Burden of Blending

But our comely members have no need. But God has blended the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member that lacked, (1 Corinthians 12:24, RecVer)

The burden and vision of blending has been revealed time and again to the saints in the local churches in the Lord’s recovery. This burden has gradually been carried out in a way of learning by doing, step by step. I have been blessed to be one such brother to see this vision, receive this burden, and are now by the Lord’s mercy and grace, being brought to the blending life in the church life. I believe, this burden of blending is directly related to the burden of building as well. For the extend of building in the Body of Christ is determined by the extend of blending in the Body of Christ. Building and blending go together. In fact, in my experience, they are two sides of the same coin. These days, I have been blessed to be under the speaking of the Lord and receive much help concerning building and blending in the Body. All the fine details of blending that entails the dealing with the flesh, self, world, sins and sin are also being revealed and experienced day by day. I pray for the grace to experience the dealing for the blending in the Body. 

Oftentimes, like Gideon, I need proof of the Lord’s speaking and confirmation. The dream that confirmed Gideon's call was related to the round loaf of barley bread. This surely is a type of the blending required for the defeat of the enemy. Once we are blended in the Body, we are also victorious in the Body. Therefore, the enemy attacks anything related to the blending in the Body.

And when Gideon came, at that moment a man was recounting a dream to his companion; and he said, I have just had a dream. There was this round loaf of barley bread tumbling through the camp of Midian. And it came to the tent and struck it, so that it fell and turned upside down. And the tent collapsed. (Judges 7:13, RecVer)

However, once we are blended in the Body, we will know our God and thereby, take action.

And with his smooth words he will cause those who act wickedly toward the covenant to be profane. But the people who know their God will show strength and take action. (Daniel 11:32, RecVer)

The apostles in Acts 16 knew their God and proactively took action in their ministry journey. The Bible did not mention about the Holy Spirit speaking to them to take action or not. They simply took action as they knew their God! And, in the midst of their ministry journey, the Holy Spirit forbade them when it was not of the Lord. Otherwise, they proactively went ahead in their apostolic ministry journey. What a testimony! 

And they passed through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, yet the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. (Acts 16:6-7, RecVer)

For the blending, the word of God plays a pivotal role in the being of the believers. The word of God as grain to supply life, the word of God as fire to burn everything not of Christ, purifying and sanctifying, and the word of God as hammer to break the hardened heart and the outer man, is needed for the blending. All these are the experiences of the breaking of the cross which are possible only through the operation of the Holy Spirit are the need of the time. Blending is through the cross by the Spirit, dispensing the divine life to the one being blended.

The prophet who has a dream, let him tell the dream; and he with whom is My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the straw to the grain? declares Jehovah. Is not My word thus — like fire, declares Jehovah, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:28-29, RecVer)

Blending also eventually involves the turning of our hearts to the Lord. Yes, turning away from everything else to God and be brought into the Spirit. This is real blending. 

But whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:16-17, RecVer)

These experiences of blending may also be considered as the discipline of the Holy Spirit which may be painful now but it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Now no discipline at the present time seems to be a matter of joy, but of grief; but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised by it. (Hebrews 12:11, RecVer)

Therefore, day by day, we must practice blending in the Body wherever and with whomsoever the Lord has sovereignly placed us with. And the end result will be, the building up of the Body by being built up with the saints in one accord.

Practice these things; be in them, that your progress may be manifest to all. (1 Timothy 4:15, RecVer)

Lord, through Your cross by Your Spirit, through Your mercy and grace, blend me and build me up in Your Body.