TEMPTATION

Time with Jesus - 27 Nov 2013

Hi all,

Whenever the word “temptation” appears, I react. The reaction is to declare that the temptation didn’t come from God. Jesus’ brother James made this very clear.

¹³ When someone is tempted, he shouldn't say that God is tempting him. God can't be tempted by evil, and God doesn't tempt anyone. ¹⁴ Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him. ¹⁵ Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death. James 1:13-15 GW James makes the process clear. The only part missing is the role of Satan and his gang. However, in the final analysis, it’s not so much the temptation that’s the problem. Each and every one of us gets tempted. Indeed, Jesus was tempted in every area and did not yield to sin. So we need to get used to the idea that Satan will tempt us with whatever is available.

Satan’s cunning is that he seems to know our character very well. He knows what will tempt me and what won’t. For example, I stopped smoking in 1981, at the time I met Phyllida. I was a fairly heavy smoker. I smoked cigarettes and a pipe. (not at the same time). Today, Satan has more sense than to try and tempt me with a box of cigarettes or pouch of pipe tobacco. He would be wasting his time. I can’t be tempted in that area. But I must confess there are areas in my life in which I can and am tempted. My solution is to avoid those situations and to ask the Lord to help me when I have to move into such areas. The Lord’s model prayer expresses this in Matthew, ¹³ Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted. Save us from the evil one.' Mat 6:13 NIrV

Perhaps the biggest temptation experienced by men generally is the allure of women. Don’t be surprised at this. Men are aroused by what they see. If they weren’t, it would be pointless draping a scantily clad female over the bonnet (hood) of a car to boost sales. The advertising agencies know this only too well, so they focus on this “weakness” in men. If men were sexually aroused by the sight of kippers in custard, that’s what you would see on the car’s bonnet. Unfortunately, as we can see from the plethora of advertising hoardings, a multiplicity of other things from insurance policies to paint brands also increase sales by the strategic positioning of “beautiful babes”. If you don’t believe me, take a drive round Jo’burg and you will see what I mean.

Of course, the gentle sex wants to look beautiful. I don’t blame them. I actually appreciate them! The sight of a youngish “Aphrodite” wearing as little as possible has real appeal, even to men in their 70’s. Needless to say, that’s part of the problem for the men. Traditionally, the homo-sapiens male has been the hunter. He has hunted for food and anything else he could find. The homo-sapiens female has been the hunted. Furthermore and naturally, she wants to be found! Don’t blame her; it’s the way she was made. The real question is how to go about getting found! She already knows that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. 

Does that mean she perambulates where she can be seen with a large dish of kippers and custard? Not if she wants her man to find her. First she establishes what attracts him. Then she tries to appear the way she knows will do the trick. It’s been this way since the fall.

There is a slight difference. Once men were hunter gatherers and met together in hunting groups. They still do. Once it was in the bush or the jungle. They would meet around their favourite tree, or what have you, and make plans about how they would “thrash” the adjoining tribe. Then the talk would revolve women and the plans they had for them. It hasn’t really changed. Today, the tree has been cut down and turned in a bar counter and stools. They no longer want to murder the adjoining tribe. They just want to get them on the rugby field. Furthermore, they now focus their attention on the bar-maid and what they would like to do with her! Not much has changed!

Adonis & Aphrodite
430 BC

Historically, the ladies of the tribe did the cooking for fathers and family. Then the nubile ones would dance in a group showing everyone, particularly the unattached males, as much as modesty and chastity would permit. The men would watch spellbound. Of course that was the plan. Today, the young girls roam the street in groups. Each one determined to be as fashionable and alluring as possible. Being in groups provides them with a certain amount of mutual support and protection. Except when they spot a man they fancy. That’s when they try and move with all the grace and allure of their nubile predecessors.

In the days of yore, the parents decided who would marry whom. It seemed to work reasonably well for both gender. At the same time, the “bride price” was required by the parents of the bride. This varied depending on many conditions. For a young and very beautiful girl, the cost would be very high. The price would decrease with the passing of each year until the woman was no longer marriageable. At one time, these “surplus daughters”, would be sold to anyone who wanted them. For the woman, this was the ultimate indignity. Consequently she would ensure that she was “seen” by all the available young men. The idea was that the young men would fix it with the parents and they would marry. So the young woman would make herself look as attractive as possible so that everyone would look at her. That hasn’t changed.

Aphrodite on the Beach

Pay a visit to our beautiful beaches. What do you see? Perhaps I should rephrase the question. What don’t you see? If the ladies could get away with wearing anything less, they would do so. It becomes a sort of nakedness contest. “Anything you can show I can show better. I can show everything better than you!

