Bended Worship Ministry

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…, “[1Peter 1:3]

Hope is light. A life that is full of hope is a life that is full of light. The word of God says that we have not just received hope, we are birthed into it. And it’s not just some hope as having hope that is like the world which is based on temporal things, it is a living hope. And so we see here that our joy as Christians does not just rest in our knowledge of just having hope but that in the world we become the embodiment of hope. And so the light shines!

New life

As the Lord’s witnesses, this is what we are called for. It’s not actually just telling the world how God has loved, or how Christ died…risen, it’s letting them see new life [1Thess.1:4-10]. There is no equal to the power of the testimony of a new life. It is said there that we have been given “new birth”; that this is into a “living hope” and, are we realizing this. If we are, then there should be the testimony of life there wherever you are, and this hope that we have, this hope that we have become spreads all around. O’ that we come to stand and live true to who we are in Christ!

God is merciful

This is another. When this hope that is in us is testified upon and that the light of life is shining [John 1:4] then is witnessed abroad- God is merciful. You know, the world needs to see God and that he is merciful. And what’s that in God being merciful, it is that…he pardons sins [Ex.34:6-7]. How many times we have encountered someone and him blubbering, “I have no hope, I am too much a sinner, God is angry at me and God will not be able to forgive me anymore!” If they would just see the mercies of God and that he is always willing to pardon! And that’s what it’s said there, “In his great mercy he has given us new birth…” Let us live this new life, and let them see in us this hope that we have that they too may see how great are the mercies of our God.

Jesus lives!

This is one powerful truth and what gives power to everything that we have just said. It is “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” that we have a “living hope.” It is through him resurrected that God in his great mercy has given us new birth. Hope is living because Jesus lives! Yes, Jesus lives! O’ that they may see that what we have is the living God; that he is the life that we have; that he is the hope that we have.

Does our life tell of the hope that is in us?

Do our way of living tell…this new life?

Does our life show God is merciful?

Is the way we live show Jesus is alive?

You don’t have to answer that. Let us just come to God and pray. And let him make us mighty witnesses of the hope that is us.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth [Psalm 46:10].”

There is something in being still as God commands and meant that is so deep. Something that is so intimate. It is God’s express desire to be intimate with every child that he so loved! Are you a child of God? Then this is for you. Don’t lose now any moment to do just that, in the grace of him who called us, seek to “be still” [the Lord shows us how], and received what God is set to do in your life.

Being Still

Being still speaks something not just of us but of who God is. For who can truly still his self? God alone gives us rest and in him alone we could have perfect peace. Again this speaks of what God does first, that in knowing him a believer is brought in such a state that he could truly see himself able to be “still” no matter what the circumstances. Notice that the Chapter starts in a testimony and all along it’s all a testimony of who God is; what he is able to do and not just of what he is able to do but of what he is already doing. “God is within her, she will not fall,”, and, “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” All of this precedes everything because before all things is God!

He is God

This is the issue. Until we come to see that it’s not about us, and that it’s all about God, we will never be still. And we are brought into this, yes, his desire for us to see ourselves “stilled” in his presence, his goodness, his greatness is just the way for us to know him more, to see him more…the one who has said- “I know my plans for you…”, The God who will always be our ever present help in troubles; the God who promised to be the one who will fight our battles. Are you in for some tough times, the Lord may just be speaking to you even now, in that very circumstance you find yourself in. There he says, “know that I am God”, and his words are clear. A child of God cannot mistake that. This is the God who “sits on the circle of the earth”, he looks and all just seem like “grasshoppers’; the earth just like handful of dust in a bucket. This is the God who said- “I have spoken and who can annul.” He is God, and he said- “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me [Psalm 50:15].” Are you living a life that is of the Gospel [I just want to emphasize this]? And there are troubles all around? The Lord said…”Is there anything too hard for me?”

