The Christian Shepherd: 2000

“He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Mal. 3:3).

“Other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold” (Luke 8:8).

How cold the snow must be,

Yet still the earth it warms,

To shelter now the seeds of Spring

’Gainst later, colder storms.

How hard our trials seem

When in the grip of pain;

Yet God in grace allows them all

For future, greater gain.

Let minds then be renewed,

Let hearts with courage sing;

For seeds by winter’s trials fed

Will blossom in the Spring.

Then Summer harvest comes,

Whose bounty bids us learn

That faith amid the snows will bring

An hundredfold return.

God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 1999 - L

1. E scape 1 Cor. 10:13

2. N o root Luke 8:13

3. D rown men in destruction 1 Tim. 6:9

4. U njust 2 Peter 2:9

5. R ise and pray Luke 22:46

6. E vil Matt. 6:13

7. T o try them Rev. 3:10

8. H arden not your hearts Heb. 3:8

“Blessed is the man that ENDURETH temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him” (James 1:12).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - A

1. H arden thine heart Deut. 15:7

2. U nderstanding Prov. 2:2

3. M erry Judg. 19:6

4. B uild a house 1 Kings 8:18

5. L ifted up Ezek. 28:5

6. E nvy sinners Prov. 23:17

7. D elight thyself also in the Lord Psa. 37:4

“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not HUMBLED thine heart, though thou knewest all this” (Dan. 5:22).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - B

1. C rying in the wilderness Luke 3:4

2. R ighteousness Psa. 23:3

3. O ld Jer. 6:16

4. O ut of the way Heb. 12:13

5. K eep His covenant and testimonies Psa. 25:10

6. E vermore Psa. 16:11

7. D arkness Prov. 2:13

“The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them CROOKED paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace” (Isa. 59:8).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - C

1. M erry 1 Kings 4:20

2. A shes 2 Peter 2:6

3. N one effect Mark 7:13

4. Y ourselves Eph. 5:19

5. B alances Amos 8:5

6. O rdinances Eph. 2:15

7. O ur prayers 1 Thess. 1:2

8. K nowledge 2 Chron. 30:22

9. S upplication Dan. 6:11

“And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making MANY BOOKS there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh” (Eccl. 12:12).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - D

1. G reat noise 2 Peter 3:10

2. I nstruct me Psa. 16:7

3. V ision Acts 16:9

4. E xceedingly Dan. 7:7

5. T housand years Psa. 90:4

6. H unger Lam. 2:19

7. S peak Acts 18:9

8. O verturneth them Job 34:25

9. N ame [of the Lord] Psa. 119:55

10. G reat cry Ex. 12:30

11. S tumbleth John 11:10

“None saith, Where is God my maker, who GIVETH SONGS in the night?” (Job 35:10).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - E

1. W isdom Eccl. 9:16

2. A rm Luke 1:51

3. Y oung men Prov. 20:29

4. O xen Prov. 14:4

5. F aith Heb. 11:11

6. T illest Gen. 4:12

7. H ouse of bondage Ex. 13:14

8. E leven hundred Judg. 16:5

9. L aw 1 Cor. 15:56

10. O pen door Rev. 3:8

11. R ight hand Acts 3:7

12. D ays of our years Psa. 90:10

“The WAY OF THE LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity” (Prov. 10:29).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - F

1. R ain Ex. 9:34

2. A rm yourselves likewise 1 Peter 4:1

3. G reat calm Mark 4:39

4. I n the temple Acts 5:42

5. N ight and day Acts 20:31

6. G avest Me no kiss Luke 7:45

“So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her RAGING” (Jonah 1:15).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - G

1. F ill you with all joy Rom. 15:13

2. A sk in prayer Matt. 21:22

3. I s born of God 1 John 5:1

4. T ried stone Isa. 28:16

5. H is house Acts 16:34

6. L aw and in the prophets Acts 24:14

7. E xceeding glad Dan. 6:23

8. S ackcloth Jonah 3:5

9. S epulchre John 20:8

“Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not FAITHLESS, but believing” (John 20:27).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - H

1. O ffscouring 1 Cor. 4:13

2. B enjamin Gen. 42:36

3. E njoy 1 Tim. 6:17

4. D esperately wicked Jer. 17:9

5. I ron Dan. 2:40

6. E ateth herbs Rom. 14:2

7. N ot one thing Josh. 23:14

8. T emples made with hands Acts 17:24

“To this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be OBEDIENT in all things” (2 Cor. 2:9).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - I

1. G entleness 2 Sam. 22:36

2. R eady to be revealed 1 Peter 1:5

3. A shamed Rom. 1:16

4. C ontend for the faith Jude 3

5. E arth 1 Chron. 16:23

6. O f the day 1 Thess. 5:8

7. F ear ye not, stand still Ex. 14:13

8. G arment Isa. 51:6

9. O bey Him Heb. 5:9

10. D aily Psa. 68:19

“The GRACE OF GOD that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - J

1. B ill Luke 16:6

2. R ain Deut. 11:17

3. O vertake them Josh. 2:5

4. K ings of the Amorites Josh. 10:6

5. E zel 1 Sam. 20:19

6. N o man take thy crown Rev. 3:11

“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly BROKEN” (Eccl. 4:12).

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - K

1. M oney 2 Kings 12:9

2. E yes Eccl. 2:10

3. A ll these things Matt. 19:20

4. L ion, and a bear 1 Sam. 17:34

5. I n my heart Dan. 7:28

6. V aliant 1 Sam. 26:15

7. E ight years Acts 9:33

“And now, behold, the Lord hath kept ME ALIVE, as He said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old” (Josh. 14:10).

The Armament of Faith

“And David put them off him” (1 Sam. 17:39).

It has been said that the world’s most skillful aids are faith’s surest hindrances. Dear brethren, let us not fight our battles using the armor of this world. Let us be like David who, through faith in the God of Israel, defeated the mighty enemy, Goliath.

Thus does faith strip itself of all carnal weapons—all that the flesh might trust in. Faith stands entirely in the power of God. Now our learning this is often the hardest part of our lesson—that which we most slowly learn and soonest forget.

But if we knew more of the secret dealing of God, we should much more speedily rid ourselves of all carnal weapons. The soul that, like David, has been much exercised in secret before God knows the utter worthlessness of everything but God’s own strength.

Having thus learned this blessed lesson, it readily casts off those things which the flesh so esteems as aids. It is free and at liberty by their loss. How far more blessed is this way of learning the worthless futility of the flesh and denying it than any other.

For want of living and walking in communion before God, we have to learn this lesson in painful discipline and after many failures. It is the hardest and most painful part of such discipline to be stripped of those things which by habit and education we have all thought were necessary in our spiritual battles. The Christian must learn to stand by faith and aloof from modes of action in which, after the manner of Saul and his armor, the name of the Lord and human authority or human wisdom are combined. Such combinations, often called judicious and useful, are most delusive and dangerous to the path of faith.

We see the Apostle rejoicing to count all those things esteemed by men loss for the sake of Christ (Phil. 3:8). Why was this not a hard thing to Paul? How could he thus thoroughly renounce and put from him these things so valued and sought after by the world? He had learned to rejoice in Christ Jesus and to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

What we want is much more of such simplicity, remembering that we have the truth of God to address men’s consciences. We have weapons mighty through God, if we had only simple faith to trust to them alone, rejecting the fleshly armor of human energy, wisdom and authority.

J. L. Harris (adapted)

Better

“They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17).

I recently asked a co-worker about his “standard” response to the common greeting, “How’re you doing?” As I would pass him in the halls and ask him this question, he always responded, “Better.” That made me wonder if something had been wrong with him.

So I asked him about it. His answer was exercising to me. He said that he answers “Better” to the generic “How are you” question because it has the same effect on most other people that it had on me. Hearing that he is better, they stop and ask him what was wrong. Their question allows him to tell them that he was on his way to a lost eternity in hell, but now he’s saved by faith in Christ and on his way to heaven!

The next time someone asks, “How’re you doing?” let’s remember our blessed Lord Jesus, the Great Physician, and how it is that He has made us better.

T. Bookman

Bible Challenger: 2000 - A

The first letter of each of the following responses will form the word spoken to an impious, heathen king, revealing there had not been a saving transformation in “thine heart” which would have prevented a fatal consequence. [1] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. The words contained in a Mosaic ordinance that described an undesired action in “thine heart” (God’s people) towards the poor that might be in their midst. [3]

2. The word to which “thine heart” (anyone’s) should be applied for maturity in a relationship with God. [1]

3. The word describing that which “thine heart” may become when there is contentment. [1]

4. The word that tells the intent of “thine heart” (said of a famous king), and although the desire was not granted, it did receive a favorable commendation from the Lord. [3]

5. That which riches may well cause “thine heart” to be. [2]

6. That which the fear of the Lord, as a daily exercise, will keep “thine heart” from a specific evil. [2]

7. That which we are encouraged to do so that the desires of “thine heart” may be realized. [6]

Bible Challenger: 2000 - B

The first letter of each of the following responses will form the word that describes the shape of the paths whose travelers are devoid of judgment and peace. [1] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. How was a New Testament prophet proclaiming his message, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight”? [4]

2. What word did a shepherd of sheep use to describe the paths on which the Shepherd of men was leading him? [1]

3. Which paths did an Old Testament prophet proclaim as the good way wherein rest of soul could be found? [1]

4. When we make straight paths for our feet, from what way will the lame be kept from turning? [4]

5. What should we do to experience mercy and truth in paths of the Lord? [6]

6. What is the time frame of promised pleasures at the right hand of the Lord, to whom He has revealed the path of life? [1]

7. When one leaves the paths of uprightness, what are the ways that lie ahead? [1]

Bible Challenger: 2000 - C

The first letter of each of the following responses will form the words that tell what many people in Solomon’s day were making, seemingly with no end, the use of which resulted in weariness of the flesh. [2] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. In the early days of Israel’s history, what were the multitudes of the people making? [1]

2. What were Sodom and Gomorrah turned into, making them an example of the ungodly? [1]

3. What were the religious leaders in Jesus’ day making the Word of God through their traditions? [2]

4. Who are assembled Christians speaking to, as they sing and make melody in their hearts? [1]

5. What were the Israelites, in Amos’s day, falsifying as they were also making the ephah small? [1]

6. Wherein was the law of commandments contained which has now been abolished, so making peace? [1]

7. In the words of a New Testament writer, where were he and his companions making mention of certain believers? [2]

8. Something good that the Levites taught the people as they were making confession to the Lord during certain feast days. [1]

9. That which some assembled men found a ruler making three times in a day. [1]

Bible Challenger: 2000 - D

The first letters of the following responses form the words that tell what God, who was Maker of all, presently does in the night. [2] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. That which accompanies the dissolution of the heavens when the day of the Lord commences with the suddenness of the coming of a thief in the night. [2]

2. That which the reins (inner thoughts and feelings) will do in the night seasons when contemplating the counsel of the Lord. [2]

3. Something which appeared to Paul in the night when he perceived he had been called to visit Macedonia. [1]

4. The degree of strength which described a fourth beast seen in the night visions of a captive prophet. [1]

5. The time period as experienced by earth dwellers, which in God’s eyes are but as a watch in the night. [2]

6. The reason young children of another era were fainting as a call for lamentation in the night was given to save a famous city that lay in ruins. [1]

7. What the Lord encouraged Paul to do when he appeared to him in the night just before an 18month teaching campaign. [1]

8. How does God bring to naught the works of men so that they are destroyed in the night? [2]

9. What did the psalmist say he remembered in the night as he thought of his faithfulness to the law of the Lord? [1]

10. That which rose up in the night as the Egyptians of long ago discovered that there was not one house where death had not visited. [2]

11. What word describes what happens to one walking in the night with no light in him? [1]

Answers to these questions will be found in the next issue of Christian Shepherd.

R. Erisman

Bible Challenger: 2000 - E

The first letters of the following responses form the words that describe the course that gives strength to the upright. The upright are following when there is a manifestation of the Lord’s strength with them. [4] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. What did the preacher proclaim in his writings, that is better than strength? [1]

2. With what did God show His strength to the one who rejoiced in God her Saviour? [1]

3. If the beauty of old men is the gray head, to whom is the glory of strength imparted? [2]

4. What is absent where cleanliness is found, but whose presence foretells availability of great strength? [1]

5. What enabled an aged woman to receive strength? [1]

6. A word describing a typical farming chore that a future fugitive and vagabond heard, that indicated that the strength of the ground was soon to be diminished. [1]

7. The place from which the strength of the hand of the Lord freed a much-abused people. [3]

8. The number of pieces of silver proffered to a woman, by several men, to find the source of great strength in a certain Nazarite. [2]

9. If the sting of death is sin, what is the strength of sin? [1]

10. Something figuratively set before those having little strength, but who remained true to the word and name of Jesus. [2]

11. The point of contact made with a lame man
that caused feet and ankle bones to receive strength. [2]

12. That which some may be able to increase by reason of strength, but will be accompanied with labor and sorrow. [4]

Answers to these questions will be found, Lord willing, in the next issue of the Christian Shepherd.

R. Erisman

Bible Challenger: 2000 - F

The first letter of the following responses form the word which describes what the sea ceased from when a prophet’s bidding was hesitatingly obeyed. [1] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. The first of three phenomena which ceased, causing a mighty ruler to continue a hardening process. [1]

2. An apostolic command which, when fully heeded, will provide confidence to believers that they have ceased from sin. [3]

3. What was a great storm transformed into, after the wind ceased, being rebuked by the One who had power over the elements? [2]

4. The very place where some apostles ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ, even after they were commanded to refrain from doing so. [3]

5. The frequency of an apostle’s warnings, which ceased not over the space of three years, that there would arise perverse teaching against the Christian church and doctrines. [3]

6. A rebuke for a Pharisee from his invited guest, in neglecting a common courtesy, while a sinful woman ceased not to show her deeply felt affection for that same person. [4]

Bible Challenger: 2000 - G

The first letter of each of the following responses will form the word which describes a negative attitude that was exchanged for a believing one, when a disciple was invited to strengthen his belief through physical contact. [1] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. An intercessory prayer concerning the activity of God towards each one who is now believing the Christian doctrine. [5]

2. An open-ended provision Jesus gave His disciples, concerning a “whatsoever” that, when accompanied by believing, would be honored. [3]

3. The conclusion to “whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ.” [4]

4. A unique building material for the foundation of the millennial Jerusalem (Zion) as appreciated by anyone that believes, in the absence of haste. [2]

5. An unusual place where a believing jailer entertained two prisoners with food. [2]

6. The place in the Old Testament scriptures where a onetime strict, Pharisaical Jew confidently asserted that, now as a Christian, he continued believing and had not become a heretic. [5]

7. The degree of gladness in a heathen king, because a subject of his, who believed in God, was delivered from wild beasts. [2]

8. The clothing material which all people, living in an ancient city, put on when they believed an eight-word pronouncement of coming judgment to their city. [1]

9. The place of death where a disciple believed the truth of the Lord’s resurrection. [1]

Answers to these questions will be found, Lord willing, in the next issue of The Christian Shepherd.

R. Erisman

Bible Challenger: 2000 - H

The first letters of the following responses form the action word as applied “in all things” that would provide proof that the Corinthian saints were indeed embracing the Christian testimony in its entirety. [1] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in the answer.

1. An uncomplimentary characterization, in the eyes of the world, which was once applied to the endeavors of Christians even as they sought to honor the Lord in all things. [1]

2. One of twelve who was reluctantly given permission to leave home by the father who lamented that “all these things are against me.” [1]

3. The ultimate purpose for which the living God richly gives all things to both rich and poor. [1]

4. The degree of incorrigibleness of the vital part of our being which is more than “deceitful above all things.” [2]

5. A mineral to which a Biblical kingdom was likened because it “subdueth all things.” [1]

6. The dietary custom of someone (who may be weak in faith) which is in marked contrast to those partaking “of all things.” [2]

7. The response contained within the rhetorical statement as to whether the Lord had failed of “all the good things” which were promised when Israel entered their promised land. [3]

8. Specific places that the maker of the world and “all things therein” refuses as a dwelling-place. [4]

Answers to these questions will be found, Lord willing, in the next issue of The Christian Shepherd.

R. Erisman

Bible Challenger: 2000 - I

The first letter of the following responses will form the word which identifies something that not only has appeared but actually brings salvation to all men. [3] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. An attribute of God that caused a much-loved king to become great, spoken at a time he also recalled God’s shield of salvation in his life. [1]

2. What are God’s purposes in the last time for those who are now kept by His power unto salvation? [4]

3. Something no one ever need be, concerning the gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation. [1]

4. An earnest exhortation concerning the common salvation that needed to be written. [4]

5. Something commanded to sing unto the Lord, when His salvation is shown forth from day to day. [1]

6. A classification for believers who have put on the hope of salvation as a helmet. [3]

7. That which a multitude of escapees were commanded to do, so that they might see the salvation of the Lord with formidable barriers before and behind. [5]

8. That which the earth, seemingly a symbol of solidarity, shall be likened, as it grows old and will be contrasted to the Lord’s salvation which shall be forever. [1]

9. What is needful for anyone to really know the author of eternal salvation? [2]

10. The frequency of bestowed benefits from the God of our salvation. [1]

Answers to these questions will be found, Lord willing, in the next issue of the Christian Shepherd.

R. Erisman

Bible Challenger: 2000 - J

The first letter of the following responses will form the word defining how a certain triad will not be quickly rendered useless. [1] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. Something a debtor was told to take, while sitting down quickly, resulting in a large debt reduction. [1]

2. A dire forewarning to Israel, that should they fail to honor the Lord in their promised land, something from the heavens would surely cease, and they would quickly perish. [1]

3. What was the anticipated result for a certain king seeking foreign invaders, if the advice (given under false pretenses) from a lofty inhabitant to pursue quickly was heeded? [2]

4. Who were the mountain dwellers who were gathered together against some servants of Israel, that prompted an urgent plea to come quickly and help in their time of need? [4]

5. The name of the stone where a coded message was to be delivered to an anointed king who went there quickly after a set waiting period. [1]

6. The alternative that Philadelphians were to consider in holding fast their spiritual heritage, upon hearing the promise, “Behold I come quickly.” [5]

Bible Challenger: 2000 - K

The first letter of the following responses will form the two words of a moving testimony as to how the Lord kept a one-time spy for 45 years of enduring the rigors of wilderness travel. [2] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. That which a priest, who kept the door of the house of the Lord, collected in a specially prepared box. [1]

2. The physical parts of our human bodies which a famous king could say desired things he “kept not from them.” [1]

3. Something a certain man was quick to affirm that he had kept, when he was told the way to enter into life was by keeping the commandments. [3]

4. Two unwelcome visitors to a flock, kept by a youth who relied upon the Lord for deliverance. [4]

5. The place where many countenance-changing cogitations of coming events were kept, in a young man, upon hearing the angelic interpretations. [3]

6. A complimentary word, spoken in satire, to a king’s captain who, having been found asleep, had not kept his master, who was the Lord’s anointed. [1]

7. The length of time a certain man of Lydda, who was healed by an apostle, had “kept his bed.” [2]

Bible Challenger: 2000 - L

The first letter of each of the following responses will form the word which identifies something a great queen wanted to hear from a great man which prompted her to travel a great distance. This journey formed the basis of a coming judgment. [1] The number in brackets indicates the number of words in each answer.

1. The purpose for which a queen’s treasurer had journeyed to a foreign land. [1]

2. Something which a king of Judah’s mother had made, that resulted in her removal from being queen. [1]

3. What did the queen of Sheba give to Solomon in great quantity that is described as “there came no more such abundance”? [1]

4. How the corrupt religious system of the world, which Scripture likens to a woman, lived her life as she glorified herself, sitting as a queen. [1]

5. The desire of a beautiful queen, that became assured when she was permitted to draw near the throne and touch the king’s scepter. [2]

6. The beneficiaries mentioned in a request made by a queen who had prepared a banquet to persuade the king to respond favorably. [2]

Answers to these questions will be found, Lord willing, in the next issue of Christian Shepherd.

R. Erisman

Can You Have More?

One day a young missionary of about twenty-two came to Bolivia. He was a recent graduate of a seminary in a large U.S. city. Entering a humble little dwelling where a few dear believers in the Lord Jesus had gathered, he sat in the very front.

