THE SCIENTIFIC TEST

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Jim & Phyllida - Switzerland

 Schindler Memorial - Jerusalem 

Hi all,

Jesus did nothing to prove or disprove that His Father is God, nor that His Father existed. Not in a direct way. Of course, everything He did, was on the instructions of His Father. The people of the day had a choice to either believe Him, or not. Some did, many didn’t. In the following verses, the meaning of the words, “the Christ” means, “the Anointed One”, a name they used for the Messiah.²⁴ So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." ²⁵ Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. John 10:24-26 ESV. Essentially He was saying that His miracles attested to Who He was. They could believe, or not. Those who believed were His flock. Those who didn’t believe were not part of His flock. Belief was the essential component.

One of my favourite teachers of yesterday was Dr Ken Stewart. He said he shared a room in seminary with an unbeliever. They challenged each other to prove their point. He stated that neither of them succeeded in proving or disproving God. Dr Stewart added, “when I began to believe, then signs from God started to follow!”

Today, I want to challenge you to put God to a scientific test. I’m not talking about walking on water or being able to fly. This is the test. Approach this scientifically. Believe that God exists and is true. Believe in Him first. Then the evidence of His reality will emerge. To quote from the epistle to the Hebrews, ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Heb. 11:6 TNIV In this instance “having faith” implies believing in Him. Without belief, forget it. Now look at the second part of the verse. If you believe that He exists, He will reward your seeking Him.

Note that in this instance it begins with you. Believe, and see what happens. God will respond to you when you believe. If you don’t – well, that’s your problem.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 12 March 2013			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 scientific Test
Scripture makes it very clear, that we are not to put God to the test. It’s no good my saying, “I can walk off a roof and not fall because I’m a Christian”. I will fall on my nose; rightly so! The test has more to do with my big mouth than a call on God. Even Jesus would not put His Father to a foolish test. The message is very clear. But there is one area in which God invites us to put Him to the test. We find it in Mal 3:10. 10 "Bring the entire tenth to the storerooms in my temple. Then there will be plenty of food. Put me to the test," says the LORD. "Then you will see that I will throw open the windows of heaven. I will pour out so many blessings that you will not have enough room for them. Mal 3:10 NIrV 16 "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. Deut. 6:16 ESV 7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Mat 4:7 ESV Now you and I are aware that today’s Scriptures have nothing to do with money. But there is an important principle here. In Malachi, God invites the people to test Him. I have heard it stated that He refers to a “scientific test”. Consequently, on occasions, we are permitted to, “put God to the test”. Now science states categorically, that proof is required in order to establish that something is true. For example, the entire world believed it was flat, until science came along and proved otherwise. The scientific principle is that you start with an “unproved hypothesis”. Then, by repeated test and experiment, prove your theory!.(Hypothesis) The theory is then usually checked by others. Finally, it is proved correct and is universally accepted. The procedure is 1) hypothesis 2) test and verification 3) proven theory. Today I would like to invite the world to test the hypothesis that God exists and is real. All I’m asking them to do is what every scientist does. Accept the hypothesis that God is real. Then go about establishing whether or not it is true? All that’s needed, is to pursue the Lord as though He is true. Don’t begin by believing! Begin with the assumption that you expect your experiments to prove successful. Hebrews states, 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Heb 11:6 NLT My point is this. Conduct your own scientific experiment with the Lord. Believe He exists. Then, test the truth of this statement. In Malachi, God stated that if they test Him with their money, He would “open the