DEALING WITH SIN

Time with Jesus - Friday, 29 June 2012

Hi all,

Back in my Bible School days, one of my favourite teachers was Dr Ken Stewart. He commenced one of his series of teachings with the following: - “The elders here asked me to preach about sin. “God’s against it, The Bible’s against it and I’m against it. So let’s talk about Jesus!” I share his view. But there are times we have to talk about it. So today’s meditation is about dealing with sin.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 29 June 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	DEALING WITH SIN
One of the “best descriptions” I’ve heard concerning sin is on a tape made many years ago by a Bible teacher called Paris Reidhead. This particular tape is sometimes called the “best Bible Teaching tape of the 20th century”. I can’t verify the validity of this. But I have a CD recording along with a typed transcript of that teaching. Speaking about humanism, Paris said that it was “like a miasma that seeps up out of the gratings over the pit of hell”. His theology may not be right, but I must confess that it’s a very good comment on humanism and on sin. Sin is insidious. It seems to arrive unannounced, unwelcome and unknown. We have all heard about inherent sin. This is our sin nature. We are born with it “written into our genes” as it were. That beautiful little new-born baby has a tendency to sin. The child may not be aware of it. But it won’t be necessary to teach him to lie. He can do it without any “sin lessons”. That little baby is capable of being a monster of iniquity. If left unchecked and without correct guidance, we have a potential Hitler in our midst. Sin has the potential of developing in us. Perhaps the best example of this is the guards in the Nazi Death Camps. After committing horrendous atrocities during the day they would go home and play with their children. Love their wives and pets and sing Christmas Carols. It was possible because they had grown used to behaving like monsters in the camp. There was no longer a sense of revulsion in them toward what they were doing. It was their jobs which they performed with typical Teutonic dedication. This is not to be understood as a criticism of the German people. The fact is all of us can quickly descend into the depths of barbaric cruelty. We see a similar trend in serial killers. The first murder is carried out with fear of the consequences. The second murder is a little easier. Eventually, murder for them is like buying an ice cream. It’s done without regret or remorse of any kind. Sin is exactly like that. At first we find it difficult. Then, as the transgression is repeated, it becomes automatic and hardly noticed. God help us when we get there. We could arrive at a place where our conscience is so seared that we don’t even realise what we are doing is sin. Fortunately, or unfortunately, God is not like this. He never gets unimpressed by repeated sin. If anything He gets angrier with each repetition. He hates sin with a passion that we can hardly understand. All sin. He is equally angry with murder as with telling lies. But He had a “problem”. He loves us and hates our sin. For you and me it’s a catch 22 situation. He will judge each and every sin. Nothing is swept under the carpet. His “anger” with sin is “equal” to His love for me and you. Somehow He had to reconcile these two all-consuming opposites. He has done this in and through the death of Jesus on the cross. Righteousness and mercy have met and kissed. In the light of this, He is able to forgive us. His justice is completely satisfied and we are able to receive His mercy. But this does not give us a licence to continue in sin. Sin demands repentance. No repentance, no forgiveness. It’s that simple. He is able and willing to forgive us from all our sins. He says He will remember our sins no more. That’s His part. Our part is to repent and turn away from sin. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my rebellious ways. Remember me, O LORD, in keeping with your mercy and your goodness. Psalms 25:7 GW 22 I made your rebellious acts disappear like a thick cloud and your sins like the morning mist. Come back to me, because I have reclaimed you. Isaiah 44:22 GW 25 "I am the one who wipes out your lawless acts. I do it because of who I am. I will not remember your sins anymore. Isaiah 43:25 NIrV 18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:18 ESV 34 A man will not need to teach his neighbour anymore. And he will not need to teach his friend anymore. He will not say, 'Know the LORD.' Everyone will know me. From the least important of them to the most important, all of them will know me," announces the LORD. "I will forgive their evil ways. I will not remember their sins anymore." Jeremiah 31:34 NIrV 19 Once again You will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under Your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! Micah 7:19 NLT 17 I'm sure it was for my benefit that I suffered such great pain. You love me. You kept me from going down into the pit of death. You have put all of my sins behind your back. Isaiah 38:17 NIrV 18 Who is a God like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy. Micah 7:18 GW 5 May grace and peace come to you from Jesus Christ. What Jesus gives witness to can always be trusted. He was the first to rise from the dead. He rules over the kings of the earth. Give glory and power to the One who loves us! He has set us free from our sins by pouring out his blood for us. 6 He has made us members of his royal family. He has made us priests who serve his God and Father. Give him glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Revelation 1:5-6 NIrV	I’m sure God has a problem when He looks down on us. He sees the creatures He has made all making quite a fuss. It seems we do not listen. He tells us what to do. But we pay no attention; at least not me and you. We cannot spot His meaning so rather like a cat, We give a look that tells Him, we are not doing that. Sometimes we are like canines. We spin around and bark; And when He tells us what to do, it seems we do not “hark” Why is it we don’t listen? Why is it we ignore, The Master’s strict instructions? To listen is a chore! Thank You for Your mercy. You know the mess we’re in; And when we do not listen, we know it is a sin. But we are not “sin conscious”, instead our minds are seared. With You we’ve grown familiar, and You are not revered. In fact we rather like it. We look at sin as “fun”. We’re playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded gun! Why should I even bother? There’s folk much worse than me. I am a special sinner the blood of Christ set free. But God is not a prostitute. We cannot “use” His grace’. We do not have a licence to sin in any place. We know You want to wash us, clean as the driven snow. But change is inconvenient. Can we not take it slow? And here’s the contradiction; You’re wanting to forgive. But find You cannot do it, because we want to live, Just like the unsaved sinners whom we see all around. We lie and steal and cheat and kill. In us there is not found, A tiny speck of righteousness; except that of our own. And we should reap the consequence of all that we have sown. But Lord, You are forgiving. We only have to turn; To put aside iniquity. That’s what we have to learn. And though our sin is scarlet, You’ll wash us white as snow. If we’ll come in repentance, forgiveness we will know. You overlook rebellion in someone who’s contrite. You’ve said you won’t remember, things not done in Your light! Our sins You will dispose of into the deep blue sea. If we will turn and come back home and put our trust in Thee. Our sins will then be blown away just like the morning mist Righteousness and mercy will both have met and kissed.       Ps 85:10 And we will gaze in wonder at the marvel of your ways, In total incredulity. And Father, we will praise, The God of our salvation in wonder and in awe. You are the One Who’s worthy; the God Whom we adore. Jim Strickland  Written 29th June 2012

