JIMMETS – COVENANT GIFT

Time with Jesus - 14 Aug. 2013

1666 - London in Flames

Hi all,

We have all heard that Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Nero blamed the blaze on the Christians. This unleashed a time of great persecution on Roman Christians. It is thought that Nero started the blaze. He planned a new Rome; one of his own design to replace the old. 

Portion of London Destroyed by Fire

It’s difficult to know how much of this was achieved. No doubt parts were rebuilt and parts were built according to Nero’s design. “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good”.

The Monument to
The Great Fire

We know the saying. It’s an English proverb and is based on the premise that when something is bad, someone else will usually benefit. However, a wind would have to be really bad if it brought nothing good to anyone!

London Before the Fire
Note houses built on London Bridge

In slightly more recent times (1666) a great fire destroyed a part London. It was a catastrophe. Many homes were completely destroyed and many lives lost. However, there were two small benefits. 1) The plague epidemic came to an end. 2) The rebuilding of much of the town along with St Pauls Cathedral.

London in the mid 1800's
Note the Dome of St Paul's Cathedral

The Great Plague epidemic of 1665 is believed to have killed a sixth of London's inhabitants, or 80,000 people. It is sometimes suggested, since plague epidemics did not recur in London after the fire, the fire saved lives in the long run. It did this by burning down unsanitary housing with their rats and fleas which transmitted the plague.

Panorama of London Before the Fire

The Old St Paul’s Cathedral burned down. Many people who had taken refuge within the building were killed. It is thought the scaffolding around the building caught fire resulting in its destruction. The connection with Nero is, many thought the fire had been started by Roman Catholics.

Sir Christopher Wren

The Old St Paul’s was being repaired by a young man, later Sir Christopher Wren. He would have been 32 at the time of the fire. The design of the New St Paul’s was largely his. Construction began in 1675 and was complete in 1720. Wren died in 1723 when he was 90. Thus he witnessed the project from destruction to finalisation.

Zerubbabel

Few men get the opportunity of building or rebuilding a cathedral or temple from start to finish. King Solomon was one of them. The architect was his father, King David. Another Bible character associated with rebuilding the temple was Zerubbabel. 
These buildings were all made from ordinary materials, available almost anywhere.When it comes to the building or rebuilding of a temple for the Kingdom of God, there is a great difference. In a way, Wren, Zerubbabel and even David and Solomon “missed it”. They were looking for a beautiful earthly cathedral or temple made from bricks, stone, mortar and other earthly materials. 

Jesus Temple
Made from "Living Stones

The Temple Jesus is building is different. Paul expressed this as follows: ¹⁹ So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. ²⁰ Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself. ²¹ We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Eph. 2:19-21 NLT

Being Built into a Temple

You and I have no idea exactly where we are located in this Holy Temple. We do know that Jesus is the cornerstone and this new “house” is being built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. 

I’m particularly drawn to the fact that you and I are just “bricks” in the temple He is building. We also know that Jesus is the architect and He will see the “building project” through from start to finish. Sir Christopher Wren was a magnificent architect. But he is not in the same class as Jesus Christ. Furthermore, you and I have no fear that what He builds will burn down. 

The very opposite is true. It is the wind and fire of the Holy Spirit which keeps us in position in the edifice. In fact we need the wind and fire to purify us. Bricks are always baked in the sun or in a fire. This gives them the strength to bear the weight of the bricks around us. The wind is used to provide air into the furnace, so that the temperature of the bricks is controlled.

A "Temple of People"

The Lord Jesus is in full control of the building of His Holy Temple. He chooses each and every brick and places them in the building exactly where they are best needed. He is the Master Builder. We may not “like” our position in the building. However, Jesus knows best. Furthermore, He has plans for the temple He is building. Where will it “fit” into His Kingdom or into the New Jerusalem? Good question!

"God's Holy People" in the "New Temple"

Today we meditate on God’s Promise to David and on Ephesians 1:3-6. There is also reference to Romans 8:28 in the introduction. 2 Tim 1:12 is not referred to directly, but Paul’s conviction that God is able to guard that with which He has been trusted is clear. This conforms with Romans 8:28. Thus all four Scripture references are utilised. Expressing Ephesians 1:3-6 in Jimmet form was fun!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 14 Aug. 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	JIMMETS – COVENANT GIFT
A couple of days ago we looked at an occasion early in David’s reign. At that time he had wanted to build a “house” for God. The Temple that would be built by his son Solomon. David was told by the Lord, through His prophet, he was not permitted do this. He was a man of war with blood on his hands. The temple would be built by his son, who would be a man of peace. However, he was informed that God would build him a house! A throne on which his descendants would always sit. David’s reaction was that he felt completely overwhelmed. It’s worth pointing out, God would build this line. He would be the One who would design and supervise the building of David’s “house”. In a way, David would emulate, what God had promised to do. He became the architect of the Temple and went about accumulating materials for the task. He also made provision, so that on his death, all his personal wealth would be donated to the building of the temple. In this respect, although Solomon built the temple, it was based on his father’s provision. Perhaps we should refer to the Temple as “David’s Temple” rather than “Solomon’s Temple”. We don’t do that for good reasons. But we do remember Sir Christopher Wren as the architect of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Does anyone know who the builder was? In today’s first Scripture, we move in time to the end of David’s reign. By now, he was an old man. In spite of this, we notice, he had not forgotten God’s everlasting covenant with him. It’s interesting to read how confident David was that God would do this. The New Living Translation expresses his confidence in God’s undertaking to him and his family: 5 "Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, He has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success. 2 Samuel 23:5 NLT David’s attitude sheds additional light on the assurance Paul describes in Romans 8: 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT  David had no idea that it would be some 1000 years before Jesus would be come. During the interim, David’s line had almost disappeared. But it could be traced back through his mother’s antecedents as well as His stepfather’s antecedents. Here was the fulfilment of God’s promise to David; the everlasting King of Kings! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			25 "Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, He has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success. 2 Samuel 23:5 NLT	EVERLASTING COVENANT An everlasting covenant was cut; That David would forever have a son, Who sat upon the throne; no ifs or buts; Until creation’s time on earth was done. I wonder if He really understood, How God would bring this promise into fact? He realised that God, the Father, would Keep His Word and was obliged to act; The way He had declared to him that day. Who else but God had the ability, To bring about the things he heard God say, And keep it going for eternity? But there was one thing David knew for sure. God’s promises forever would endure. Jim Strickland Written 14th August 2012 HIS FREE GIFT Praise be unto the Father of our Lord; Who blessed us in the heavenly realms above. All Spiritual blessings He has poured, On us, through Jesus Christ, the King of Love. In Him. He chose us in the “days” before, He started to create the things we see. Predestined our adoption to be more, Than creatures who are lost eternally. This was according to His Sovereign will; The Sons of God; Not merely men of mud. And by His grace, decided He would spill Christ Jesus’ own and very precious blood! O what a plan! To take our punishment! The very reason why His Son was sent! Jim Strickland Written 14 August 2012
			12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 TNIV
			3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:3-6 TNIV
			27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:27-30 TNIV