A dear old native brother, who labored for many years in this location, also happened to be there. He was a tried servant of Christ. The young man, full of zeal, energy and new ideas, came to him and said, “Why don’t you link up with us? We number in the thousands in the States, while you are just tiny groups of the twos and threes here.” But he didn’t realize that he was talking to a saint who always had a quick, ready reply.

The aged brother looked at him and said, “Dear brother, I hope you have been born again.” Then without waiting for a reply from the surprised young man, he went on. “Tell me, can you have any more of the Lord Jesus with your thousands than we have with the twos and the threes?” And he quoted that verse in Matthew 18:20 (JND): “Where two or three are gathered together unto My name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Brethren, what more could we want? Is there any place more blessed than to know that the Lord Jesus is present in our midst? I know of no other place so blessed as that.

E. F. Smith

Children of Light and Children of Night

“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thess. 5:5-6).

The growing preoccupation with occult (supernatural) themes is a worldwide epidemic. Music, books, movies, games—all are being saturated with its wickedness. And because of the opportunity to gain immense wealth through occult means (Acts 19:19), man spreads it the more rapidly.

This scourge is but one further preparation for the coming, great apostasy when man will give up even the profession of Christianity and embrace Satanic delusion. “Then shall that Wicked be revealed . . . even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” (See also Revelation 12:9,12.)

The foundation for this final deception is currently being laid in unprecedented ways in the minds of the young. It is effectively disseminated through recreation as well as schools. Libraries and literature classes are used to communicate occult themes to children who are easy targets of this evil when it is presented as excitement and fun. Even parents are lulled into accepting Satanic subject matter if it is hidden in educational content.

Though the presence of the Spirit of God on earth inhibits such evil (see 2 Thess. 2:7), as the day grows morally darker the conflict intensifies. The world is little aware how much of its well-being and order is due to the presence of the Spirit of God and the assembly still being here. A brother once said that when the Holy Spirit leaves the earth, God will lift the lid and let the stench of what is in the human heart fully come out.

Seeing the world hastening on towards its end, may we be found walking circumspectly, not as fools as this dreadful time draws near (Eph. 5:15).

“The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer” (1 Peter 4:7).

A Further Loving Warning to Parents

A beloved brother recently shared some of the preceding thoughts, which are timely in view of a series of children’s fiction that has lately become favorite reading in many lands. These wildly popular stories, written by a young, divorced British mother (who says she believes in God ), presents the make-believe adventures of an orphan named Harry Potter. Four of the planned seven stories are now available in the series. Specifically targeted are 9 to 12-year-old children, though all ages read them.

The craftiness of this fiction is unparalleled. It is Satanic in nature, though many supposed experts praise the Harry Potter series. Those—especially Christians—who express concern are quickly labeled inflexible dogmatists or religious zealots. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14).

The following warning is presented with the prayerful desire that dear Christian families may be preserved from such awful influences of Satan.

Who and What Is “Harry Potter”?

The stories concern an orphan boy who is a witch. Born to parents who also were witches, each story describes a battle between good witches (such as Harry’s parents) and evil ones (like the witch who killed them). Harry miraculously survives the attack which has orphaned him. Bearing a mark in his forehead (Rev. 14:9) of the assault, he begins to attend an invisible (to mere humans) school for witches. His teachers are an assorted group of wizards, witches and other occult figures. All manner of magic and witchcraft form his normal life.

Yet the most blasphemous subtlety of this story is its portrayal of the battle between good witches and evil witches. Thus Satan teaches children that what God calls abomination (Deut. 18:10-12) is, in reality, still to be considered good!

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isa. 5:20)!

Judging With Righteous Judgment

Writing to the believers at Corinth, the beloved Apostle, through divine inspiration, tells them that he speaks “as to wise men.” They are responsible to “judge ye what I say” (1 Cor. 10:15). Thus, rather than reviewing the Harry Potter stories, let us hear, from the following excerpts, thoughts of those who are best acquainted with this work. Then let us hear the divine Word of God so that each may judge these things using true and righteous judgment.

The Author Speaks

First the author, J. K. Rowling, states, “Harry’s status as an orphan gives him a freedom other children can only dream about. Being removed from the expectations of parents is alluring. The orphan . . . is freed from the obligation to satisfy parents.”

But Scripture says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother” (Eph. 6:12). And, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

She also says that as Harry grows older in future episodes, “the books are going to get darker”! Thus, once the imaginations and hearts of young children have been captured by this wicked series, the author evidently intends to make the stories even more filled with evil!

But Scripture says, “Whatsoever things are true . . . honest . . . just . . . pure . . . lovely . . . of good report . . . think on these things” (Phil. 4:8), and believers are to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11).

As for finding acceptable children’s reading materials, we have a wonderful principle found in Isaiah 7:15. “Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.”

The World Speaks

The world is vigorous in its defense. One critic says, “These books teach kids that reading can be fun. The Harry Potter books are often the first that a child reads just for fun, opening up children’s eyes to the further possibilities of recreational reading. They can change a child’s attitude about reading while improving reading skills.”

What awful reasoning! Encouraging children to fill their tender minds with witchcraft in order to become better readers! The Apostle Paul makes short work of this wicked logic, telling us that the damnation of those who falsely accuse Christians of saying, “Let us do evil, that good may come,” is indeed just (Rom. 3:8).

One critic asserts that Harry has “basic human values—many of them are Christian!” What? A witch with Christian values! What blasphemy! Let us hear the Word of God. “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14).

Others say that “Harry’s moral superiority carries the day, not divine grace”! These books also “teach children that there is a different degree of truth in fairy tales and in the historical facts of Christian salvation.” A different degree of truth! What dishonor to the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6)!

The Bible says, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:29).

Satanic Religion Speaks

Those actively involved in Satan worship and witchcraft are also happy with these books. A practicing witch commented, “If somebody wants to write about us as being fun, interesting, magical people, we don’t mind that at all!” Another said, “[The Harry Potter series] portrays witches in a positive way. For once witches are the heroes, not the villains.”

But the Bible says, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections. . . . Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:26, 32).

Professing Christianity Speaks

Most solemn of all is that many well-known leaders in Christendom (such as Charles Colson) have actively supported this Satanic series. One such Christian leader, writing in a popular religious publication, states: “I don’t think it’s a strong enough case to say a book should be pulled [from school shelves] because it has witches and wizards and violence in it.”

But the Bible says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33). Let us ever believe God and obey Him rather than men.

Another Christian writer made this shocking statement: “Author J. K. Rowling has created a world with real good and evil, and Harry is definitely on the side of light fighting the dark powers.” The Bible says, “What concord hath Christ with Belial?” (2 Cor. 6:15).

Yet another Christian writer comments, “[The Harry Potter] series is a Book of Virtues with examples of compassion, loyalty, courage, friendship and even self-sacrifice.”

To such horrible thinking, our blessed Lord Jesus says, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matt. 15:14).

A Young Believer Speaks

Let us now hear the words of a dear nine-year-old boy—a believer in the Lord Jesus. Jean-Paul is enrolled in a private, Christian school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During reading time, students in his class are given the Harry Potter books to read! Jean-Paul’s folks have stoutly resisted this activity, requesting that their son be allowed to go to the school library instead.

When asked why he doesn’t read the series, Jean-Paul simply says, “In the Bible it says not to do witchcraft.” “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou established praise” (Psa. 8:2 JND).

The Spirit of Antichrist

In closing, let us once more hear God’s Word. “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists” (1 John 2:18). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1).

Oh dear reader! Consider well these things. Harry Potter, the fictional boy-witch, has two natures molded into one being. Though a witch with magical powers, he also possesses human feelings and emotions. When not at the witchcraft school, he lives with normal humans. Yet, he is able to see and move in a world invisible to mere mortals—a world of spirits. And he is portrayed as always on the side of good—always gaining victory over evil.

Do we not see in this the most horrible subtlety and blasphemy of all! The hero of this wicked fantasy has many of the attributes of an antichrist. In spirit Harry Potter is very subtly presented to the young as a substitute for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Even worse, the antichrist spirit in Harry Potter is directed at little children! It seeks to draw them away from the One who said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not.” These stories do much to prepare the hearts and minds of little ones to accept the spirit of antichrist. May God deeply stir us up to practically be separate and touch not the unclean thing (2 Cor. 6:17).

Let us cast “down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God . . . bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

“It is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom. 13:11).

Ed.

Note: Should any desire it, a list of sources quoted in this article is available.

Christian Love

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

What a lofty standard to follow—to love one another as Christ has loved us. How did He love? He loved in spite of all our weakness, failures and sins. His love rose above every barrier, proving itself superior to every hindrance. Many waters could not quench His love—not even the dark waters of death, for He loved us and gave Himself for us.

Such love is to be our model. We are to love one another as Christ loved us. It is the outflow of the divine nature in the believer. It may express itself in various ways—at times, rebuking, reproving, or even smiting. Our Lord had occasionally to do so in reference to those whom, notwithstanding, He loved with an everlasting, unchangeable love.

True love is not blind, for it occupies itself with my faults in order to deliver me. “[Love] suffereth long, and is kind. . . . [Love] never faileth” (1 Cor. 13:48). “Little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

There are two kinds of spurious love—sectarian and clique. There is a great danger in loving a person merely because they hold the same opinions as we (sectarian) or because their habits and tastes are agreeable to us (clique). It is not Christian love to love our own opinions or our own image. True Christian love is to love the image of Christ wherever we may see it.

C. H. Mackintosh (from Things New and Old )

The Clay and the Rose

An ancient fable says: One day

A wanderer found a lump of clay,

So redolent of sweet perfume,

Its odors scented all the room.

“What art thou?” was his quick demand;

“Art thou some gem from Samarkand,

Or spikenard in this rude disguise,

Or other costly merchandise?”

“Nay; I am but a lump of clay.”

“Then whence this wondrous perfume, say?”

“Friend, if the secret I disclose,

I have been dwelling with the rose.”

Sweet parable! And will not those

Who love to dwell with Sharon’s rose,

Distill sweet odors all around,

Though low and mean themselves are found.

Dear Lord, abide with us that we

May draw our perfume fresh from Thee.

Things New and Old (1871)

Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6).

Contrasts Found in Revelation 19

Vs. 1. The Lord Jesus is given praise, honor and glory, but He agonized in the garden and bore the curse on the tree (Luke 22:44; Gal. 3:13).

Vs. 6. Our Lord is worshipped, but when here in the world He was mocked (Matt. 27:39-44).

Vss. 7-9. He, the Lamb, has eternal companionship—His beloved bride; yet He bore the cross alone, forsaken of God (Matt. 27:46).

Vs. 11. He rides a white horse victoriously. He rode lowly into Jerusalem on a donkey (Matt. 21:15).

Vs. 12. The Lord, who is Faithful and True, wears many crowns (diadems). In this world He was given a crown of thorns (Matt. 27:29).

Vs. 13. His vesture is dipped in the blood of His enemies, but on the cross He shed His own blood for His enemies (John 19:34).

Vs. 15. He rules the nations with a rod of iron, yet He was smitten with a rod upon the cheek (Micah 5:1; Matt. 27:30).

Vs. 16. His glorious title is “King of kings and Lord of lords.” On the cross Pilate wrote His title, “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews” (John 19:19).

Vs. 19. He judges the Roman armies. Roman soldiers had crucified Him (Mark 15:15).

Vs. 20. Two wicked men are cast alive into the lake of fire. Two righteous men, Enoch and Elijah, are taken alive into heaven (Gen. 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11).

Vs. 21. The Lord’s enemies are slain by His Word. But when on the cross He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

T. A. Roach

The Cross

“The Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet” (Ex. 15:25).

“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24).

Oppressed by noonday’s scorching heat,

To yonder cross I flee;

Beneath its shelter take my seat—

No shade like this to me.

Beneath that cross clear waters burst,

A fountain sparkling free,

And there I quench my desert thirst—

No spring like this for me.

For burdened ones, a resting-place

Beside that cross I see;

Here I cast off my weariness—

No rest like this for me.

A stranger here, I pitch my tent

Beneath this spreading tree;

Here shall my pilgrim life be spent—

No home like this for me.

H. Bonar

“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Dead and Risen With Christ

Having now Christ as my life and Christ as my object, I am given power over the motives that were mine before. The things that are around me have lost their force. The one object that the new life has is Christ—that which alone forms and governs this life is Christ. The soul of the believer being filled with Him, the things of the outward world have lost their force. His mind is filled with something else. The life that is in him is occupied with Christ.

The consequence of this is that outward things no longer exert influence over him. The “eye is single,” and the “whole body . . . is full of light.” Hence what excites the old man is not working now in that way. The thing manifested is the effect of Christ revealed to the new man—the new man living on Him.

The Apostle says, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved.” He does not say, “You make out that you are ‘elect of God, holy and beloved.’ ” He says, “This is your place: I want you to live in the consciousness of this, and because you are such, you are to live and act in the good of that.”

There are affections and duties which flow from the place I am in. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved.” Oh if my heart can live in that—in what I am—as elect of God, holy and beloved, I can put on anything then! If I live in the consciousness of my relationship—in the consciousness of what God is to me—these are the fruits that will follow: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. But I must have love, joy and peace first. If I am perfectly happy in God, I do not mind if a person insults me.

From The Christian Friend, 1874

Divine Love

It is well to remark the connection of charity—love—here (1 Cor. 13) with the assembly of God and the working of the Holy Spirit in it. Everywhere love is precious, never out of season, and above all it is the life-breath of the church. Where love is not the regulating power in the Spirit, the very nearness of the saints to each other and the action of the gifts prove the greatest dangers; where love governs, all else works smoothly to the edification of the saints and to the Lord’s glory. If the Corinthian saints, in their ministering of the gifts, had forgotten the supreme excellence of love, the Apostle puts it forward with all prominence between his treatment of the Spirit’s presence and action in the assembly and the order laid down for the due exercise of gift there. Love, he shows, has intrinsic and divine excellency, surpassing all gifts, even the gifts that edify, for such gifts may exist where there is no love.

“Now abide faith, hope, love; these three things; and the greater of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13 JND).

W. Kelly (from Notes on Corinthians)

Editorial: Are You Hungry?

“The children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: but now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes” (Num. 11:4-6).

I remember many years ago my mother would often call us to a meal saying, “Dinner’s ready. Are you hungry?” She was a wonderful and wise cook, fixing simple, nutritious food—food that not only tasted good, but was good for us. But all too often I was not hungry for that nutritious food.

Was there something wrong with the food or the way it was served? No! There was something wrong with me. The problem was my all-too-frequent visits to the snack counter at a store on my daily paper route. There I often found time during paper delivery to stop and enjoy a bottle or two of soda, a package of frosted cupcakes and maybe even a bag or two of chips—all tasty but worthless “junk food.” Arriving home after delivering the papers, I often had no appetite for the good food which my beloved mother had so lovingly prepared for me.

As believers, we need to be careful that such does not happen to us in view of the wonderful spiritual food which our loving God has prepared that His dear children might be fed and nurtured. Feeding on the world’s “junk food”—religious or natural—can quickly dull our “spiritual appetites.”

Among the Israelites there existed a “mixed multitude” of people who desired Egypt’s food. It was not very long before contact with them caused the people of God to lose their appetite for that heavenly, wilderness bread of God, the manna. They turned back to desiring that which sustained them when they were Pharaoh’s slaves. How sad!

From this we learn the vital necessity of separation from this present evil world (Gal. 1:4), whose children eat a diet wholly unfit for God’s redeemed children. Believers who get caught up in its ways quickly develop a taste for its natural and religious “leeks, onions and garlic,” losing their appetite for the sweet provisions of our God.

What an example we see in Daniel, who “purposed in his heart” that he would not partake of the king’s food. Rich and tasty—no doubt the best Babylon had to offer—still it was the food offered to idols, food that would defile and corrupt God’s dear people. Then it required purpose of heart in those who lived by faith to refuse to partake of Babylon’s “junk food”—and it requires the same today.

Developing a taste for the world’s “food” causes the rich and wonderful truth of God’s Word to become unappetizing to the soul. There is also a loss of appetite for and desire to read good ministry that is available. If filled with the dainties of the world, we find that God’s precious Word is no longer “sweeter than honey” (Psa. 119:103).

Let us also be careful of allowing a critical spirit towards the servants of God whom He may choose to feed His sheep and lambs. While servants are very responsible for how they serve the precious truth of God, His children are very responsible for how they receive and feed on that precious truth.

Another danger lies in developing a taste for one certain kind of ministry or for a particular style of presenting the truth of God. Isaac was fooled in this way. He developed a taste and love for a certain kind of food that Esau provided him (Gen. 25:28; 27:4). But his desire for that savory venison was used to deceive him. Having a taste for only one kind of ministry can also deceive, for it may cause us to despise other vital spiritual food that is provided.

The Egyptian servant of the Amalekite, whom David found in the wilderness (1 Sam. 30:12-13), expressed no complaints about the food offered him. That young man, left sick and dying in the wilderness by his former master, no doubt was very thankful for the life-giving food David gave him.

We find no record that those who were fed barley bread and fish by the disciples after the Lord’s blessing (Matt. 14:17-21) complained about either the kind of food they were served or the way in which it was served. They were hungry and willingly received what divine love saw fit to furnish them.

While we ought always to earnestly pray for those who minister the Word of God, let us also pray for ourselves—that we may have good appetites!

“He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away” (Luke 1:53).

Ed.

Editorial: Collectibles - Priceless or Worthless?

I was recently sitting at a table in the activity room of a retirement home when two elderly ladies entered. One was pushing a large cart loaded with dolls, framed pictures, knickknacks, tiny antique statues—a most interesting potpourri of “collectibles.” Behind her in a wheelchair followed the owner, whose turn it was to display her accumulation of things at a monthly “collectors club” meeting.

Many other elderly ladies were excitedly making their way towards the room, obviously looking forward to seeing another’s collectibles. I overheard one remark with obvious envy, “Mary’s husband collected elephants. He had over two hundred of them!” Man by nature is a collector of a seemingly endless list of things—figurines, coins, china, antiques, dolls, toys, books, anything and everything.

While not condemning such hobbies if they are kept in proper balance, I did wonder, watching these dear elderly souls, if those things they had so diligently collected—and which seemed so important to them—provided any lasting joy, comfort or satisfaction in these last, closing years of their lives.

Interestingly, the Word of God gives us a divine record of many collectors—some whose collections were priceless, while others’ proved worthless.

A shining example of a priceless collection, as we may say, was accumulated by the sweet psalmist of Israel—David. He had desired to build a house of worship in which the God of Israel would dwell. But Jehovah’s word came to him through the prophet: “Thou shalt not build a house unto My name” (1 Chron. 22:8). David submitted to the Lord’s word, and then he began collecting many of the materials he knew his son Solomon would need to build that glorious temple (1 Chron. 22:25;14-16). He built this collection—not to keep it for himself—but with the purpose of leaving it for the benefit of others.

Let us diligently lay up the treasures of divine truth we have received—for our benefit and the benefit of our younger brethren. (See Matthew 6:20; 2 Cor. 6:14). If the Lord tarries, these divine truths must be used by all who seek to build in the assembly.

David’s son, Solomon (the wisest man, apart from the Lord Jesus, that ever lived), was also allowed to become a collector. But his collections serve to teach us the emptiness—in view of eternity—of this world’s treasures. He collected, as it were, many things—knowledge, possessions, businesses, agricultural holdings and much more (Eccl. 12). Yet after acquiring all, Solomon characterized his collections as “vanity and vexation of spirit” (Eccl. 2:17). Worse, some of his collections turned his heart from the Lord to serve idols. He collected 1,400 chariots, immense amounts of silver and cedar, and, saddest of all, he collected 700 wives and 300 concubines. What was the result? His heart was turned away after other gods, bringing Jehovah’s anger and judgment upon him (1 Kings 11).

Oh! may we, like the Apostle Paul, value everything in comparison to the incomparable Christ—our truly priceless Treasure (Phil. 3:8)!

Ed.

Editorial: Evangelization

“Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5).

His first name is Adam, and from all appearances he looks to be a bright, clean-cut, neatly dressed young man. He’s spending the next several months of his life as a missionary—not evangelizing in some faraway land, but doing his work right here in the midwestern United States.

The following is a copy of the schedule he follows each weekday:

6:30 Arise

7:00 Personal time

8:00 Breakfast

8:30 Personal meditation

9:30 Evangelizing, visiting

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Evangelizing, visiting

5:00 Dinner

6:00 Evangelizing, visiting

9:30 Planning for next day’s work

10:30 Bedtime

Along with this busy schedule, Adam also offers to perform community service in whatever town he is working as a missionary.

