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Arise – Become – Build and Shine - part 1 of 3 KJV and Amplified Bible Jesus’ final words to His disciples, commonly referred to as “The Great Commission,” emphasize Christ’s sending forth those who will both build and become His Kingdom. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” {Mat 28:19-20}. Theirs was the obedience, His the abiding Presence and enabling. Again underlining the importance of the cooperation (co-mission) between God and man, Paul records that “…we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God…[you are] God’s building” {I Cor 3:9}. In similar fashion but on a physical level, King David co-missioned his son Solomon to build a temple for the Lord. “David said, Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout the lands; I will therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death” {I Chr 22:5} That King David’s preparation was costly is evident by his own testimony: “In my affliction and trouble I have provided…” {14}. Enumerating for Solomon the amount of gold, silver, bronze and iron already set aside for the temple’s building, he also co-missioned that “you must add to them” {14}. In addition, there were “workmen in abundance, workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skillful in doing every kind of work.” With both the materials provided and the laborers equipped, King David urged his son, “So arise and be doing, and the Lord be with you” {16}. At incalculable cost, our Father has already provided the Church with all that is needed for the building of His Body into one new man, a temple of and for His Glory. His spiritual provisions symbolically parallel King David’s material provisions: gold, representing the Divine nature; silver, the price of our Redemption paid for by the outpouring of Christ’s blood; and both iron and brass, symbolic of judgment. “Blessing…be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual…blessing in the heavenly realm!” {Eph 1:3}. Like Solomon, the Church is co-missioned to execute and complete the Father’s plans, using both the physical, spiritual and human resources already provided. Solomon was the establishing administrator, his father the earthly architect, and God the Enabling Power and Provider. “Now set your mind and heart to seek -- inquire of and require as your vital necessity -- the Lord your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord…” {I Chr 22:19}. Comparable to Solomon’s skillful craftsmen are New Testament apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, those of the five-fold ministry who labor to fulfill God’s desire: “His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church)” {Eph 4:12}. That His temple may be complete, the Lord continues to encourage and urge the Third-day Church to arise, to become, and to be built up “…unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” {Eph 4:13}. As we obey His Word through the power of His Holy Spirit, blessing His Name, and focusing on the manifest attributes of His nature and character, we are progressively transformed through the outworking of His holy nature in and through us. As with King David, through affliction and trouble we are enabled to become all that the Lord requires. May we continue to yield to the call of Christ within as He urges us to persevere in becoming and doing the Father’s will. -Ruth French July Newsletter 2005 | Defeating Temptation & Fear | Ministry Minded part 2 of 3 | Weaklings or Warriors part 1 of 2 Pastor's Journal July 2004 | Adventures of Great God and Stupid Cat | Arise - Become - Build and Shine part 1 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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