BE A WITNESS

Time with Jesus - Monday, 08 October 2012

Hi all,

The Scriptures today really challenged me. For several years I’ve been gravely concerned that people go and attend Miracle and Healing Crusades and nothing happens; lots of healings that may be psychosomatic; but just about nothing that can be confirmed medically. I know that Kathryn Kuhlman was most particular about this. We should be too. God is not hiding away. So we should be quite sure that a so called “miracle” is a genuine “miracle” before we start to spread lies about something that isn’t true. God is not impressed.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 08 October 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	BE A WITNESS
It’s a terrible thing to say but the fact is the Christian Church today is apparently more or less powerless. We look at programmes on TV and notice that although there is a measure of healing taking place, the power and the presence of God appears to be lacking. I’m not accusing anyone about this. If anything I’m pointing at myself. Think about this for a moment. The Holy Trinity is the same forever. So what was done by the Living God in the past should be seen today. Sadly we see hardly any observable and documented healings that can be medically attested. Why? Don’t tell me God doesn’t do that anymore. Don’t tell me that it’s a lack of faith on our behalf. If this is the case, it means that God is tucked away in some “hidey-hole” and won’t show Himself until our Faith level has reached some prescribed level. To say that implies that the power of God depends on you and me! That’s not true. Now I know the Word says 58 And so He did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58 NLT. The question that must be asked here is what Jesus meant. There are two possible reasons. One is that He was not able to perform a miracle because of their unbelief. That can’t be true. Whether we believe or not, God’s power and ability remains the same. Nothing we do can ever change that. The second is that Jesus responds to the faith of the people. In better words, if you don’t believe, He won’t heal. This is probably nearer the facts and may well be what took place. Certainly we know that if you don’t believe, you won’t receive. It follows that this is probably the Scriptural reason. We also know that 17 Faith comes from hearing the message. And the message that is heard is the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NIrV The fact is, the vast majority of those who attend a church meeting are already believers. So “faith” must be there. Even so, almost nothing seems to happen. People do not receive their healing. Why? Don’t tell me they do receive and lose it immediately. That’s a “cop out” and is nonsense! I suspect that the problem is our own motives. We go to hear a message. We should go to meet Jesus. The preacher gives a message. Even so, nothing happens. Question: Have we gone to listen to a man or woman instead of going to be with Jesus? Our big name and small name evangelists and their ilk. Are there to promote their own ministry and – and this is usually the case – to make money or to point to Jesus? Sure it looks very professional; the speakers are eloquent and inspiring. But is the focus on Jesus or on us? One of my “favourite” saints of yesterday – yes he was a Roman Catholic – St Francis of Assisi would commission his followers with words to the following effect. “I want you to go into all the world and spread the Gospel. Then, only if people ask you, speak”. Speaking should