windows of heaven” and pour out such a blessing that they could not contain. Now I am not God. However, He has said I am one of His many authorised representatives. So, on His behalf, I’d like to invite you to take part in this small scientific exercise. God has already said, 8 Open your mouth and taste; open your eyes and see - how good GOD is. Blessed are you who run to him. Psalm 34:8 MSG Here is His personal invitation for you to carry out this little scientific test. Go for it. He will answer you in ways you never thought possible! Today’s meditation is an imagined dialog between an unbeliever (In red) and a believer. (In blue) Go ahead. Taste and see! You won’t be disappointed. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			21 And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! 22 We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. 1 John 3:21-22 MSG 6 It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Heb. 11:6 MSG 8 That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. 9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.) Rom 8:8-9 NLT 3 Let them praise his name with dancing. Let them make music to him with harps and tambourines. 4 The LORD takes delight in his people. He saves those who aren't proud. He makes them feel like kings. Psalm 149:3-4 NIrV 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 1 Peter 2:19-20 ESV 4 Rather, beauty is something internal that can't be destroyed. Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which God considers precious. 1 Peter 3:4 GW 22 Consider this, you people who forget God. Otherwise, I will tear you to pieces, and there will be no one left to rescue you. 23 Whoever offers thanks as a sacrifice honors me. I will let everyone who continues in my way see the salvation that comes from God." Psalm 50:22-23 GW 30 I will praise God's name by singing to him. I will bring him glory by giving him thanks. 31 That will please the LORD more than offering him an ox. It will please him more than offering him a bull with its horns and hoofs. Psalm 69:30-31 NIrV 1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him Rom 12:1 MSG	(Question) Do you believe in Jesus? I’m here to ask you why?                  What is it that convinces You? Perhaps it is a lie? Please tell me where you saw Him? I’d like to go there too. An optical illusion, I’m sorry, will not do! You tell me He has saved you. From what have you been saved? Was it a true conversion or a nice way to behave? Don’t beat about the bushes. Relate the truth to me. How is it you’re a follower of someone you can’t see? Don’t give me your opinions. Religious platitudes, Are not what I’m in need of. Be honest and be rude. I find it fascinating. You say, “In God I trust” But science says conclusively your dreams are only dust. So what is it you’re trusting in? How can you say for sure, That Jesus Christ is still alive and that His life is pure?  (Answer) Thank you for the questions. So now please hear me out.    The One Whom I believe in is here without a doubt. Of course I cannot see Him. It doesn’t work that way. But He is just as much alive as He was yesterday. You challenge me with science. But science tells us how. It cannot tell us where or why. It’s just a holy cow, The people need to slaughter. You cannot reason God. Perhaps you find that difficult, remote, or even odd. You have to first believe in Him. Believe that he exists. Perhaps you think it’s rubbish, but friend I must insist. For if you can’t accept it, I’m sorry friend to say, You really cannot know Him in an ordinary way. We say that faith is needed to prove that He is there. That’s when He starts to visit you and talks to you in prayer. This truth is the first hurdle that you must overcome. And if you don’t believe it, It’s rather sad, old son. For He is a rewarder of those who seek to find. And if you are not looking, I’m sorry, you’ll stay blind. It’s really sad to tell you, no other way will do. And if you do it truthfully, you’ll find He’ll come to you. The Lord rewards a person, who diligently seeks. To come in any other way, brings tears to both your cheeks. I’m sorry to inform you, that if you do not try, You’ll end up on the road to hell the moment that you die. So let’s be scientific and put it to the test. Say that you believe Him. He’ll see to it you’re blessed! And you’ll be on a journey into the Master’s heart, And have your questions answered, in every little part! Jim Strickland Written 12th March 2012