All this is called the battle of the sexes. All it is, is temptation, dressed or undressed to suit the mind of (wo)men!

Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus –  27 Nov 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	TEMPTATION
In 1789, Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, wrote: In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. He may or may not be the originator of this well-known saying. But the facts are, it is true! I cannot say for certain whether or not he was a Christian. If he was, surely he would know that death is a by-product of sin. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NLT So Ben Franklin would have put it better if he had written, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except sin and taxes”. But “death and taxes” sounds better than “sin and taxes”. For our purposes, they are the same. Talking about sin, Dr Ken Stewart told a story some 35 years ago. It seems his deacons had come to him and complained that all he ever preached about was Jesus Christ! “What about some teaching about the wickedness of sin”, they asked? Somewhat nonplussed, he agreed. So the following Sunday morning he got up and said. “I’ve been asked to talk about sin. God’s against it. The deacons are against it and I’m against it. So let’s talk about Jesus.” One thing we must admit about sin. It seems to be the most popular activity in the world today. The vast majority of people on this planet are either committing it or thinking about committing it. According to Jesus, thinking about it is the same as committing it. The other fact is, we are incapable of not committing sin. According to Paris Riedhead, we are all “monsters of iniquity who love our sin”. I don’t like it, but have to admit that it’s true. It takes a miracle from God to change it. Each and every one of us was falling into the bottomless pit until God intervened. If He hadn’t, it would have been “game over” for all of us. Oscar Wilde, in his play of 1892, “Lady Windermere's Fan” wrote, “I can resist anything but temptation”. It’s a fair assessment of the power of temptation and sin in our lives. I’ve deliberately emphasised the power sin holds over us. The only “way out” is in and through the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit; through our being born again. There is no other way! Yes, the words have been cheapened by overuse and bad interpretation. But that does not make them any less true than they were when Jesus spoke them ±2000 years ago. The prophet Isaiah stated, 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 ESV It describes us all perfectly. I don’t know how He did it. I don’t really care why He did it. The fact is, He did it! Now we must walk in it. But we can’t unless He enables us to do so. He has and He will for you. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! Proverbs 1:10 NLT	It’s just like a miasma, that flows up through the grate, Of hell and tries to harm the folk and leave them in a state. It’s terribly insidious. It wants your heart and soul. Given opportunity, destruction is its goal. If it can annihilate or smash you to the ground, It’s achieved the purpose, the one the devil found. You know what I’m speaking of. The miasma is sin. If it can defeat you, then Lucifer will win. You will be his prisoner; and far beyond a doubt, You will never find a way whereby you can get out. It starts off with deception. He makes it look so good. “Try a little sample. You know you really should. Jesus told you something that’s not completely true. A little bit of evil, is very good for you. The difference you have heard about, you’ll never know for sure, While you’ve this obsession for always being pure. Here’s a bit. Just try it. And then you’ll really know, That what the Lord was telling you is not the way to go. To know something is evil, you have to try it first. Then your eyes will open and you will not be cursed” Can you sense the wickedness of what is written here? Eve and Adam tried it. That’s why they are not here. Sin looked so inviting, according to the snake. Both of them were tempted; with all this world at stake. They succumbed and listened. They ate forbidden fruit; And Satan captured both of them. Creation was his loot. So do not trust a sinner. Far better, turn away. Do not mess about with it or you will be its prey. Perhaps it does look tempting. But surely that’s the point. Give the devil half a chance and he will “own the joint”! We must always follow, the straight and slender way. Enter by the narrow gate and from its path don’t stray. Don’t think it’s acceptable to join in with the crowd. Jesus Christ has made it plain, that it’s not allowed. Set a good example for everyone to see. That is why the Saviour came. To set the captives free. Follow His example. It’s perfect and it’s good. If you are obedient, you’ll do the things you should. Jim Strickland Written 27th November 2012
			6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it--she'd know everything!--she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Genesis 3:6 MSG
			20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity.'" Joshua 22:20 ESV
			2 "You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. Exodus 23:2 NLT
			13 "Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate. Matthew 7:13 GW
			7 For we do not live to ourselves alone and we do not die to ourselves alone. Romans 14:7 TNIV
			13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NIV
			9 But be careful that by using your freedom you don't somehow make a believer who is weak in faith fall into sin. 1 Corinthians 8:9 GW
			12 When you sin against other believers in this way and harm their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ. 1 Corinthians 8:12 GW
			6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 ESV

AHITOPHEL - BETRAYER

Time with Jesus - 26 Nov 2013

Hi all,

Today’s meditation looks at Ahitophel, the man who betrayed David. No doubt it was this man whom Jesus had in mind when he stated, “one of the twelve would betray Him”. In this sense, Ahitophel was the Old Testament “type" who foreshadowed Judas. We are told that every genuine Christian will be betrayed 4 times in his life-time by someone he trusted. 

