THE JESUS WAY

Time with Jesus - Wed. 07 November 2012

Hi all,

Today we take a sort of jaundiced look at what many of us see all around us in Christianity. If anything, today’s meditation focuses on truthfulness and lies. It’s clear we need to be much more careful about what we say and think. The Lord talks about idle words. We need to repent and change course toward transparency.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 07 November 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 JESUS WAY
A couple of days ago we were looking at the fact that we Christians are not always as honest as we should be. Usually it stems from a desire to be liked by others and to impress them. These motives are very understandable but they also happen to be carnal. These motives raise their ugly head when we are asked to give our testimony. Many of us embroider them a bit for effect. How do I know? I’ve done it myself. It’s something like the fisherman’s story of the fish he caught. It ends up sounding much bigger than it really was. In Christian terms we talk about things being “evang-elastic”. Like the young preacher’s kid who was listening to his father. “Is that true?” he asked, or “were you only preaching?” Much the same thing happens at the great tent meetings. “How many ‘decisions’ for Christ were there?” A number is quoted in good faith. Each night the people who came forward were counted, so the number is accurate. What we don’t really know is how many came up for the second or third time. How do I know? As a new Christian, I did it myself on several occasions. What I was looking for was reassurance. So I kept on “going forward” until the issue was finally settled in my own mind. What about salvation? Mine was decidedly suspect. I was at that meeting because that’s where all the pretty girls were. A very important reason for a single 18 year old male. The reason I went forward on that occasion was because I didn’t want my skin singed in hell. In other words, my intentions were purely selfish. It would be wonderful if we could see men and women coming to Jesus for good Biblical reasons; like being overcome by the extent of their own sinfulness and the extent to which they have offended our Righteous and Holy God. Today, Jesus is presented to the masses as a universal panacea for anything and everything. Whatever fix you are in, He’ll fix it. On occasions it happens instantly and the person is instantly healed. But this is not always the case. I was instantly healed of the need to wear specially built up shoes. Later I was healed of my dependence on nasal sprays. For most of us it has been a question of standing against the devil until the symptoms have gone. The thing I most strongly object to is when people tell others that if you come to Him, everything will be perfect. That’s deception. The Christian life is wonderful. But it means going against public attitudes. It’s not easy to be laughed at and called a Jesus freak. It’s hard to change your value system from that of the world to that of Christ. Humanly speaking, it can’t be done. But when He is in your corner, the fight is not quite as bad as we think. He will and does bring victory – when you have given up trying. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:10-11 ESV 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 ESV 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening--it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Hebrews 12:11 NLT 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 NLT 12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 NLT 9 Each time He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT	“Give your life to Jesus and you will have a ball. No more further problems. The big ones or the small. If you give your life to Him, your problems He will trash. And if you’re short of money, He’ll give you lots of cash. Come and sleep on rose-buds and snooze your life away. Nothing could improve upon the Christian life today” Have they caught you napping? It’s just a pack of lies. A parcel from the devil, packaged to disguise! The facts are just the opposite of what you’ll find is true. This is just the devil’s way of his deceiving you. The only part that’s easy, is at the very start. Jesus will receive you, then He will make you part, Of challenging convention. You’ll go against the grain; You’ll find that all your former friends treat you with disdain. They’ll tell you, “You are crazy!” and “don’t be such a jerk. It’s only phoney, charlatans who ever go to kirk. Come and smoke a little “pot” or chill out on some “crack” If you are a Jesus freak; you’re never coming back! You will not be welcome in all your former haunts.” Listen very carefully, can you hear the taunts, That the world will give you? Each word of it sounds true. So will you stick with Jesus, the way He wants you to? Be very, very careful, think well and then decide. Do you want an easy life that rots you from inside? Then walk away from Jesus. You’re not worth your salt. But when you are committed and Jesus you exalt, You’ll find the pain is worth it. The going will be rough, For Jesus Christ is teaching you, you have more than enough, To stand up to the devil, when you’re on Jesus’ side. So tell the folk around you, it is for them He died. He will be their Saviour and give their life a goal. Walk and talk with Jesus and He will make them whole! It isn’t just a pipe-dream; it’s not imagination. The Lord will give them victory in every situation. Not some little medal to hang upon the wall. But someone Who’ll empower them to stand up straight and tall. A Saviour Who will be with them in all that they go through! The One Who makes life possible in everything they do. Jim Strickland  Written 7th November 2012

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 06 November 2012

Hi all,

Today we meditate on Walking in the Spirit. ¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Gal 5:16 ESV Don’t say it’s impossible. If that was the case, why would Paul instruct us to do so? No this is not beyond our ability if we trust the Lord and stop thinking of our own comfort. If you could do this as a teenager with another teenager of the opposite gender and enjoy it, what’s the excuse today?

