UNPROFITABLE SERVANT

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 21 October 2012

Hi all,

This edition is a bit late. We went to Klerksdorp yesterday afternoon and have only just arrived home. We were there on behalf of WCN to induct Philip and Corlia Buys into membership. We had a great time meeting them and enjoying their hospitality. It really was a great blessing.

Today’s meditation is on a very touchy topic. The Scriptures today challenge our methods and traditions in a most uncomfortable way. So the meditation challenges our traditional thinking about churches, buildings and staff. Perhaps you will not “like it”. This means I’ve touched a button. Perhaps it’s the very button the Lord wants touching?

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 21 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	UNPROFITABLE SERVANT
After reading today’s Scriptures I felt a bit like a boxer who had taken a viscous knock-out blow to the stomach. It left me feeling dazed and a little bit nauseous. Why? Because I began to realise how far the 21st century church has drifted away from the clear instructions of the One we call Lord. This raises the question of whether He really is our Lord. Jesus asked: 46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and still don't do what I say? Luke 6:46 NIrV It’s fairly obvious that the one we obey is really our master. So, who are we following? Usually it’s tradition. But it’s not only tradition! Mostly we follow the example of those around us. We observe that Pastor XXXX has a mega-church building which he fills three times every Sunday. He is also a gifted orator with an ability to accumulate followers who will sit and listen to him absolutely “spell-bound” Sunday after Sunday. He also has plans to build a larger auditorium so that he can “pack more in” to listen to him! He says that God told him to do it. I always find that rather odd. Where in the Pretoria / Johannesburg area do we need more or bigger churches? There are already so many that the “flock” has become selective in what it wants to hear. After all, if Pastor XXXX makes them feel uncomfortable, they can go and attend the church of Pastor YYYY. He is not quite so radical and preaches “nice sermons” we all enjoy. We also love our titles. I’ve never come across so many self-appointed Apostles and Prophets as we have in South Africa. It may be worse elsewhere. Be that as it may. I’m speaking about RSA. Jesus’ directions on fancy titles can be found in Matt 23:1-13. It is summarised as follows: 10 Don't make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah. 11 The person who is greatest among you will be your servant. Matthew 23:10-11 GW Of course if you insist on a title, Jesus gave us one. 10 So likewise you, when you shall have done all the things commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants, for we have done what we ought to do. Luke 17:10 MKJV The other feature of the 21st century church is the focus on money. Yes, running a church is expensive. My question is, “Where do we need any of the trappings we love so much? Do we really need a building? Why? To entertain on Sundays? Bear in mind, the bigger the “church”, the greater the financial demand. Should we scrap our buildings? Let me answer the way Jesus did. By asking a question. Do you really need yours? If you are concerned about your future, if the building is closed, then it seems to me you are a hireling. You are in the ministry for what you can get out of it. We all like a big fat salary at the end of the month. If so, think about quitting and getting a job! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 You call Me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the One who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. John 13:13-17 NLT 24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called 'friends of the people.' 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:24-27 NLT 25 But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28 NLT 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. 4 So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him. John 13:3-5 NLT	We have such strange ideas that are not in God’s Word. Some are so ridiculous, they border on absurd. Jesus may have taught things; How His Church should be run. But nowhere do we ever see, what He taught, being done. He taught us about titles. Don’t have them Jesus said. Bishops, Fathers, Pastors, go to the people’s head. “Unprofitable servant” is what we ought to say.                Luke 17:10 We’ve only done our duty the Master to obey. “The one who would be greatest; he should become the slave. Of all of the church members”. That’s the command He gave. But who is there who does it? We like authority And no one’s more important around this church than me! We work with business structures. It’s like a pyramid. The boss is always at the top. We do what he has bid. And yet it was the Lord Himself Who washed the dirty feet, Of all of the apostles when they reclined to eat. Of course they didn’t like it. The very lowest slave Was usually appointed. So was the Master brave? It seems that He was weary of their great thirst for power. And so He demonstrated that each and every hour They should be serving others. But such things squash our pride And we are too important with His ways to abide. There is a lust for money that people seldom see. “If you want God’s blessings, support my ministry! Put your tithes and offerings where we can use it best. If you put it somewhere else, you surely won’t be blessed. In any case, my lifestyle needs lots and lots of cash. If you do not give it, this ministry will crash!” “If you are important, then come and sit with me. Surely it’s much better if other people see That’s you’ve become a general in the army of the Lord.” Brother, if you’re thinking this, then fall upon your sword! We love to preach the gospel. Men love to hear us preach. I mustn’t share my pulpit, or hear what others teach. O Father please forgive us. Your church is upside down. We surely need revival. Another pulpit clown, Who “entertains” Your people is not what You require. But someone who will preach the truth and set our hearts on fire. Jim Strickland – Written 21st October 2012

THE TEMPLE’S SITE

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 20 October 2012

Hi all,

The story of David and Araunah the Jebusite is fascinating. At this very spot, God ended a plague brought about by David’s disobedience. David wanted to buy the place to build a sacrificial altar for God. Araunah offered it to him for free. David told Araunah that he would not offer to God that which cost him nothing! Later David bought the entire piece of land from Araunah. Subsequently, this was the place Solomon built the Temple. God brought good out of something bad!

