THE “CHARIS”

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 20 September 2012

Hi all,

I’m informed that the Greeks used a word which the Christians adopted and we translate as the word “grace”. It’s the word “charis”. Back then we would raise our wine-glass to each other and say “charis”. Something like saying “cheers” or, “here’s mud in your eye”. Christians don’t do that anymore, do they? (Don’t answer) Today’s meditation looks at the “charis”. I really trust it isn’t mud in your eye!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 20 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 “CHARIS”
I know a little Greek. He’s about 5ft 2ins and owns the delicatessens on the corner. As for the Greek language, I’ve come across a couple of words over the past 50 years. One of them is the word “Charis”. I understand it was something given to you for the very opposite of what you’ve done. For example, if tomorrow is my birthday, (it isn’t) and you decide to give me R1 000 000, that’s great. You may think, “Jim is a funny old bloke, but he’s been something of a friend, so let’s give him a R1 000 000”. (If you feel that way, don’t let me dissuade you!). Now suppose you went out one evening and left your family at home in your house. Then I break in, kill your children, rape your wife and leave her half dead then set fire to your house so that it burns down in ten minutes. What would you think then? How would you feel about the R1 000 000? If I were you in that situation, you would only get the money from me when hell freezes over! But if in spite of all this, you still give me the R1 000 000, you have given me the “charis”. This is one of the best illustrations of the meaning of God’s grace that anyone will describe. It’s receiving the very opposite of what I deserve. As a sinner, I have earned and deserve to get at least a million eternities in the lowest pit of hell. Fortunately, God isn’t like me! He is grossly unfair. (Fairness is a human term) He decides to give me His “Charis”, His Grace. Note that I deserve His judgement. Instead He decides to forgive me and adopt me as a son because Jesus paid the penalty in full! Remember, two men could have gone to Calvary that day. They were both ‘”son of the father”. Bar Abbas means “son of the Father”. Jesus claimed to be (and was) the Son of His Heavenly Father. The people were offered a choice by Pilate. Which “son of the father” do you want me to release? We know the outcome. In a sense, Jesus was Barabbas’ substitute. He is my substitute. Grossly unfair. But it was His idea. He gives me His righteousness in exchange for all my junk. How will I ever be able to thank Him? None of us can even begin to imagine what it was like for Him to carry all the sin that is, was or ever will be committed on that cross at Calvary. All the accumulated sickness, disease, death and wickedness that this creation has ever known and ever will know. He took it all. Nothing was overlooked or missing. Suddenly we get a glimpse of what was meant by the David in Psalm 22 when he wrote, 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? Psalms 22:1 NIV The absolute desolation of this soul-piercing cry is overwhelming. Theologically we know that His Father turned away from Him when He was made to be sin for us. Paul put it as follows; 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:21 TNIV We may know it theologically. But my head can’t catch up with the theology! Something within me cries out “Unjust! Unfair! Impossible! It’s then I’m reminded that He makes the rules. All I have to do is say, “Thank You Lord!” It’s not my place to sit in judgement on what He has done. The fairness and justice is His to decide anyway. I don’t make the rules. Our part (you and me) is to keep them! The fact is no other way was possible! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10 NLT 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. John 1:16 NASB 19 My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches that come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NIrV 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT 5 Listen, dear friends. Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world's down-and-out as the kingdom's first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. James 2:5 MSG 26 Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. 27 Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, 28 chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 MSG 7 Our bodies are made of clay, yet we have the treasure of the Good News in them. This shows that the superior power of this treasure belongs to God and doesn't come from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 GW	The Lord gave us His “charis”. To us, the word is “Grace”, Not because of what we’ve done, or anything we face. In fact it is a concept, we just don’t understand. This world is geared for earning. It’s how our lives are planned. We get rewards for working. We earn our daily bread. It doesn’t come for nothing. “Work hard” until you’re dead. You have a sort of contract, whereby you get your pay. Your part is to turn up for work on every working day. If you forget to do it, your boss will not be pleased. Unless a Doctor’s “sick note” states you are diseased. Sometimes the boss is generous. A bonus comes along. But you will only get it, if you’ve done nothing wrong. You’re legally entitled to what the contract says. And if you are not satisfied, you both go separate ways. We understand this system; it’s how it’s always been. We talk about it being “fair” and know just what we mean. But God is never like that; and God is never “fair”! The rules the Father uses, we don’t find anywhere. The fact is I’m a sinner. I’ve worked hard for my wage. I really do deserve them. My sins run off the page! This means, I am entitled to go direct to hell. And be like all the sinners, who’ll end up there as well! It seems God has a problem. At least that’s how it looks. The people He created, are wiped out of His books. In fact there’s not a person who isn’t stained by sin. And if we all go off to hell, how can He ever win? But God knew all about it. It didn’t have Him fazed. He had the perfect answer. Oh let His name be praised! He said, I’ll take their punishment and lay it on My Son. He’ll die and pay the penalty for all that they have done. And then they will change places. They’ll have His righteousness. And He will bear the total cost of all their sinfulness. It isn’t a “fair” system. Why should He die for me? He gives me what I don’t deserve. In fact, I get it free! Of course I’m not complaining. But I must not forget, I never could deserve it. I couldn’t pay that debt. Instead, I get His “charis”; His grace that’s underserved. Instead it’s just the opposite; it’s sin that I have served. His “charis” I can never earn; but Jesus bled and died. His love has made the difference; and He was crucified, So I can live forever as God’s adopted son. The converse of what I deserve, for all that I have done. Jim Strickland – Written 20th September 2012