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 06 November 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	WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
George & Ira Gershwin. A winning combination of popular song writers, many of which (songs) are still well remembered. The one I’d like us to look at was composed in 1937 and popularised by Fred Astaire: The chorus was, Holding hands at midnight, 'Neath a starry sky / Nice work if you can get it, And you can get it if you try / Strolling with the one girl, Sighing sigh after sigh / Nice work if you can get it, And you can get it if you try! Personally, I remember strolling out with the current girl-friend. (Not that I had many) We would hold hands and sigh! It was one of those things we did in the middle of the dark ages. (20th century) It was a sort of adolescent version of walking in the spirit – not the Holy Spirit. However, there is one essential feature required. You can’t do it alone! You can’t very well stroll at any time of the day holding no-body’s hand. Both parties must be willing to stroll together. If you don’t, you look silly! This feature of being willing to walk together is crucial, if we want to Walk in the Spirit. In the first instance you must want to. The reason I didn’t start with the comment that the Holy Spirit wants to, is simple. He always wants to walk with us. The only problem the Holy Spirit has with walking with us is sin in our lives. The fact is, sin and the Holy Spirit is a bit like oil and water. They don’t mix very easily. You may try and get an emulsion of some sort. But He will depart the moment you try. It follows that the real problem is not the Holy Spirit. The problem is you and me. The prophet Amos wrote: 3 Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren't going to the same place? Amos 3:3 MSG It may be a bit obvious, but if you aren’t going with the Holy Spirit, you’re on your own. Walking in the Spirit is the same. There must be at least a basic agreement or the joint venture will flop. The question is whether or not you want to walk with the Holy Spirit. You must actually want it. “But how do I do that?” is the question I’m often asked. Paul gave us a clue in Galatians. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Gal 5:16 ESV I don’t want to be too simplistic. But let’s take the same Scripture and turn it round. “If I am not gratifying the desires of the flesh I will be walking by the Spirit.” How do I know I’m not gratifying the desires of the flesh? God’s Word shows this very clearly. “But I can’t do that! That’s why Jesus came. To help me to walk in the Spirit!” Absolutely true. But you can easily see if you are walking in the flesh. Anyone who can read will know if they are, or are not. So if you are not gratifying the desires of the flesh you must be walking in the Spirit! So grab hold of Jesus’ hand and go “Holding hands at midnight, 'Neath a starry sky!” Nice work and you can have it! And you can have it if you try! Try it! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			5 Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You. Psalms 25:5 NLT 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 ESV 20 The Holy One has anointed you, so all of you have knowledge. 1 John 2:20 GW 20 Look to God's instructions and teachings! People who contradict His word are completely in the dark. Isaiah 8:20 NLT 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 NLT 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalms 32:8 TNIV 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, Matthew 6:22 ESV 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether My teaching is from God or is merely My own. John 7:17 NLT 8 A wide road will go through the land. It will be called The Way of Holiness. Only those who are pure and clean can travel on it. Only those who lead a holy life can use it. Evil and foolish people can't walk on it. Isaiah 35:8 NIrV	Walking in the Spirit! How many folk can do, This wonderful instruction hand-made for me and you? You’d think that it was easy. That ought to be the case. But walking with the Master and feeling His embrace, Seems to be too difficult and many Christians quit. They don’t know this attitude renders them unfit, To ever walk with Jesus. For if they do not try, They’ll find the opportunity has simply passed them by. So Father God, please teach us to walk in truth and light, By the Holy Spirit; not leaning on our sight. We know You can do it. But if it’s left to me, I’ll walk into obstacles and bump into a tree! O Lord, we need Your guidance. Without it, we will miss, The truth which you are teaching; and end in the abyss. Speak with Your authority, that each of us can hear, What You are declaring; in true and Godly fear. We have Your anointing, so we should have the skill, To comprehend the knowledge with which we have been filled. This we know for certain. It’s an established fact; That keeping Your commandments is the only way to act. Grant us the perception, to never contradict, The Word that You have given us, to have the devil licked. We know the Holy Scriptures; we learned them as a child. They came by inspiration; they’re pure and undefiled. Help us to assimilate Your truth in every way; To focus upon Jesus, so that we can obey, Every little detail of what Your Word has said. When we have this mastered, we will be Spirit led! It isn’t complicated, a little child can do, All that is required from folk like me and you. Listen first; then do it! You will not get it wrong. Not if to the Saviour, you truthfully belong. Anyone who wants to do that which the Lord desires, Will surely be directed to do what He requires. Find His way of Holiness. Don’t think you can fool, With other types of living. For if you let His rule, Be far more important than all you think and do. Walking in the Spirit will be a “cinch” for you. Jim Strickland  Written 6 November 2012