It was personally very humbling to read of such zeal and dedication—even more humbling, because Adam has made a commitment to this missionary service for the next two years of his young life. However, what was most humbling and sobering of all was to find out that this young man is one of over 60,000 missionaries of a huge U.S.-based cult which is actively and energetically propagating its wicked and false doctrines throughout the world.

In view of the vast amount of resources and energy expended by the enemy of our souls to disseminate such deceitful, unholy teaching, believers do well to ask, “What am I doing to spread the precious gospel of God to lost, needy souls?” We have the Apostle’s exhortation in 2 Timothy 4:5, “Do the work of an evangelist.” Even more, we have the words of our Lord Jesus which can certainly be applied in principle to each believer, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

We are also told in Psalm 68:11, “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” We have, by the grace of God, “the Scripture of truth” (Dan. 10:21). It is His divine, life-giving, eternal Word—God’s complete and only recorded communication for man. Are we—those eternally blessed by it—faithfully doing the work of publishing this wonderful truth of God to the lost?

God’s estimation of those who spread the gospel is found in Romans 10:15: “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

As the time of our Lord’s promised return grows rapidly nearer, the world is increasingly being flooded with false religions and wicked, Christ-dishonoring doctrines. Oh! that we believers might be stirred up to fresh evangelical vigor—first, through earnest prayer, born of love for Christ and by love for lost souls, and, second, through gospel activities as the Lord may direct each one in personal evangelization.

Of course, devoting the same amount of time to evangelizing as our youthful disseminator of falsehood can is not an option for most. Yet any believer who desires to do the work of an evangelist will find countless ways to proclaim the truth—good news from a far country. For instance, consider how often the gospel can be silently preached by attaching a Bible verse to each envelope mailed. Who can tell how many souls will see that divine message as the letter travels through the mail.

We are reminded of the four lepers in the day of Elisha (2 Kings 6-7) who, at the height of that horrible famine in Israel, found an abundance of food and riches in the enemy’s deserted camp. While they enjoyed these wonderful and unexpected blessings, keeping the good news to themselves, the city of Samaria (the capital of Israel when Ahab reigned) suffered the agonies of starvation (2 Kings 6:25).

Finally, knowing the vital importance of their discovery to the starving masses, they repented, saying, “We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace” (2 Kings 7:9). What a day of good tidings is the day in which we live!

A Saviour—Christ the Lord—has come into this world, has died, has risen again, and is seated at the Father’s right hand in glory. Eternal life is now offered freely to whosoever will. Let us not hold our peace, but proclaim the news of a free and full pardon to those spiritually starving. “Preach the word . . . in season [and] out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2).

Ed.

Editorial: Faith, Blessing and Suffering

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12).

The Word of God is filled with exceedingly precious assurances for believers. We have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and His divine power has given us all things concerning life and godliness. We have exceeding great and precious promises. He desires us to have a richly furnished entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And while in this world, He will never leave nor forsake us. His final recorded promise in Revelation 22:20 is, “Surely I come quickly.” May we respond in ardent desire, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus”!

However, while assured of such an abundance of divine blessings, saints are also assured of trials and conflict in the life of faith. So the beloved Apostle writes in 2 Timothy 3:12; so the blessed Saviour assures His own in John 16:33.

Even as the prophets of old (James 5:10-11), Paul was an example of suffering for Christ. Thus, even in heavy affliction, divine love—shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5)—is to unceasingly flow forth, bearing, enduring and never failing (1 Cor. 13:78).

In 2 Timothy 3:11 Paul wrote that he endured persecutions and afflictions at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra. This account, recorded in Acts 13:14-14:25 provides wonderful encouragement and instruction for times when we suffer persecution for the Lord.

When Paul and his company had come to Pisidian Antioch, all seemed well, for the Jews told him, “If ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on” (Acts 13:15). However, after the Gentiles gladly received the gospel, the Jews “stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts” (Acts 13:50).

The world made it plain that Paul and his companions were not socially or politically acceptable. Such persecution is still felt even in “Christian” lands. Those who seek to live godly soon feel the loathing and censure—a very real and painful kind of persecution—of respectable society.

After their rejection at Antioch, Paul’s company visited Iconium. Violence against them increased, as the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles against them. Religious prejudice generated terrible persecution, both in Christian and in heathen lands.

Fleeing next to Lystra, the gospel was confirmed by God through the healing of the crippled man (Acts 14:8-10). The apostles, made the objects of idolatrous worship, found a different—but still very real—form of persecution.

At times, believers are offered similar adulation and respect because of what Christianity provides the world in material blessing. Sadly, we often find this deceitful flattery more comfortable than persecution. Yet, as with Paul in Lystra, whenever faithfulness to Christ spurns such accolades, a far more violent persecution is sure to result.

It was so with the Lord Jesus in Luke 4:16-29. He spoke, and all in the synagogue wondered at the gracious words that came from His lips. Yet, a short time later, those same people angrily thrust out the Lord, intending, in their hatred, to cast Him over the brow of the hill. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

Will Paul, having been so ruthlessly treated—left for dead—at Lystra, call for righteous vengeance on his evil persecutors? Ah no! So far from such a thought, he is animated by the spirit of our blessed Saviour, who in the midst of unfathomable suffering uttered divine words of love and forgiveness: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Energized by this love and guided by the Spirit, Paul went back to the scene of his persecutions. There the grace of God shone yet brighter, for he began the return journey at the place of his most violent treatment! “And . . . they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch” (Acts 14:21).

Thus were the new believers in those three cities given, through Paul’s example, an unforgettable lesson that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

What comfort (and guidance, too) to see that we are to expect persecution, are given courage by faith to face persecution, and have divine love to overcome persecution. Let us walk in faithfulness to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us (Gal. 2:20).

Ed.

Editorial: Fellowship in Difficult Times

“This know, that in the last days difficult times shall be there” (2 Tim. 3:1 JND).

Christians living in Western lands have been largely spared the open, violent persecution that some of our beloved brethren living in other countries experience daily. While we ought to thank God for these mercies and earnestly pray for our brethren, let’s remember that more difficult days are yet ahead for this poor world. Should our Lord leave His beloved assembly here a bit longer, these privileged lands will increasingly feel the effects of godlessness that is rushing in like a flood.

One’s boyhood was spent during the 1950s in a small, quiet, mid-central American town. During the nine years we lived there, I cannot remember one violent crime occurring. People, including children, freely walked about the streets in those quiet days and nights without fear. Most everyone knew everyone else, and there was at least some outward reverence of God, respect for the Bible, and a clear, public disapproval of immoral lifestyles. The closing of almost all merchants’ stores on the Lord’s Day also gave evidence of some public respect for God.

The past 40 years, however, have witnessed rapid deterioration in the social fabric of so-called Christian lands. Behavior which would have been rejected in earlier generations as corrupt and unacceptable is now considered perfectly normal and legitimate. Truly we do live in “difficult days”—times which, God’s Word tells us, will yet become darker, for “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13).

Viewing this sad ruin should cause us to realize afresh the vital necessity of walking in daily communion with our God. It is only as abiding in communion with the Lord that peace of heart and understanding of the times will be found.

Comfort in the Heat of the Day

The life of Abraham is a bright example of living by faith in trying times. Though his pilgrimage was not free of conflict and trial, he who is called “the Friend of God” (James 2:23) walked to His glory, wonderfully sustained and blessed. It need be no different for believers today. Our blessed God is the same, His love is unfailing, and His promise to never leave or forsake His redeemed is unchanged.

In Genesis 18:1 we find dear Abraham in the wilderness occupying the proper position of a pilgrim—seated in his tent door. It was during the heat of the day, the time when pressures and trials are most severe, that we read, “The Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre.”

Fellowship With God—Sweet and Rich

It is encouraging to see that Mamre (fatness), where Abraham’s tent was spread, was in Hebron (communion; Gen. 13:18). The path of faith appears to unbelief as a dry and barren wilderness (even as the world ought to appear to faith), but how rich and sweet is that place of fellowship which each may enjoy with his God!

Thus it is that at this most trying time—the heat of the day—Abraham lifts up his eyes from that wilderness scene to see the Lord standing by him. Faith immediately discerns the divine Visitor, and Abraham desires that He might accept the hospitality of his home, finding His rest under the tree.

Calvary is the foundation of all communion with our God. He has found eternal rest and satisfaction in the work of His beloved Son on the cross, and thus there is now ground upon which we may have fellowship “with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Fellowship Enjoyed—Faith Tested

What joy Abraham had in serving the Lord—not only in serving, but standing by Him under the tree. This delightful fellowship enabled Abraham to walk the path of faith when great difficulties and testings confronted him. Let us consider three specific instances of difficulties that Abraham faced after he had enjoyed communion with the Lord. In each case his faith, supported by that sweet fellowship, rises above the trial and difficulty.

Looking Beyond Difficulty

“Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace” (Gen. 19:27-28).

It must have been a sorrow to Abraham’s heart to see that which he had interceded with the Lord about previously come under such solemn judgment. Had his prayers failed? Oh no! The sense of fellowship with God that he had enjoyed kept him from being discouraged in this difficult day. And the Lord did answer his intercessory prayer in a wonderful way. In the very next verse we read, “It came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow.”

The sin of those cities was so abominable that God must destroy them. Yet mindful of Abraham’s prayer, He spared Lot from the awful judgment. What a comforting thought this is to those who cry to God in prayer in dark days of trial and testing. Is it not often so that we know not what we should pray for as we ought, and yet we have the sweet assurance that the Spirit itself makes intercession for us. Fellowship with Himself gives wonderful assurance that He hears and answers according to divine love and wisdom and always far above all that we ask or think.

Overcoming Failure

“Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba” (Gen. 21:14).

What a difficult day this was when Abraham had to send his son, Ishmael, and Hagar away! That father’s heart—earlier beseeching the Lord, “O that Ishmael might live before Thee!” (Gen. 17:18)—must have grieved at what his failure had wrought. Dear Abraham, who had provided a meal acceptable to the Lord, found that he did not have resources to provide what would sustain Ishmael and Hagar in the barren wilderness. But sustained by communion with the Lord, he does not hesitate to rise early in the morning and obey the Lord’s command.

Before long Abraham’s supply of bread and water gave out, and then Hagar’s faith and strength gave out, leaving poor Ishmael abandoned to die. But God’s promise to Abraham concerning Ishmael did not give out. The divine word of comfort came to Hagar! “Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is” (Gen. 21:17).

Giving Up All to God

“Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him” (Gen. 22:3).

The most difficult trial in the path of faith now faces the man of faith as he walked in communion with God. Every hope and promise that Jehovah had made to Abraham centered in his beloved Isaac. But now all those promises of future blessing and glory must be laid on the altar, wholly given up to God. Does Abraham—who enjoyed such sweet fellowship—hesitate or falter at the moment of this supreme test? The words, “Abraham rose up early in the morning,” give eloquent answer. Even the most severe test that a father’s heart could experience was not able to turn aside from obedience one who enjoyed the peace of communion with God.

Abraham’s faith shone brightly when he uttered these words to the young men, as he and Isaac were about to go to the mountain: “Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you” (Gen. 22:5).

May our God grant that each would earnestly seek to be found walking in communion with Himself. Until that blessed moment when the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, let us walk as pilgrims and strangers, our dwelling a tent, its place the wilderness, separated from spiritual and moral corruption. When this is so, we too can lift up our eyes to behold the divine guest who always stands by His loved own.

Ed.

Editorial: "Help Me!" - "It's Not Fair!"

During the flu epidemic that swept the country this past January, both our mothers needed to be hospitalized, in each case initially spending some of that time in the emergency room of a local hospital. As I stood beside my mom’s bed in one of the emergency wards (which was filled to capacity), a frightened elderly man in the next cubicle kept calling for help. Though surrounded by family and competent, skilled medical personnel who were taking care of his needs and seeking to assure him that all was going to be OK, he kept calling out, “Help me! Help me!” Then in rising desperation, he began to utter frantic, profane curses in his calls for help.

During this time, a young woman who had fallen, evidently breaking a bone, was also admitted to the emergency room. It was New Year’s Eve, and she was crying—not so much from pain, but from the frustration of having her plans for the evening’s festivities so abruptly cancelled. “It’s not fair; it’s just not fair,” she sobbed to the one who sat with her.

A dear brother, having heard of my mother’s condition, had come to the emergency room to see her. As we stood at her bedside, he asked the Lord Jesus to comfort and help her—a prayer that was clearly audible to all through the thin curtains that separated the emergency room cubicles. What a difference that prayer seemed to make! The room suddenly became very quiet. The man who had been calling for help quieted, his cursing ceased, and the unhappy young woman stopped her sobbing.

How little we realize, perhaps, the mighty power and blessed effects of earnest, heartfelt prayer. An old writer has called prayer a “mighty engine,” and it surely is so. Some have noted that the week-night prayer meeting often seems the most poorly attended assembly meeting. This sad condition results in spiritual weakness and cold lethargy gripping believers. May the Lord stir each heart to more energetic private and collective prayer in these closing moments of the day of grace. There surely is no lack of circumstances needing prayer! May our hearts be stirred to put to use more faithfully the divine, mighty power of prayer.

Prayer for Others

We can be encouraged by the multitude of witnesses to the efficacy of prayer recorded in the Word of God. (Pray and prayer are mentioned 611 times in the Bible!) One early mention of prayer is found in Genesis 20:7 when Abraham prays for the healing of Abimelech and his household. Another early example is the prayer of Abraham’s servant that God would prosper his mission to find a suitable bride for his master’s son (Gen. 24:12). These two accounts contain important principles for encouraging and guiding believers in prayer.

We notice that, in both cases, the one praying was seeking the ultimate blessing of others, not self. While surely right and vitally important to pray for personal needs, it is instructive to find early in the Word that prayers have the character of service.

Doubtless there are multitudes of trials and difficulties that our brethren are passing through and for which we might earnestly pray. Abraham’s prayer for Abimelech was, in reality, a matter of life and death for his household. Today, Christian families—households—are a special target of the enemy and have great need of individual and collective prayer that they might be preserved.

Then, too, how many young believers are searching for a life’s companion or beginning life together. Others—young and old—are planning careers, looking for jobs, considering schooling or other major changes in life. Surely such are all in need of our prayers for wisdom and guidance as they make decisions that bear lifelong consequences. How good to spend time praying for the needs of others.

Prayer When There Is Failure

In Numbers 12:3 Moses is called meek above all the men upon the face of the earth. How often do we find this humble servant of God earnestly praying for the stubborn, disobedient people that God had delivered from Egypt’s slavery. We see his yearning beautifully expressed in Exodus 32:31-32 after the people had worshipped the golden calf. Moses begs Jehovah to forgive them this awful sin, willing even to bear their guilt and judgment himself.

In Numbers 14:19, when the Israelites stubbornly refuse to enter the promised land, Moses utters these words of intercessory prayer to the Lord: “Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”

First John 5:16 not only shows the great value of prayer on behalf of one who has failed in his Christian life, but the importance of seeking to discern when and how to pray for such a brother or sister. Oh! for a meek and humble heart of love, such as Moses had, to be found thus pleading for one—redeemed and precious to the heart of Christ—who may be straying in the prodigal’s path.

What abundant blessings might result in assemblies, families and individual lives if there were greater united desire to come together for earnest, collective prayer on the behalf of those in need.

We read in James 5:19-20 (JND) that a believer who turns back one erring from the truth “shall save a soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins.” What a motive this provides to stir us to fervent, earnest prayer! May our hearts be filled with love and compassion for those who are out of the way.

The Power of Prayer

It has been rightly said that “prayer changes things.” Many of the mighty movements of the Spirit of God in the salvation of lost souls in various lands in the past 200 years have been preceded and sustained by spontaneous, earnest, united prayer. We find recorded in the Word of God that prayer often precedes God’s acting in His infinite power. Solomon’s prayer resulted in receiving great wisdom (1 Kings 3:9). Jehoshaphat’s lovely prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:6-12 resulted in salvation from a mighty foe and great victory for the people of God, while Hezekiah’s earnest prayer resulted in his healing from sickness (2 Kings 20:23). The rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem began with Nehemiah’s heartfelt prayers (Neh. 1:4; 2:4), and many lives were spared (and God glorified) through the prayers of Daniel and his three companions (Dan. 2:17-18).

A striking New Testament example of the power of prayer is found in Acts 12 where prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for Peter. These prayers set in motion divine power which the wicked Herod’s strongest iron bars, prison doors and soldiers could not hinder or stop.

The Apostle Paul through divine inspiration also shows that prayer changes things. He beseeches the Hebrew Christians to “pray for us” and then adds, “I much more beseech you to do this, that I may the more quickly be restored to you” (Heb. 13:19 JND). The beloved Apostle knew that he would be released to them, but their earnest prayers for him would hasten the time of that happy liberty.

While these examples—some of many found in the Word—encourage us to earnest prayer, let us also remember the vital importance of walking in practical Christian righteousness so that our fervent supplications will have much power (James 5:16 JND).

Combating in Prayer

A dear, mentally-handicapped brother often mentions, “People tell me there ain’t a thing I can do for the Lord. But I can pray to that precious One above!” Eternity alone will reveal the souls saved and blessed through this prayer warrior’s constant and earnest supplications. We find the character of combat connected with prayer in Colossians 4:12 (JND). “Epaphras . . . the bondman of Christ Jesus, salutes you, always combating earnestly for you in prayers, to the end that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

We remember hearing of the home-call of an elderly brother who had been faithful in the assembly all his life—yet rarely taking audible part. At his funeral, as a brother rode in the hearse to the cemetery, the undertaker asked him if the man had done much physical labor during his life. The brother, rather surprised by such a question, said, “Why no, he worked in an office. Why do you ask?”

The undertaker replied, “That is remarkable, for never in all my years have I seen such calluses on a person’s knees.” It was then the brother realized what the service of this saint had been for his life.

The Perfect Man and Prayer

In the gospel of Luke, the Spirit of God has recorded seven different occasions when our blessed Lord, as the perfect, dependent Man, is seen praying. Let us follow His divine example, seeking grace to cultivate a life of earnest and effectual prayer, availing ourselves continually of this never-failing resource of power and blessing.

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).

“Continuing instant in prayer” (Rom. 12:12).

“They continued steadfastly . . . in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

Ed.

Editorial: Living in the Year 2100

The headline on the poster in the college hallway read: “Will you be living in the year 2100?” It invited suggestions for items to be placed in a college time capsule to be opened in January 2100. Students were encouraged to make these recommendations because, “due to advances in medical science,” they might expect to still be living at the planned opening of the capsule in 100 years!

How subtly does Satan seek to lull souls into thinking that life stretches endlessly before them! Thus blinded, man little realizes or cares that his history, begun 6000 years ago, started with God’s invitation to eat of the tree of life and live forever (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:22). Instead, having willingly disobeyed God, he brought ruin and death into that beautiful and pristine scene of innocence (Rom. 5:12).

The reality is that few if any of these students living today will still be alive in this world in January 2100. Of course, they will consciously exist somewhere—either alive in the presence of Christ (2 Cor. 5:8) or in hopeless, eternal separation from the God of light and love who created them (Matt. 7:23).

Let’s consider three distinct parts to this question, doing so in light of the truth of the Word of God.

“Will You Be Living . . . ?”

Living and dying. The Word of God is the very truth which Pilate could not discover when he asked the Lord Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). It plainly states that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), that “death [has] passed upon all men” (Rom. 5:12), and that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Divine truth reveals that death is the final end of every soul (apart from the sovereign grace of God—Eph. 2:5, 8; Rom. 5:17). The life of every unsaved person who read that poster—yea, in the world—ends in death.

Further, Satan seeks to hide the divine truth that all are “dead” (no life before God), even while they live. Be he in the best of health and vigor, unregenerate man is “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1) and is pictured morally in the man of Luke 10 who was left “half dead” by those who had robbed him. This is the true moral condition of all mankind—physically alive yet morally dead before God.

God warned the first man and woman, “In the day that thou eatest thereof . . . dying thou shalt die” (Gen. 2:17 JND; see footnote). From the moment an infant—born with Adam’s fallen nature—takes its first breath, it begins to die. And were it to live 100 years or more, the truth still remains—its life is marked by dying.