follow seeing. What people say should be seen to be their life in action. This was Jesus’ model. The voice of Jesus created all that we will ever see. “Light be” and it was so! But Jesus knew people. He knew they would not listen, even to Him, unless they knew His lifestyle corresponded with His words. How should we respond to this message? Easy. Next time we meet; let’s not focus on what any person says. Let’s focus on Jesus entirely. If we have to sit in absolute silence worshipping and praising Jesus, that’s fine. Let’s get the focus on Jesus and not man! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			For the choir director: A psalm of David. 1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. Psalms 40:1-2 NLT 4 They all drank the same supernatural water. They drank from the supernatural rock that went with them. That rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4 NIrV 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. Matthew 16:16-18 NLT 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 ESV 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; Hebrews 10:22-23 NASB 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6 ESV 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 ESV	What do we do with “hate-speech” in two thousand and twelve? Does it mean our witness, each one of us must shelve? There’s great misunderstanding about this very thing. We have not been muzzled. Our praises to our King, Are still just as important as they have ever been; And Jesus told us clearly, our witness must be seen! A witness answers questions. He doesn’t volunteer, To give his information to everyone who’s near. Try that in the courtroom. They’ll tell you to be quiet. If you want to go to jail, just carry on and try it. Don’t give your opinions. We’re looking for the facts. Courtrooms aren’t the proper place for distributing tracts. Listen to the lawyer. Do not rabbit on. Give an answer truthfully. You’re not number one! We are living in a world which truly is a court. Don’t fall into error. You must not resort, To blabbing and to chatting about the Lord Most High. You must be a witness men look at with their eyes. They can spot a liar and recognise a fake. Every little word you say could show them you’re a flake. Go and preach the Gospel That was the Lord’s command. Do it with a lifestyle which men can understand. Everyone is looking and if the things you say, Contradict your actions in just a tiny way, They’ll call you a hypocrite and what they say is true. But, if they first see it, they’ll listen unto you. Back in the Old Testament a witness was a stone Set up by the people so everyone was shown, What was commemorated. A rock says not a word. But every time men looked at it, its message could be heard. If it had started speaking, the folk would run away. They’d think perhaps a demon was visiting that day! Christians must remember that credibility, Is not what people listen to, but that which people see! The people in the Bible first saw what Jesus did. Heal the sick and raise the dead. His witness wasn’t hid! They could see it plainly. That’s how He got their ear. If He had only spoken, the folk would not draw near! He told each of His followers. His words were “follow Me”! And that is still the only thing a Christian should be. Walking in His footsteps and speaking not a thing. We won’t find the Living God by idle chattering. But when people see it, their hearts will open wide. And they’ll know the living God is down on your inside. Jim Strickland – Written 8th October 2012

