THE TEMPLE’S SITE

Time with Jesus - 20 Oct 2013

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

VERSE If there were ever dreams that were lofty and noble, They were my dreams from the start And the hopes for life’s best, for the hopes that I harbored, Down deep in my heart. But my dreams turned to ashes, my castles all crumbled, My fortune turned to loss. So I wrapped it all in the rags of my life, And laid it at the cross.

CHORUS Something beautiful, something good. All my confusion, He understood, All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife; But He made something beautiful of my life

RECITATION You know throughout the ages, men have struggled and strived for noble ambitions and goals. But these passions soon end up where all temporal things must, like a puff of smoke, drifting to nowhere and soon forgotten. But the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the only One who can truly change a person’s mind, soul and body and give something eternal, for which to live and hope. In doing this, He can and will meet every need, be it spiritual or physical. The only thing God asks, is that you place your complete faith in Him as a child would in his father. He Requires so little of us, yet He is ready to prepare a mansion for us in heaven, to show His love! Jesus Christ suffered an agonising death so we might have an abundant life, He proved this by His triumph over self and the grave, so we could also have this same victory. Yes, God sent His son out of love for you and me. We just have to repent of our sins, receive Him as Lord of our lives and ask forgiveness for our sins. The Word of God puts it very  plainly 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12 ESV If this is your need today, don't hesitate another second. Ask Him into your heart right now. He will forgive you and make you His child.

CHORUS Something beautiful, something good All my confusion He understood All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife But He made something beautiful of my life

From Encore Trax # 0352

Back in the 1970’s and ‘80’s, a new era of music wept over Western Christianity. Typically history has shown that music introduces a new wave of the Holy Spirit. The effect on God’s people has been to bring renewal and revival into the land. In South Africa, this was manifest in the Charismatic renewal. 

Actually, this renewal is more accurately described as a new wave of Pentecostalism. This wave brought about a deep desire for a closer and more intimate walk with Jesus Christ. Then, in the 1990’s, the Lord brought two separate but related streams into the Church. 

The one was an overwhelming spirit of Holy Laughter. Sadly, this was treated with suspicion by many evangelicals, particularly from the various Baptist Denominations. 

The other move of the Spirit originated in UK in Holy Trinity Brompton. A cleric by the name of Nicky Gumble introduced the Alpha Course into the World. Few courses in history have had the same appeal to the members of the traditional denominations. Alpha has been well received and is now an integral part of the teaching in the traditional UK denominations. Of perhaps greater importance is the way Alpha has been received among Roman Catholics all over the world. 

The impact this has had on Christians, in every part of the globe, has been to draw us all into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This has helped build bridges between Christians of all persuasions. Reflecting on what the Lord is busy doing with His people; we are forced to the conclusion that it is something beautiful.

Against this background I’ve included a hymn which was very popular in the 1970’s & ‘80”s. It is called “Something Beautiful” and remains a firm favourite of Phyllida and me. While researching the hymn, I came across a version which includes a central “recitation” intended to be used as an “altar call”. The hymn concludes with a final chorus of “Something Beautiful”. Perhaps one or two readers would like to prayerfully consider using it? Perhaps their church worship group or home cell might wish to experiment with the song and recitation and trust the Lord to touch the hearts of outsiders.

The question of touching people’s hearts and drawing them to Jesus Christ, reminds me of a story I believe is true. It concerns our ladies. One particular lady had the call of an evangelist on her life. She was also a popular speaker and was able to do a small amount of itinerant speaking, particularly to groups of ladies. Typically she would visit a town for a couple of days and visit groups of church women in places where they could meet. 

She had a dynamic testimony of how Jesus had transformed her. She had been caught up in alcohol, drug use and distribution; and on occasions had been forced into prostitution to finance her habits. Then after several years of being trapped in this vicious system, Jesus had met her and completely set her free. From that day on, she had been sharing her testimony with others and the Lord was using her mightily in the healing and deliverance ministry. 

She had no family commitments to worry about so she was able to visit several church groups over a period of a couple of days. She would fly from place to place. She required accommodation and transport at each destination. This was seldom a problem. She was a popular lady and many women were more than willing to entertain her in their home, for the duration of her visit.

On one occasion she was met at the airport by her hostess. She was taken the venue where she had spoken freely and openly about what Jesus had done and was still doing in her life.

After the meeting her hostess took her home for lunch before moving on to the next venue. The same happened that evening after dinner, after which she was taken to her hostess’s home for an overnight stay. This happened for a couple of days. 

The two women started to be close friends and laughed and joked together. However, the woman noticed that her hostess was getting increasingly upset each time after she had given her testimony. On the final occasion, on her way to her hostess’s home, her hostess was crying quietly while she was driving. “What’s the matter?” the woman asked.

“You have such a wonderful testimony” replied the hostess. “Nothing like that has ever happened to me. I’ve followed and loved Jesus for as long as I remember. I was brought up in a Christian home. My parents introduced me to Jesus while I was very young. I can’t remember a day in my life when I have not walked with my Lord. I don’t have a testimony like yours.”

The woman sat in silence for a few moments. Then she too began to weep. “Yes!” she said. “I have a wonderful testimony of the saving grace of Jesus. But you have a greater testimony than mine. Your testimony concerns His keeping grace. He’s kept you all these years. I wish I had your testimony. Yes, mine’s great. Yours is greater! Both women then embraced, laughed, cried and thanked Jesus for his love.

Jesus is still in the business of making something beautiful, from the broken lives of sinful man and keeping them all the way to glory. He did it for Phyllida in 1952 and for me in 1960. He wants to do the same for you. Talk to Him! He is waiting for you! As she ceased speaking, they arrived at the hostess’s home. They both embraced, weeping.

Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 20 Oct 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 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	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 Oct 2012
			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