Ministry Update: Uplook Ministries
An Update on the Vision for Uplook Ministries
Dear fellow believers and friends of Uplook Ministries,
We are thankful for almost 25 years of the Lord blessing the full-format Uplook magazine (although the magazine has been published since 1927) and its other ministries, teams and events. Many have written recently to us of the important contribution this ministry has made in their spiritual development and personal ministries. We have seen the Lord’s faithful provision through the sacrificial giving of His people, and have sensed “the good hand of our God upon us” in these endeavors.
The board views the ministry as a stewardship and has committed to three months of prayer and seeking the Lord’s mind as we consider the direction for the future. On one hand, we sense the wind of God has shifted and we want to set our sails as strategically as possible to maximize blessing and enjoy more years of service. On the other hand, we face the reality of dwindling resources and must discern what the Lord is saying to us.
We share a collective vision to communicate truth to this generation, many of whom desperately seek reality and vibrancy in their walk with the Lord. We want to encourage greater obedience to the Word and a growing passion for God’s heart, reflecting the vibrancy of the early Church. If the Master sees fit, we want to continue providing tools and training to help meet those needs as He directs us and provides for the needs of the ministry.
Oh, how great is your goodness!
Mankind is on a constant search for the next Wow! But they have nothing compared to the mega-truths that God has revealed to His people. These ideas are not intended to be merely informative but transformative so life-changing in fact that Peter writes: “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:3-4). In this case, says Peter, mega isn’t big enough, so he uses megistos, the superlative form of the word!
Prayer
And yet, in part due to the increasing distractions in our world, many of these wonders are being lost to the Church at large. As those of us who are responsible for Uplook Ministries have sought the Lord regarding the future of this work, it has become clear that these “exceedingly great” ideas must be effectively presented in all their gripping intensity to the whole Church in our generation. What are some of those precious truths?
The Blessed Hope: “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Is it still true that the Church has “one hope” (Eph 4:4)? Christians are deeply divided on the scheduling of Christ’s return, and many simply ignore the subject because they say it is controversial. Even so, every believer does have the same blessed hope: to be with Christ and like Christ. As encouraged by Scripture, we need to fortify one another with words concerning Christ’s return, especially as the darkness grows.
The Universal Gospel: Paul calls God’s Good News “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph 3:8). To fulfill the Great Commission in our day we must assert the all-encompassing statements given us in the Word. God loves the world. Christ died for all. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. These are essential elements in Heaven’s legitimate offer to humanity because God “is not willing that any should perish.” An imbalanced understanding of election and Divine sovereignty will undermine this mandate. We must graciously and Biblically state the case for “the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1 Tim 1:11).
A Balanced View of the Holy Spirit: We are only too familiar with the many excesses of those who seem not to understand that the Lord Jesus said, “the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (Jn 15:26). However, many who avoid these excesses end up completely ignoring His gracious ministry and its transforming and energizing power, as clearly illustrated in the book of Acts. How we need to experience this!
Dispensational Distinctions: Without grasping these, confusion reigns. Readers of the Bible, without understanding the things that differ, will confuse Israel, the Kingdom and the Church. While not everyone may agree with the seven subdivisions of classical Dispensationalism, it is vital to understand how and why God has spoken “at various times and in various ways” (Heb 1:1). Few are explaining these distinctions today.
The Efficiency and Beauty of a Biblical Church: In all the confusion of Evangelicalism today, we need a renewed passion for discovering the way the Lord meant it to be. We need fresh thinking that is still committed to both biblical principles and practices. You cannot have a true New Testament church without New Testament life, unity and power. Can the true New Testament Church be presented in a way that engages God’s people everywhere and captures many of their hearts? We think so, if they are the Spirit’s ideas, not ours.
Christ-Centered Holy Living: There seem to be two extremes in this regard. Some are ministering practical pointers for Gods’ people, but, like Laodicea, may be missing the vital role of the Most Important Person in actually living that life. Without Christ as the Life principle, such teaching is nothing more than self-help advice. However, we have to confess that while much of our teaching may be more Christ-anchored, we have often been light on practical application. We relish the privilege of both speaking well of Him and discussing how learning Christ (Eph 4:20) can become living Christ (Phil 1:21).
What Of The Future?
We are inviting those in particular who have benefitted from Uplook’s ministry in the past to join us at the Throne of Grace as we seek the next steps for this ministry. We know the future is all bright, thanks to the wonderful grace of God. We have no doubt the Lord is in control.
We want two things: to know what the Lord wants, and then to do it by His power and for His glory. If Uplook is to continue, our burden would be not only to produce a ministry magazine but to propagate these Big Ideas.
So our question for you, our concerned friend, is this: Is this a vision that merits the continuation of this ministry? Are you prepared to stand with us in carrying it out? Let us know what you think. E-mail me and tell me your thoughts. E-mail comments to Uplook : jabe@uplook.org
[Arabian Voice]
