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.

TASTE AND SEE

Time with Jesus - Monday, 17 September 2012

Hi all,

What do the words, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” mean to you? We do have an expression which says,” It looked so good I could almost taste it”. In our meditation we go a step further. God Himself invites us to come and “taste” His goodness. We will not be disappointed.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 17 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	TASTE AND SEE
Occasionally I’ve pondered on God and His creation. We know He decided to create someone in His image. We understand that this has more to do with character that appearance. It must be. God is spirit and in that dimension, as best we know, He has neither shape nor form. I presume that, for reasons best known to Himself, He could not or would not create us as spiritual creatures like His angels. I suspect that free will in the heavenly realm was not favoured as a result of Lucifer and his gang. No! If He decided to create, He would do so in a dimension we know, but was unknown in the heavenly realm. But where to start? God has no problems with this. He knows everything. So when it came to creating man, He knew exactly where to begin to achieve His goal. You and I are not so fortunate. Furthermore, we can only function within the limits He has imposed. We would have to think in terms of the end product and work backwards from there. In a way we would be compelled to think of how man would live in that environment. So where did God start? In all likelihood He would start by creating a new dimension. He decided on a time/space continuum. With one word it was created. Was that a big bang? Difficult to know. What happens when something comes from nothing at God’s command? If anything, His Words were that bang. Every basic thing necessary for a dimension in which man would live, came into existence with the words, “Light be!!” Refinements would come later as, block by block, everything was put into place. The creation story is logical in a step by step fashion. God tells us it all happened in 6 days. It could not have been our six day week. That couldn’t begin until our planet was created and began to rotate in its orbit round our sun. If you choose to believe He created everything “ready-made” feel free to do so. It doesn’t worry me at all. My guess is that gravity was created at the same time as light was created. In some way, everything in this universe is affected by gravity. It would not have been a good idea for Adam to drift off into outer space. Gravity prevented this. It seems likely that, at this point, what we call the basic laws of nature came into being. Laws of motion, light, sound and everything we know which make it possible for us to live here in comparative safety. When eventually God created man, we are told that He “squeezed together” the “mud”. Here is the creator of the universe putting everything together that needs to be in us. A brain, eyes, ears, the blood system, the lymph system, the skeleton, the nerves. The complexity is staggering. It is physically impossible for something as complicated as a human being to come about as a series of random chances. But I digress. One of the most beautiful “things” God gave us was our faculties. Within our environment we may “enjoy” life. See things beautiful. Be touched with the sound of music. Hear the footsteps of our beloved. Touch and feel priceless objects. Caress our nearest and dearest. Smell the sweet delightful aroma of jasmine and the smell of a favourite perfume. Not the least of these delights is flavour. The taste of our favourite dish. This faculty is one of the very first we ever experience. The taste of nourishment from a bottle, or better still, from Mom’s breast. Most importantly we may “taste and see” the goodness of God. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalms 34:8 ESV 9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 "A host always serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!" John 2:9-10 NLT 3 Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn't. And our ears tell us what's true and what isn't. Job 34:3 NIrV 13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 2 Corinthians 4:13 TNIV 10 I believed, even when I spoke, "I am greatly afflicted";  Psalms 116:10 ESV 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 TNIV 3 As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. Song of Solomon 2:3 ESV 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4 NASB 32 Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won't He also give us everything else? Romans 8:32 NLT 2 Like new-born infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3 ESV 11 But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread Your protection over them, that all who love Your name may be filled with joy. Psalms 5:11 NLT	Hearing, smelling, seeing, touching, thinking, taste. God gave these to all of us; His gifts were not misplaced. Life is very difficult, if we cannot hear. Smell a nice aroma. “You smell so good my dear”. Sight, we undervalue and if we could not see, We’d be groping in the dark; how dreadful that would be. Could we love our partner? Life would be a mess, If a lover couldn’t feel a gentle, soft caress. We would all be vegetables, without the power to think. How would we establish what we would eat or drink? We’d be like a baby. Instinctively we’d cry. Then, in all our ignorance, each one of us would die. The one we least appreciate it seems to me is taste. Think of chocolate ice-cream, brake fluid and fish paste. Could that be delicious? I don’t think that it would. Too much salt or sugar would both be just as good. All of these “abilities” originate from God. He knew they’d be needed, when daily, life is trod. We need them all to function within the world He made. If one or more is missing, a price is always paid. In spite of all He’s given by way of faculties, We are not conscious of our God and His abilities. He wants us all to seek Him. But where to go and look? He’s given us a method within His Holy Book. Therein we find a treasure. A quality unknown. Beyond all of the senses, He’s given as our own. We know the world we live in, is not reality. Faith’s the only method to contact Deity. By faith alone we hear Him. By faith alone we see. By faith He tells us all to taste how good He’ll always be. Taste His perfect righteousness. Taste His hidden power. The water that He turns to wine is sweet and never sour. Roll His “flavour” on your tongue and “taste” what He has said. I know it sounds unusual, but He’s our daily bread! His “essence” is delightful; like manna for the Jews. Whatever flavour you desire, He says you’re free to choose. You will not comprehend Him. But He is always there. Live within His shadow. There’s nothing to compare, With being like the Master and tasting the Sublime. Other food can’t satisfy, so come to Him and dine. Jim Strickland – Written 17th September 2012

NOT PLAYING GAMES!

