. At that time the “Cliff Convention” was one of the most popular events in the Methodist Church in UK. It had been in existence for over a hundred years. They would train the young men (men only back then) to go round the towns pulling a hand-cart and preaching wherever they could. A bit like what happened back in John Wesley’s days. I can’t recall how successful this was. But I do know that many young men had passed through Cliff college and had gone on to taking on a variety of ministries. I met one in 1995 who had been a student in the 1930’s At the turn of the nineteenth century, Cliff College’s Head’s was the renowned Samuel Chadwick. It’s said he had a “silver tongue”. He could preach or lead a prayer meeting in such a way men and women would sit for hours just listening to him. Three hours was not unusual! On my first visit to Cliff, I came across most of the students and could listen to what was happening. They mostly talked about the things of the Lord and the way God had spoken to them. I hadn’t come across this sort of thing before. I knew God had led men in the past but didn’t know an example in the 20th century. One young man whose name I’ve forgotten told me about his call from God to attend “Cliff College as a student. He told me that the Lord had spoken to him through the following verse. 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 ESV In particular, “they shall mount up with wings like eagles”. He said that he had tried to establish what this meant for him but had been unsuccessful. In the end he wrote to “Cliff”, asked for an application form, completed it and sent it in. Then he waited to see what would happen. A few weeks later he received a letter from Cliff saying he had been accepted for the following year’s student intake. Then he was amazed with what he saw. There was a picture on the letter. It showed Cliff college high up on a hill. Suddenly he spotted the similarity between the word “Cliff” and a mountain. “Perhaps Cliff College is where the Lord wants me to mount up and study?” He said to himself. He continued to read the acceptance letter, At the bottom of the letter there was the signature of the Dean of students. His name? Professor Eagles! Suddenly he knew! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			31 But those who trust in the LORD will receive new strength. They will fly as high as eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak. Isaiah 40:31 NIrV 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV 5 "And now," GOD says, this God who took me in hand from the moment of birth to be his servant, To bring Jacob back home to him, to set a reunion for Israel-- What an honour for me in GOD's eyes! That God should be my strength! Isaiah 49:5 MSG 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 TNIV 5 Or let them take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me. Isaiah 27:5 MKJV 22 Give your burdens to the LORD, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Psalms 55:22 NLT 24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel Genesis 49:24 TNIV, 26 Then the Man said, "Let Me go, for the dawn is breaking!" But Jacob said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me." Genesis 32:26 NLT 45 David answered, "You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel's troops, whom you curse and mock. 1 Samuel 17:45 MSG A psalm of David.1 O LORD, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me. 2 Put on Your armour, and take up Your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid. Psalms 35:1-2 NLT	Have you never heard of it? Do you not understand? The Lord God everlasting, created our great land! He never does grow weary. He doesn’t need to rest. He spoke the word – It happened – All this was manifest. We cannot comprehend Him; His depth we cannot plumb. Everything which we can see. He is its total sum. He is the Great Exchanger who made all things from naught. He spoke into the nothingness and in His speaking brought, Everything to being. In this He specialises. He’s the Great Exchanger Who sees through all disguises. A man may look unbeatable, with muscles made of steel. But when it comes right down to it, his power isn’t real. If power doesn’t come from God; he’s like a little flea, And God will take the weakest man and give him victory. For God has all that’s needed. He has all kilojoules; And those who wish to take Him on don’t realise, “God rules!” That’s why a new-born infant, can beat the strongest man. When God exchanges power with him. The little infant can Destroy that mighty warrior. God cannot be denied. And He will do what He will do. He will not be defied! When we are at our weakest, that’s when He makes us strong. But if we trust in our right arm, we get the whole thing wrong! He gives strength to the powerless exactly when it’s needed. Just enough to win the fight. That will not be exceeded. Have a look around you at young men in a race. They quickly get exhausted and fall down on their face. They cannot keep on going, eventually they flop. But God will keep you going when all men have to stop! How can a man achieve this? How can he know for sure, That God will undertake for him so that he may endure? It only comes by trusting God, each and every day. Then we’ll know His awesome strength in each and every way. We think that we are eagles which soar on high with wings. Those of us who trust the Lord. will know what trusting brings. New strength He’ll surely give us. The power to carry on, When all the strength which we possess, has crumbled and has gone. That’s when He gives a second wind or even nine or ten! The weariness will vanish and we’ll have strength again. The distance will not matter. A thousand miles or more. We’ll walk and won’t be weary. What do we need that for? To glorify the Master and praise His Holy Name. To walk without our fainting! And give Him all the fame! Jim Strickland – Written 10th September 2012

VICTORY IN JESUS!