PEER PRESSURE

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 28 June 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is about Peer Pressure and what it can do to us. Very often it’s a question of “Monkey see, monkey do!” Except that no human being is a monkey! Jesus warned about this in the end times. We want to be like all the other “Christians”. So we succumb to doing what others do and listen to what others say. Check out what people say by looking at God’s Word.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 28 June 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	PEER PRESSURE
Peer pressure. It’s one of the greatest challenges we will ever face. I started smoking while I was still a schoolboy because all my “mates” were doing it. It’s a bit of a contradiction. Young people want to be different. Different from the rest of society. So they start doing things which are different. In my days it was the “duck-tail” haircut for the boys. Within a short space of time, all our “mates” also had “duck-tail” hair. (Baldness was not a problem for young men in those days) So we end up looking the same as all the others who want to be different. We have it today in our schools. Drugs are taken because everyone else is doing it. We were trying to keep up with the other boys. Today, the girls have sex with the boys because, if they remain virgins, they will be out of step with the other girls in the class. That’s peer pressure! In my matric year, one of the guys got a motor scooter. He used it to and from School. It ignited the “green eyed monster” in us and we all wanted one. Another guy had a “Bubble Car” (remember them?) Almost immediately we also wanted one. One guy got a girlfriend. We all wanted one too! Suddenly, life was all about keeping up with the Jones’ even though the Jones’ didn’t always exist. In Christianity there is a serious problem with peer pressure. Thirty years ago we had the “Name it, claim it and frame it” brigade. Actually it was very presumptuous. On reflection I sometimes wonder whether we were there to serve God or He was there to serve us! We would, stand on the Covenant promises of God and demand He do what we were asking! Things are not grossly different today. The prosperity message has taken the people by storm. So if we have a ministry we must look the part! “Pastors” drive round in flashy expensive cars. They wear silk shirts and expensive suits because “God’s man must never look poor”. He must look prosperous. The fact that he does it at tremendous cost to his flock is thought to be normal. “They may learn from me that God can afford my lifestyle”. Oddly enough, Jesus didn’t do this and He is the Son of God. So charlatans with oratorical ability prey on the flock and acquire great wealth at the expense of the people. It’s reached the point in Limpopo Province evangelists are shunned. Why? Because one man toured the area and told them that if they put a certain amount in the offering, they would be millionaires in three weeks! He left town with their money. Not one of them are millionaires over a year later! This shouldn’t surprise us. Jesus warned about this in the last days. The question is, what are we going to do about it? We can continue to preach the simple Gospel Jesus proclaimed and look out for thieves and robbers. “By their fruit you will know them” said Jesus. So let’s all see what men do rather than what men say! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			1 The Holy Spirit clearly says that in the last days some people will leave the faith. They will follow spirits that will fool them. They will believe things that demons will teach them. 1 Timothy 4:1 NIrV 18 "So pay attention to how you listen! Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge. However, some people don't understand these mysteries. Even what they think they understand will be taken away from them." Luke 8:18 GW 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 NASB 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; Ephesians 6:16 ESV 165 Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalms 119:165 TNIV 103 How sweet Your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. 104 Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. 105 Nun Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalms 119:103-105 NLT 99 I know more than all of my teachers do, because I spend time thinking about your covenant laws. Psalms 119:99 NIrV 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8 ESV	The Holy Spirit tells us, in the last day’s there’ll be fakes. People who speak “Christian talk” but actually are flakes. They have been deluded; they think that they are right But all the things they say and do are evil in God’s sight. Motivation’s everything in all they say and do. They’re building up their ministry and friend they’re using you. Their motive isn’t Jesus, it’s money in the bank They cast out demons in His name; but who they really thank, Is Mammon and His partners, avarice and greed A big cheque in the offering is what they really need. O yes! They’ll are convincing. And even the “elect” Can easily be turned away. They are an evil sect. We must be very fussy about whom we will hear. Stand aside and look at them and see who they appear. First look at their lifestyle and how they love their mate. If it’s inconsistent, don’t enter a debate. If they truly love the Lord, their Christianity, Will be the sort of lifestyle that Jesus wants to see. Are they rich and flashy and all their people poor? Then get up and leave them. You can be very sure That they are just self-serving. They’re in it for the fame They may all speak of Jesus but it is the devil’s game What about their workers. How much is it they’re paid. It it’s on the ‘bread-line’, be terribly afraid. Get out and get out quickly, or you may be sucked in. And find that you are serving the devil and his sin. If in doubt, don’t do it. From Christ don’t turn away. You’ve had plenty warning your part is to obey. Not the clever orator who has a way with words You’re sure to find his teaching is strictly “for the birds” Check out every statement with what is written down If it isn’t Biblical, get up and leave that “clown”! He may look like an angel all clothed in dazzling light. Just dig a little deeper; his words will have the “blight”. For if you hear a gospel that isn’t what we taught. The Lord Himself will curse him and he will come to naught. So let His Spirit lead you; and you will stay away From all of the false teachers and all the lies they say. Jim Strickland – Written 28th June 2012

A FRESH LOOK AT GOD’S LAW

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 27 June 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is all about the Law of God. It’s a difficult topic to discuss at the best of times. It’s a serious topic and can leave people fleeing extremely uncomfortable. So I’ve used a certain amount of humour. Part of the “Introduction” is dialogue between a man and God. Please don’t think I’m being irreverent. It’s just that the humorous approach makes a difficult topic easier to follow. Furthermore, I find that God loves humour! He must do to have made me!