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 20 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 TEMPLE’S SITE
Genesis Chapters 44 and 45 are among the most beautiful chapters in the Old Testament. They are deeply moving. Joseph has not yet revealed his true identity to his brothers. He has had all his brothers arrested. Joseph’s cup was found located in Benjamin’s baggage. Now Joseph tells them that they are free to go but Benjamin will remain in Egypt as his slave. We then read of Judah offering to remain in Egypt as Joseph’s slave instead of Benjamin. Judah’s plea on behalf of his brother and on the danger to his father’s life is touching. If Benjamin does not return to Canaan, his absence will result in his father’s death. At this point, in Chapter 45, Joseph breaks down weeping. He dismisses his servants and reveals his real identity to his brothers. Reading it myself brings me close to tears. Here was the man who had been sold as a slave into Egypt by these same brothers now embracing them and telling them all is forgiven. 5 But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. Genesis 45:5 NLT It is sometimes said that Joseph in the Old Testament is a type of Jesus Christ. There is considerable truth in this statement. Biblically, there is no trace of sin in his life. He bears imprisonment on trumped up charges with great fortitude. Then he is raised from slavery to the right hand side of Pharaoh in one day. I must confess I’m not sure how I would react to meeting the same brothers who had sold me as a slave into Egypt. Could I forgive that? To give the religious answer, “Yes” is easy. But could I do it? I’m not sure. What I can say is that some years later, his brothers were still afraid of him. After the death and burial of their father, they thought the time had come for him to deal harshly with them. Then we get a further glimpse of the forgiveness embedded deeply into Joseph’s heart. He said to them 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Genesis 50:20 NLT David was a man after God’s heart. But David was subject to the same failings we are. So when he decided to carry out a census of all his people, it was probably pride that pushed him into doing something so foolish. The verses on the right give the background and some of the detail surrounding the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David refused to accept it as a gift from Araunah. He would not make an offering to God that cost him nothing. So David purchased the threshing floor. Later he bought the entire piece of land from Araunah. It was a fair price for the time. But David had no intention of using the place as a farm. He decided that the entire property would be donated toward the great temple his son Solomon would build. Thus it was that this piece of property which David had bought was to be the site on which Solomon’s temple would stand. It has been said that the Holy of Holies in the great temple was directly over the piece of ground on which Araunah’s threshing floor had once stood. We are told that the most expensive building in history was Solomon’s Temple. Most of it was paid for from David’s personal wealth. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			23 I (Araunah) will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the LORD your God accept your sacrifice." 2 Samuel 24:23 NLT 6 What can we bring to the LORD? What kind of offerings should we give Him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? 7 Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? 8 No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:6-8 NLT 6 We're all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags. We dry up like autumn leaves-- sin-dried, we're blown off by the wind. Isaiah 64:6 MSG 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; Romans 3:10 TNIV 23 Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God's glory. 24 They receive God's approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free from sin. 25 God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God's approval is given through faith in Christ's blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past. 26 He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26 GW 6 All those things bring praise to his glorious grace. God freely gave us his grace because of the One he loves. Ephesians 1:6 NIrV 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:10 NLT	Sometimes it’s very difficult for us to do what’s right. We often shout and bluster and say that we will fight, To do something we’re feeling, that surely must be done. And then, upon reflection, we feel we have to run, Because we did in foolishness, a very silly deed. The Lord has been offended and there really was no need, To go ahead and do it. We’d got the whole thing wrong. We wonder what the Lord will say. Will He come out strong, And bring about a judgement, because we disobeyed? We’ve made such a mess of it, we ought to be afraid! That is just what happened when David was the king. Go and count the people. It was the very thing He should not have requested and Joab told him so. But David still insisted and told Joab to go, And carry out a census; his curiosity, Overcame his caution. Joab reluctantly, Went ahead and did it. When he reported back, David said to Joab, he’d taken the wrong tack, He knew it was an error. He knew that it was sin. And desperately regretted the mess that he was in. Early the next morning, his seer, known as Gad, Told him he must make a choice from three things which were bad. Three long years of famine that would decimate the land. Three months of his running from his enemies demand; Or three days of a plague in which so many would be dead. David chose the plague because he knew inside his head, God was very merciful. Perhaps He would relent, And He would spare the people, if he would but repent? Even so death’s angel took many folk away. He’d continue killing, till God ordered him to “Stay!” Then he was commanded, at Araunah’s threshing floor, Stop this dreadful killing; I don’t want any more. David then decided, this very place would be, Where he’d build an altar for everyone to see. He said he would buy it. Araunah told him Nay! Let me give it to the king. He doesn’t have to pay, Any sort of money. I’ll give it him for free. David said, “I’m sorry. Here’s how it has to be. I’ll not make a sacrifice that doesn’t cost a thing. I have got to pay for it, I can never bring, Anything to God for which I haven’t paid. Araunah consented; the “deal” was thereby made. David then proceeded. But many folk don’t know. There upon that very spot, the temple had to go. All that piece of property became the spot of land On which God’s Holy Temple, would ultimately stand. David made an error, but God turned it for good. The way the Lord has promised, for certain that He would. Jim Strickland Written 20th October 2012