BUILDING A HOUSE

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 07 October 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is about surprises. David loved God. He was a man after God’s heart. We may not understand exactly what that means. But we do know that he was not permitted to build the Temple. That would be left for Solomon. But God told David that although he would not build a house for God, God would build a house for him; an everlasting dynasty. We know Jesus was a descendant of David. Just as God told David, Jesus will reign forever!

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 07 October 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	BUILDING A HOUSE
Do you love surprises? For me, it all depends on the circumstances. Usually I love surprising other people. But I get a bit embarrassed when people surprise me. The example I have in mind is the notices most churches issue every week. In most of them there is a column with names, birthdates, and telephone numbers. The idea is to phone the person on their birthday with a greeting of some sort. For as long as possible I’ve done my very best to keep my date secret. These well-meaning and supposedly encouraging calls I find most embarrassing. What about a surprise party? Have you ever been the subject of one? Organising such an event can be hectic. How do you arrange a party for someone and keep it secret? Has it occurred to you that nothing can surprise God? He is omniscient. Besides which, God doesn’t have a birthday. Well, perhaps Jesus does have a physical birthday. But that’s different. In this regard God always announces His intentions before He acts. Amos tells us: 7 The fact is, GOD, the Master, does nothing without first telling his prophets the whole story. Amos 3:7 MSG In the light of this, let’s spend a few moments thinking about King David. Apart from Jesus Christ, he is one of the best loved men in the Bible. We are told that Samuel informed Saul that God had rejected him as King; - 14 But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after His own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of His people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."1 Sam 13:14 NLT The man was David. Now David was not perfect and he knew it. But he loved the Lord. David was a man of war. His hands were stained red with the blood of his enemies. The “Bathsheba” incident confirms he was subject to the same temptations we experience. He wanted to build a temple for God. David was the architect of the first Jerusalem Temple. His chief aim in life was to build it. All his personal wealth was given to finance it. Through the prophet Nathan, David was told God had said he was not to do so. It would be built by his son, King Solomon. Nathan added that although he (David) had wanted to build God a house, God would build a house for him. An everlasting dynasty. 16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before Me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.'"2 Sam 7:16 NLT This was David’s big surprise. To say he was “gob-smacked’ is an under-statement. We are told: King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far? 2 Sam 7:18 NLT How do we handle such surprises? You tell me! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			29 And now, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You have spoken, and when You grant a blessing to Your servant, O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!" 2 Samuel 7:29 NLT 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant that it may continue forever before you, for it is you, O LORD, who have blessed and it is blessed forever." 1 Chronicles 17:27 ESV 22 It is the LORD'S blessing that makes a person rich, and hard work adds nothing to it. Proverbs 10:22 GW 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 TNIV 13 Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the handicapped, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then you will be blessed because they don't have any way to pay you back. You will be paid back when those who have God's approval come back to life." Luke 14:13-14 GW 34 "Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home. 36 I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Matthew 25:34-36 GW To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him; Psalms 41:1 ESV 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalms 84:11 ESV	The crafter of a building is called the architect. He puts his plans on paper. His purpose, to reflect, The vision of the building, which he has got in mind. They’re very skilled and competent; is what you always find. They don’t erect the building, although I’m sure they could. A builder takes the set of plans and does just what he should. He brings in brick and mortar, the marble, sand and stone, The wood, the tiles and scaffolding to build what has been shown. Now who should get the credit when all the work is done? The architect or builder? It should be everyone, Who made a contribution to see the work complete. For as folk take a look at it they’ll say, “That’s quite a feat!” Now what about God’s temple? King David made the plans. God wouldn’t let him build it with blood upon his hands. That task was left to Solomon. It took him seven years. But David was the architect. At least that’s what appears. Everything that David owned; all this was dedicated. To build a temple for the Lord, precisely as he stated. God wouldn’t let him build the house; He had a better plan. God said “Your son will build it – he is a peaceful man”. He said He’d build a dynasty that wouldn’t ever end. David was the starting point. God said He would send, A King who’d reign forever. He’d be from David’s line. The “house” He’d build for David, would have a King Divine. David sat there “gob-smacked”. It’s hard to comprehend, That someday He would send a King, Who’s life would have no end. David was His forefather. How do you come to grips, With anything the Lord had said? A King Who would eclipse, Anything and everything that David might have done? A King Who’d rule in righteousness; Who also was God’s Son! I don’t think I could handle that. I think somehow I’d freak! I think I’d sort of shake my head and say, “Lord, I’m too weak! O Lord I’m just a servant and I can hardly cope, With knowing what You’re doing. It’s far beyond the scope, Of all I have imagined. You’d do all this for me? You know I am a sinner Lord. How can You let this be? But Lord, You said You’d do it. So Father, carry on. Thank you Lord for telling me that I will be that one!” Jim Strickland – Written 7th October 2012