ME AND YOU TOO?

Time with Jesus - Monday, 11 March 2013

Jim & Phyllida in Paris

We love kitties!

Hi all,

In today’s introduction, I mentioned that I am the one who drove the nails. I haven’t been able to locate the book. I think it was the late Rev Dr W E Sangster but am not certain. In my search on Google, I found a song written by Ben Sharplin in 2012 which says much the same. I’ve included part of it below for information.

I wasn’t there the day that Jesus stood before the mob. / To answer accusations about his teachings and his love.

I didn’t see them hit him or spit upon his face / But this I know for certain about what did take place.

It was my hand that drove the nails that held him to the wood / My voice that cried out “Kill Him” as in the crowd I stood.

And as he cried out “forgive them they know not what they do” / He cried out for me He cried out for me; he cried out for you.

I was not among the ones who watched his body whipped; I didn’t hear his cries of pain as they hit him with their fists.

And I didn’t watch him stumble on the long way up the hill. / But although 2000 years ago, my eyes with tears are filled.

I wonder if there are others reading today’s meditation who identify with this?

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 11 March 2013			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	Me and You Too?
What do we really know about God? Not very much! It’s a bit like asking fish what they think about water? They can’t answer because they have no voice. Even if they could speak, what could they tell us about the substance in which they live? In a way, it’s much like that with our knowledge of God. We know that in Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28) But what do we really know about Him? We know He is unknowable! It seems a contradiction. He dwells in a different dimension to us. It is timeless and changeless. We have no idea what this is like. The little we do know is what He has chosen to reveal. But we know Jesus. At least we think we do. We have the account of His life recorded in the four Gospels. They show us something of His nature. He is revealed as very human. At the same time we are informed that He is God! As investigators we are inclined to say, “Which bit is man and which bit is God? Left eye, right eye; left ear, right ear. That seems logical. But logic is not always correct. We are taught that He was 100% man and 100% God. That sounds like 200%. But it isn’t. In the early Church, this topic was discussed and argued over extensively. It was settled at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and adopted at the First Council of Constantinople in 381AD. Anglicans among us will remember the Nicene Creed from their prayer book. Why is it important? Well, He had to be 100% man or He could not die for us. He had to be 100% God for His death to be efficacious for all of us. So we end up with this paradox. To be 100% human meant that He was emotionally, physically and mentally just like us. I’m inclined to say 100% similar to us, but think this is skating on thin ice. What is meant is that every inch of Him was male “homo sapiens”. He had to be just as “male” as Adam had been. The only person, who could take back from Satan what Adam had given him, had to be fully human. He had to be a least as human as Adam had been. No more and no less. He also had to be completely sinless. Jesus complied in every way. He was as human as you and me and as divine as His Father. One man for one man is a valid “deal”. One God, for all humanity, is a valid “deal”. Thus one Jesus is a valid “deal” for all humanity. Satan was never going to win! Not ever! Our meditation today looks at His humanity. It takes a glance at His Divinity. It concludes by asking who was responsible for the crucifixion. The answer I give is not my original idea. I read it in a book many years ago. I’m not sure of the author’s name. Never mind. The conclusion is as real today as it was when I first read it. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" John 11:33-36 TNIV 3 He was despised and rejected by people. He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. He was despised like one from whom people turn their faces, we didn't consider him to be worth  Isaiah 53:3 GW anything. 15 We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin. Heb. 4:15 NIrV 10 It makes good sense that the God who got everything started and keeps everything going now completes the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect through suffering as he leads all these people to glory. Heb. 2:10 MSG 8 Though he was God's Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do Heb. 5:8 MSG 5 The Almighty LORD will open my ears. I will not rebel, nor will I turn away from him. 6 I will offer my back to those who whip me and my cheeks to those who pluck hairs out of my beard. I will not turn my face away from those who humiliate me and spit on me. Isaiah 50:5-6 GW 16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; He came to help the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, it was necessary for Him to be made in every respect like us, His brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then He could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Heb. 2:16-17 NLT	Jesus’ humanity is quite astonishing. We know He is the Son of God; that He made everything. We know He formed the mountains, on which He came to preach. Before He barbecued the fish, he also made the beach! The earth and all upon it are here by His design. So how can someone human, be someone Who’s Divine? I wish I had an answer. I only know it’s true. The one, who had created life, came here for me and you. He made the very minerals from which they forged the nails. He made the trees which made His cross. My comprehension fails! How could someone exalted, above the very sky, Come to earth to be with us and for us all to die? But He was also human. He came here as a man. Nothing of the Trinity was seen in His great plan. He came here as a nobody; our God in overalls. He learned to suffer, felt our pain and heard our God-ward calls. We know He had emotions. We even saw Him weep. And He could get exhausted. So much, He needed sleep. The prophets told us of Him. They said He’d be despised. Rejected by His people. His Godhood was disguised! He learned by what He suffered, the same as you and I. He even let them whip Him, before they watched Him die. They mocked and spat upon Him. They pulled His beard out too. He prayed, “Father forgive them. They know not what they do!” They nailed a sign above His head. It said “King of the Jews”. But He was so much more than that. They didn’t get the news; The one that they had crucified and hanged upon that tree, Was truthfully the Son of God, Who died for you and me! As I think about it, it makes me cringe and wilt. I shake my head acknowledging, for me His blood was spilt. Because I know for certain, that I drove home those nails. I know for sure, I turned the lock that kept Him in their jail. The whip they used to flog Him. I held it in my hand. And every detail of the deed was done by my command. Could such a thing be possible; that I should take the blame? I may as well have done it. For Him it was the same. To murder God Almighty, was no collective act. I must have been involved somewhere! I know that as a fact. For all the dreadful things I’d done. The murderer was me. And yet in spite of all of it, He said He’d set me free! That is the greatest miracle that I have ever seen. The very one who did it all, by Him has been washed clean. So now what can I give Him? My heart and mind and soul? The very life inside of me is under His control! And there are many others who toiled with me that day. Perhaps you too are one of them? My friend, what do you say? Jim Strickland Written 11th March 2012