WHEN THE TRUMPET SOUNDS

Time with Jesus - Friday, 19 October 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation looks at Adam, Eve and fall. What happened in the Garden? What was Adam doing? We observe that Adam was only a tenant. He had a leasehold agreement for the earth from God. Satan stole it by deception. Jesus cancelled the leasehold and now exerts His freehold rights. When the trumpet blows, Satan will be evicted.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 19 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	WHEN THE TRUMPET SOUNDS
The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I wonder what it looked like. How easy was it to identify. We know that it was located in the middle of the Garden of Eden. But how did Adam know which tree it was? Did it look any different from all the other trees? Was it in the middle of an orchard? Did it stand all alone so that you would recognise it if you walked toward it? We don’t know. What we do know is that Adam and Eve had the complete run of the garden. But they were not given ownership. 15 The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. Genesis 2:15 NLT Adam and Eve were “innocents in paradise” with no restriction on them. I assume that the fruit of every other tree in the garden would contribute to their knowledge of what was good. I’m not sure that they had any idea about evil at all. How could they. The knowledge of evil was confined to the fruit of one tree. There was no other evil in that garden. Presumably, if Satan hadn’t come along, we would all be there romping and playing in the garden and enjoying our time with God in the cool of the evening! But I digress. There was no sin in the world. Nothing died. Did the trees grow? Did the grass, flowers and plant life grow? What about the animals? Man was told to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. Presumably this applied to all the creatures God had made. The instruction may have been given to Adam and Eve only. Presumably it applied to all the creatures? It seems that this would inevitably result in the entire world being fully populated. Only one thing could prevent this from happening. If Adam ate fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. he would lose the leasehold right of occupation on God’s world. Only one sin was possible. For Adam (not Eve) to eat the forbidden fruit. We usually include Eve in this prohibition. But the way she spoke to the serpent, suggests the Lord had not given the instruction to her. God gave the order to Adam. It was his responsibility to pass it on. We know what happened. God had given Adam an indefinite lease on the Garden. 1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it. The world and all the people belong to Him. Psalms 24:1 NLT Satan now had legal possession for an undefined period. But he didn’t own it. This means that God had the right to take it back, subject to the laws He had put in place. So Jesus did not “steal” the world back. He legally cancelled the lease and terminated Satan’s tenancy agreement. Since the “freehold” was His, He had every right to do so. One of these days, Satan will be evicted. When the last trumpet blows! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			1 Are you cheerful because you belong to Christ? Does his love comfort you? Is the Holy Spirit your companion? Has Christ been gentle and loving toward you? Philippians 2:1 NIrV 1 "How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! 2 We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. Job 14:1-2 NLT 26 When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, GOD is rock-firm and faithful. Psalms 73:26 MSG 16 I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you.26 The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. John 14:16 & 26 MSG 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died. 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 NLT	When he’d been created; in the days before the fall; I’ve wondered about Adam. Did he understand at all, What the Lord was saying, when He told him he would die. The fruit of good and evil He told him not to try. If ever Adam ate it, death would come on board And he would face destruction, by death’s great and mighty sword. Did he really listen? Did he comprehend, The outcome of his eating and that death would be his end? It seems he wasn’t frightened. He wasn’t quite aware, Of all the consequences. He didn’t seem to care. But after he had fallen; with Satan in control, He knew that all his children had lost their mortal soul. He didn’t seem to realise, a little tiny sin, Would put all of his children in the mess that we are in. He didn’t quite appreciate that everyone would die. That fear of death would haunt us, for to all death would apply. From that very moment, when death was in control, We have all been frightened, of what happens to our “soul”. From that very instant, we have been the slaves of fear. Terrified of dying and knowing it was near. No one could avoid it. Death’s “jaws” were open wide. It was unrelenting and to all it was applied. No one could avoid it. No man dispute its claim. This would last forever, or till Christ the Saviour came. He took on the devil and Satan was defeated! Beat him fair and squarely. The devil wasn’t cheated. Jesus through His lifetime had not committed sin. So it was inevitable Jesus Christ would win. Death had been defeated, when Christ was resurrected! By His precious blood, His saints are thoroughly protected. Death has lost its terror. His saints can overcome, In the precious Name of Jesus Christ God’s only son. Yes, our mortal bodies will surely pass away. But we’ll get a new one when He comes again one day! So be a little patient. All of us will rise, The instant that His trumpet sounds. the devil and his guys, Will have to give the lease back. It will not be extended. And Christ will have the “freehold” of all that God intended. Jim Strickland – Written 19th October 2012