Eternal torment. In Luke 16:23 another solemn truth about life and death is recorded. Here we read of a man who, though having ceased living in this world, still exists. But what a tragic existence he experiences! “I am tormented in this flame” are the awful words spoken from his own parched lips. Oh dear reader! If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, consider what it means to leave this world that way. You will still consciously exist, in January 2100 and forever, in a hopeless eternity of torment and weeping, separated from the God who loved and created you (Matt. 8:12).

Eternal life. Yet, illuminating this somber, grim side of divine truth is wonderful, glorious hope, summed up in Romans 6:23: “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The assurance of this life is given in 1 John 5:13: “That ye may know that ye have eternal life.” We are also given to know that when done living in this world, believers go to “be with Christ; which is far better” (Phil. 1:23).

Eternal life is infinitely more than the endless life in innocence that Adam had before he sinned. The Good Shepherd came that we “might have life, and that [we] might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). What an abundant gift is the life of Christ who is eternal life (John 11:25; 14:6; 17:3). It can’t be lost, for He promises, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:28), and “because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19).

“Will You Be Living in the Year . . . ”?

What “future” really means. The enemy always suggests that this life holds the promise of a future—that there is always time for living. Satan falsely speaks in the language of years while God speaks in the language of now. The truth makes no promise of the future (as to this life)—whether in days or years. There is a sober question in James 4:14: “For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Man is also warned that “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). The lie of promised years and future for the unbeliever is solemnly unmasked by God’s rebuke in Luke 12:20: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.”

The believer’s future. For Christians, days, months or years must be understood in reference to the promised return of the Lord Jesus—first for His bride the church (1 Thess. 4) and then to appear in this world (Acts 1:11). His words, “Surely I come quickly,” give a divine answer to the world’s scoffing spirit, which asks, “Where is the promise of His coming?” We can become tainted by this spirit of unbelief so that the expectation of the Lord’s imminent return fades, and we begin to act morally as the wicked servant of Luke 12:45.

No prophetic event remains to be fulfilled before Christ’s promised return. Let us regulate every thought of the future—years or days—by a daily living in the spirit of the patience of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:9), awaiting His shout (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

“Will You Be Living in the Year 2100?”

We don’t know. Believers are not to try and anticipate or determine the date of the Lord’s return for the church or His appearing in this world. It is not ours to “know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power” (Acts 1:7).

But presently occurring “famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes” (Matt. 24:7), “wars and rumors of wars” (Mark 13:7), “the love of many [becoming] cold” (Matt. 24:12), and “the earth . . . corrupt before God . . . and . . . filled with violence” (Gen. 6:11) all provide stark evidence that the Lord’s return (the rapture) and subsequent appearing (Col. 3:4) is at hand. Six thousand years of man’s sad history has passed and we stand at the beginning of the seventh millennium—the seventh day (2 Peter 3:8). It ought to be exceedingly precious and comforting for believers longing for Christ’s return to remember that “God . . . rested on the seventh day” (Gen. 2:2). As we enter the seventh day of man’s history on this earth, can the promised coming of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ be far off?

We do know. January 2100 will come. When it does, the world will be experiencing one of three things: (1) God’s grace still offering salvation to the lost, (2) seven years of the most solemn, frightful judgments this world has ever known, or (3) a thousand years of blessed peace, rest and joy. Personally, it seems very probable—in view of the present dark conditions of the world—that January 2100 will be part of the thousand years of the glorious millennial reign of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But whatever the condition of the world in 2100, Christians living now are awaiting—not the unveiling of a time capsule in January 2100—but the glorious rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18). It will take place in the “twinkling of an eye,” and “we shall . . . be changed.” Then “this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and . . . immortality” and “death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:51-54). “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).

Ed.

Editorial: Paying the Price

“I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Rev. 3:18).

These words of counsel, spoken by the Lord Jesus in view of the lukewarm spiritual condition found in the assembly at Laodicea, strikingly show His loving desire and faithful care for His assembly. To those who have an ear to hear, desiring to be overcomers, the Lord’s counsel is vital, for it contains a promise of reward. It is also clear, revealing that it will cost something to walk pleasing to Himself in this world. And it is urgent because He, as righteous Judge, is about to solemnly disown the lukewarm Laodicean assembly.

Laodicea spiritually had no cup of cold water (Matt. 10:42; Mark 9:41) to offer as refreshment, nor was the report of their condition “good news from a far country,” for it did not refresh His blessed heart as cold waters (Prov. 25:25). There were no mighty men evident in Laodicea—such as had willingly hazarded their lives, bringing Bethlehem’s water to refresh their beloved David (2 Sam. 23:15-16).

Rather, the condition of the Laodiceans was so nauseous to the Lord Jesus that the assembly is about to be spued out of His mouth. May His warning and counsel make us willing to buy that which will refresh His blessed heart. It is to those who overcome that the Lord Jesus says, “I grant to sit with Me in My throne” (Rev. 3:21).

The Lord counsels each to buy of Him three things—gold, white raiment and eyesalve. Let us make a spiritual application of these, allowing them to picture morally the three great principles of Christian life that are found in the earliest epistle of Paul (1 Thessalonians). “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:3). These three—faith, love and hope—were not operative in the assembly at Laodicea—the last state of the church—as they had been at the first with the Thessalonians. If they are to be living and active in our lives, we must be willing to pay a price.

“Work of Faith”—Gold

The Thessalonians had “turned to God from idols” (vs. 9)—from that which was visible and tangible to that which was unseen—a proof that their faith was real and working. It had cost them much to take that step of faith. They experienced persecution—perhaps even loss of earthly goods (Acts 17:1-15). But when tried by the fire of persecution, their faith was found more precious than the gold (1 Peter 1:7).

The Laodiceans, who considered themselves rich, felt no need to pay the price for that which the Lord counseled them to buy. They felt increased with what their flesh desired and shunned the trials and persecutions connected with the path of faith.

Are we willing to pay the price of daily walking by faith? It will cost as much to walk thus today as it did the Thessalonian believers. But possessing that divine gold—tried and tested faith, which endures until it gives way to sight—is surely worth the cost!

Oh kindle within us a holy desire,

Like that which was found in Thy people of old,

Who tasted Thy love, and whose hearts were on fire.

(Little Flock Hymnbook #168)

“Labor of Love”—White Raiment

We read in Revelation 19:8 that the Lamb’s wife was “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Not only will it cost believers to walk by faith (a work of faith), it will also cost Christians to live lives that are characterized by righteousness in this violent and corrupt world—a real labor of love in the energy of faith.

The world said to God, “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14), and they cast out and crucified His beloved Son. Now the Lord Jesus says to those who are called by His blessed name, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”

The Thessalonian believers bought their white raiment by serving the living and true God. Keeping His Word and not denying His name in a world governed by self-willed disobedience was the price they paid for that white raiment (practical righteousness of walk). It cost them (as it will us) misunderstanding and reproach in a world that thinks “it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:4). May our hearts be so stirred that we willingly and joyfully pay the price for His white raiment.

“Patience of Hope”—Eyesalve

Unlike the Thessalonian believers, the foolish Laodiceans were not willing to patiently wait (endure) for “His Son from heaven.” They readily gave up what they were unable to see with natural sight—the believer’s proper hope of coming glory with Christ—in order to obtain the fleeting pleasures of this “present evil world” (Gal. 1:4). Morally, they were earth-dwellers. The Lord Jesus would drink no wine until He drank it new in His Father’s kingdom (Matt. 26:29), but Laodicea was already “drunk with wine, wherein is excess” (Eph. 5:18).

There was no patience of hope in their lives, for their eyes were not anointed with divine eyesalve to see the beauty of His Person and the glory of His coming kingdom. They answer to Isaiah 53:2: “And when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” The present filled their vision and hearts, even as Sodom had filled Lot’s, so that they were blinded to Christ’s loveliness.

God grant us the spirit of the psalmist who said, “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things” (Psa. 119:18). May we be willing to pay the price for divine eyesalve (communion), that with eyes so anointed, we can by faith view the coming glory and thus patiently await His return.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11:13).

Ed.

Editorial: Setting Examples

A young man was recently reminiscing about his childhood. He mentioned that the most vivid memory of his boyhood was his father’s love of golf. It was a constant topic of discussion in their home, during times of work, play and at the family dinner table. His father’s great joy and excitement was to enthusiastically recount, with obvious delight, the details of his most recent game. Nothing else in life seemed to have so captured his father’s heart as had golf—the one great pleasure of his life.

It wasn’t surprising to find that because of this influence, even before he went to junior high school, the young man had also become captivated by the game. By his own admission, since his boyhood—like his father—golf has been his one, sole passion. His friendships are determined and guided by an individual’s interest in golf. Family and career considerations—every relationship of life—are ultimately controlled by this one overriding obsession. The father’s love of the game has had its clear and lifelong impact on the son.

While making no judgments concerning the value of such activities, we do find the mind of God plainly expressed regarding spiritual things and natural things: “Bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but piety is profitable for everything” (1 Tim. 4:8 JND). How important to keep such things in their proper balance in our lives!

But of much greater significance in this little account is that Christian fathers (and mothers too!) might be enabled to understand the powerful, lifelong influences which parental joys, interests and activities have on their own beloved children.

We often hear it said that actions speak louder than words. How true! Fathers and mothers whose hearts are captivated by things of this passing world cannot hide the true spring of their delight from their children’s eyes. The Lord Jesus said that it would be out of the belly that rivers of living water should flow (John 7:38).

And, too, He has told us that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34). Earlier the Lord told His disciples that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21). Well may we ask, What and where is our treasure?

Sometimes parents wonder (and rightly so) what the key is to leading their beloved children into a deep, abiding joy in Christ, a love of the assembly and of seeing them preserved from drifting into the world. By way of answering this vitally important question, we would ask, What is the deep, abiding joy of your heart and life? What really causes you excitement and delight, dear dad and mom?

Is some passing hobby, some recreation, or some particular career that in which your heart is presently finding its pleasure? Then prepare to see your children taken up with such things, too—rather than the joy of the Lord. Make no mistake, even faithful attendance at assembly meetings each week—important as that is—cannot compete for your children’s attention with the daily display you give them of what really captivates your heart.

It should not be surprising, if parents rarely give expression, verbally or by action, of their personal joy in the Lord (Rom. 5:11), that their children show little or no interest in the Lord, His Word or His assembly. How sad! Oh dear fathers and mothers! Can you, by word and by action, say in truth to your beloved children that Jesus is to your heart chiefest among ten thousand—that to you He is altogether lovely (Song of Sol. 5:10,16)?

How often have we read the yearnings of the bride in Solomon’s Song: “Draw me, we will run after thee” (Song of Sol. 1:4). May it be so with ourselves and our beloved children—parents’ hearts individually drawn in love and delight to the Lord Jesus, and then the dear lambs following after them, seeking that same divine Source of satisfaction and joy.

In Proverbs 22:6 parents are admonished to train up a child in the way he should go so that, when he is old, he will not depart from the path of faith. The key to success in the spiritual training of our children is found just a few verses later (Prov. 23:26): “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

Oh! that our hearts may be so attracted to and filled with Christ that our joy in the Lord captures the hearts and eyes of our children!

“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things” (Matt. 12:35).

Ed.

Editorial: Which Master?

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24).

Obadiah was a man who tried to serve two masters. One he served—Ahab—is described as doing more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him (1 Kings 16:33). Yet, it is also said of Obadiah that he feared the Lord greatly. What a strange combination!

Regarding Ahab, Obadiah worked for an idolatrous, apostate master as steward of his house (1 Kings 18:3 JND). In that sad character of service, he bore primary responsibility for insuring the health and prosperity of the most wicked, godless king who ever reigned over the ten tribes of Israel!

At the same time he also served Jehovah—the One whom his master Ahab had disobeyed and dishonored—hiding from Jezebel, Ahab’s murderous wife, 100 prophets of the Lord. How very sad and how very difficult this path of duplicity was, seeking to serve two masters acceptably!

Service for God in Dark Times

Obadiah’s service was rendered, in part, during a terrible famine—a significant though not surprising fact. When a man turns his back in rebellion from God—especially after having received the blessing of divine light—a great spiritual famine is sure to result. And it is sure to have an adverse effect on the spiritual welfare of others also.

Ahab, no doubt keenly feeling the famine, yet refusing to acknowledge God’s hand in this severe trial, sends Obadiah to find food—not in order to preserve the lives of men, but rather to save the lives of animals! Ahab thought more of his horses (power) and mules (wealth) than of God’s beloved people over whom he ruled. He desired grass so that some of the beasts might be saved alive.

It is good for those who walk in the path of faith to realize that this world has no interest in the believer’s welfare. It is engaged in a continual, frantic search to find food which can provide the power, strength and riches needed to maintain itself in its rebellion and alienation from God.

Hindered Service

It was no mean service for Obadiah to hide the prophets of Jehovah by fifties in a cave. In doing so he placed himself in a position of extreme danger with Ahab. Further, he no doubt had to personally bear the expense of the bread and water they ate. But, we may say, in spite of these good things, his was still a hampered service for Jehovah—severely restricted by the fear of man, his other master.

When the Lord Jesus Christ walked on this earth—perfect Man and perfect Servant—His ministry was never thus hindered. He never acted out of the fear of man, but from perfect submission to the only One He served, His Father and God. His Father’s business, which He must be about, was not ever constrained by or compromised with the world either.

Thus when His disciples thought He should send away the weary, hungry multitude, our blessed Lord Jesus seated them by fifties—not in a cave but on the soft grass. And those He ministered to numbered far more than 100 prophets. Five thousand men, besides women and children, were fed to their full satisfaction that wonderful day. Surely this divine Steward does all things well.

Service With a Bad Conscience

Obadiah was quite aware that his service to Ahab was not pleasing to Jehovah. We are told in 1 Kings 18:7 that when Elijah met him in the way (Ahab’s way), he knew him and “fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?” Poor Obadiah! He knows Elijah when he meets him—why then the question? It was the response of a troubled conscience, for “a double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). Obadiah could not say what the beloved Apostle Paul (who only served one Master) said: “Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16).

May we ever seek to be more like our precious Saviour, who, as perfect Man, alone could say, “I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:29).

Service Without Fellowship and With Fear

Obadiah carried on his service apparently without Ahab’s fellowship and certainly with no sense of his approval—something which the Lord delights to give to those who serve Him with a perfect heart (1 Chron. 28:9).

When he and Ahab went to search for food, they did not walk together in fellowship, for we read that “Obadiah went another way by himself” (1 Kings 18:6). Even the discouraged Cleophas and his companion were able to commune and reason together (Luke 24:14-15). Obadiah’s duplicity provides a stark answer to the prophet’s question, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

More than this, not only was Obadiah denied the sense of Ahab’s approval and fellowship, but he found the king had no compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way (Heb. 5:2). Evidently Ahab’s cruel response to a failure in his servants was to kill the guilty (1 Kings 18:9)!

But the loving Master we are privileged to serve is ever ready to forgive confessed sins and failure (1 John 1:9). And He does so every day on the divine principle of seventy times seven (Matt. 18:22).

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).

Service Without Confidence

Finally, in Obadiah’s vain effort to faithfully serve two masters, he judges the One (Jehovah) according to the cruelty of the other (Ahab). All that he can assume in his sad state is that, if he is obedient to Elijah, the Lord will trick him. His piteous plea to Elijah— “the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me” (1 Kings 18:12)—reminds us of the unbelief of Joseph’s brethren (Gen. 50:17). But it ought to humble and remind us even more of our own treacherous, natural hearts, so willing to mistrust and deny the only One who has ever and always only done us good.

Hear how beautifully and confidently that perfect Man trusts God in His path of service. “Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight” (Luke 10:21). “Not My will, but Thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Let us also hear the words of the Apostle Paul while following the example of his faith and confidence in the Lord, in whatever little service we are allowed to do for our precious Saviour.

“I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12).

May we learn from the record of Obadiah’s failure, and seek grace to “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:28).

Ed.

Editorial: "Will Build to Suit"

Recently, when traveling through the rural outskirts of a large metropolitan area, we noticed that many acres of fields, formerly used to produce rich agricultural harvests, are now displaying large “for sale” signs. One particular phrase we saw, printed in large, bold letters and repeated on many of these signs, read, “Will build to suit.”

And so it has been for about 6000 years now—beginning with Cain who willingly went out from the presence of the Lord—man has been building this world to suit the desires of his heart.

He is determined to create a system—whatever the cost—where he might have at his disposal everything he lost in the garden of Eden. Cain began by building a city—a place to suit the heart’s desire of each soul—a place built apart from any reference to or thought of the rights of his Creator, God.

He wants a constant, reliable supply of necessary things (such as food and clothing) so that he will not have to trust the God he willingly turned his back on to care for him. So he looks to those who dwell in tents and have cattle to build a world of plenty.

Willingly alienated from God and feeling his want of joy and rest, man turns to those who handle the harp and organ to build a world of heart satisfaction.

He expects the marvels of science and industry to ease the burdensome toil his sin caused. No expense or energy are considered too great to set aside God’s judgment of his disobedience: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” He eagerly turns to every artificer in brass and iron to build a world of comfort and convenience.

Many times in the sad history of this world, his wicked avarice and lust have driven him to oppress his fellowman. The stronger forces the weaker into cruel bondage, compelling those miserable slaves to build treasure cities where he stores the abundance of his conquests and domination.

He marks all these achievements by erecting monuments to their glory as he unceasingly strives to build a unified, global economy and world—a tower of Babel—that will shut heaven out of his thoughts and life. Motivated by the wicked pride of his heart, having built these shrines, man arrogantly says, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?”

Thus it is that man has become a builder rather than a worshipper. Attempting to create whatever holds promise of fulfilling the emptiness of his heart—a void that none but his Creator can fill—he continues his building. The awful lie of his godless world system promises to build for each soul whatever is thought will suit the yearnings of a barren heart. Thus the world continues to brazenly place that hollow promise—will build to suit—on its for-sale sign, ever enticing men to believe its lie.

What a great price is exacted from those who have been deceived into futilely chasing after the empty promises of Cain’s world!

Most tragic of all is that man in dark unbelief willingly turns away from the only One who is able to build for him every lasting satisfaction, joy and desire that his empty heart could ever want—the lowly carpenter from Nazareth (Mark 6:3).

This humble, blessed Jesus—divine, eternal Son, God manifest in flesh, now seated as man at God’s right hand in glory—is the foundation, the chief cornerstone upon which God is building and accomplishing all His eternal counsels. Further, He will perfectly build to suit what is best for each one who turns to Him in honest repentance and faith. But what the divine carpenter builds, unlike that fleeting impermanence of all man’s efforts, is everlasting—fully glorifying and satisfying to the heart of God.

That such a divine, marvelous opportunity to possess lasting peace, joy and happiness is so blindly rejected provides stark proof of the impenetrable moral darkness of the human heart. Blinded by his sin, man sees no beauty in the Lord Jesus Christ or in His building. Except for the mighty working of the Spirit of God “who commanded the light to shine out of darkness” and “hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6), man would forever remain in his helpless, hopeless condition of ruin and separation from the God who loves and desires to bless him.

Oh! that each redeemed soul might break forth in praise to God for His sovereign grace which has so perfectly and freely built our eternal blessing.

“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build” (Psa. 127:1).

Ed.

Editorial: Working Mothers or Mothers Working?

I heard them long before I saw them. As I was walking on the tree-lined bike path near our home, the quiet serenity of the late morning spring day was abruptly interrupted by a child’s loud wails. Between those wails, cries for “mommy” could be heard, along with the muffled response of an adult’s voice. I rounded a bend in the path and they came into view—three adults evenly spaced at the front, middle and end of a line of fifteen or more preschool children.

These little children (none looked older than four or five)—“residents” of one of several day-care facilities in our town—were on a walk with the adults who were hired to care for them. Except for talking among some of the children, there was little conversation—the adults speaking only when it seemed necessary to give orders to the children.

One little child at the very end of the line—evidently the source of the loud wailing—was the picture of abject misery. He kept trying to pull away from the adult holding his hand. Both appeared equally unhappy with each other.

Walking by the first worker I smiled and said, “Hello”—receiving in return an unsmiling, silent nod. The second worker—also silent—did manage a faint smile. The last, still busily occupied with the unhappy little boy did not even look up.

This experience suggested to me some stark realities connected with the issue of working mothers—those who are engaged in full-time employment that takes them outside the home, away from their family. Though there are many other considerations, let us ponder three of these realities.

Constant Access

The first reality is that a child desperately needs daily, constant contact with its mother’s nurturing love and care.