To try and avoid this, we need to be very sure concerning the call of the individual to ministry. Dr A W Tozer recognised this over 60 years ago and wrote the following article concerning THE CALL TO THE MINISTRY. His article is included hereunder in italics in full. We trust you will find it useful in your Christian journey.

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER, as someone has pointed out, is a descendant not of the Greek orator but of the Hebrew prophet.

The differences between the orator and the prophet are many and radical; the chief being that the orator speaks for himself while the prophet speaks for God. The orator originates his message and is responsible to himself for its content. The prophet originates nothing but delivers the message he has received from God, who alone is responsible for it, the prophet being responsible to God for its delivery only. The prophet must hear the message clearly and deliver it faithfully and that is indeed a grave responsibility; but it is to God alone, not to men.

Ahitophel Hanged himself

It is a dubious compliment to a preacher to say that he is original. The very effort to be original has become a snare to many young men fresh out of seminary who feel that the old and tried ways are too dull for them. These reject the pure wheat of the Word and try to nourish their congregations on chaff of their own manufacture, golden chaff maybe, but chaff nevertheless that can never feed the soul.

I heard of one graduate of a theological school, who determined to follow his old professor’s advice and preach the Word only. His crowds were average. Then one day a cyclone hit the little town and he yielded to the temptation to preach on the topic “Why God Sent the Cyclone to Centerville.” The church was packed. This shook the young preacher and he went back to ask his professor for further advice in the light of what had happened. Should he continue to preach the Word to smaller crowds or try to fill his church by preaching sermons a bit more sensational? The old man did not change his mind. “If you preach the Word,” he told the inquirer, “you will always have a text. But if you wait for cyclones you will not have enough to go around.”

The true preacher is a man of God speaking to men; he is a man of heaven giving God’s witness on earth. Because he is a man of God, he can speak from God. He can decode the message he receives from heaven and deliver it in the language of earth.

The response earth gives to the message of heaven at any given time, varies with the moral conditions of those to whom it is addressed. The true messenger of God is not always successful as men judge success. The message delivered in power has sometimes returned to destroy the messenger, as witness the slain prophets of Israel in Old Testament times, and Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

The true minister is one not by his own choice, but by the sovereign commission of God. From a study of the Scriptures, one might conclude that the man God calls seldom or never surrenders to the call without considerable reluctance. The young man who rushes too eagerly into the pulpit, at first glance, seems to be unusually spiritual, but he may in fact only be revealing his lack of understanding of the sacred nature of the ministry.

The old rule, “Don’t preach if you can get out of it,” if correctly understood, is still a good one. The call of God comes with an insistence that will not be denied and can scarcely be resisted. Moses fought his call strenuously and lost to the compulsion of the Spirit within him; and the same may be said of many others in the Bible and since Bible times. Christian biography shows that many who later became great Christian leaders, at first tried earnestly to avoid the burden of the ministry; but I cannot offhand recall one single instance of a prophet’s having applied for the job. The true minister simply surrenders to the inward pressure and cries, “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

While there is only one way to become a true preacher, unfortunately there are many doors into the pulpit. One is to be endowed with what is sometimes called a “good pulpit presence”. Many a tall Absalom whose commanding presence and sonorous voice mark him as a natural leader of men, is attempting to speak for God, when he has not been sent by God. His call is from the people, instead of from the Spirit and the results cannot but be disastrous.

Others have become ministers from a genuine but altogether human love for mankind. These have a strong sense of social obligation which they feel they can best discharge by entering the ministry. Of all wrong reasons for becoming a preacher, this would seem to be the most laudatory, but it is nevertheless not a spiritually valid reason, for it overlooks the sovereign right of the Holy Spirit to call whom He will.

Most surely the church has a service of compassion to render to the world, but her motives are not humanitarian. They are higher than this by as much as the new creation is higher than the old. It is inherent in the Christian spirit that the followers of Christ should wish to minister to the bodies as well as the souls of men. But the call to give God’s prophetic message to the world is something apart.

The call to witness and serve comes to every Christian; the call to be a Voice to mankind comes only to the man who has the Spirit’s gift and special enabling. We need not fewer men to show mercy, but we need more men who can hear the words of God and translate them into human speech.

