THY WILL BE DONE

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 13 October 2012

Hi all,

The prayer the Lord taught His disciples in Matt 6:9-13 is frequently referred to as the Lord’s Prayer. Some see this as a misnomer. The Lord’s High Priestly Prayer in John 17 could also be called the Lord’s prayer. My solution is to refer to the “Our Father” as the Lord’s model prayer and John 17 as the Lord’s prayer. I don’t know if this helps you. It certainly helps me. Our meditation today focuses on the Will of God.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 13 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	THY WILL BE DONE
I’ve never believed in “Dot Theology”. Dot theology tells us that God’s perfect will for us is in the very centre of something like a dartboard. Anywhere else on the “dartboard is His permissive will. To miss the dartboard entirely, is not His will. It sounds very simple and logical. Frankly, this is a load of nonsense. Paul put it as follows; 2 Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT This does not mean that God has three “wills”. A good will, a pleasing will and a perfect will. A better way of stating it today would be to say that when you are in His will, you will find it good, pleasing and perfect. It implies that everything else is not His will. Frankly, God has only one will. Everything else is not his will. There is no such thing as the permissive will of God. Show me a permissive Bible and I’ll acknowledge His permissive will. So we are either in it or not in it. To my way of understanding, anywhere on the dartboard is His will. Off the dartboard isn’t His will. Think about this for a moment. This morning I got out of bed at 05h45. If it had been 05h44 or 05h46 would I have missed His perfect will? When I brushed my teeth, I started at the top and worked down. I brushed tooth number 12 before number 11. But if I’d brushed number 11 first, I would have been in His perfect will. Later on I chose to put on green socks. What if God’s will for me was to be barefoot. Am I now out of His will because I chose to wear green ones? Of course not. What I could say is that God wants me to brush my teeth. Whether or not I do is up to me. Another illustration is to consider what I should be doing each day. His will is for me to work. Perhaps He has a reason for me to work in a bookshop. Let’s assume I get a job in a bookshop. He is satisfied. If I am cleaning shelves or serving a customer, He is satisfied. I am still in His will if I serve customer A or customer B. That’s why He gave me free will. He wants me to decide. He is not standing watching to see if I cleaned shelf a or served customer C. That’s up to me. Note that if I’m in the shop working within the law and not doing anything contrary to His commands, He’s happy. But if I steal from the till it’s a sin! To find His will is not too difficult. First ask Him what it is. If you are a six foot 150kg rugby player, don’t ask if you should be a ballet dancer. You would rebel! In most cases, His will for you is what you like doing. I like writing. I would not be interested in flower arranging. He’s made me the way I am. I like it this way. If you want to be a ballet dancer or a flower arranger and are talented that way, go for it! It’s most likely His will for you. Don’t make it so complicated.  Ecclesiastes tells us 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Eccl 9:10 NIV. That’s where you’ll meet with God. He doesn’t guide people who aren’t busy. That’s where you’ll find His will. For you it will be good, pleasing and perfect. The secret is to carry on doing what you are already doing. Then watch for his instructions to go left or right. They will shine out to you like traffic lights. Then do what he says. That way, life will be abundant and exciting. You will be kept on the edge and you will know His peace. That’s where you will find God’s will for you. Where He directs and where His peace is found. OK so you make a couple of mistakes! Get up and carry on! It’s not His will for you to quit. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 ESV 17 Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:17 NLT 14 In the same way, it is not My heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish. (lost sheep) Matthew 18:14 NLT 3 It is God's will that you keep away from sexual sin as a mark of your devotion to him. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 GW 2 That way you won't be guided by sinful human desires as you live the rest of your lives on earth. Instead, you will be guided by what God wants you to do. 1 Peter 4:2 GW 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:18 & 21 ESV 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16 ESV 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother & sister & mother." Mark 3:34-35 ESV 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25 TNIV 17 The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out--but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 1 John 2:17 MSG	Jesus prayed, “The Father’s will, that’s done in heaven each day. Will also come upon the Earth in every little way!” It sounds so complicated. But why should that be so? It’s not as though the Father’s will on Earth we do not know! He spelled it out quite plainly, on tablets made of stone. The concepts are so beautiful; they clearly have been shown. To always love the Lord your God with spirit, heart and soul. To make your love for neighbours your sure and steadfast goal. There also is a rider. To love your enemy. These two “commands” of God sum up the things He says must be. He spells out the specifics we all can understand. Like “Don’t commit adultery”; such actions have been banned. Only married couples should ever copulate. “Don’t commit adultery and do not fornicate!” We know this isn’t popular. But Father makes the rules And blatant disregard for this is only done by fools. Of course we all have weaknesses. There’s yours and there are mine. But we resist temptation through Jesus Christ Divine. So if you look at someone with an attitude of lust. You are an adulterer. Perhaps that seems unjust. But if you love your neighbour, you won’t harm him or her. So only do the things you know that Jesus would prefer. All of these commandments are generalities. Do not murder; do not steal and liars do not please, The Maker of Creation. These are a bagatelle, To keep your eyes on heaven and not be sent to Hell. Now this is just the framework, of how we ought to be. Let’s be more specific. What is God’s will for me? How do we detect it? How can we ever know, That what we’ve started doing, is the way we ought to go? Here’s a little rule of thumb, I think may well assist. If you keep it in your mind, His will should not be missed. Think about the High Street than runs right through the town. There are many traffic lights, to slow the traffic down. When you reach a corner, keep looking straight ahead. Listen for the Master’s voice ringing in your head. If He says turn left or right, then that is what to do. If He tells you nothing, the way in front of you, Is how you should be going. I’ve never known it miss. You’re walking in the will of God. You can be sure of this. He’ll give you confirmation, just keep on keeping on; And vain imaginations will very soon be gone. So walking as God told you within His will each day Is how we ought to live our life and do it Jesus’ way. Jim Strickland – Written 13th October 2012