A working mother is often unavailable to her children. She can’t provide nurturing and love when her child may need it most. Five days a week, eight or more hours each day, the children I met on the trail were denied vital access to their mothers.

A mother working within the sphere of home and family is always accessible to her children. The divine pattern is found in Hebrews 4:16. We enjoy constant, unchanging access into the presence of our God. Why should Christian parents be satisfied with a lower standard for their children?

“Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it” (Ex. 2:9).

“We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thess. 2:7).

Day-Care Workers Can’t Be Substitute Moms

The second reality is that an adult whose chief concern is earning a living working as a day-care provider for others’ children is a poor alternative for a nursing mother. No matter how diligently they may carry out their duties or how much they may love children, they cannot fill the place the child’s own mother should have.

“A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Prov. 29:15).

“I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful . . . a mother in Israel” (2 Sam. 20:19).

A “P.S.” for Mothering Isn’t Possible

The third reality is that a mother has but few years to mother her children. (The same may be said for a father.) All too quickly children are grown, leave home, and with them forever goes the priceless privilege and opportunity of mothering.

“I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house” (1 Tim. 5:14).

“The wisdom of women buildeth their house” (Prov. 14:1 JND).

“Her children arise up, and call her blessed” (Prov. 31:28).

Communism and Consumerism

Forty years ago, when I was a teenager, the Cold War between democracy and communism was at its height. I remember hearing warnings that communism was making a dead set to destroy the traditional home and family values of Western cultures.

Free-world societies were quick to criticize a political system in which the state removed children from their parents and their homes and placed them in government-run nurseries and day-care centers. The evident objects of these actions were twofold: (1) indoctrination and (2) enabling both father and mother to become full-time laborers in the workplace! The sad result was that the communist state became a surrogate parent for each child.

Lenin (one of the originators of communism) was reported to have said, “Give me your child for its first five years and then you can have it back—I’ll have made it a communist for life.” If an atheist politician understood the value of the early years of a child’s life, how is it that so many working mothers don’t?

Now—when communism is no longer an active threat—we wonder, “Who or what is it in our world today that denies children (such as were on the bike trail) the daily nurturing, loving care of their mothers?

The answer, to our sorrow and shame, is that the god of consumerism has captured the heart of man. Satan has used that idol to successfully accomplish what communism failed to do—the separation of mothers from their infants and little children.

Rather than sacrificing children through the philosophy of the stoics (Acts 17:18) as seen in communist ideology, we now see them, through the philosophy of the Epicureans (overindulgence), being sacrificed to the golden idol of consumerism.

Molech and Materialism

In Jeremiah 32:35 we read that the beloved people of God had become so involved with the Satanic idols of the Gentiles that “they built the high places of Baal . . . to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech.”

That this unspeakably horrible sacrifice of young children to the Ammonite fire god took place among God’s chosen people is unthinkable, except that we find it recorded in the Bible for our learning and warning.

We recoil from such cruel indifference which could throw helpless little ones into Molech’s sacrificial fires. Yet today we see the same indifference towards the children who are morally offered to the god of consumerism.

Oh! dear parents—and we especially address our comments to the beloved mothers who are to guide the house—do not allow your hearts to become hardened by the covetousness and lusts of this present evil world (Gal. 1:4)! Far better to sacrifice your ability to purchase more “stuff” than to sacrifice your precious lambs by following the godless philosophy of self-seeking materialism.

“Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt. 18:6).

“Making a Difference” (Jude 22)

Other realities, however, ought to be considered in order to give balance to the foregoing comments, for we are to have “an understanding of the times” (1 Chron. 12:32) and the times we live in present many complicated family situations. A man-made set of rules for guidance will ever be found wanting.

Consider, for example, the astronomical rise of single-parent families in so-called Christian lands. Because he or she must earn a living, a single Christian parent may be unable to spend all the time they would desire with their children. How comforting to realize that our Father, who knows perfectly each situation, “giveth more grace” (James 4:6). A parent found in such abnormal circumstances can still walk to His glory, expecting the Lord’s blessing.

God also promises the needed wisdom for every occasion of life and gives it without rebuke (James 1:5). Let us walk in close fellowship with Him who is perfect in love, tenderness and compassion.

There are, no doubt, many other family situations, such as illness, unexpected debt, rapidly changing demands in the job market, and schooling or retraining needs, that directly bear on children and day-care issues. But in all these things, the One who declares the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10) is ever our wonderful, never-failing resource.

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jer. 32:27).

A Mother’s Work: Difficult and Demanding

A godly mother who remains at home, raising her children for the Lord’s glory, will have accomplished a work of far greater difficulty, needing far greater ability and skill, than any other profession. Though mothering is without equal in its complexity, challenges and demands, a God-fearing mother, acting in faith and obedience, will find the needed supply of grace and wisdom to do it well.

“They made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept” (Song of Sol. 1:6).

Ed.

Errata

A sentence from an article in the May 1999 Christian Shepherd titled “Unbroken Fellowship of Father and Son” should read: “However, unlike Matthew and Mark, in Luke and John those heart-rending words uttered by our precious Saviour—‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me’—are left out of divine inspiration.”

Regarding this most solemn and holy subject, we find our hearts stirred by the following comment, excerpted from the ministry of A. H. Rule. “How was it during those hours of darkness on the cross? Was there any ministering or strengthening angel? Was there any voice from the excellent glory expressing untold delight in His blessed Person? Was there any ray of light from that glory to relieve the awful gloom? God had abandoned the Man Christ Jesus. This is an hour that stands alone. There is none like it in the annals of eternity.”

May the sense in our hearts of the blessed Lord’s love, sacrifice and suffering be deepened as we meditate on that most solemn cry.

O how our inmost hearts do move,

While gazing on the cross;

The death of the Incarnate Love!

What shame, what grief, what joy we prove,

That He should die for us!

Our hearts were broken by that cry,

“Eli, lama sabachthani?”

(Little Flock Hymnbook #215)

Ed.

Extract

The Lord has been so good in giving such a precious deposit of truth. His Word to us is to hold fast till He comes. We pray especially for the dear young people that they may lay hold of the truth, or, rather, that it may lay hold of them, so that we with them may walk in it (3 John 4).

From a personal letter

Extract

The story is told of a boy whose father had given him a quantity of boxes to carry out of their house. As he walked across the yard, arms loaded, a neighbor called, “You’re carrying too many.”

The boy replied, “It’s okay; my dad knows how many I can carry.”

Selected

Extract: Three Things God Wants From Us

In Micah 6:8 we have three things that God wants from us: “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” It is the summing up of the whole fruit of grace. It makes the believer’s life very simple—he has nothing else to do but that, and it is perfect happiness. Nothing can hinder me from doing what is right, except my own will.

From a personal letter

The Face of Jesus

Who is this One before whose face earth and heaven flee (Rev. 20:11)?

The same One who fell on His face in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:39).

The same One in whose face man, in his awful hatred, dared to spit (Isa. 50:6; Matt. 26:67).

The same One whose face was marred more than any man’s (Isa. 52:14), but who is for us fairer than the children of men (Psa. 45:2).

The same One from whom God hid His face in His time of deep need (Matt. 27:46).

The same One we are called to contemplate and in whose face shines the knowledge of the glory of God (2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Cor. 4:6).

The same One whose face we shall soon see (Rev. 22:4) when we will be face to face with Him (1 Cor. 13:12).

“The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).

M. Payette

"Feed the Flock"

A believer, Bernard Gilpen, was sentenced in the reign of Queen Mary to die for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Each morning and each night, during his imprisonment, he repeated the text, “All things work together for good to them that love God.”

Finally the day came when he was led out to his execution. On the way he stumbled, fell and broke his leg. He was ordered back to prison where he lay, moaning in pain. His jailer taunted him with the text he had so often repeated. “Ah!” Gilpen replied, “but it is true all the same.”

For quite some painful period of time, he lay in the prison hospital, while his leg healed. But the Scripture he so faithfully quoted indeed proved itself gloriously true. During the time he lay there, Queen Mary died and Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne of England. One of her first acts was to set at liberty Christians imprisoned for their faith, including Bernard Gilpen!

Though it does not say all things that happen to Christians are good, God tells us that they work together for good. Faith is put to the test by these words. But even when faith wavers and is ever so weak, our Father is unchanging and has spoken unchanging truth. Often, perhaps, we do not see as striking a proof of the truth of this verse as in our little account. But whether or not we see such proof, the truth of God remains as unchanging as He—“all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28).

Truth for Young Christians (adapted)

"Feed the Flock"

Two brothers who lived many years ago worked together on their family farm. One brother was married with children, while the other was a bachelor. They worked hard, sharing equally in the profit of the farm. Each had a small storage bin in which they deposited equal amounts of the grain produced on the farm.

One day the single brother thought to himself, “It’s not right that my brother and I share everything equally, for I’m alone and my needs are simple.” He decided that each night he would fill a sack with grain from his bin and, unnoticed in the darkness, would quietly dump it into his brother’s bin.

Meanwhile, the married brother thought to himself, “It’s not right that my brother and I share everything equally, for I have my wife and children to care for me in my old age, but he has no one to help him with his future needs.” So he decided that each night he would quietly fill a sack with the grain from his bin, and pour it into his brother’s bin.

Until the night some months later when they accidentally bumped into each other during their nocturnal missions of charity, neither brother could understand why his supply of grain never dwindled.

This (probably fictional) story illustrates important, divine principles which believers may sometimes be prone to forget. We read in 1 John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” While there are times when men are called upon to prove the depth of their love for another by dying (John 15:13), an equally strong test of love is to lay down one’s life by living for others, that is, setting aside personal desires to serve others. “By love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13). Let each apply in principle and reality the words of our blessed Saviour: “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it” (Luke 17:33). We will not be losers for doing so!

Ed.

"Feed the Flock": A Foe and a Friend

“Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). “The Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:56).

“Grrr . . . woof!” His summer afternoon visit to the mailbox was suddenly, unpleasantly interrupted by an unfriendly warning from the pit bull who lived across the road. The mailbox was on the dog’s side of the road. As he went to get the mail, it came towards him—steady, sure, without hesitation.

Quickly retrieving the mail, the boy thought, Perhaps I can run back to my house. But the distance was too far, and the dog would certainly catch him before reaching the safety of his front door.

What could he do? He considered kicking the dog, until he remembered its owner’s warning—never kick that dog. The last man that had kicked it had to be rescued from its jaws by his owner.

Thinking that a loud noise might scare the pit bull, the boy yelled at the top of his voice. But the dog’s response was “Grrr . . . woof!” And he kept coming—never hesitating or changing his gait.

What next? There was no large stick, no large rocks—only the small “pea gravel” used to surface the road. He threw a handful as hard as he could. “Grrr . . . woof!” The pebbles bounced off the dog without effect. The boy looked at the envelopes he held, but they certainly offered no protection.

Realizing he had run out of resources to protect himself, he could only continue helplessly backing away from the dog who was steadily drawing closer.

Suddenly, he heard another “Grrr . . . woof!” from behind him! And this bark was much louder and far more ferocious—one which obviously came from a very large dog that was approaching at a full run.

But now the boy was no longer scared, for he knew well the sound of that bark—it belonged to his own very large dog, Captain. The pit bull took one look at the onrushing Captain, stopped immediately, turned and ran back into his own yard. Once the boy was safely home, Captain received a hearty display of his owner’s thanks for his rescue from the pit bull.

Believers have an enemy far more dangerous than the pit bull. The devil is seeking to destroy each one of us. Too often we seek to withstand this implacable foe in our own strength and wisdom. Such foolish attempts are less able to protect from Satan than the boy’s attempts to protect himself against the dog. It is good to learn that the Lord’s strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). He will never fail!

“Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

“That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14).

“He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:56).

B. Short (adapted)

"Feed the Flock": "Coals of Fire"

Tom was drafted into the army during World War II. His profane language and unruly ways soon earned him an unenviable reputation in the barracks as a godless bully. Some weeks after Tom’s induction, another soldier was added to his company. But this young man was as quiet, circumspect and sober as Tom was vulgar and disorderly.

It soon became evident to all in the company that the new recruit was a Christian. While he said little, each night before going to bed he knelt down beside his cot and prayed. There were the customary hoots and catcalls and jests. But Tom wasn’t satisfied with that. In his hatred of the soldier’s Christianity—especially of his evening prayers—he vowed to carry his verbal tormenting even further.

The next evening, when the Christian was again on his knees praying, Tom quickly removed one of his boots and, taking careful aim, threw it with a curse at the kneeling soldier. The boot landed with a solid thud against his side, causing the Christian to wince and catch his breath. But without even lifting his head, he continued to pray.

Further enraged, Tom removed his other boot and hurled it with as much force as he could muster. The boot struck the Christian a terrible blow on the side of his face. He shuddered and gasped in pain as blood trickled down his cheek. But again without opening his eyes, he remained on his knees.

Tired of the assault for that evening, Tom went to sleep. At reveille next morning he hopped out of bed. Remembering his boots, he looked over at the Christian’s bunk searching for where they had landed. And he found them, but not where he had hurled them the night before. Now they were neatly placed together—beautifully polished—at the end of his own bunk! It was not long after, that the love of Christ flooded Tom’s dark, sinful heart, and he was brightly saved.

We who live in well-favored western countries must not think that persecution for the name of Jesus only happens in “foreign lands.” It takes place wherever that blessed name is honored. We face an enemy who will stop at nothing—whether corruption and violence or friendship and succor—to stamp out the name of Christ. May we seek grace to move and act in Christ’s love towards those who persecute us for His name’s sake (Luke 6:27-28).

We are to expect such treatment (2 Tim. 3:12), and we are not to wonder at the world’s hatred (1 John 3:13). In 2 Samuel 16:5-14 we read of those that followed the king in his rejection. They felt the curses, stones and dust that were cast at David by the wicked Shimei. The more closely we follow the Lord Jesus in this world, the more we will feel all the insults and persecutions that the enemy casts at His blessed, peerless Person.

“Let us not be weary in well doing” (Gal. 6:9-10), for “the God of all grace” (1 Peter 5:10) invites us to flee to His presence at any moment—to “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

Ed.

"Feed the Flock": Deadly and Uncontrollable

Some people earn a living hunting poisonous snakes. After capturing these deadly creatures, they carefully milk the venom from the serpent’s mouth and sell it to companies who manufacture anti-venom drugs and other beneficial medicines.

Some hunters were commissioned to collect the venom of what is considered one of the world’s most deadly snakes—the African Black Mamba. So powerful is this serpent’s venom that without proper medical treatment, humans bitten by it often die within 20 minutes. Its size (10 to 14 feet long), its speed (up to 10 miles per hour) and its aggressiveness (rather than fleeing, this easily irritated creature often chases after humans or other prey) make its capture particularly dangerous.

After some time, the three snake hunters finally captured an 11foot male Black Mamba. They carefully placed the serpent inside a special white bag made of strong fabric, securing its opening to make escape impossible. Yet, in spite of all their precautions, one of the men accidently brushed his hand against the outside of the sack. Instantly the already-aroused serpent—with its incredible sensing ability—struck, its fangs piercing through the sack’s fabric and sinking into the man’s hand.

Within moments after being bitten, the hunter began to feel his feet and hands becoming numb as the venom quickly worked its deadly effects. By the time he was carried into a nearby hospital a scant ten minutes after being bitten, he was having trouble breathing and was no longer able to speak clearly.

After several desperate hours, while he was attached to a heart-lung machine, the anti-venom finally began to take effect. Some hours after this, the fortunate (and wiser) snake hunter walked unaided out of the hospital emergency room.

This account reminds us of many who handle sin in the same careless way, thinking that they have the strength and ability—though already dying from the fatal poison of sin (Rom. 3:23; 6:23)—to control the power of that old serpent, Satan (Rev. 12:9).

Poor, deluded Judas may have thought that his public association with the blessed Lord Jesus was like that white sack, hiding and constraining the wicked deeds of his covetous heart (John 12:6). But “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13). He found out too late that his sins surely found him out and he must reap what he had sown (Gal. 6:7).

Unable to hide or control the sin in his heart, Judas betrays the Lord of glory, receiving the due reward of his awful deed (Matt. 27:5). How solemn to think that today this man, who sought to cover his sin, is forever in a godless, dark eternity of agony and hopeless sorrow (Matt. 25:30).

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Prov. 28:13). “O death, where is thy sting? . . . Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55, 57).

Ed.

"Feed the Flock": God's Mysterious Ways

At a Special Olympics track meet, a young girl had just won the 50-yard dash. Excitedly jumping up and down she yelled out to her parents, “Look, Mom and Dad, I won!”

Upon hearing this exclamation, her parents immediately burst into tears. Later, at the awards ceremony the young girl stood proudly as a ribbon with a large gold-colored medal was placed around her neck. After receiving her award she excitedly ran to her parents who were sobbing even more than before. Even as the three of them hugged each other, the parents kept sobbing and weeping.

One of the officials, noticing the whole scene, became quite concerned with their increasing weeping. He finally went over to them and gently said, “Excuse me folks, but I’ve been watching you and I wondered if there is something wrong?”

Through her tears the mother smiled at him. “Oh no, nothing’s wrong. Everything’s right—everything is wonderful!”

Seeing the official’s confused look the girl’s father added, “We just heard our daughter speak for the first time in her life!”

Christian parents can easily identify with the feelings of this dear couple. Longing for the first signs of real life—eternal life—in their child, how diligently they listen for those words and watch for those actions which express the reality of personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We read in Romans 10:9, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” What joy and comfort to a parent’s heart to hear a beloved child clearly and simply confess the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour for the first time.

It must have been a tremendous joy and comfort to dear Elisha, as he knelt in the room of the Shunemite’s dead son, to hear that young man sneeze seven times (2 Kings 4:32-36). He had felt the lad’s flesh grow warm—a sign of life. Now the man of God heard the sound of life and he was able to deliver the living child back to his mother.

In Luke 7:11-18 we read of the eternal Son of the Father raising to life the dead son of the mother. What divine, glorious power was expressed in the blessed Lord’s words, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.”

Death must ever flee the presence and power of this glorious Eternal Life. What joy that dear widowed mother must have felt when he that was dead sat up and began to speak! Let us praise God for His infinite power and goodness, and trust Him for the salvation of our beloved children.

Ed.

"Feed the Flock": Good Manners

The tired (and “retired”) ex-grade school teacher moved slowly towards the supermarket checkout counter. Her left leg hurt—a nasty reminder of its arthritic condition. Her whole body ached from the exertion of the long shopping trip. So tired was she that she couldn’t even remember if she had taken all her medications that morning.

Coming from another aisle and heading for the same checkout counter, she saw a young man with four children and a pregnant wife in tow—their shopping cart full of groceries and other items.

The teacher observed the tattoo on his neck and wondered if he had been to prison. His white Tshirt, shaved hair and baggy pants suggested that he might be a gang member.

She slowed even more, to let the man and his family go ahead of her. “You can go first,” she offered.

But he countered her offer: “No, you go first.”

“No,” she persisted. “Go ahead, you have more people with you.”

“But,” came the reply, “we should always respect our elders.” Then with a sweeping motion, he motioned the elderly lady to go ahead of him in line.

A brief and surprised smile flickered across her face as she hobbled in front of him. She certainly had not expected such courtesy. Nodding “thank-you,” the ex-school teacher decided she couldn’t let such a moment pass. Turning back to him she asked, “Who taught you your good manners, son?”

The young man, looking intently at the elderly lady, paused for a moment before answering. Then with a wide grin he answered, “Why, you did, Mrs. Wallace—when I was in your third grade class!”

We read in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The Spirit of God, by this precious verse, would surely encourage each parent to continue maintaining watchful care and diligence in the raising of their children.

The stories of Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Timothy and others recorded in the Bible give ample evidence of the blessing connected with the training of children, in their earliest years, in that pathway which will lead to rich blessing.

Timothy from a child had been taught by his grandmother and his mother the holy Scriptures. They not only made him wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus: They gave him the desire to serve the Lord, following the example of his spiritual father, the Apostle Paul (1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor. 4:17).

Daniel was sorely tried and tested as a young man in Babylon, but he remained faithful, never turning aside from walking in faithfulness to Jehovah, and what blessing his devotion wrought! Daniel’s parents perhaps had little realization of the vital importance, lasting impact and preserving blessing their training of him would have.

When Daniel was old he still walked faithfully in that which he had been taught as a child.

Ed.