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 09 September 2012

Hi all,

Victory in Jesus! It’s a forgone conclusion. Having said that be aware that we all have a part to play. It won’t work if we surrender. Success may come ultimately, but we will not see it! In the meantime you and I are required to follow Him obediently. He will win without anyone’s assistance. But He wants us to be a part of it anyway. That’s victory!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 09 September 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	VICTORY IN JESUS!
The Battle of Britain during the WW2 is one of the most remembered events of those long and difficult days. A handful of British and Commonwealth pilots took on the mighty German Luftwaffe. Statistically, they should have lost. The hand of God must have been with them because they won the battle. They shouldn’t have won. It appeared to be impossible and Europe, in its entirety, should have been one huge Nazi “state”. I firmly believe that it was the goodness of God that prevented this from happening. For some reason Hitler decided to forget about Britain and attack Russia. It was at this time Winston Churchill made one of the greatest speeches he ever made. “Never in the field of human conflict have so many owed so much to so few”. As we know, in the end the Allies defeated the German war machine. It was a miracle. There have been a number of battles that have shaped human history. At present there is an on-going battle which has still to be settled. The final outcome is a foregone conclusion. In the battle between good and evil, the forces of God will defeat the forces of evil. The ultimate conclusion is inevitable. Jesus Christ and His people will defeat Satan and his forces. No other alternative is possible. Good will triumph over evil. The problem you and I have is being unaware when the final battle will take place. We have been given eternal life. Death is meaningless to a committed Christian. But that does not mean that the latest battle of this war has been fought and decided. Complete victory will only be achieved when Jesus returns. In the meantime, wars and battles continue to take place! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 TNIV During the interim the wages are the same for all. You and I are sinners. Yes, Jesus has redeemed us. But until He comes back, death is guaranteed for everyone born on this planet. Malcolm Smith pointed out that each of us has worked for and will receive payment in full. Our death sentence was decreed the instance we first sinned. We’ve worked hard for our wages during our lifetime and we will get payment in full! Not exactly good news. But it’s a fact and there is nothing we can do to change it. Jesus came to this planet. He lived a perfect, sin-free life. So death for Him was not appropriate. If a man is perfect before God, death cannot hold him. Jesus did not work for the death sentence. Instead, He gave His life in exchange for us. In a way we will never understand, we swapped. He took all our sin and gave us His righteousness. Grossly unfair! No human court would approve. But God not only approved, He made it possible! Until He returns, we will continue to grow old and die. When He comes, Christians who are still alive will not die. He has already paid that penalty. So we will all be with Him. Those who have died will be resurrected. Paul expresses it as follows: 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 TNIV I’m not in a position to say whether or not the total will be few or many. What I can say; and in this I share Churchill’s view. “Never in the field of human (spiritual) conflict have so many owed so much to one Man”. Jesus Christ! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. Psalms 73:2 NLT 18 I cried out, "I am slipping!" but Your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. Psalms 94:18 NLT 31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32 NLT 16 A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again. However, in a disaster wicked people fall. Proverbs 24:16 GW 24 Even if the man trips, he won't fall. The LORD'S hand takes good care of him. Psalms 37:24 NIrV 8 The people of Jerusalem say, "Don't laugh when we suffer, you enemies of ours! We have fallen. But we'll get up. Even though we sit in the dark, the LORD will give us light. Micah 7:8 NIrV 19 From six disasters He will rescue you; even in the seventh, He will keep you from evil. Job 5:19 NLT 1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One who is truly righteous. 1 John 2:1 NLT 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25 TNIV	Look where you are going. Be careful not to fall. Never give the devil the smallest chance at all. Watch out for the surfaces, and don’t step in the mire. Making you fall over, is Satan’s one desire. Watch what you are wearing. Take care of your shoes. Only foolish people, will ever take their cues, From what the foe is wanting. He’d like to see you dead. And he’d like nothing better than for you to bust your head! Of course the Lord protects you. This always will be true. But don’t provide the devil a chance to murder you! He wants to lift you with a fork and throw you in the air. He does his best to sift you and lead you to despair. But Jesus said He’s praying that you won’t slip or fail. His prayers are always answered in the very best detail. The Lord wants you to testify and strengthen all your friends. So do the things He telling you, for surely life depends, On making Him your Saviour, your Master and your King. This prevents the devil from doing anything That damages God’s Kingdom; on this you can rely. And He’ll continue praying for you until you die! It’s true you are not perfect. At times you won’t succeed. But if you keep on focusing upon your Christian Creed; Even if you’re brutalised and they tear limb from limb, That is an opportunity for you to worship Him! Satan wants to hurt you, but cannot touch your soul. Give a shout of triumph; scream, “Christ is in control!” He’ll declare you righteous and in a state of grace. No matter what the devil does. You’ll soon see Jesus’ face. The foe may all laugh at you; perhaps they’ll even sneer! But know that Christ the Saviour is standing very near. Perhaps they’ll have you locked up in a room as dark as night. In this situation, The Lord will be your light. Nothing you experience will ever be unique. Jesus has been through it and gives the strength you seek. Pain won’t last forever. On that you can rely. And you’ll be in the Master’s arms the instant that you die. So stand firm in disaster. Look Satan in the eyes. He cannot defeat you no matter how he tries. It’s a foregone conclusion. You’re guaranteed to win; To break the chains of Satan and the crushing power of sin. Not because you’ve done it. That never will be true. But Jesus is the victory in everything you do. Jim Strickland – Written 9th September 2012