David referred to his betrayal by Ahitophel in Psalm 55. You can almost feel David’s heartbreak over the betrayal. ¹² If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. ¹³ But it is you, one like myself, my companion, my close friend, ¹⁴ with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers. Psalm 55:12-14 TNIV

Jesus’ betrayal by Judas can almost be felt in David’s lament. Betrayed by a close friend is one of the worst experiences in Christianity. Phyllida and I have checked our own Christian journey and confirm that we have been betrayed on a number of occasions. It’s not the sort of experience we would recommend. All we can say is that in it and through it we matured in Jesus Christ!

Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 26 Nov 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					©
AHITOPHEL			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	BETRAYER
He had a reputation, for being very wise. And when it came to counsel, there surely “were no flies”, On what he’d said to David. He usually was right. But it was most unfortunate what he had said that night. His name “brother of foolishness” was surely rather apt. He always chose the “winning side” and thereby, he was trapped. He was Bathsheba’s grandfather, is what some scholars say. Perhaps that’s why he saw the king at any time of day? Had he been reliable? I guess he must have been. And since he was related, to David’s favourite queen, He must have had some influence on what the monarch said. No doubt this sort of impact would “turn King David’s” head. He would start to trust this man; this crafty Gilonite. And the king concluded, he “always” got things right. But he had one purpose. To have authority. To be David’s advisor. Get him to do what he, Said he should be doing. The power behind the throne, Is what he really wanted, all for his very own! So he befriended David. It easily was done. Because he was related to David’s wife and son. He gained a reputation, for often being right. Thus he always looked so good, within King David’s sight. And so their “friendship” blossomed. And very soon he knew, The King would do precisely what he told him to do! And so they had walked together and David loved him well. It really was a tragedy for bad Ahitophel. But it was insufficient. He wanted so much more. He joined himself with Absalom. He sort of “crossed the floor” And when the young pretender entered Jerusalem. Ahitophel had obviously taken sides with them. What this new king needed was getting some advice. Ahitophel said something that Absalom thought nice.  2 Sam 16:21 “Take your father’s concubines upon the palace roof. And there, before the people, give them the living proof, That you have taken over. Then take each one by force. Where everyone could see them, have sexual intercourse.” Absalom consented and soon he had had it done. He thought it was exciting and also lots of fun.			10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT	But what he didn’t realise, was it would take some time. He was still a strong young man quite early in his prime. When all of this was over, Absalom’s next move, Was still to be decided. What was it he’d approve? Ahitophel suggested, that almost straight away, Absalom should chase the King, without further delay. “Give me twelve thousand soldiers and I will run him down I will kill King David and you will get his crown!” Ahitophel’s suggestion was excellent and good. The “New King” would have done it as quickly as he could. But first he called for Hushai, the Arkite to advise, If this is what he ought to do and if the course was wise? Now Hushai still supported King David and so he, Spoke and said to Absalom, “That isn’t right for me. David is still powerful. You need a lot more men Otherwise he will return and take the crown again. So wait until your army is a far larger size. Send a call for extra troops; I think that would be wise.” So Absalom decided to simply hang around. It’s likely that the pleasure that Absalom had found, Was rather preferential to running off to war. The women had been fabulous. Perhaps he wanted more? So Absalom decided that he would rather stay. He’d resume the battle upon some other day. This would be disastrous; bad for Ahitophel. It sounded like the first stroke of this traitor’s own death knell. He realised that very soon, King David would return. And that when David saw him, his ire would surely burn. There were no other prospects. A most unpleasant death. Surely now was threatening, to snatch his final breath. He had no further comment. He knew what to do next. He’d better be untouchable when David’s ire was vexed. He saddled up his donkey and headed off for home. Suicide was better than waiting all alone, For David’s men to find him and give him to the King. Rather death by hanging. He wouldn’t feel a thing. He put his house in order. Took a rope and died. What a dreadful ending; committing suicide!               2 Sam 17:23 Jim Strickland Written 26th November 2012
			23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice hadn't been followed, he saddled his donkey, left, and went home to his own city. He gave instructions to his family. Then he hanged himself, died, and was buried in his father's tomb. 2 Samuel 17:23 GW
			14 A person's spirit can endure sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit? Proverbs 18:14 GW
			22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people? Jeremiah 8:22 TNIV
			1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon Me, for the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to comfort the broken-hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. 2 He has sent Me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favour has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. 3 To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory. Isaiah 61:1-3 NLT
			28 Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
			35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. Acts 8:35 NLT
			3 He heals the broken-hearted and bandages their wounds. Psalms 147:3 NLT