In studying the chapter, I decided to write a series of poems, as I personalized each of the twelve verses, calling the collection "Twelve for Twelve for 2012. " Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work. This verse brings to mind the contemporary Christian song: "He Who Began a Good Work in You, " performed by Steve Green. Viewing a Ryoshi-bako (stationery box).
As I meditated deeply upon the words "... That experience brought to mind verses 6 and 7 from Isaiah 62, whereby Israel is exhorted to remind God of His promise to restore Jerusalem to a place splendor and prominence in all the earth. Just as Isaiah declared the Word of the Lord, that Israel, in the midst of captivity, was to remind God continually of His promise that He would deliver them from bondage and ultimately make Jerusalem a magnificent display of His glory, so should the members of the Body of Christ bring to God's attention that He promised to transform the Church in a similar manner. In Matthew 6:17-18 the Lord went on to say: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Displayed by the skillful hands of the Master craftsman, Beyond the finest design of any artisan, The Church, exquisite exhibit now on display, Treasures from the hand of God take one's breath away. This song provides the perfect ending this blog entry, as we consider deeply this glorious note of possibility expressed in the video performed by Jonathan Stockstill: Without a doubt Pentecost was a watershed moment whereby the world was forever changed. Four-fold Purpose of the New Testament Church: - Ministry to the Lord. For we are God's masterpiece. I am the Lord that healeth thee, " God gently spoke to me as a Father speaks to his son, saying "Now what did I say? " Sometimes the rigors of life may cause us to forget that we are God's workmanship, and the Psalmist also brings this to mind: The LORD will fulfill [his purpose] for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever–do not abandon the works of your hands. I repeated that portion of scripture several times. They will see this when Jews and Gentiles. Until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth, Until the whole earth shall marvel at her splendor, Do not hold back, always pray, never surrender.
Here is Isaiah 62:7 from the New Living Testament: Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth. Beyond all that I see, God formed and fashioned me. Listen to the powerful lyrics to "Let the Church Rise. " Asian Museum–San Francisco, California. This ryoshi-bako or stationery box is similar to the one that inspired the poem that draws a parallel with God's Exquiste Exhibit, His masterpiece, the Church. In this case, I had selected Isaiah 62, a passage that most providentially contains twelve verses. This purpose was manifested in Christ, and it is an "eternal purpose. "
Until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth. The designer sees the end long before he starts. Isaiah 62 with its 12 verses comprises the theme for the New Year: "Twelve for Twelve in 2012. Although the final product reveals what the designer had in mind, we do not see how the object looked at the various stages of development. With the eyes of our heart now opened, we find. Are joined together in his church. God's purpose was to show his wisdom in all its rich variety. Until He establishes the City of Peace. Kevin J. Conner in his landmark work, The Church in the New Testament, " makes know the purpose of the Church in the closing chapter: "We will find that the reason for the existence of the Church is basically four-fold. He planned for us long ago.
Just as Jerusalem is to be a brilliant display of the creative ingenuity of God Almighty, the Church is likewise to be a magnificent demonstration of the glorious, infinitely variegated, wisdom of God that will confound and astound the principalities and powers of the heavenly realm when it is brought to a place of prominence, revealing God's intent. Individually, each member of the Body of Christ must recognize that he or she contributes to this exquisite exhibit of God's glorious creation, the Church of Jesus Christ. Ministry to the Sinner. Sublime thoughts never diminish, only increase, As I marvel at this ancient masterpiece. As members of the Body of Christ, his glorious church, we are reminded of what Jesus Christ declared to Peter that Christ would build his church upon "the rock"of the revelation that Peter spoke when he identified the Lord, as Christ, the son of the living God. This great purpose is THE CHURCH. Until He establishes the City of Peace, Do not hold your peace but pray for Jerusalem, For the Lord's heart is always turned toward them. Here is a photograph of such a stationery box, a lacquered work of art that is similar to the one that I viewed and described while in California. Especially during the past twelve years, I have been mindful the last part Exodus 15:26: And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. Indeed, we are all a work in progress, and God is putting "His finishing touch on His crowning achievement. " In a similar way that a child would remind a father of his promise when the fulfillment of that promise has not yet arrived, like Israel, we are encouraged to "give God no rest "until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth. "