I LIFT MY EYES

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation looks primarily at Psalm 121:1-2. This happens to be one of my favourite Psalm quotes. The question mark at the end of verse 1 makes a huge difference to our understanding of what this Psalm means. So I’ve touched on a bit of exegesis and hermeneutics. People are inclined to say, Herman who? “Why does he tic”? Well he’s a sort of Scriptural time bomb. Get it wrong and you whole understanding explodes in your face.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 19 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	I LIFT MY EYES
Studying the Bible is fascinating. God’s Word fills the spirit man and gives us strength at stand against the enemy. As we know, the Sword of the Spirit, “God’s Word” is our weapon. Now I’m not into sword-fighting. But I know that to become proficient with the sword, we need lots of practice and acquired skill. Watch “fencing” on TV. If I tried that, it would be all over in half a second. They would tell me to go away and learn how to use the sword. Being proficient with the use of the Sword of the Spirit is just as necessary. Sadly many Christians don’t read their Bibles. So when it comes to fighting the enemy, the battle is over before it’s started, Yes, God does help us. But He does want us to know our way round His Word proficiently. And herein is the problem. The Bible says what it means and means what it says. But it takes place within a context that we need to understand, or we use Scripture incorrectly. We need to know who was saying what and to whom he was speaking. If we see a quotation from a non-believer, is it true? A good example comes from Habakkuk. Habakkuk says to God, 13 Your eyes are too pure to look at what is evil. You can't put up with the wrong things people do. So why do you put up with those who can't be trusted? The evil Babylonians swallow up those who are more godly than themselves. So why are you silent? Habakkuk 1:13 NIrV But it’s not true. God has to look at evil continuously. So this is Habakkuk’s opinion, not Biblical truth. Which brings us to the word, “Exegesis and Hermeneutics; These are two big words which imply correctly “dividing the Word of Truth”. For our purpose today; and over-simplified, “exegesis” is making sure that we understand correctly what is said. Hermeneutics is “teaching” this accurately. It’s more complicated than this but suffices for our purpose. Today’s meditation looks at an application of this to our first Scripture. First we get to grips with what the Psalmist meant when he wrote the words. Why did he say them? What was happening in God’s world to trigger the comment? This is dealt with in the meditation. It’s a basic exegetical understanding of what the words mean. The entire meditation is an interpretation of the passage. It’s an exercise in Hermeneutics. The verse of the Psalm is interpreted and expounded to make it more clearly understood. This is the way we should go about bringing the truth of Scripture to our readers or hearers. Sadly, it doesn’t happen in many Charismatic churches. Scripture is seldom read and expounded. What we get is a blunderbuss sermon; Scriptures are rammed down the barrel and fired at the listeners. The result is misunderstanding and error. Remember GIGO, Garbage in = Garbage out Jim & Phyllida Strickland.			A Song of Ascents 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2 ESV A Song of Ascents 1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. Psalms 125:1-2 ESV A Song of Ascents 1 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us. Psalms 123:1-2 ESV 7 Because you have helped me, I sing in the shadow of your wings. Psalms 63:7 NIrV 12 "Our God, won't you please judge them? We don't have the power to face this huge army that's attacking us. We don't know what to do. But we're looking to you to help us." 2 Chronicles 20:12 NIrV 15 My eyes are always on the LORD, for He rescues me from the traps of my enemies. Psalms 25:15 NLT 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalms 124:8 ESV	Way back in the Old Testament, the hills and mountain tops; On all of those High Places, we know that there were lots, Of places where the pagan gods desired to get men’s souls. Like altars for Baal worship as well as Asherah Poles. Ugly, phallic symbols, of gross indecency; Where men could praise and worship the god “fertility”! Lewd and sexual orgies with priests or the priestesses. Asking that the deity would be the one who blesses; Grant to them prosperity and give them bounteous crops. So that in agriculture, they’d always turn out tops. You’d see them in the distance, up high upon the hills. Good folk wouldn’t look at them. In fact they got the chills, Just thinking what might happen to people way up there. They wouldn’t even glance at them and none of them would stare, And look up at the mountains. The hills were just not right, And very few would lift their eyes in case, they got a sight, Of anything immoral. Far better not to look, And stay in the commandments, within God’s Holy Book. It wasn’t always like this. Some good kings made it stop. They’d go to the High places and cleanse it from the top, Down to the very bottom; burn down the Asherah poles, And smash the pagan altars. It was their kingly goal. No longer could men lift their eyes and see upon the hills Those grossly evil places and know about the ills, That often took place up there; like infant sacrifice; Or other dreadful practices and pay the awful price. And after there was cleansing and this was put away, You’d hear a “prophet” speaking; And this is what he’d say. “I lift my eyes up to the hills. It’s near where God abides. My help and strength come from The Lord, and Baal is put aside. The Lord is the creator of everything we see. High up on the mountain top is where He waits for me! He made this world from nothing He formed the mountain tops. If we only trust in Him He’ll give abundant crops. The pagan gods are worthless. Not one of them exists. The Lord God is the One to serve. The others are like mist. The Lord God breathes upon them and they are blown away. It’s only superstition; and who needs that today! So focus on the Master; like servants, watch His hand. Then jump to be obedient to His Divine command. The mountains have no terrors; the hills evoke no fear. I look at them and know for sure my God is ever near. Jim Strickland – Written 19th September 2012