"Feed the Flock": Good News

The story is told of a successful, wealthy and kindhearted professional athlete who entered a major tournament, won first place, and was consequently awarded a large cash prize. A few days later, when the awards ceremony was over, the athlete left the banquet room—grand-prize check in hand and walked to his car in the parking lot. On his way, a young woman approached him. Congratulating him on his victory, she broke down into tears, telling him about her baby who was critically ill, near death. She spoke of the medical treatment the little one needed and her grief at watching her baby die because she couldn’t afford the necessary care.

After listening to her, the athlete, touched by her account, took out a pen and, endorsing his winning check, handed it to the woman, saying, “Get your baby the medical care it needs.”

The next day he was having lunch in a restaurant when one of the tournament officials stopped at his table. Describing the young woman, he asked, “Is it true that you were talking to her in the parking lot yesterday?”

The athlete nodded and recounted the woman’s story and what he had done for her.

“Well,” said the official shaking his head sadly, “I’ve got bad news for you. That woman’s a con-artist. She has no sick, dying baby, she has no medical needs—in fact, she has no children at all! She’s come around here before, and others have been taken in by her phony story too. I’m sorry to have to tell you that she fleeced you out of a lot of money.”

The athlete frowned and stared at the floor. Then, looking back at the official, he said slowly, “You mean there really isn’t any sick baby who’s dying?”

“That’s right,” said the official.

The athlete paused, then continued with a big smile, “That’s the best news I’ve heard all week!”

Believers are not to be “overcome of evil,” but are to “overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). We are passing through a hostile wilderness where there is much to discourage and turn aside—much that would cause our love to become cold. But we are to consider our perfect pattern—the Lord Jesus Christ, who “endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself.” Thus we will be kept from becoming spiritually “wearied and faint” (Heb. 12:3).

And though Christians are to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16), let us never allow the shallowness and callousness of this Christ-rejecting world to dictate the outflow of love which ought to characterize us. “See that none render evil for evil unto any. . . . Ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men” (1 Thess. 5:15).

Ed.

"Feed the Flock": "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"

The story is told of a drill sergeant who, meeting a group of recruits for the first time, without warning tossed a hand grenade into the group. Understandably they all scattered seeking cover away from the grenade. It did not explode because, the drill sergeant explained, “it was not set to explode.” That was their initiation into intensive combat training.

The next day, just before a new recruit joined the group, the sergeant told the rest not to let on what was going to happen. The sergeant came out again and threw the grenade into the crowd of soldiers who again scattered—except for the new recruit. Unaware of the trick and thinking it was a live grenade, he had thrown himself on top of it to keep it from harming his fellow-soldiers.

We often are reminded in John 15:13 that “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” This is the greatest expression of love that man is capable of displaying, and it reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, in Romans 12:1 we are encouraged to give ourselves as a “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” In 1 John 3:16 the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus in His death is the standard and measure by which we are to live lives of sacrifice for our brethren. May we, in love for Christ, be willing to pay that price!

“See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22).

Ed.

"Feed the Flock": His Mysterious Ways

God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.

(Little Flock Hymnbook, Appendix #44)

A servant of the Lord, preaching the gospel in a foreign land, was kidnapped by those who hated him and his gospel message. Locked into a small, dark room with nothing but a trickle of water escaping from a leaky water pipe, he soon realized his wicked captors were not going to give him food.

As he suffered the increasing agonies of hunger, he prayed that the Lord would somehow provide food so that he would not starve.

Very soon after, he began to hear a persistent scratching behind one of the walls of his cell. At first he thought he was imagining things, but the scratching continued. He began intently watching the place from where the noise seemed to be coming. Suddenly he saw a few tiny pieces of dusty wallboard fall to the ground. Then a tiny hole appeared. As it slowly grew larger, he finally saw a fat little mouse stick its head out of the hole.

Though suffering from great hunger, the man shuddered in revulsion. Then closing his eyes he prayed, “Lord, I asked for food and you have sent me this mouse. If you help me catch it, I’ll eat it.”

He made a desperate lunge for the little creature, but in his weakened condition missed, and the mouse quickly vanished into the hole. But as the man grabbed for the disappearing mouse, his hands struck against the hole it had made with extra force. This caused the hole to become larger. To his glad surprise, he watched a steady stream of corn begin to pour out of the opening. Unknown to him, the room in which he was imprisoned was connected to a granary storage building, separated in that place only by a very thin wall. God had answered the servant’s prayer by sending the little mouse to guide him to an abundant supply of food—more than enough to last until he was finally set free.

Our blessed God, who in love gave for us the dearest Object of His heart, always does exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20). We know that His ways are not according to our thoughts, for He has said that “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9).

What a wonderful God and Father we have who shows the “exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe” (Eph. 1:19) and who, in a coming day, will display the “exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7), while at this present time desiring that His children might “know the [surpassing or exceeding] love of Christ” (Eph. 3:19).

“Prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal. 3:10).

Ed.

"Feed the Flock": Lost and Found

During the depression of the 1930s, a Christian man living in a large city worked as a carpenter, supporting his wife and six children. Though times were, at best, very hard, he had carefully saved up $20.00 to purchase a much-needed pair of glasses.

One Saturday shortly after, he spent the day building and packing wooden crates for a group of Christians who were sending a large supply of clothing to a Christian mission orphanage in China.

Finishing his work, he walked several miles home. There he reached into his shirt pocket for the glasses, only to find that they were missing! Carefully rethinking the day, he realized that they must have slipped out of his pocket into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were now on their way to China!

He told God that it wasn’t fair. He had been trying to help the needy. Having no money for another pair, how could any good come from this trouble? Why had a loving God allowed the trial?

Months later a missionary from that Chinese orphanage came home on furlough. The carpenter and his family went to hear him speak. After thanking everyone for their support, he continued, smiling, “But most of all I must thank you for the pair of glasses you sent last year. The Communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my only pair. I was desperate, for I had no money to purchase new glasses, and even if I had, there was no safe place where I could buy them.

I began having terrible headaches and was unable to do my daily work. We earnestly prayed for the Lord’s help. Shortly after, your crates of clothing arrived. As my staff removed the covers, they found in one crate, a pair of glasses lying right on top of the clothing. When I tried them on, I found they were exactly the strength I needed—almost identical to my previous pair which had been destroyed. It was as though they had been made just for me!”

Hearing this, the weeping carpenter bowed his head in thanksgiving to God for His great goodness.

At times, even the greatest of God’s servants have faltered in the path of faith. Abram went down to Egypt to escape famine in the land God had promised to give his heirs (Gen. 12:10). Moses—mighty in word—told Jehovah that he was unable to speak well (Ex. 4:10). Elijah, who raised the only son of a widow from the dead, fled in fear from the death threat of wicked Jezebel after he destroyed the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 17, 19). The disciples—to whom the Lord gave power over devils (Luke 9:1)—fear that they will perish in the storm though the Creator of the universe is peacefully sleeping in the ship with them (Mark 4).

Is it not often so with our hearts? Our blessed God assures us that He is all good—that all works for our good—that by His goodness we are blessed. Yet unbelief convinces us that He doesn’t mean what He says. Oh! may we ever remember that “the goodness of God endureth continually” (Psa. 52:1).

Ed.

"Feed the Flock": "When I'm Happy"

Little Suzy had known more adversity in her six short years than most people face during a lifetime. Partially paralyzed by a stroke, she had recently lost both her parents, and now she faced an MRI to determine if she had a brain tumor. The day of the test, after carefully instructing her to lie very still, the technician placed the uncomplaining little girl into the MRI machine. But as images were being taken of her head, the radiologist heard a muffled voice and noticed that Suzy’s mouth was moving.

Gently reminding her that she must lie still, the test was restarted, only to be stopped when once again there was the faint sound of her voice with that same slight movement. Becoming a bit impatient, a technologist slid her out of the machine and sternly said, “Suzy, you were talking again, and that causes blurry pictures.”

The little girl gave her a crooked smile and said, “I wasn’t talking; I was singing. You said no talking.”

After a moment’s surprised silence, another nurse asked Suzy, “What were you singing?”

The whispered reply came back, “ ‘Jesus Loves Me.’ I always sing ‘Jesus Loves Me’ when I’m happy.”

This touching, humbling story reminds us of how easily believers can get caught up in a spirit of complaining and grumbling. Such a spirit is not of God, for His beloved children are to “be . . . thankful” (Col. 3:15), to “rejoice evermore” (1 Thess. 5:16), to “comfort” others who are “in any trouble” (2 Cor. 1:4), to have full joy (1 John 1:4), and even to take “joyfully the spoiling of [their] goods” (Heb. 10:34).

We are “redeemed . . . with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19), loved individually and eternally by the Son of God (Gal. 2:20), have been given “exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4), and have been blessed “with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Surely an unhappy, complaining spirit does not befit those so richly blessed. May each one seek grace to be able to say with the beloved Apostle Paul, “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Phil. 4:11).

Ed.

Fishers of Men

“I will make you to become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17).

The much-loved prophet Jeremiah, in the midst of his tears, was encouraged by this word from the Lord: “It shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither He had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers. . . . They shall fish them” (Jer. 16).

We see this in figure in the end of John’s gospel (ch. 21). The disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. This represents Jerusalem and those whom she represents at the present. “Thou hast forsaken Me, saith the Lord . . . . Her sun is gone down while it was yet day” (Jer. 15:69). “Hear . . . ye princes of the house of Israel . . . . Night shall be unto you . . . and it shall be dark unto you . . . and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them” (Micah 3).

They had the sun set upon them morally at the cross (Luke 23:45) and governmentally (in the figure of Elymas) so that they should not see “the sun for a season” (Acts 13). But a morning is coming for those among them who fear His name, when the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings (Mal. 4). Healing grace was coming for them.

“But when the morning was now come,” Jesus instructs them to “cast the net on the right side . . . and ye shall find.” The right side is the side of the temple out of which the healing waters flowed. “The waters came down from under from the right side of the house” (Ezek. 47:1). This river brought life where it went and provided fish for the fishermen. It went into the sea, and the sea was healed, and there was “a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many” (Ezek. 47:10).

The right side is the side of healing grace to that beloved nation of Israel—and to us who are Gentiles, also. May we value this day of grace and be found casting our nets on the right side, for He has called us to be fishers of men. “And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). “Preach the word . . . . Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:2,5). Oh! what a message of healing grace we have!

H. Short

Food in the House

“And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. . . . He . . . commanded that something should be given her to eat” (Mark 5:41-43).

Jesus commanded that something should be given her to eat. Now, perhaps lack of food was partly the cause of her death—because she hadn’t really been given food to eat. Perhaps the Word had been read to her in a mechanical way. But when the Lord restores her life, He brings in the thought that her life should be sustained with food.

It is lovely, too, that there was food in that house, for the Lord wouldn’t have said what He said, if there were no food available. Many times we have an abundance of food in the house, yet perhaps the children are spiritually starving. Could it be that we don’t take time to give them this divine food?

For Those That Know Him As Saviour

Those three hours of darkness, those three hours of total eclipse between God and the One on the cross, rolled on, and then at the ninth hour, three o’clock in the afternoon, comes that great, that terrible cry from Him: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Ah, He forsook Jesus that He might never forsake you and me. There was darkness for Him that there might be only light for us. He bore the judgment that we might go free (Heb. 13:5).

For Those Who Know Him Not

We go to the cross and see Jesus forsaken and in darkness, but the darkness is only from the sixth hour to the ninth; it passes away from Him. But oh! unsaved, lost soul, there will be no ninth hour for you—no passing away of the darkness for you. It will be forever (Matt. 8:12).

W. T. P. Wolston

Four Men

Faultless Man

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psa. 1:13).

There is but one Man of whom these verses could speak in perfection—Jesus Christ our Lord, the Son of God. He alone walked in perfect righteousness before God. His moral character was perfect, pure holiness. He was not a scorner, for gracious words proceeded from His mouth (Luke 4:22).

Those sent to arrest Jesus returned in wonder, saying, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46). Though he had scourged Him, three times Pilate proclaimed that he could find no fault in Jesus (Luke 23:4, 14, 22). Standing at the foot of the cross, the centurion glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47).

The Apostle John wrote, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Peter wrote of his Lord and Master, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not” (1 Peter 2:22-23).

God testified to the perfection of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. From heaven His voice proclaimed for all to hear, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). And again, on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured before His disciples, we hear the voice of God declaring, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him” (Matt. 17:5).

Fallen Man

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psa. 14:13).

God looks down on fallen man, declaring all are sinners, and the fool defies God by saying, “There is no God!” Yet the evil heart of man is evidence that he is a sinner. Man devises all manner of evil. God holds him accountable, and man hates God.

Over the centuries men have created religions and philosophies that exclude God in order to convince themselves that there is no God: Fatalism (Eccl. 3:19), Epicureanism (Eccl. 3:12-13), Deism (Eccl. 3:14-17), Evolutionism (Eccl. 3:18-19) and, finally, Universalism (Eccl. 3:20-22). Thus man does not feel accountable to a God that he does not want to believe exists. There is no God in his thoughts.

But God has not left himself without witness. Creation itself clearly declares His eternal power and Godhead, leaving man without excuse (Rom. 1:20). Man professes himself to be wise, but God says he is a fool. Not wanting to acknowledge God, he turns to his own imaginings. There is no fear of God before his eyes (Rom. 3:18).

Forsaken Man

“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? why art Thou so far from helping Me, and from the words of My roaring? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but Thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in Thee: they trusted, and Thou didst deliver them. They cried unto Thee, and were delivered: they trusted in Thee, and were not confounded. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people” (Psa. 22:16).

This psalm refers to the faultless Man who at Calvary became the forsaken Man. In the Gospels we read what He suffered at the hands of man. Isaiah wrote, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not” (Isa. 53:3).

But the cry from Calvary, foretold in this prophetic psalm, came because God forsook the faultless Man. During three awful hours when the sun was forbidden to shine in the middle of the day, God poured out His wrath against sin upon the sinless One—the faultless Man who always did God’s will. Why? We hear the glorious answer from the eternal councils of God. There we discover that the faultless Man gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:6). Having offered Himself a sacrifice for sins, He is now seated in heaven at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 10:12).

Forgiven Man

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah” (Psa. 32:15).

The faultless Man who became the forsaken Man teaches us the love of God for fallen man. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that anyone who believes in Him receives eternal life and freedom from the eternal consequences of their sins. God, righteous and holy, forsook the faultless man that we, fallen and dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1), might be reconciled to God.

A Fool or Forgiven: Which Are You?

We have seen how the faultless Man became the forsaken Man that He might redeem us to God. The choice that now stands before you is this: Will you remain a fool and die a fool’s death, to bear the just judgment for your sins by a righteous, holy God, or will you become a forgiven man by accepting God’s loving and great gift of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ?

A fool . . . or forgiven: Which will it be?

“[Jesus] said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Luke 5:20).

“And you, being dead in your sins . . . , hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col. 2:13).

K. Heslop (adapted)

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Faith is believing what God says and then acting upon it. If we do not act upon what God says, this is evidence that we really do not believe.

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

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As Christians we are continually confronted with choices. Will we accept the puny, flimsy and uncertain authority of man—or the solid, certain and clear Word of the Lord our God?

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

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Occupation with Christ in glory conforms to Christ in humiliation.

W. Potter

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“I am not ashamed” (Rom. 1:16). “Whose glory is in their shame” (Phil. 3:18-19).

Don’t be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but neither be a shame on the gospel of Christ!

M. Payette

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If those to whom God in His grace has committed a testimony do not employ this testimony in behalf of others according to the grace that bestowed it, they will soon become unfaithful in their own walk before God. If they truly acknowledged God, they would feel bound to make known His name and to impart this blessing to others. If they do not own His glory and His grace, they will assuredly be unable to maintain their own walk before Him. God, who is full of grace, being our only strength, it cannot be otherwise.

J. N. Darby (Synopsis on Jonah)

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Faith, though it has a large stock to draw from in God, has no purse or scrip in man wherein to carry about the expenses of the journey. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

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The Lord will neither hasten nor delay nor change His movements because of our thoughts, nor will He teach concerning His movements those who will argue and think out truth instead of praying it out.

Words of Truth

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What will you do if your brother wrongs you? Go after him and seek to set all right! It is love—divine love—in activity. Love ever seeks the good even of the one who has gone wrong. Such love is bent on gaining the erring brother.

The only worldly progress that Scripture reveals is that of increasing iniquity.

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Fragment

It is a deeply solemn thing to learn divine truth, for there is not one divine principle which we profess to have learned which we shall not have to prove practically in daily life.

Food for the Desert

Fragment

A straying believer was once asked by another, “If it were a crime in this country to be a Christian, is there enough evidence in your life to convict you?”

Fragment

A reliable test of true, divine (“agape”) Christian love is to consider how we treat those who can do us absolutely no good. (See 1 Corinthians 13.)

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A blind man, when asked why he always carried a lantern at night answered, “Being unable to see, the light is not to preserve my feet as I walk, but to keep others from stumbling over me.” May the Lord keep us walking as children of light. Only then will our feet be kept from stumbling, and we shall have no occasion of stumbling others.

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Fragment

Believers may sit week after week under the Word and not bring forth the fruit of peace, because the Word is being choked by the cares of this world. Wherever lusts and pleasures rule the heart, conflicts will continue. A dissatisfied heart is at peace neither with God nor with man.

Christianity is not a spectator sport. It is personal!

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Fragment

“Praying always . . . with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18). We ought not to care merely for the Christians that we know. Surely we ought to love them, but our hearts ought always, in private and in public, to take in the whole church of God. We are never right if we do not. There is sectarian leaven in our hearts if we do not go out toward all that are of God.

W. Kelly (from Lessons on the Books of Chronicles)

Fragment

What a contrast between heaven and earth! See the place the earth has given the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s well-beloved Son! Measure all in this world by Christ. God’s controversy with the world is the place it gave Christ.

We know that we have part in an ascended Christ. We know that He is the One who has put away every spot of sin. We know that He is the One who will take us to the Father’s house. But are we letting what we know be seen—as it was in the life of Paul—as we pass through the wilderness?

W. Potter

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Nature is of God. Its corruption is not.

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When the Samaritans turned the Lord away because His face was to go to Jerusalem, John wanted to call fire down from heaven on them. The Lord told him that he did not know what spirit he was of (Luke 9:55).

When Philip preached in Samaria and many were saved (Acts 8:13), they did not receive the Holy Spirit until two came from Jerusalem to them. Who were those two? One was John, who, instead of calling fire down from heaven, was the means of their receiving the Holy Spirit.

T. A. Roach

Fragment

Conformity to His death to Paul was martyrdom. Reasoning on it, he says, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus” (2 Cor. 4:10). We cannot be trusted to put ourselves to death. “Delivered unto death” is God’s doing it (2 Cor. 4:11). He has done it (Gal. 2:20). Paul was to be martyred—he was branded as Christ’s, ready to die. How far is it so with us? How far are we ready? We may not be called to physical death as was Paul, but are we practically bearing about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus? Let each answer for himself.

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The Psalms are the expression of the Spirit of Christ, either in the Jewish remnant (or in that of all Israel) or in His own Person as suffering for them, in view of the counsels of God with respect to His elect earthly people.

J. N. Darby (from Exposition of the Psalms)

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Give your children a spiritual legacy: “Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children” (Psa. 90:16).

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Fragment

Saints often think that it is an easy thing to serve God. But no; it is a hard thing to serve Him in spirit and in truth. To serve God in the sense of our being nothing and His being everything is a hard thing. The place of a servant is to hide himself and let God appear. It was thus with the perfect servant. Service should be connected with the being in secret with God. Thus we should serve happily and holily, desiring to glorify Him in our bodies and spirits.

The Christian Friend (1874)

Fragment

Doctrinal correction will never atone for the lack of brotherly love.

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Fragment

I am daily more convinced that the study of the Word is the only sure way to growth and strength. The way to get interested in the Word is to feel you need its counsel to guide and succor you. God’s Word is the only thing faith has to cling to.

Words of Truth (1868)

Fragment

“Will the Lord cast off forever? and will He be favorable no more?” (Psa. 77:7).

The Christian does not go back to former mercies (as the Jew rightly would), because he always stands in present favor, even if Satan have got hold of his mind for a time. He returns into the sunshine of it, when the cloud that arose out of his own heart is passed. The Jews had early sovereign blessings and are right to remember them when they have been cast off, though it be not forever. The Christian is never cast off. Hence, he has not to remember but enters again into the enjoyment of divine favor which has never ceased.