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Time with Jesus - Friday, 12 October 2012

Hi all,

Paul said that the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking. It’s righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within you. Some translations put it; The Kingdom of God is among you. Both statements are true. When the Kingdom of God is within you, you will see it manifest among you. But what is it? Today’s meditation looks at this.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 12 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	THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Childhood is very often a time of fantasy. I recall how at a very young age I started to read comics and newspaper cartoons. Back then, Prince Valiant was popular reading in the Sunday papers. I can’t recall who wrote the series back then. But I do notice that “Val” is more or less the same age as he is now. That was some 60 years ago. Val has clearly found the “elixir of youth”. Either that or it is now written by the original author’s grandson. “Val” was also connected with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table living in the kingdom of “Camelot”. I didn’t manage to figure out how it all fitted together; but it’s far better than RSA in the 21st century. Chivalry was most important in that series. It was not only permitted, it was encouraged among youngsters of the 1950’s. Young men and boys automatically offered their seat on a bus to a lady. Not to do so was unthinkably. My dad “encouraged” this way of thinking. If I didn’t give a lady my seat, he would “visit” my seat; if you follow what I mean. It was always, “ladies first”. Always walk on the road side in the street if accompanying a lady. Help her by carrying heavy parcels. I was brought up with this behaviour and was disappointed when it passed away. To some extent the ladies changed this when “Women’s Lib” came on the scene. The comment at the time was “We are equal to men!” I found this rather sad. I’d been brought up to think that etiquette was more important than “women’s rights”. More than that! As a child I was taught that ladies were a slightly different and special species of humanity. As a young man I was supposed to treat a lady with dignity, courtesy and respect. Personally, I enjoyed doing so. That’s how men were supposed to treat women. Then “women’s lib” came in and turned everything on its head. That “kingdom” became a “queendom”. If you stood up for a lady on the bus, you were some sort of freak. More than that; some male would jump in before she was seated. You didn’t stand aside for a lady anymore. She became just another member of the melee fighting to get into the lift or onto the bus. Today the situation has reached the point where heavily pregnant women remain standing on the underground trains while young schoolboys sit and take no notice. That’s intolerable. Initiated by some female who no longer wanted to be thought of as special. In my young days, we all lived in “Camelot”. This wasn’t a place; not even a mythical place. It was an attitude toward life and right living. Frankly, I loved it. Mostly, girls were safe in our company. Sure there were rapists back then. But nothing like it is today. We had a standard of behaviour that wasn’t exactly righteous. But it was respectful. It was a time of peace. The ladies enjoyed being ladies. We also had lots of fun together. They were happy days. Almost joy-filled. I think we were a lot closer to living in the Kingdom of God than today. Not in a place; in the heart! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			10 May your kingdom come. May what you want to happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NIrV 44 "During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever. Daniel 2:44 NLT 34 As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits. Daniel 2:34 NLT 6 Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 ESV 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." Luke 17:20-21 ESV 11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables Mark 4:11 NIV 26 He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." Mark 4:26-29 NIV 44 Therefore, you, too, must be ready because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him. Matthew 24:44 GW 17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let those who hear this say, "Come!" Let those who are thirsty come! Let those who want the water of life take it as a gift. Revelation 22:17 GW	The King is in His Kingdom. That’s what a Christian sees. It isn’t food or drinking or doing what you please. It isn’t a location; a geographic place. It’s surely not a venue, in earthly time and space. You needn’t travel anywhere, because it can’t be found. But if you are a Christian, you’ll find it all around. When you come to grips with it, you find it’s nothing less, Than living for the Master in imputed righteousness. The sort of righteous living, which no man can attain. We find that all our efforts are absolutely vain. But as we look to Jesus and let Him take control, He gives to us His righteousness to permeate the soul. Of course we don’t deserve it. It’s granted by His grace. The finished work of Jesus by faith puts it in place. He has made us righteous; our hearts are filled with peace. Not the sort that varies as conflicts start and cease. It is supernatural and no man understands. It’s planted in our spirit by the Master’s loving hands. Peace beyond our knowledge, or human circumstance. Nothing that’s obtainable, by leaving things to chance. These are from the Father, assisted by His Son; Aided by the Spirit and the work in us He’s done. Giving us a joy that fills our body, soul and heart. Even overflowing and setting us apart, From the none believers; and providing a desire, That if they come to Jesus, He’ll set their hearts on fire, The Kingdom is contagious. It’s something that is caught. It is inexplicable and really can’t be taught. It’s a life of holiness that other folk can see. Gloriously flowing from deep inside of thee. Giving a contentment, that only can be found, When He is your Master and He lets His grace abound. This then is God’s Kingdom. “Utopia” within! Garlanded with righteousness, where just the thought of sin, Has become repulsive. Where joy is manifest. Peace flows like a river and His followers are blessed. All this is available! Why do men hesitate; And resist the Master until it’s far too late? Jim Strickland – Written 12th October 2012