FORGIVE! - PSALM 112

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Hi all,

If we tried to compress into one word the God we serve and adore, the word is likely to be love. In fact John tells us: ¹⁶ We have known and believed that God loves us. God is love. Those who live in God's love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16 GW The next word we would probably think of is “forgive”. Forgiveness is so closely entwined with love that they become hard to distinguish from each other. Forgiving within a framework of love is one of His fundamental qualities and is our meditation today.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 18 July 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	FORGIVE! - PSALM 112
“What is God like?” A few days ago we looked at this and observed that Jesus is like God. This has nothing to do with physical appearance. The connection is character. In fact God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are indistinguishable. You and I cannot see any differences. But when it comes to His appearance, we have a problem. God is Spirit. What that means is unknown. There may well be some sort of a clue evident in the post resurrection appearances of Jesus. He appeared and vanished apparently at will.   So, what is the significance of the descriptions of God in His Word? What is likely is that the Prophets and Psalmists were using “anthropomorphisms” in their descriptions on God. i.e. Using familiar terms to describe the indescribable. Moses’ illustration in Psalm 91 is a good example. 4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection. Psalms 91:4 NLT The factors that really scare me about God is His Holiness, Purity and Righteousness. Outside of His Son, Jesus Christ, to draw near to Him would be fatal. We know and have some understanding of this. His Righteousness scares me the most. In this regard, He is utterly consistent. Judgement is an excellent example. You and I have certain values and standards by which we measure others. Perhaps it’s a thimble-full. Perhaps a table spoon-full. It could be a shovel-full or even a front end loader-full. In other words someone fails our test if it is bigger than the standard we’ve set. If we are pernickety or pedantic, our standard will be a thimble-full. If we are generous and forgiving our standard would be a front end loader-full. We know the “size” of that standard. Furthermore, we evaluate and judge others in terms of that standard. God also knows its “size. He then uses the same standard on us. He will judge you and me in terms of the standard we set for others. So the more forgiving and generous-hearted we are the better for us. Most of us love the first half of Luke 6:38. The second half is not so well known or understood. 38 Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you." Luke 6:38 GW We need to be very generous with our forgiving others. In fact we need to be more than merely four-giving. Let’s go for five-giving or even twenty six-giving. If we don’t, God will judge us in terms of the standards we have set. That really scares me! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			8 She (Mary Magdalene? or Lazarus’ sister Mary?) did what she could. She poured perfume on my body (Jesus) to prepare me to be buried. Mark 14:8 NIrV 3 He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. Luke 21:3 MSG 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly be rewarded. Mark 9:41 TNIV 12 Do you really want to give? Then the gift is received in keeping with what you have, not with what you don't have. 2 Corinthians 8:12 NIrV 18 Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18 NLT 15 For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved 16 and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup--where does that get you? James 2:15-16 MSG 6 Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NLT 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" Luke 17:10 ESV	FORGIVE! Forgive the sins of everyone, whatever they've committed; Loose them all from what they've done and let them be acquitted; Follow the example of Him who reigns on High; Who cleanses and remits the sins of all who would draw nigh. For those who would pass sentence on any of their peers, Will find that all the wrath of God is heaped around their ears! Those who judge their brethren, are certain to obtain, That very self-same judgment. The One who does ordain, That we ourselves are always judged, in ways that will comply, With all of the parameters which we sought to apply! We receive THAT measurement; THAT standard which we set, Is How He'll deal with all of us and that is what we'll get! So Christian, be careful. If you desire to live, There isn't an alternative. You simply must forgive! Jim Strickland Psalm 112 i)          Blessed is the person who fears the Sovereign Lord, Who takes a great delight in His command. ii)         His children will be mighty in the land. And his reward? A blessed generation who can stand; iii)        Wealth and riches in his house, with righteousness forever; Where the light obliterates the dark. iv)       Gracious deeds, compassion, will forsake the righteous never. An upright, righteous man will have this mark. v)        Good will surely come to him, who generously lends, Conducting his affairs and being just. vi)       He will not be shaken; will not need to make amends; Remembered as a person one can trust. vii)      He will not be fearful of bad news for he will be, Steadfast, ever trusting in the Lord. viii)     He will be secure and will not fear what he might see; Triumph o'er his foes is his reward. ix)       He has scattered gifts unto the poor. His righteousness Endures until the very end of time. His horn will be exalted and with honour he'll be blessed. He will not be guilty of a crime. x)        Wicked men will see it and be vexed as they observe; Will gnash their teeth and quickly waste away. Their longings come to nothing, they’ll get what they deserve; Reaping what was sown yesterday. Jim Strickland Written 1987