“You shall Glorify Me”

Here we come into focus. The gist of everything we have said. The Lord said- “I will be exalted in all the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” This is what’s it’s all about! Being still is to know him God! Being still is to see him exalted! Is this the desire of your heart? A life that is learned in “being still” is a life that is continually, and is progressively knowing God. It is a God-exalting life. A witnessing life! Is this not what he has done in giving us Christ? See- “Therefore “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father [Phil.2:9-11].” You see, Christ exalted is God exalted. Let every knee now bow! Let every tongue now confess! Jesus Christ is Lord and what for- “to the glory of God the Father.” This is our help. This is the one who is within her. This is the one who said he is our rock, the fortress. This is our refuge! Is this not what it means “being still?”

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Ephesians 4:4-12

God is building up His Temple. This is the real score. And if you ask me my calling then I will tell you that it is to be just one little brick or as the word of God put it, “a living stone”, yes, just one of the many that will make up this one magnificent edifice. I tell you brothers and sisters, this is the apple of His eyes. There nothing more that our gracious Father is much concerned of and has His utmost attention but this- His Church.

There is one “body.” The word of God says it. And here believers are given “grace as Christ apportioned it.” This is also what it means when it says there that “He gave gifts to men [see also Romans 12:4-8; 1Cor.12:4-20].” God is very consistent here. He is God! Now we have come to believe that these gifts or this grace that has been given is the calling, and that one’s calling is his gifts. [Though there is some truth in that] Actually this is not the real deal. The real deal is that God is building up His temple and in this grandiose undertaking he calls on us [1Peter 2:4-5]…”As you come to him, the Living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” This is our Calling!

But what are the gifts or this grace that is apportioned to all believers, what’s about it? Here it is. In keeping with consistency Paul then wrote-“It was he who gave some to be apostles…and some to be pastors and teachers”, and for what, “to prepare God’s people for works of service [there’s your grace apportioned, there’s your gifts given to men]”, “so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

You see, God called us to be a peculiar people.

God called us to be a chosen generation.

God called us to be his own people.

God called us to be a holy priesthood.

God called us to offer up the sacrifice of his praise

God called us to be his Church, the Body of Christ.

What a great God we have! That in all his greatness he chose us, his Church to be his dwelling place for all eternity. It is for this express desire that Christ laid down his life [Ephesians 5:25]. Let the Church rise now to be what God purposed her to be. Let her become now the grand display of the greatness of our God! This is our Calling.

John 14:6; John 17:17-19; John 8:31-31; Ephesians 4:11-12; 15-16

Truth makes for everything in the Church and in the believers life. And how’s that?  Paul said that the Church is the “pillar and foundation of the truth [1Timothy 3:15].” And what an awesome declaration is this? God in his grace has placed in the Church the posterity of the truth! She is the custodian of everything that is “Truth.” To say that the Church is, is to say that every believer is, and this must be brought forth to everyone that had come to Christ. Every believer should be raised, nurtured to the realization of this wonderful truth.

What a Church we will see if this will be!

And if truth makes for everything in the believers life or the Church for that matter- How is this so? Although we will be speaking here the same as God’s word, Salvation, Christ, let us clarify and let the word of God speak.

Truth will always set free

That’s what Christ himself said…”and the truth will set you free.” A believer who stands on this declaration is the Lord’s freedman. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” [John 8:36], and the Lord here is speaking in the context of sin. But what or how it is to be free? If the Lord said that one who has been freed is free indeed there must be something that a believer realizes in him. Let us look at what God says as he moved to free his people Israel from their bondage in Egypt- “And the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, “Thus says the LORD: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me”[Gen.3:12; 4:22-23; 7:16; 8:1,20; 9:1,13; 10:3]. That’s it. Freedom is about a life that serves. Just like what the Lord said…”I have come to do your will O’ God” [Hebrews10:5-7], “The Son of man came not to be served but to serve.” The evidence or the witness of truth and of freedom is service. The believer becomes a servant!