J. N. Darby

Fragment

Having cast out and crucified the Son of God, the world would have Him forever stay at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19). But there is a limit to His sitting there. He’s coming back as the Son of Man, and this the world fears. It will be an awful day for this world when the Son of Man is revealed.

W. Potter

Fragment

Too often we sigh and look within; Jesus sighed and looked without. We sigh and look down; Jesus sighed and looked up. We sigh and look to earth; Jesus sighed and looked to heaven. We sigh and look to man; Jesus sighed and looked to God.

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Fragments

The Christian home should be the soil where Christian character grows.

What God is determines what He does—what God does proves what He is: love.

The answer of grace always exceeds the request of faith.

Praise is a higher note than thanksgiving, for it is more than just thanking God for some blessing received. It extols the person from whom all blessings come.

Faith is nourished by faith, not by questions causing strife.

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Fragments

Man’s calendar has only a few days in a year marked as holidays. But every day of the Christian’s calendar is marked by the hand of God as a day of rejoicing.

The patience of God in judgment is one of the most marvelous of His ways. Let us be imitators of Him in this.

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Fragments

Conscience, enlightened by the law of God, says, I ought. That is the obedience of duty, but the heart glowing with the love of God says, I must.

The patience of God in judgment is one of His most marvelous ways. Let us be imitators of Him.

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Fragments

Christ takes the heart out of the region of darkness and into the region of light—not to get light upon the Word, for the Word is light. When I have Christ, I find Him on every page.

A man may reason with and puzzle his neighbor, but if I am walking in God’s light, He will never puzzle me out of that. I do not need light in order to see the sun, for the sun is light, and if I have eyes, I shall see the light.

“Thou . . . hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.” This is what He approves of—all our service and labor having reference to Christ.

A Voice to the Faithful (adapted)

Fragments

Be mercilessly honest with yourself and have everything out with God; none will ever treat you so tenderly as He.

If Christ has not the love of our hearts, He does not want the labor of our hands.

We earn a living; we give a life.

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Fragments

Faith can walk on rough water as easily as on smooth. Nature cannot walk on either. It is not a question of the state of the water, but of the state of the heart.

When trouble comes, don’t pray, “Lord, get me out of this.” Pray, “Lord, what do You want me to get out of this?”

Spiritual Gems for the Path of Faith

Futurists

Recently one read about a man called a “Futurist,” a term applied to people who study events, past and present. “Futurists” predict the way things will be in years to come, and government policies are formed on these predictions. These people study history, economics, sociology and international affairs, but it is doubtful they give much thought to Bible study.

How different the course of things might be, if the policy makers knew about the end of this world system—knew that God’s judgment is coming soon. How different their plans, if they knew God is on the throne and rules “in the kingdom of men, and that He appointeth over it whomsoever He will” (Dan. 5:21). What would policies be, if men really honored God (1 Sam. 2:30)? When the “King shall reign in righteousness” (Isa. 32:1), a new order shall prevail, not depending in any way on the judgments of men.

If man is ignorant of these divine truths, he cannot be a real futurist (see 1 Cor. 1:18-31). “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain” (1 Cor. 3:18-20).

R. DeWitt (adapted)

"Give This Man Place"

“When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him; and he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place” (Luke 14:8-9).

Few events hold greater promise of happiness than a wedding. What a touching picture of the joy of the Lord’s heart, when those of His own gather in His presence to remember Him (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

Jesus has extended the invitation to His own—“With desire I have desired to eat . . . with you” (Luke 22:15) —and He has promised to be with His own— “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). What a precious privilege to be where He has “placed Himself at table” (Luke 22 JND)!

This passage in Luke suggests a vital, moral principle regarding the spirit in which we remember Him. We are to come to this feast rightly valuing the One around whom we gather. Thoughts of self—our faithfulness, our gifts, our abilities, our attainments—have no place in His glorious presence. If occupied with self, are we not, in principle, sitting down in the highest room? If self is the chief object of our thoughts, we morally take a place of prominence above the Lord Jesus.

But Jesus alone has title to the highest room. God reminds our hearts that we are in the presence of a greater than Solomon (Matt. 12:42)—an infinitely more honorable man than he sits at this feast.

How often must the Spirit prod our self-centered hearts with those words: “Give this man place.” Jesus is presently seated at the right hand of the Father, crowned with glory and honor (Heb. 2:9). He who will be displayed as “King of kings and Lord of lords” is “the Son of His love.” He is the Creator, the spotless Lamb of God upon whom heaven opened with the words, “Thou art My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).

What a privilege and delight it is to the worshipping heart to “give this Man place”! May we unsparingly judge anything that would intrude into that place of prominence of which He alone is worthy.

We are instructed to “examine” ourselves (1 Cor. 11:28) before we come collectively into His blessed presence. In doing so, grace will be given to take the very lowest place—the place morally suited to us. Then we will offer to this most honorable Man—One to whom all place is to be given—“the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15).

Jesus Thou alone art worthy

Ceaseless praises to receive;

For Thy love and grace and goodness

Rise o’er all our hearts conceive.

With adoring hearts, we render

Honor to Thy precious name,

Overflowing with Thy mercies,

Far and wide Thy worth proclaim.

(Little Flock Hymnbook, #82)

Adapted from ministry

Glories of Christ As Man

All the glories which are to meet in Christ—that is, glories which He is to take as man, not the essential glory of His person—and all connected with them in us have been first tried in the hands of the first Adam and his failure has been proved.

Adam as man failed. The last Adam is the true Head over all things. God in Him was victorious over Satan in trial, as the first Adam succumbed.

Man in Israel is tried by the law given as a proving rule of life; hereafter the law will be written in their hearts and the statutes of God kept by them.

Priesthood was set up in man and failed; Christ will present all saved in the end by His priesthood.

Royalty in David’s son (Solomon) failed, and the kingdom was broken up. It will be set up, never to fail in Christ.

Sovereign power in rule over the Gentiles and the world failed in Nebuchadnezzar, who set up idolatry for unity of religion’s sake and consequently persecuted God’s saints. It will be set up in Christ in perfectness, and in Him shall the Gentiles trust.

The assembly has been set up in its responsibility, that God might be glorified in it and a glorious Christ fully known. It has failed in this, but when Christ comes, He will be glorified in His saints and admired in all them that believe.

J. N. Darby

The Glories of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Seven Glories of Christ - Part 1

Editor’s Note: The glories of our Lord Jesus Christ shall occupy our hearts in worship and praise for all eternity. They ought to fill our hearts with praise even now as we meditate upon them. We trust the following two-part series may be used to this end for each who read.

Glory is manifested excellence. The personal glories of our Lord Jesus Christ are many and varied. Some are intrinsic and some are acquired. Some are veiled and some could not be veiled. Some are shared with the redeemed and some cannot be shared.

His Godhead Glory

This essential glory in deity was not something the Lord Jesus acquired. It ever belonged to Him, for He was “with God” and “was God” (John 1:1). He is “the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person” (Heb. 1:3). He is “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see” (1 Tim. 6:14-16).

When the Lord Jesus came into manhood there was a union of His divinity with humanity which is inscrutable (Matt. 11:27; Rev. 19:12). His Godhead glory was veiled in the body of His human flesh (Heb. 10:20). One exception was when He let a glimpse of that glory shine out—all those who had come to take Him fell backwards (John 18:46).

While this glory was veiled to man in the flesh, it has been revealed to faith. We know Him as the eternal God, though we cannot fathom the infinite depths of His person. Upon His return to His Father on high the Lord prayed that this union of His humanity and divinity would be taken into the glory from whence He came so that He would have it as a glorified Man (John 17:5). This is a glory that will never be shared; it belongs to Him alone.

His Sonship Glory

This is a glory that Christ has as being the only begotten Son. It is not an acquired glory, for He always was the eternal Son of God. He was the one concentrating object of His Father’s delight, for He ever dwelt in the bosom of His Father (Prov. 8:30; John 1:18). This glory was first manifested when He came among men. “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated His glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father)” (John 1:14 JND). The parenthesis in this verse defines the character of this glory which men beheld. It is that which an only begotten child would have with his father, having his full, undivided attention.

To illustrate this a brother told of the time when he was waiting for his wife outside a department store. He noticed in the car in front of him a young father with his newborn son. The young man was totally absorbed in his son, never taking his eyes off the baby. Similarly, when the Lord Jesus came among men they saw Him living in the full enjoyment of His Father’s love, being the object of His undivided attention. Joseph’s coat of many colors is also a type of this, distinguishing him as being the son of his father’s special love (Gen. 37:34).

His Creatorial Glory

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork” (Psa. 19:1). “That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead [divinity]” (Rom. 1:19-20).

The Bible also reveals that all three persons of the Godhead were involved in creation (Gen. 1:1; “Elohim”—plural). The Father was the source (Heb. 3:4; Acts 14:15), the Spirit was the power (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13), but the Son was the agent by which the work was done (John 1:3,10; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2; Rev. 4:11). The Lord Jesus Christ was the Creator of the universe. This is not an intrinsic glory, but something He acquired through His work in creation. This glory is not veiled but is displayed before all (Psa. 19:24).

His Moral Glory

Being who He was, when the Lord Jesus came into manhood, everything He did was perfect. Of all the men that have ever lived on this earth, only He could say, “I have glorified Thee on the earth” (John 17:4). There was a moral glory connected with all that He said and did that simply could not be hid or veiled. He “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38). People wondered “at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22). He never said one word in a wrong tone of voice!

There is a type of this moral perfection in the “fine flour” of the meal offering. It speaks of the perfect evenness of His moral character (Lev. 2). This glory will be shared with the redeemed, for they have been given the very life of Christ. At His coming (the rapture), the saints will be glorified, and thus rid of the fallen nature, so that they will be like Christ morally (1 John 3:2) and physically (Phil. 3:21). The moral conformity to Christ has begun even now by the work of the Spirit, but it will be complete then (2 Cor. 3:18).

B. Anstey

(to be continued)

The Glories of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Seven Glories of Christ - Part 2

His Redemption Glory

This is a glory that Christ has won by going into death to accomplish redemption. Having glorified God over the question of sin, God “raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory” (1 Peter 1:21). He is now at God’s right hand “crowned with glory and honor” (Heb. 2:9). This is an acquired glory that He shares with the redeemed. “The glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them” (John 17:22; 2 Thess. 2:14). A type of this is found in the trespass offering, where “the fifth part” was added (Num. 5:67). When a man made amends for his offence, he came with a sacrifice and returned what he had taken away. He also added one-fifth more, so that the offended party got back more than what was taken away.

The outburst of sin in the creation has been an offence to the holiness of God the Creator. God has been robbed of worship, obedience, service and glory. Christ’s death not only satisfied the claims of divine justice, it went a step further and glorified God by redeeming trophies of His grace, bringing many sons to glory. In that sense, He added the fifth part. He has brought a glory to God that He never would have had, had sin not entered the world. When Christ appears, He will put the trophies of His grace on display so that “the world may know” this glory (John 17:23; 2 Thess. 1:10).

The Glory of His Preeminence

When the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, He became the head of a new race of men (the new creation; Rev. 3:14). Christ risen is “the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). The believer now is no longer looked at as under the headship of Adam, but under the headship of Christ (Rom. 5:15-21; 1 Cor. 15:22). “If anyone be in Christ, there is a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17 JND).

Every believer in the Lord Jesus is of the same kind as Christ in the new creation. (Compare Genesis 1:21, 24-25; 2:23.) “Both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare Thy name unto My brethren” (Heb. 2:11-12). Because He is the firstborn from among the dead, His Father has given Him a special glory that distinguishes Him from all other men in that new race, so that “in all things He might have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18).

Christ’s great desire now is that “they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me” (John 17:24). This is a glory that we will behold, but not share. He will always have that first place in new creation. While He is not ashamed to call us brethren, the Word of God never tells us to call Him our brother. His glory of preeminence sets Him apart from familiarity.

His Official Kingdom Glory

The Old Testament Scriptures are filled with descriptions of Christ’s kingdom glory. Every godly Israelite looked for the day when their Messiah and King would reign over the earth. When the kingdom will be established in power in the world to come, “all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord” (Num. 14:21; Hab. 2:14; Ezek. 39:21; 43:2). “I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see My glory . . . that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles” (Isa. 66:18-19). When the Lord Jesus walked among men He veiled this glory, with the exception of the preview given to three of the apostles on the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:19; 2 Peter 1:16-18). This is a glory that the Lord will share with the church, for He will associate it with Himself in the administration of the world to come. Under the figure of a city descending out of heaven, the church as the bride of Christ will reflect His kingdom glory before the world (Rev. 21:9-22:5).

Summary

The Lord Jesus had two great glories in the past eternity (His Godhead glory and His Sonship glory). Then when He created the universe, there was added His creation glory. When He became a Man another glory was apparent (His moral glory). Upon completing redemption, He acquired two more glories (His redemption glory and His preeminent glory). Then when He comes again (the appearing), all the world will see His official kingdom glory in the millennium.

B. Anstey

Glorifying the Lord

“When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day” (2 Thess. 1:10).

This refers to the time when the Lord Jesus will appear with His saints to establish His rule over this poor world. He shall be glorified in you and me—and we will be manifested in glory with Him.

That you and I will be there is to the Lord’s glory. He is the One who saved us, carried us and then called us out of the world to be with Him. No matter what our failures may have been, our appearing with Him will be to His glory. Our presence there will glorify Him, for it is only so because of Him—His love, His work, His patience, His grace and His power. What beautiful glories shine in Him!

It says also He will be admired in all them that believe. As the world looks on His saints, they will see each one as the reflection of Himself and this will be to His glory. We will be perfectly like Him in that day. And He is the one who will be admired through you and me appearing with Him.

These thoughts have encouraged me to daily seek to glorify the Lord Jesus. How good to reflect His glorious Person more each day as we wait for Him and that coming, perfect manifestation of all that we are in Him.

M. Payette

The God of Peace

Take your heart full of cares and get into the presence of the God of peace. What will be the effect? Will those cares remain in you there? What are they? Only outside things connected with self. Can you find one sorrow of one individual believer from Abel downwards of which you could say that that sorrow was not in connection with the God of peace? Not that He is the sender of sorrow, but He is the God of peace, sitting in heaven and causing everything to work together for good to us, taking flesh into the account, sweeping the very ground of the heart, taking strength from the strong, causing pulsation to cease. Is anything terrifying when we get into His presence? No! All is peace in the presence of the God who counts the hairs of our head.

“In everything give thanks.” Is there a lust or a single thing in me that I would try to hide from God? No, I would like His knife to cut—to root up—every evil, so that I may bear more fruit.

How apt we are to limit thanksgiving to things that we can understand to be good. But we have to give thanks for all things. If we are within the veil and living there, we shall know what it is to give thanks for all that is most contrary to what we should naturally choose. Are there any who have one thing they cannot give thanks for? Whatever that particular thing may be, they have not gone into the light of God’s presence. If they had, they would know what cause they had to thank God for that very thing, as for all else.

G. V. Wigram

God the Son

As Man He could be hungry, thirsty and weary, that He might be a sympathetic High Priest.

As God He could still the winds and the waves, raise the dead and open the disciples’ understanding. He could and did communicate power. He knew the thoughts of those about Him and He could and did foretell the manner of His death. He is the eternal I Am (John 8:58).

To deny the full Godhead glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is to turn one’s back on the only Saviour. Those who do so will die in their sins (John 8:24). The Scripture says, “None . . . can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him” (Psa. 49:7). The Lord Jesus was perfect God and perfect Man as He walked here on earth. It is His person (God the Son) that gives value to the work of atonement He accomplished when lifted up on the cross (John 3:14). Thus we see that in order to have the knowledge of salvation as in John 3:16, one must believe in the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. (See John 3:36.)

H. E. Hayhoe

The Godhead

Every activity of the Godhead is always in Trinity. The first time the name of God is mentioned in the Bible, the Hebrew word used is God—the plural. In the Hebrew language there is singular, dual and plural.

The Hebrew word for God in the plural is Elohim. This is the word used in Genesis 1:1. The Hebrew word for God in the dual is Elohaim. It is never used in the Scripture. The Hebrew word for God in the singular is Eloah. The first time this is used is in Deuteronomy 32:15-17 where He is contrasted with idols.

The order in Scripture is always God the Father in purpose, the Son, the One who carries out the purposes of God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, the power by which they are fulfilled. This truth runs all through the Word of God.

In creation it was the purpose of God the Father that creation would be the sphere for the display of all His counsels (Eph. 1:9-10). The Son is the One by whom all is created and upheld (John 1:14; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:13). The Holy Spirit is the power in creation (Job 26:13; Psa. 104:30).

In redemption God the Father purposed, in love, the blessing of man (John 3:16). “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19). Christ in obedience of love accomplished the work of redemption (Heb. 10:710). He (Christ) “through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God” (Heb. 9:14).

In resurrection God the Father raised Christ from the dead (Acts 3:15). Christ, the Son, raised Himself from the dead (John 10:18). The Holy Spirit raised Christ from the dead (Rom. 8:11; 1 Peter 3:18).

H. E. Hayhoe

God's Way

The Lord carries His point, and often makes His conquest, by keeping His saints in a helpless condition in various ways, so as to make them live by faith and depend on God alone. Men of great faith are never allowed to get beyond having their faith tried. God’s plan is that there shall be none of self and all of Christ. The very people who are doing most for God are often those who are working on short supplies of strength, money, talents and advantages. They are kept in a position of living by faith and taking from God, day by day, both physical and spiritual supplies. This is the way God [completes His work].

Our [victory] is to form a secret alliance with God and take His side. We succeed by agreeing to be what other people [may] call a miserable failure. Yet God always comes out ahead and on top. He [may seem] to be doing nothing, yet all the while, like the majesty of chemistry, He is working miracles.

Excerpt quoted in a personal letter

Going Home

“Going home,” there’s nothing dearer

To the pilgrim’s heart than home;

Drawing nearer still and nearer

To the place where pilgrims go:

Much he thinks of what will be,

Much of what he hopes to see;

Thinks of kindred, friends and brothers,

But of Christ above all others.

’Tis the blessed hope of seeing

Him he loves in glory there!

Blessed hope of ever being

With the Lord His joys to share:

’Tis this hope that lightens toil

And in sorrow makes him smile,

Cheers him in the midst of strangers,

Keeps him when beset with dangers.

“Going home,” then it behooves us

Here to live as pilgrims do:

When the trial comes to prove us—

Proves if we have faith or no.

Let us make our calling sure,

Let us to the end endure;

In the Saviour’s love abiding,

In the Saviour’s strength confiding!

Things New and Old (1871)

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him” (Psalm 34:8).

Grace

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

“It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace” (Heb. 13:9).

I should like to see in saints a larger sense of the grace of God in having taken them up, so that they should be more bowed down in the thought of it. It is one thing to be crippled in the sense of what poor creatures we are, and quite another thing to be bowed down in the thought of that grace which met us where we were and put us where we are. We were dead in trespasses and sins when He picked us up and gave us life and fellowship with the body of Christ, and I should like to see that thought bowing down the heart of each saint.

He Will Let You in

Jesus, Jesus, precious Saviour,

He can cleanse me from my sin;

Now He opens wide the door,

And He now will let me in.

He’s the Saviour;

He can wash away my sin;

He can make me white as snow;

Now, I’m glad He let me in.

He is waiting, waiting, waiting,

To wash you from all your sin;

Now just give your heart to Jesus;

He will also let you in.

L. Breman (age 9)

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12).

His Love and Desire for Our Blessing

How all that is in Christ just came out so beautifully and perfectly suited to such a one as that poor thing at the well of Samaria! How came He to be there when she came? How came He to be on earth? Why did He come out of heaven at all? There is no other answer save the father’s in regard to the prodigal: “It was meet.”

I cannot ask why God should show mercy, for He declares, “I will have mercy on whom I will.” Blessed be His name, He has a character of His own, and He will show it forth in having mercy on poor sinners. How? Ah, by their being justified by the Son of His love! If a builder, there must be a foundation stone. His own Son must come off the throne, out of glory, if poor sinners are to go up into it. And oh! the willingness of that Son!

“I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” In His soul there was a deep need that went far beyond the need of the body, and He had been meeting that need of His soul, while the disciples were looking after bits of bread for the body. He hungered and thirsted till the work His Father had sent Him to do was done thoroughly. And ah! blessed Lord! Because Thy Father is seeking worshippers, Thou canst turn any poor sinner into a worshipper as Thou didst that poor woman of Samaria.