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ACTION

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 17 July 2012

Hi all,

This morning I’ve tried a slightly different style. There are nine Scriptures with 2 “truncated limericks” per Scripture. It was worth a try, but presents difficulties with available space for a one page meditation. The net result is small printing which may be difficult to read. The fact that most of the Scriptures touched on the Holy Spirit was very helpful for me. I hope and pray that the Lord will touch you through this meditartion.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 17 July 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 HOLY SPIRIT IN ACTION
Talking about Father Christmas among Christians is a bit like discussing the merits of eating pork in a synagogue! Unless you are careful, you will get shot down in flames. Some Christians are highly offended because “we are teaching our children to believe a deliberate lie”. I’ve heard it said many times and must confess that there are many facts to support this. Unless of course you have a wild imagination. Then, perhaps like me you can suggest in some ways, Father Christmas is a bit like Jesus Christ. Jesus doesn’t have reindeer and a sleigh. But if you look at Ezekiel Chapter 1, you will find that the Lord is transported in something almost indescribable. I think the average child could “cut his teeth” on reindeer and a sleigh, then move on to Ezekiel’s vision. The other thing about Christmas is that Father Christmas brings presents for little boys and girls. He always asks them if they have been good. I completely bomb out there! According to Jesus, no one is good except God. Now I can’t speak for you, but I’m definitely not God. So I can’t say that I’m good. However, if you are a good person, please send me your contact details. I’ve never been in the presence of so exalted a person and I’d like to come and get your blessing! I struggle a bit with Father Christmas coming down the chimney. In my case there isn’t a chimney. But I’m not sure the thought of God dying for me crucified on a wooden cross, is any easier to believe. Perhaps the greatest similarity is the gifts Father Christmas brings. They are entirely unmerited. Of course in this world, they come from the father and mother. For me, the greatest gift I ever received was completely unmerited. Not only did I not deserve the gift of eternal life with Him, it’s the very opposite of what I should have been given. A sentence to Hell for a million eternities would be more appropriate. This means that I don’t have to apologise to you for perpetuating the Father Christmas myth. It also means you don’t have to apologise to me for hating the idea and calling me a heretic. So what do we do with Pentecostalism in the 21st century? If my experience is anything to go by, a number of you would like to burn us at the stake, the way they dealt with heretics in fairly recent times. Sadly, that option is no longer available; which means that we are sort of stuck with each other. But that doesn’t solve the differences between Pentecostals and non-Pentecostals. (Looks like I’ve invented a new word!) The facts are, whether we like or approve of each other or not, we are brothers and sisters in the family of God. To quote Paul in his letter to the Romans: 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5 TNIV So we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We can’t help it. We were all born into His kingdom this way. Now if you want to call me the black sheep in the family, that’s fine. (no racism please) You can be the white sheep. But we are all sheep adopted into His Family by the same Holy Spirit. So why don’t we all make an effort to love each other? Why don’t we all invite the Spirit of God to help us reconcile our differences and promote our Saviour? Jim & Phyllida Strickland – written 17th July 2012			13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV	We always should bring our thanksgiving, to God for each one of you. You haven’t been cursed. And you are the first! Who did what He told you to do.		You’re sanctified by His Spirit, because you of the truth you believed. The first fruit of those, Whom the Lord God has chose, And Jesus as Lord has received
			16 Wake up, North Wind, get moving, South Wind! Breathe on my garden, fill the air with spice fragrance. Oh, let my lover enter his garden! Yes, let him eat the fine, ripe fruits. Song of Solomon 4:16 MSG	From North and from South blow the breezes, to breathe on my garden so fair. The air smells so nice, With the fragrance of spice, And with fruit that’s deliciously rare.		If only my lover would enter. Come sample the fruit which is here. He’d stay here all day. And would not go away. And would be forever so near!
			11 Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. 2 Corinthians 7:11 NLT	See what your sorrow’s producing; a touch from the Lord we can see. You’re filled with such zeal. Your alarm is so real. The way that we hoped it would be!		You wanted to punish wrongdoers, for that which you knew they had done. The concern and the care, You displayed everywhere! Repentance has surely begun!
			9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:9-10 NLT	When you look deep down inside you, what is it that you can see? If darkness reigns - Your Christian gains Are squandered for eternity!		But if you see deep within you, that which is right and is true. You’ll see His light. - Burning so bright. Taking such good care of you!
			16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn't looking for Him & doesn't recognize Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you now & later will be in you. John 14:16-17 NLT	I’m going to ask the Father, to send the Divine Advocate. Do not be surprised, That you’ll recognise, Him, when He descends upon you!		He is the Lord’s Holy Spirit, whom you haven’t gotten before. But He will be, In each one of Thee. And power will be lacking no more!
			5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5 TNIV	How do you know that God loves you? His Spirit has filled all your hearts. With strength and with power, To fill every hour, Set free from the enemy’s darts.		No longer will you shake and tremble and walk around cringing in fear. No! You’ll win the day, The Spiritual way. No matter who tries to come near!
			22 But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind & good. It is being faithful Galatians 5:22 NIrV	The character that you are needing, to stand against every foe. He’s sure to provide, From deep down inside. And His fruit will abundantly show.		It isn’t something accidental. By God it has all been inspired. Love, joy and peace, No more will they cease. Far more than you could have desired!
			2 They have suffered a great deal. But their joy was more than full. Even though they were very poor, they gave very freely. 2 Corinthians 8:2 NIrV	They didn’t have oodles of money. We’d say they were terribly poor. But they were so brave. They liberally gave, And wanted to give so much more!		Their giving exceeded the limits; of what we’d consider was wise. They gave with a glee, Quite hilariously. God’s love shining bright in their eyes!
			11 All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when. 1 Corinthians 12:11 MSG	They only have one thing in common, the gifts which The Spirit bestows. Form God they all came. In Jesus’ Name. His love and His care overflows!		He gives people just what is needed, in each individual case. It wasn’t in haste. And none went to waste; Regardless the time and the place!
				Jim Strickland – written 17th July 2012