Truth will always sanctify

So now we as believers of Christ are the Lord’s freedmen. But why is it that it is as if there’s just a few of those who really serve? Because the believer is to grow becoming one! Listen to this: “It was he who gave…some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service…” [Ephesians 4:11-12] and this in agreement with God’s word in 2Timothy 3:16-17- “All Scriptures is God-breathed…so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The word of God as given to those who will feed the Church has this as its purpose. This is sanctification [John 17:17]. That every believer should see and realize themselves as servants of the most high God! The word of God should not be given as one aimlessly. And if given faithfully with this in mind and heart, the Church is assured of a steady stream of men and women that are made ready for every facet of God’s work. The Lord will always be there and sure, mightily, powerfully at work!

Truth is what makes for Church growth

It is the multiplication of men and women servants that evidences Church growth. Let’s finish that verse in Ephesians 4:11-12“It was he who gave…some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up…” The building up of the body is when God’s people become people of service. The focus of God’s work is not the service but those who do the service. Again in Ephesians 4 in verse 15-16, “Instead speaking the truth in love…From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” As each part does its work, that’s what it’s all about and there’s no other way God gave and there’s no other where God will be most present.

The Lord Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…” In him alone we truly become servants. This is his image, the image of the one who serves. This is his testimony and here every believer will have their witness.

John 3:3; John 13:35; Galatians 1:15-16

Maintaining proper vision is very important for every child of God. For us to see ahead and be always at the ready for the Lord’s movement it is imperative that we seek to have a clear vision and with sufficient grace live a life maintaining that vision.

But, what is vision?

Let us be direct here…it is seeing Christ. Vision is to behold Christ! The growth of a knowing and an experience in the child of God regarding Christ is the growth of vision. Yes, vision grows, properly maintained…vision grows.

Actually it is the inheritance of every believer, do you believed. Jesus said speaking to Nicodemus- “…“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” That’s where every believer begins. In being born again God opens his eyes to see God’s kingdom or let’s say God opens his eyes that he may see Jesus. So you see, every child of God already has that, he has vision. He is one whose eyes had already been opened. It is a gift. It is an equipping that is of the utmost importance for everything that God will do.

God’s Spirit, Indwelling

This God has done, He has given us the Holy Spirit and this is a very, very misunderstood aspect of the Christian life. I wonder how many really realize this on a daily basis or more importantly on a moment by moment experience. Paul wrote: “…be filled with the Spirit.” Are we truly realizing this? Speaking to the disciples Jesus said-“But when the Holy Spirit comes, He will guide you into all truth.” This is where vision is maintained. The Spirit of God, indwelling and the believer giving himself in very conscious loving manner as someone to be led and someone actually being led. He sees himself being guided into all truth. There’s no let up here for he is assured to grow knowing Christ…He is the Truth. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Children of God.” To see the Kingdom is to see Christ for He is the Kingdom. There’s no other more urgent for the Spirit of God to do. This is it. This is central to what He is doing, to know Christ, to grow in Him and experience Him. This is maintaining vision; Christ is the embodiment of that vision. O’ Lord that we may abide in you, that we many have our eyes faithfully and lovingly fixed on you!

Life in the Fellowship

This is where vision is profoundly maintained but in reality, there is no other place. It’s in the Church and her coming together in fellowship that we could truly find meaning to the vision of Christ for here is a place, a coming together of all that shared in the life of Christ. And there is one central teaching to the maintaining of vision here and that is- Love. First is an inward movement of God’s Spirit like what Paul said in Eph.4: “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Wonder why as if there is no vision of Christ in the world? Why? It is because we see loving one another as just coming together in events or just the gathering together and being good to each other. But God has something more wonderful in mind! And what is that? “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The truth of the fellowship will always have its true realization in the world and not in the halls. “By this all men will know…” the Lord Jesus said. Loving one another is not for us just that we may feel good with each other; it is to give the world a witness of Christ!

Here is the vision in the hearts of those who love God. Here is the vision maintained. Vision actually has one purpose, so that there will a witness for Christ. Now if vision is clear is not that there will be more men and women witnessing for Christ?

“But when God, who set me apart from birth [Or from my mother’s womb] and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gen-tiles….” Paul. Gal.1:15-16

This is vision.