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 27 June 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	A FRESH LOOK AT GOD’S LAW
Have you ever tried to do something that’s impossible? I know that I have and I’ve met a number of others who have the same problem. My dilemma is getting into the trousers I wore at my wedding. Since then I’ve gone from a size 36 to a size 42. Even with a shoe horn I can’t squeeze myself into those trousers. I could if I went on a diet. But at my age I don’t have the motivation to do it. I’ve come to the conclusion that my pall-bearers will have to be big strong men! Now ladies, I know your problem getting back in to your wedding dress. After a couple of children and a wee bit of middle-age spread, that dress has shrunk by about four or five sizes. Leaving it hanging on a hanger in a cupboard obviously makes it shrink. But my husband likes me this way. That’s true. So stop looking wistfully at that dress. Put it in a box and pass it on to your daughter! What’s that, she thinks it’s too old fashioned?! Oh well, you can always cut it up and use it for dusters! Hey! Put down that meat cleaver! Of course, when we come to looking at the law of God, we have a major problem. It wasn’t derived democratically. It was put on us by an all wise and loving God. The terms are very clear. “This is how you must behave for your entire life. No mistakes, no slip-ups!” God has a zero tolerance policy. Furthermore, He knows every detail of your life from conception to termination. He knows it better than you. God forgets nothing! He also has different ideas about the seriousness of sin. To dishonour your father or mother is as serious as murder in His eyes. So why did He give us the law. Firstly, it tells us what He is like. He is perfect in every way. He has no difficulty keeping the law. It’s His “style” forever! So we look at it and say, “Wow Lord, that’s wonderful!” Can I have a go? “Sure!” Try it and see.!” We do and quickly find we can’t do it. “Had enough?” He asks. “Can I have another go” we ask. “Be My guest” He replies. Then we fail again. “Have I made My point?” “Err, Yes. I can’t keep it can I” we answer sheepishly. “That’s what I said” He says. “So why did you give it if You know I can’t keep it” we ask even more sheepishly? “I want you to know you can’t do it alone” He replies with all the wisdom only He has. “How does that work” we ask? “As follows” He says I knew when I made man that he would fall. I gave him free will so he can obey or disobey. To disobey is to sin. I also know that if a sinner comes near Me he will be “fried to a frazzle”. But I want him to be able to come near me. So someone had to be “fried to a frazzle”. My Son, My Holy Spirit and I looked at this together. We can do it. Don’t ask Me how! We decided that if My Son was “fried to a frazzle” for you, it would solve the problem. So that’s what we did. My Son came to earth and after living a perfect life, keeping all the law all the time. No easy matter, believe Me. He had to deal with a fallen Archangel to do it. But that’s another story. Then He was arrested, falsely accused, tried and found guilty on a trumped up charge. So they flogged Him to within an inch of His life. Then they crucified Him and He died. It should have happened to you, but you could never have taken it. “Now here’s the clever bit! Because He is God, what He did for you was done for all humanity”! Even so, We want you to live a perfect life here and now. So My Spirit and My Son come and help you when you fail. If you repent and ask for forgiveness, they do what’s necessary and get you going again with a clean sheet. We have everything figured out. So We put the law there so it can get you started on the forgiveness routine! Kind of neat huh? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			2 Do not take me to court for judgment, because there is no one alive who is righteous in your presence. Psalms 143:2 GW 18 "Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah 1:18 NLT 5 So the enemies of my people had better come to me for safety. They should make peace with me. I will say it again. They should make peace with me." Isaiah 27:5 NIrV 21 "Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Job 22:21 ESV 1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1 NLT 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." Galatians 2:16 NLT 20 So it can't be said that anyone will be made right with God by obeying the law. Not at all! The law makes us more aware of our sin. Romans 3:20 NIrV 39 Everyone who believes in Him is declared right with God--something the law of Moses could never do. Acts 13:39 NLT 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 NLT	He knew they couldn’t keep it and no one asked Him, “Why”? Utterly impossible; although He knew they’d try. It’s typical of people. They turn and grit their teeth. “Others cannot do it but they are far beneath, The things which I am doing. I’m going to get it right. I am quite determined; that they will see the sight, Of somebody succeeding where they themselves can’t go. But I am going to do it. Just God and I will know!” Here we see the evil and the wicked hearts of men. They will keep on trying and trying once again. They’d crawl on broken bottles from Jo’burg to the sea, If that would make them righteous. They all fail miserably. Can we ever keep it? We must never fail. Just one violation will cast us into jail. For when the law is broken, it’s as sure as sure can be. They’ll lock you in a “hell-hole” and throw away the key. And yet the law is beautiful when written on the wall. We say it’s right and proper and then from grace we fall. So it becomes a nightmare that will not go away. What will Jesus do with me when He comes back one day? I think it’s time for us to take a fresh look at God’s law. And understand the reasons God put it in there for. It says, “These are the standards of the One Who is ‘I AM!’ If you cannot be like Me, then you are in a jam. I know you’ll try to keep it, to prove you can be good. Keep on trying harder, the way you think you should. But in the end you’ll founder. You’re not Divinity, Although you like to think that you are just as good as me. It’s there to let you see that you will never get it right. And turn to me and tell Me of your never ending plight. It’s then that I can show you the way to come to Me. A method you can count on wherever you may be. Admit you cannot keep it and ask Me what to do. I’ll tell you of the Saviour Whom I have sent to you. He is not a sinner. He is My only Son. He will take the punishment for all that you have done. Trust Him absolutely. Give Him your whole life. He will be your husband and you will be His wife. Then My Holy Spirit will come and show to you, How to live the Christian life in everything you do. You will be empowered by My Spirit and My Son. That’s the only way that Christianity is “done”. He will be your Saviour and you will come to Me. Sin won’t be your master for He will set you free. My law won’t terrify you and you will understand. That everything is working out exactly as I planned.” Jim Strickland  Written 27th June 2012.