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 16 September 2012

Hi all,

Christianity is for anyone and everyone, regardless of nationality, culture or language. God loves all of us equally. At the same time, it is not a lifestyle for sissies. Although He is with you every step of the way, He expects us to be strong and courageous. It’s something like a top-class Paralympic athlete competing in the Games. There is one major difference. He wants us to finish the course. Failure is not an option!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 16 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	NOT PLAYING GAMES!
Have you enjoyed watching the Olympic and Paralympic Games on TV? It really was special. We only saw the final moments of that which the athletes have invested in time and effort to get there. Most of them didn’t even win a medal! Sure we cheer the winners. We should do. But how many of us identify with those who won silver or bronze medals. Many of the athletes were in tears because they didn’t get “gold”. It seems that there are no prizes for being second best! As Christians our hearts reach out to them. Not because we are better than them. Frankly I don’t have the dedication to sport that they do. The training, the pain and suffering to win a race. Why? It’s beyond me! There is a comparison between training for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Christian life. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians expresses it as follows: 25 All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. 1 Corinthians 9:25 MSG Eugene Peterson’s translation puts it in classic “Olympic Games” language. What we do not realise is that in the race of Christian life, there is only one person we have to beat. Ourselves! In a way, everything is the “wrong way round”. In London 2012, only one person in the race gets gold. They get it after they have won the race. In Christianity, we are informed that the “Gold medal” is awarded to everyone who finishes the race. To get “gold”, we have to keep on keeping on! Others may be faster and better than we are. But not in Jesus’ eyes. He sees us all as gold medal winners, if we complete the course. That’s encouraging. There is a sense in which we are running as “Paralympic” athletes. In London, the Paralympic contestants are divided into various groups so that people only compete against others similarly challenged. That’s quite correct and is considered fair. But in our race of life each of us is in a class of our own. Jesus sees you and me as unique. We don’t get categorised. We run against ourselves in a one person race. If we finish the course we win. The “gold” is there for the taking. If we finish the race, we’re in first place! The question is, will we finish? The Paralympics is a competition. But in the Christian race of life, we are not competing with others. The difference is that Satan and his bunch do everything they can to discourage and force us out of the race. In a way, we could say that most of the officials don’t want us to finish and use everything they know to keep us away from the finishing line. We can’t ignore them. We have to get past them. But we have the greatest Coach who ever lived on Earth. Jesus Christ. More than that, He runs with us. With Him, we will never be defeated. The “gold” is ours. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			5 For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favour lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalms 30:5 NLT 3 We sent him so that no one would be upset by times of testing. You know very well that we have to go through them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that our enemies would make us suffer. As you know very well, it has turned out that way. 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 NIrV 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 ESV 15 Because I do what is right, I will enjoy your blessing. When I wake up, I will be satisfied because I will see you. Psalms 17:15 NIrV 12 The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. Romans 13:12 MSG 4 Then he will be like the light of morning at sunrise when there aren't any clouds. He will be like the bright sun after rain that makes the grass grows on the earth.' 2 Samuel 23:4 NIrV 8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25:8 ESV 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4 NIV 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them. We will be taken up in the clouds. We will meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with him forever. 18 So cheer each other up with these words of comfort. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 NIrV	His anger lasts a moment. His favour lasts for life. No matter what our problems are; regardless of the strife, We know we’ll be delivered, the weeping soon be gone. The night will soon be over; with joy we’ll carry on. Don’t let pain and suffering cause us to fail the test. Go through the experience and in it we’ll blessed. Our enemies are doing it; the devil wants to smash, The followers of Jesus and cause our hopes to crash. We knew that it would happen. It’s what he’s always done. But we’ve received the victory through Christ, God’s only Son. The Lord said tribulation, was sure to come about. So it is going to happen. Of this, there is no doubt. Even in the midst of it, we’ll know His inner peace; No matter what they do to us, His love for us won’t cease. So let us be encouraged and let us all take heart. The Lord has overcome the world and Satan cannot part, Us from the love He has for us. The world cannot succeed, And tear us from God’s Kingdom and the life He helps us lead. Indeed it’s like a nightmare. Excruciating pain, Is what the devil uses. But it is all in vain. It only lasts a moment; and in eternity, The actual duration is just momentary. There’s really no comparison. It isn’t cause to quit. Pray and ask the Master to help you cope with it. He will not refuse you. He will not let you down. And in His Royal Kingdom, you’re sure to wear a crown. A woman in her labour will cry out in her pain. But when the child’s delivered, the thoughts within her brain, Will never be her anguish; she will be filled with joy, Because she cradles in her arms her baby girl or boy! Her suffering was worth it. She knows it very well. Even if she went through the very fires of hell, The joy which she experiences through her baby’s birth, Is more than all the treasures we find upon the earth. So let us all take courage. Our life on earth is short. Yes, there’s tribulation. Satan will resort To anything available, to keep you from the Lord. But Jesus is the One Who should be worshipped and adored. Nothing is worth keeping! He’ll dry up all our tears; He will swallow death and put an end to time and years. We will live forever and be with God Most High. If we follow Jesus ‘til the instant that we die. Jim Strickland – Written 16th September 2012