JIMMETS – MAN’S PEACE - MY PEACE

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 04 November 2012

Hi all,

Today we take a final look at Isaiah 9:6. The Scripture is Prince of Peace. To help distinguish between the world’s peace and divine peace, I’ve compiled two Jimmets. One is entitled, “Man’s Peace” and the other is entitled “My Peace”. The difference is very significant.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 04 November 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	JIMMETS – MAN’S PEACE - MY PEACE
Choruses. We all remember them from long ago. I remember singing, “I’ve got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart”. I sang it with the other youngsters back in the early 1960’s. It was very popular. One of the reasons was we could include our own words in place of “Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy”. A popular addition was “the guarantee of His salvation”. Mine was, “the peace that passes understanding”. We would sing it with great gusto. Sadly, on reflection, I’m forced to the conclusion that the words were from my head and not my heart. But when you are in your early 20’s who knows the difference? I certainly didn’t. How do you recognise “the peace that passes understanding?” Sure it was on several bumper stickers but what did it mean? The fact is if we don’t know, it truly passes understanding; mine and yours! It seems a terrible thing to say, but most Christians are basically dishonest! We would sing about peace in our hearts. But what were we singing? Did we or didn’t we? Most of us would have vehemently said we have “it” and wouldn’t admit we didn’t. After all, as a Christian, it should be true. Furthermore we would rather die than say anything to the contrary. Twenty years later this was taken to a new level of dishonesty by the statement, “fake it till you make it”! Most of us did, for fear of making a “negative confession”. I remember in 1981, while going through a terrible divorce, people would ask me how things were going at home. I would put on a somewhat forced grin and say, “Fine, just fine”. It was an out and out lie! Things at home were not fine. They were unbelievably horrible. But I didn’t dare say that. It would have been a negative confession and that was forbidden. There was a feeling going round that to say the wrong thing, invited Satan to destroy you. But he already had! Saying so would at least have been truthful. What then is this “peace”? John Wesley tells us a little about it. He was crossing the Atlantic and a huge storm arose. The people on board were terrified. All except a family of Moravian missionaries. When he asked them why, they told Him that they were in God’s hands and whatever happened He would be with them. Wesley was “gob-smacked”. They had peace and he didn’t! Today we are surrounded by Christian men and women who don’t realise that peace is not an emotion. It’s supernatural. It is knowledge, based on Scripture that “It is well. It is well with my soul!” Do you have it? Do I have it? Does anyone have it? The answer is a definite “yes”. But it’s not based on me or how I feel. Often I don’t think I do have it. But when I take time alone with God’s Word in a quiet place, suddenly He becomes “real” in a special way. That’s His peace touching you and me. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			6 For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NLT 2 He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. 3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. Psalms 72:2-3 NIV 6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. 7 In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. Psalms 72:6-7 NIV 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14 MKJV 78 Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace." Luke 1:78-79 NLT 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), Acts 10:36 ESV 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 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 ESV 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 ESV	MAN’S PEACE What do people understand by “peace”? A word that tells them that there is no war? That inter-human conflicts are deceased, And man won’t kill his brother anymore? The dis-United Nations seem to think; That if the nations put away their arms; Quicker than the fastest eye can blink It will be the end of all the harms, We inflict on others every day! Sorry, but they have the whole thing wrong. Wickedness is in our hearts to stay, And power’s always hijacked by the strong. Pretty speeches never have sufficed. Peace will only come in Jesus Christ. Jim Strickland Written 4 Nov. 2012 MY PEACE In the upper room that fateful night, Jesus said, “My peace I give to you. There will be no need for you to fight, In the way that worldly people do. Peace is only ever found in Me. Peace that tribulation can’t prevent. Peace which I bestow eternally. Peace that can’t be shaken bowed or bent. Peace that, come what may, you can endure. Peace with God! That is what I bestow. Peace to help you realise for sure, You are someone I will always know. Persecution is a certainty. But My peace will always be on thee” Jim Strickland Written 4 Nov 2012