EN HAKKORE – THE CALLER'S SPRING

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Hi all,

The Old Testament is full of incidents depicting the work of Jesus Christ. We frequently refer to them as “types and shadows” of Christ in the Bible. They are not all instantly visible. It’s necessary to dig into God’s Word and ask Him to show them to us. Today’s meditation takes an incident from the book of Judges and unpacks it as a type and shadow of the ministry of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 18 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	EN HAKKORE – THE CALLER'S SPRING
How good are you at languages? My English is fairly good. My Afrikaans is tolerable. That’s where it ends. A couple of French words, a word or two of Arabic. No African language other than Afrikaans. On the other hand we find that our black brothers and sisters speak many languages. Rev Joe Mpanza, the Methodist Church Circuit Superintendent in Worcester, was fairly fluent in seven languages. He spoke English very well and could get by in Afrikaans. The other five languages were all African languages. He was an amazing man and both of us loved him. Many of our illiterate black people in South Africa can converse in more than one language. In some regards, we envy them. I’m ashamed to say that although I’ve lived in RSA for some 63 years, I’ve never learned anything other than English and Afrikaans. Phyllida is likewise challenged in African indigenous languages. As a man who loves the Bible, I deeply regret not having learned Hebrew and Greek. This means I’m dependent on Bible translations for understanding the content. Fortunately, I’ve got “Strong’s numbers” on my computer. It’s a big help, but can never be as good as being able to read the word in Hebrew and Greek. I understand that in the past, people would insist on reading the Greek New Testament and the Hebrew Old Testament. That doesn’t seem to be the case today. It may well have something to do with the fact that up until the mid-1960’s, we only had the KJV in UK. The American Standard version and the American Revised Version were not found all that often in UK. So I cut my teeth on the KJV. Do we lose anything by this limitation? I suppose we must. The difficulty is knowing what it is! In the Old Testament, we are often given the name of the place, the meaning of the name and the reason why that name was given. Strong tells us the name En-Hakkore should be pronounced, “ane hak-ko-ray” meaning “The Fountain Of One Calling”; Poetic license allows me to pronounce it “en ha-core” for rhyming purposes. It is the story of a desperate Samson, crying out and asking God for water in his battle with the Philistines. God gave him a spring from a split rock. A spring that to this day still flows. In today’s meditation, I’ve used this as a type and shadow of Jesus promising the Holy Spirit to all who ask. In particular I used the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. In it I’ve tried to compare the one event with the other. There are remarkable similarities. Samson cried out to the living God for water for his thirst. God “split the rock” and gave him an “everlasting supply of natural water”. Today Jesus splits our hardened hearts of rock. He gives us a heart of flesh and causes the Spirit to flow from us in an everlasting stream. It’s a fascinating comparison. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			19 So God split open the rock basin in Lehi; water gushed out and Samson drank. His spirit revived--he was alive again! That's why it's called En Hakkore (Caller's Spring). It's still there at Lehi today. Judges 15:19 MSG 10 Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask Me, and I would give you living water." John 4:10 NLT 37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me! 38 Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" 39 (When He said "living water," He was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.) John 7:37-39 NLT 10 Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. Malachi 3:10 MSG 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13 TNIV 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-10 TNIV 6 You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Galatians 4:6 MSG 15 You haven't received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God's adopted children by which we call out, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15 GW	“En Hakkore” – the Caller's spring – The rock the Lord God split. The basin there In “Lehi” was changed a little bit. Water started gushing out; and Samson drank his fill. He’d called to God; God answered, spring water is there still! God answers those who call on Him when they are parched and dry. But He gives living water, from Jesus Christ Most High. It isn’t just a little bit; it’s far more than we need. The Holy Spirit comes on us and we are “filled” indeed. This miracle for Samson, He’ll do for me and you. The Holy Spirit comes on us and fills us through and through. He is the “living water” Who flows from deep inside. He “splits” our hardened hearts of rock so that they “open wide”! A softened, lovely “heart of flesh” is put into its place; And people may now walk with Him, through Jesus and His grace. The woman from Samaria just couldn’t comprehend, That “water” was available which only He could send. Not just a little trickle, to only whet her taste. But Living Water Rivers, the Holy Spirit placed; And caused to live within her. She would be “dry” no more. She’d have the very “Life of God’; an everlasting store, Flowing from the spirit to all who would believe. She’d only have to ask the Lord and surely, she’d receive. She’d be a bit like Samson; the well at “En Hakkore”, Gave the needed water that he was desperate for. That water was still flowing; that rock was split in twain. And those who come to “En Hakkore” need never thirst again. But here we have a difference. What if your spirit’s dry? You only have to call on Him. His Spirit would supply, Enough to last a lifetime; a never ending store, Of “water” from His Spirit and you will “thirst” no more! None of this could happen before the Spirit came. But still this precious lady has earned eternal fame. In spite of limitations, the town was won for Christ. Her meeting with the Saviour, we understand sufficed. The people went to meet Him. That’s all we need to do. Tell them of His Spirit, Who lives inside of you. They can be adopted into God’s family. Cry out “Father, “Papa God”, Lord come and rescue me. Like Samson I am dying. I call upon your name. Father, please forgive my sin. I’ll never be the same. Come and be my En Hakkore, A well that’s never dry. Filled with Your Holy Spirit, until the day I die. Jim Strickland –Written 18th September 2012.