INDEPENDENCE

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 06 October 2012

Hi all,

Today’s topic is about independence. It can be good or bad. It’s good when children are being encouraged to stand on their own two feet and get on with their own life. It’s bad when it is nothing more than rebellion against authority.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 06 October 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	INDEPENDENCE
Wikipedia tells us: - Independence: A condition of a nation, country or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over the territory. The definition is fine but doesn’t refer to that which is in the heart of the individual. The drive to be free from the control of others. The classic example is surely the freedom demands of an enslaved people. We have no difficulty identifying this in a nation or a part of a nation. A bit of thought will remind us that it starts in the heart of an individual and spreads from there to become the desire of many. In many ways, independence is something we all should seek for ourselves. Babies are not independent. They rely totally on the care of others. In most cases this is their parents or other care giver. As they grow, we find each one stretching their boundaries in an effort to explore their own independence from parental control. A healthy relationship between parents and child encourages this. Each youngster seeks a measure of independence as they grow. When I was a baby, my mother washed, fed, clothed and dressed me. If she hadn’t, in all probability I’d be dead! This slowly changes over time. As a 10 year old it would be intolerable for me to be in the same situation, unless there was a medical condition that demanded it. During the teenage years, the young man or woman is given more and more freedom. The wise parent realises it won’t be long before the child reaches maturity and is in a position to repeat the process. Then, as grandparents, we are able to watch our sons and daughters establishing their own homes and raising their own children. Wow! All this is very good. We think so anyway. I wonder what God thinks of it? I’m sure He must have mixed feelings. In the first place, man was never designed to be independent of God. To leave Him is to walk away from life itself. At the same time, He wanted us to obey Him from within a relationship of love and care. We see this in the garden. God gave Adam complete freedom within that garden with one exception. He was not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Defend Adam all you like. The fact remains, he broke the only law God had in place in that Garden. Sadly, through the wiles of the serpent and the gullibility of his wife, Adam declared UDI. It was a unilateral declaration of independence. This declaration had catastrophic results. This messed-up world was the outcome. Adam declared his independence from God and took on the nature of a fallen creature. It was worse than that. He became the slave of a fallen angel who hated him and intended to kill him and all his offspring. Adam lived a further ±900 years. The real death was his immediate separation from God. Physical death only came to get him all those years later. I’ve often wondered why? The answer that amuses me most is that it took Satan ±900 years to figure out a way to do it! In this case Adam changed from dependence on God to be “in-dependence” upon Satan. Cut off from God. From being free, to being a slave of Satan. In this case I don’t think independence was much of a deal! Any comments? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			17 "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." 1 Samuel 3:17 TNIV 8 But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what GOD is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbour, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously-- take God seriously. Micah 6:8 MSG 13 Obey the LORD's commands and rules. I'm giving them to you today for your own good. Deuteronomy 10:13 NIrV 10 And that means that anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure. Scripture backs this up: "Utterly cursed is every person who fails to carry out every detail written in the Book of the law." 11 The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with God that way. The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Habakkuk had it right: "The person who believes God, is set right by God--and that's the real life." Galatians 3:10-11 MSG 19 The purpose of the law was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. Obviously this law was not a first-hand encounter with God. It was arranged by angelic messengers through a middleman, Moses. Galatians 3:19 MSG 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets. 2 In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2 GW 9 So he said to Samuel, "Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, 'Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went back to bed. 1 Samuel 3:9 NLT	It started in a garden a long, long time ago. Adam and his side kick thought things were kind of slow. This diet they were living on was only nuts and fruit; They thought what was forbidden, was somehow rather cute. That’s what the serpent told them and it looked kind of good. And so they tried a sample of what they never should. They wanted “independence”; that’s what the snake implied; And after they had eaten it, the life inside them died. The found that independence was just a “hill of beans”. Not what they had thought about; not in their wildest dreams. They wanted independence from the God Who Reigns on High. And only changed their “ownership” which sort of made them cry. But they were somehow stuck with it and they were then enslaved, By Lucifer, the devil. He made sure they behaved, The way that he intended. He made their firstborn son, Become the world’s first murderer. The dreadful deed was done. He killed his younger brother from jealousy it seems, Because the Lord rejected his offering of greens! By now they’d left the garden. Their time with God was through. It’s clear that right from then on in, the things they had to do, Was what the devil told them; there really was no choice. They’d lost their contact with the Lord and couldn’t hear His voice. But from that very moment, when it was done and dusted, They knew that in the devil’s words they never should have trusted. Independence still remains the people’s heartfelt cry. “I don’t want you to rule me; I think I’d rather die”! How often have we heard this? How often have we thought, It’s time for me to run away; I hope I don’t get caught! We dream of independence. We long to see the day, When we can softly close the door and somehow get away, From the responsibilities which we see all around. But independence isn’t something anyone has found. Not while we are living. We find we need each other. The way that little children need their father and their mother. A wife still needs her husband. The husband needs his wife. We know that their relationship should last them both for life. But still we somehow long for that which we know can’t be. A chance to taste forbidden fruit which everywhere we see. O yes, that man looks handsome. I’ll taste a little bit. But when romance is over, will you own up to it? That woman sure looks sexy. Far better than my wife. I think I’ll try a little taste. It will “spice up” my life! How very, very silly. It is adultery. And you have broken covenant. That isn’t liberty! And just as Eve and Adam departed from God’s will. Your streak of “independence” your marriage you could kill. Jim Strickland – Written 6th October 2012