THE FOREVER BUILDING
Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 17-18
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Here is a view of the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. Above the Western Wall (or Wailing Wall), where you now see the trees and the golden Dome of the Rock, was once the location of Solomon’s Temple.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 1 Chronicles 17:4
Go and tell my servant David, “Thus says the Lord: You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.”
What if David had gone ahead and built God’s house? Chaos would’ve resulted and, because of disobedience, the favour and the presence of God would be gone from David and Israel. We must make absolutely sure we’ve heard from God, and then we must move forward boldly, trusting that if God is not in the move, He will stop us if we are willing to listen and obey.
David’s son, Solomon, built the Temple. Solomon composed Psalm 127 in which he writes, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it” (verse 1). The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed twice, the first time by the Babylonians and the second time by the Romans. How do we understand the word “forever,” which is repeated five times in our reading? According to Nathan the prophet, God desires a place in which to dwell. The Apostle Paul informs us that, “In Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) bodily” (Colossians 2:8-10). God promised David that his dynasty would be “forever.” Only in the Son of David, Jesus, is that true. Because of Jesus, we, as believers in Him, are the building in which God dwells. Ephesians 2:19-22 tells us that we are “built together for a habitation of God.” Rejoice!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, grant that I may ever be conscious that my fellow believers and I are Your dwelling place, Your temple. May I never dishonour Your temple, which is my spirit, soul and body. Also I pray that, like King David, I will know when to take initiatives and when to stop. Lord Jesus, great Builder of Your Church, use me for Your building, and also use the next generation. In Your Name I ask these mercies, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Looking down on me from my bookshelves as I type this are five faces. Three of them are on books. There’s Wilberforce, who led the heroic campaign to end slavery in the British Empire. There’s Lincoln, who took the lead in ending slavery in the United States. And there’s John A. MacDonald, a builder of Canada. I believe that all of these were servants of God to accomplish His purposes. The other two faces I see are peeking out from two wooden shoes. The shoes were presented to me in the Netherlands (Holland) on the occasion of a speaking tour, sponsored by a TV station. Inside the shoes are Caspar the Cop and his Uncle Jasper, puppets I used for years in ministering to children. Both Caspar and Jasper are very old now in puppet years and they’ve lost their hats somewhere. However, in their time they did a fine job of grabbing the attention of children so I could share the story of Jesus in a way that was not boring and that they would remember for a lifetime. Caspar and Jasper do not have the stature of Wilberforce, Lincoln, and MacDonald, but they did their job. All of us have a place in God’s grand purposes. I recognize that all I have to do, like the puppets Caspar and Jasper, is to be available for God’s hand to use me at all places and at all times, and God’s will shall be done in and through me. Amen!!!
Yours to learn to obey God, being willing to build with Him as He directs,
David
P.S. Below is a photo of the bookshelf view that I desribed, including the puppets Caspar and Jasper. The mark on Jasper’s forehead is the glue that held his hat in place. Under the wooden shoes is the Bible. I deliberately placed the shoes there as a message to me every morning as I do this blog. My understanding is that Holy Scriptures are the foundation of my life. This picture symbolizes the solid Rock of God’s Truth on which we take our stand every day in 100words.ca; also our daily walk with God, and finally a variety of methods of sharing God’s Word. The message never changes, but the methods do.
WOW!
Thank you so much for your daily dedication to help all of us “build” our own temples. I also like Josh McDowell’s “The Unshak(e)able Truth” that I see below Caspar and Jasper as well as WWJR by Joe Amaral.
Shalom,
Graham.
2012 Holy Land Yellow Bus.
PS I enjoyed your God Rocks shirt presentation on Wednesday on TV with Ron and Ann!
I wondered what “The Bronze Sea” was so looked it up @ http://www.Templesecrets.info/bronzesea.html It mentioned that the Red Sea symbolized the Divine Spirit, and just as Noah’s flood did, the Red Sea eliminated the evil people (which at this time were Egyptian). Both were Divine Judgments against evil. Solomon built the Temple and set up a huge bronze basin supported by 12 bulls – 1 for each tribe of Israel. Moses set up a bronze laver that succeeded by Solomon’s huge Sea of Bronze. I did not know that. (I hope this info is correct).
I just want to say how thankful I am that you were honoured recently in Israel. I consider you a spiritual giant that Canada is so privileged to call our own. I love your humility, grace, boldness and faithfulness. You always lift Jesus high and we all know that when that happens, He will draw people to himself. It also encourages and challenges those of us who call Him Lord. May God continue to bless you with health and strength so that His purposes can be brought to life in Canada and the world.
Thanks Mr. Mainse.
What great faces and characters, who accomplished much, but the Greatest of these is the One who created and guided them, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!!! as they obeyed His timing and His guidance.
Thank you Rev. David as you lead and guide us through His Word each day through this block. Emphasizing main point with the scripture message.
Interesting faces Casper and Jasper have, just the kind that would keep children’s attention.
How sad that Solomon went off track:
Joined in prayer with you: The importance and need to listen and hear and obey, to stay close to Him who leads me into all truth: His timing is perfect in all His ways. To Him be the Glory!!!
Amen!
thank you Irene it is the Holy Spirit that calls, gathers and enlightens and santifies us in the one True Spirit…..
I’m wondering: do Christians shop on a Sunday? Do they try and do all their errands during the 6 days and rest on the Sabbath? I wonder what impact would be if Christians did not shop on a Sunday and made their views known to the elected officials in our communities and to let the stores know of this decision. I truly believe Christians have the power to change our world if they will make an effort.
I’d like to hear comments.
In my town they have started a “Sunday morning Farmer’s Market” please pray that the town council will be moved to change this to a “Sunday afternoon Farmer’s Market” We have the Holy Spirit that enables us to do more than we ever dreamt!