When one thinks of that woman—where is she now? Absent from the body and present with the Lord. And when He comes forth, there she will be with Him, the possessor of eternal life, a monument to redeeming love for all eternity.

G. V. Wigram

His Power

If there is disappointment because God does not use us more than He does, may it not be that we are thinking more of our faithfulness than of our guilt as to the evils we have separated from? If we look at our present low condition and murmur in our tents, shall we not be likely soon to question our position? If Satan can unsettle, he will. There are some who talk much about the want of power in the gathering, having a standard of their own as to what power is, forgetting that God’s presence is power, whether it be to break down or build up.

Bible Treasury (August 1867)

How to Know the Will of the Father

If a child habitually neglected its father and did not take the trouble of seeking to know his mind and will, it is easy to see that when a difficulty presented itself, the child would not readily be able to understand what would please its father.

If instead of the case I have supposed of a child, if it were a question of a wife towards her husband, it is probable that, if she had the feelings and mind of a wife, she would not hesitate a moment as to knowing what would be agreeable to her husband. And she would know this without his having expressed a positive will about the matter.

Believers would like a convenient and comfortable means of knowing God’s will—as one might get a recipe for anything. But there exists no means of determining His will without reference to the state of our own soul.

Sometimes we are of too much importance in our own eyes, and thus we deceive ourselves in supposing some will of God in such and such a case. At other times, we seek God’s will, desiring to know how to act in circumstances in which His only will is that we should not be found in those circumstances!

Be assured that if we are near enough to God, we shall not be at a loss to know His will. “If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” And thus it is certain that if the whole body is not full of light, the eye is not single. Now you will say, “That is poor consolation.” I answer that it is rich consolation for those whose sole desire is to have the eye single and to walk with God. “He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

You cannot exempt yourself from the moral law of Christianity. “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing [by] the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:9-10).

The mutual connection of these things is of immense importance for the soul. The Lord must be known intimately if one would walk in a way worthy of Him, and it is thus that we grow in the knowledge of God’s will. “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:9-10).

Finally, it is written that the spiritual man “judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man” (1 Cor. 2:15). It is the will of God, and a precious will, that we should be able to discern His will only according to our own spiritual state. In general, when we think that we are judging circumstances, it is God who is judging us—who is judging our state. Our business is to keep close to Him. God would not be good to us if He permitted us to discover His will without that.

J. N. Darby (excerpted)

Editor’s Note: The unabridged text is available as a separate pamphlet. We heartily recommend it!

I Lay It Down

Recently, I was reading the words of the Lord Jesus in John 10. “No man taketh it [My life] from Me, but I lay it down of Myself . . . [that I might] take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.” Death had no claims on the Son of God who had life in Himself (John 5:26).

Yet our blessed Lord surely felt the awful agony of crucifixion. Psalm 22 clearly foretells that. Both Jew and Gentile stand guilty before God of the murder of Emanuel. But He laid down His life of His own choice. At the end of those three awful hours of suffering from the hand of a thrice-holy God, the work of redemption was fully accomplished. God was fully propitiated concerning the whole question of sin.

When the Saviour cried, “It is finished,” Scripture records that it was a loud cry. With the words, “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit,” He bowed His head and gave up the ghost. Death had no claims on Him. He had never sinned (He could never sin), and thus He was not subject to death. Yet for our sakes He willingly tasted death for every man.

We read that “without shedding of blood is no remission” of sins (Heb. 9:22). He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. His precious blood having been thus shed proved that His life was poured out.

The Lord’s sufferings at the hand of man showed His patient love and man’s wretchedness. But those sufferings could never put away our sins—they only condemned man the more. It was only when the Lord Jesus was made sin, during the last three hours on the cross, that the atonement was wrought. Then He was forsaken of God, when it pleased the Lord to bruise Him, when He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities (Isa. 53).

We get a wonderful example of this in the flood. Both the windows of heaven and the fountains of the great deep were broken up (Gen. 7:11). They both beat upon the ark, yet those inside felt not a drop.

“For me, Lord Jesus, Thou hast died,

And I have died with Thee.

Thou art risen, my bands are all untied,

And now Thou livest in me.

The Father’s face of radiant grace

Shines now in light on me.”

K. Gorgas (adapted)

In Need of Comfort?

Do you want comfort? Nothing gives it so much as the thought of His coming. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18). There may be sorrow in the night, but joy enough—fullness of joy—in that morning (Psa. 30:5) when we shall see Him as He is. It will be fullness of joy in being like Him and with Him forevermore.

When all the world seems to smile upon you, it is easy to think that there is little need to talk of such a thing as separation from the love of Christ. But if persecution were to break forth and come upon you and you were led forth to the stake and fire, you would feel that the love of Christ is very precious.

Saints often forget that Christ is a great deal more watchful than they are. He said to Peter before he failed, “I have prayed for thee.” As soon as the heart of a believer recognizes sin, it ought to recognize Christ praying for him. This blessed Lord is not only the restorer of our souls, but the One who continually renews the flow of affection between the Father and the wandering child.

The Father has all delight in Christ as the perfect expression of His love. What a God we have! Not contented to be Himself light and love, He has presented light and love and glory to us in His Son.

Has the delight and blessedness of fellowship with Him up there discovered to us the poverty of all down here? Have we—a heavenly people—heavenly stores laid up in Christ? Why put off the joy of heaven for a future day? Why not begin now to live in heaven? God calls us to rejoicing and joy in Christ now.

G. V. Wigram

The Jews - A Meditation on Isaiah 18

It is the Christian’s privilege to know beforehand the things that are coming on the earth, although they do not immediately concern him, because his hopes are heavenly, where judgment—judgments which happen before the establishment of the millennial kingdom—cannot come.

The Christian awaits the coming of the “Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16; 1 Thess. 4:16-17). This blessed event takes place before the darkness which now shrouds the world is dispelled by the rising of the “Sun of righteousness” (Mal. 4:2) which fills the world with blessing. And it is the Christian who will “shine forth as the sun” with Christ in the Father’s kingdom (Matt. 13:43).

In Isaiah 18 we have in seven verses, a complete history of the events which take place at the time the Jews return to their land in a condition of apostasy. The Lord does not interfere, but allows things to go on apparently prospering. Israel has even the appearance of fruit-bearing in the land of the fathers. However, those nations who had favored their return recommence the old hostility to the Jews, who then become their prey. The Lord then interferes with His might, bringing a remnant of them as a present to Himself—to the place of His name, Mount Zion, which He loves.

13. The prophet pronounces woe upon some great, unnamed nation which lies outside the Euphrates and Nile rivers—the two great boundaries of the land of Israel. This nation, evidently a great maritime power, had engaged in favoring and helping the return of the people of Israel. He then calls all the inhabitants of the world—dwellers upon the earth—to see and hear.

4. The Lord tells the prophet that He will take His rest, not interfering with all that goes on. Man is allowed to run on to the height of his folly, that God may show to him his powerlessness.

5-6. “Afore the harvest” is a figure of separating and gathering the vintage of judgment when the returned Jews seem to be spreading out as a vine in the land, and even appearing to bear fruit—“the sour grape is ripening in the flower.” The vine is an old figure of the nation (Isa. 5; Psa. 80:8-16).

Then the old hatred of the nations is turned against Israel and all is destroyed. The emissaries of Satan shall summer upon them, and the nations shall winter upon them. All that appeared so promising is dashed to the ground. This is the time of “Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7).

7. In that time (in this state of things) then “shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts.” This speaks of a remnant of Israel—“scattered and peeled . . . from a people terrible [wonderful] from their beginning hitherto.” The Lord Himself brings to Himself of the residue a present, the spared remnant of His people, to Mount Zion—the place of His rest forever (Psa. 132:13-14). The nation, having refused nationally the gospel of God’s grace, is saved through the judgments of the Lord, which introduce the kingdom.

The Christian’s hope is but one—the coming of the Lord Jesus to take His people out of the world before these judgments take place. He has promised this, saying, “Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10).

This hour of temptation is detailed in Isaiah 24. It takes place before the Lord of hosts reigns in Mount Zion. Then in Isaiah 25 the remnant of the Jews are delivered, saying, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isaiah 26 gives us the song of the delivered remnant, while Isaiah 27 gives us the completing of the work and the gathering of the ten tribes to worship, with their brethren of Judah, the Lord of hosts at Jerusalem in the glory of the millennium.

The Lord’s coming is the hope of the church; His appearing in glory with her after the tribulation, which happens between these events, is the deliverance of the Jews and the introduction of the kingdom.

F. G. Patterson

The Last Tribunal

The court: the great white throne (Rev. 20:11).

The judge: the Son of God (John 5:22).

The prisoners: the dead (Rev. 20:12).

The charge: unbelief (Rev. 21:8).

The witnesses: three (Heb. 10:29).

The verdict: guilty (Rom. 3:19).

The sentence: the second death (Rev. 21:8).

Learning Christ

Now we have to learn Christ. Has Christ had such a place in your hearts today that the things which spring from Christ have sprung from you? Have you understood that Christ has brought you to Himself? Now especially it is important that Christians should be Christians. What He was before God in perfection reproduced itself before men to please His Father. Are you thus learning Christ day by day?

When I look at Christ, I see God manifested in a man in this world, the expression and pattern of what God delights in. I am not before God on the ground of what I have done, or what I am, but on the ground of Christ. There is for us this continually learning Christ.

According to the knowledge of [Christ] I have got, there should be nothing in my life contrary to that knowledge. One does not expect a babe to be a man. When one sees a babe delighting in its mother and obedient, it is just as delightful in its way as to see a man.

The Christian, having his eye on Christ, knows no standard but Christ in glory. We are “to be conformed to the image of His Son.”

J. N. Darby (from Thoughts on Philippians)

"Looking Upon Jesus As He Walked": Luke 10:25-42

Luke 10:25 shows a precious thing. We never touch the borders of neighborly love but in the perfect life of Jesus. “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.” Leaving him half dead—there was our condition. He was ruined, but his life was still in him. How well for us that our life was still in us when we met Jesus!

Here we see the striking impotency of the law to take up our condition, but the Lord also shows that the representatives of the law did not keep what they taught. I learn here, to the eternal confusion of all lawyers, priests and Levites, that they have never kept what they set forth. Were they authorized to pass by on the other side? The law will never do for me, a sinner, or make its abettors and assertors the thing it would have them to be.

Why is the blessed Lord of glory called a Samaritan? Because He was a stranger. A stranger from heaven has come down to show neighborly love on earth. He has come to exhibit to earth what earth never could exhibit to itself. And how did He do it? First, “He . . . came where he was.” Who could unfold such a thought in its fullness! Did not the Lord do so with you?

And when he saw him he had compassion. What is the source of all the salvation found in Him? Was there anything in you to draw it out or provoke it? No! Something in Him suggested it. The poor waylaid man was silent from first to last. Was not the poor prodigal silent when they clothed him with the best robe, and Joshua, too, when they clothed him with garments in Zechariah?

There is no more blessed answer to the grace of God than the stillness of faith. Poor waylaid man! Let Him do to you as He will. The Lord acts from Himself—at the suggestion of His own compassion. And he poured in oil and wine. He had with him the very wealth that was suited to the man that lay in the road. The Lord Jesus came with the very fullness that was fitted to your condition.

“And set him on his own beast.” He exchanged places with us. He was rich, and we were poor. He became poor that we might be rich.

Next, He had made Himself responsible for the man, and He would look after him. That is the gospel, and that is neighborly love. Again I say, the blessed Lord was forced on a picture of Himself when He was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” And now, how are we to act the part of the Samaritan? We must begin by being debtors to Jesus before we can follow Him in neighborly love. We must be the waylaid man before we can be the Samaritan. How simply He unfolds the story of our necessity and His fullness.

The chapter (Luke 10) ends with the scene in the house of Martha and Mary—the richest table at which we have seen Him. Here He is seen as an intimate family friend. We shall have this by and by in heaven. May we ever desire it.

J. G. Bellett (adapted from Notes on the Gospel of Luke)

"Looking Upon Jesus As He Walked": Luke 11:1-23

Luke 11:1-23

Prayer is the expression of dependence. As the perfect minister of the disciples’ souls, Christ sets Himself to teach them, and you find a form of prayer presented. The Lord suits His words to their then condition. Prayer is the expression of the heart in its present condition.

The Lord then speaks of a man going to a friend at midnight and asking for three loaves. “And he from within”—these are striking words. Are you within? It is a dangerous condition in this world. What I mean by that is losing your sympathies with the joys and sorrows around you.

Here, the Lord shows out God’s grace on the dark ground of that man’s selfishness. Believers have not to ask and seek and knock; that is importunity. But “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” See the divine readiness in answer to human necessities. Never say importunity is needed to move God.

Remember Daniel (Dan. 10). For three full weeks Daniel was chastening his heart before God, and no answer was given. At the end of that time the answer came. The angel told him that as soon as ever he began to pray, he was heard. However, a certain transaction that was going on in heaven hindered the answer. He went on in importunity for three weeks, but as soon as ever he had prayed, he was heard. So you may have been praying for a long time and getting no answer, but be sure the interval has been well employed, if not in heaven, then in the chastening of your spirit.

There is no reluctance in God—not that selfishness to be overcome that there was in the man at midnight—but there may be reasons to delay the answer. Then, when it does come, it may be in a way you are little prepared for. Paul prayed three times, and the thorn was not taken away, but the answer came at last, and in a way he had not expected. The thorn was left until the day of his death, but he was given grace by which he could triumph in it.

After commenting on prayer the Lord enters (vs. 14) on a solemn scene. Two antagonist thoughts come up to Christ—He who was constantly enduring the contradiction of sinners against Himself.

The first, representing a perverted religion, was set of the people come to charge Him with casting out devils by Beelzebub. The second, representing infidelity, tempted Him, seeking a sign from heaven.

The Lord takes up the first of these by asking in exquisite beauty, “If Satan . . . be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?” In answering this contradiction, He begins by showing them the folly of their thought. Would Satan be so foolish? Why are you so senseless? Then He presses in on their consciences: “By whom do your sons cast them out?” No doubt the kingdom of God had come unto them. Therefore they were to take care what they were about—take care, He says, for your faithless reasoning has put you on dangerous ground.

J. G. Bellett (adapted from Notes on the Gospel of Luke)

"Looking Upon Jesus As He Walked": Luke 5-7

In Luke 5 we have a poor palsied man let down through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. The moment Jesus looked at him He said, “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.” How magnificent! The same condescension that comes down to a weak faith (the leper) delights in a bold faith. When the blind beggar in Luke 18 met Him, his bold faith commanded Christ. “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” Does not such a picture of Jesus suit you? It is worthy of Him, but it suits you. If you approach Him with a bold, unclouded faith, He will delight in it.

In Luke 6 we find after the choosing of the twelve, He came down into the plain and great multitudes came to Him, and He healed all their diseases. He was a divine visitor to this world—a heavenly stranger among men—a divine visitor to men. He had not where to lay His head while He was visiting their necessities with all the resources of God. This is the ideal for a saint of God—to be independent of all that the world can give, while, with open heart and lavish hand, bestowing upon it all the benefits and blessing of God.

In Luke 7 we find the Lord in company with the centurion. Two needy ones crossed the path of our Lord here—the widow of Nain and the centurion. The centurion took his place as a Gentile at once, and he pleads through the Jews—a beautiful instance of the intelligence of faith. He approached by the right door and the Lord went.

Then next we have the widow of Nain, and the Spirit presents the deep loneliness of her condition. The dead man was “the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.” The heart of Jesus was arrested, and then He arrested the bier of the dead young man. His compassions always went before His mercies—as it is commonly said that the heart moves the hand. Do you not prize a blessing that comes to you that way? Salvation gushes forth from the heart of Christ.

“And He delivered him to his mother.” Let me be bold and say, The Lord does not save you that you may serve Him. To suggest the thought would be to qualify the beauty of grace. He did not say, I give you life that you may spend it for Me. Let His love constrain you to spend and be spent for Him. Yet you and I tend to go back to the world and seek to make ourselves happy and important in it. Ah, throw the cords of love around your heart and keep it fast by Jesus!

J. G. Bellett (adapted from Notes on the Gospel of Luke)

"Looking Upon Jesus As He Walked": Luke 7

Did you ever consider the occasions on which the Lord is seen at different tables? We see Him at the Pharisee’s, at Levi’s, at Zaccheus’s, with the two disciples going to Emmaus, and at the table at Bethany—occupying each table differently.

With the two Pharisees (Luke 7 and Luke 14), He goes to be a teacher—a rebuker. He does so because that was the character in which He was invited to them.

Then we see Him at the house of Levi, who had been called and had left all and followed Him. So full with the mind of the One he had invited was Levi that he puts publicans and sinners at the table with Him! The Lord sits there, not as a teacher but as a Saviour. He says to those who complain, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Next we see Zacchaeus, who had been moved by a desire to see Him. He calls him by name and went into his house as One desired. Jesus says to him, as it were, “You have looked for a passing sight at Me, and I will abide all day with you.”

Then we come to the disciples journeying to Emmaus. Here we get two—I will not call them backsliders—who had got under the power of unbelief. “O fools, and slow of heart,” He calls them. But He does not leave them till He leaves them with kindled hearts. “Abide with us” is the expression of a kindled heart.

Last we see Him at Bethany, not here as a teacher or a Saviour, but as a familiar friend, One who adopts completely the sweet and gracious truth of the Christian home. Yet He would have left the family scene as He found it, if Martha had not stepped out of her place. She might have been a housekeeper still, but the moment she leaves her place and becomes a teacher, He will rebuke her.

We return to the Pharisee’s house (Luke 7:36). Here we find the most complete expression in the gospels of a consciously accepted sinner. She came knowing that her sins were forgiven and bringing everything she had with her—her heart, her person and her wealth. This is a beautiful witness of what we would be, if the sense of salvation were simple with us.

The Lord entered into Simon’s reasonings, but they were lost on the woman. One loves the soul that is resting peacefully in the conclusion, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” If the reasonings of a doubtful mind are lost on you, happy are you! So happily have thousands reached this blessed conclusion that they cannot understand the reasonings of others. She is occupied with her joy.

J. G. Bellett (Notes on the Gospel of Luke, adapted)

"Looking Upon Jesus As He Walked": Luke 8

Luke 8 begins with the parable of the sower. Do you think you have found the secret of that parable? It is to expose man. The seed was one and the same, but the dropping of the seed here and there was to expose the character of the soil. The seed makes manifest the soil. There is not a heart that is not seen characterized in one or the other of these soils.

The first is the character of a highway; that is where the devil prevails. The second is the rock where nature prevails, and the third is thorny ground where the world prevails, while the fourth is the good ground where the Holy Spirit prevails. The business of the parable is to expose you to yourself and to make manifest the four secret influences under the power of which we are all morally moving every hour.

Consider the joy of the stony-ground hearer. It is well to rejoice, but if when I listen to the claims of God, my conscience is not reached, that is a bad symptom. If I have revolted from God, am I to return to Him without conviction of conscience? It would be an insult to Him.

The thorny-ground hearers are a grave-hearted people that weigh everything in anxious balances. They carry the balances in their pocket and try the importance of everything, but the mischief is that, as they weigh, they make the world equal in importance with Christ. Do we not often observe that calculating spirit prevailing?

In contrast with the others we get the good ground. We are not told what has made it good, but suppose we have the devil, nature and the world in the first three parables, what is the remaining influence? Nothing but the Holy Spirit. It is important to remember that the plow must come before the seed basket. What makes the heart good but He that has gone forth to plow the fallow ground and sow the seed.

God could never get a blade of grass from our hearts if He did not work Himself. The heart can never have anything for God that has not gone through the process of the plow. Those of the thorny ground talk of their farms, businesses or merchandise while those by the highway say, “Oh! let us think of these things tomorrow!” And there is that spirit that can rejoice even under a sermon.

It is happy for me when my conscience has to do with God, for then everything has to do with Him. When we have Christ, we have God. The world is full of its speculations about God, and the result of them all is thick darkness, which the wisdom of man finds impenetrable. In Christ we find nothing less than the full glory of God. Let me take the happy path of studying Jesus, for by that blessed, happy path I can study the Father.

J. G. Bellett (adapted from Notes on the Gospel of Luke)

"Looking Upon Jesus As He Walked": Luke 8:22-56

Luke 8:22-56

Beginning in Luke 8:22 we read, “On a certain day . . . He went into a ship,” and He fell asleep. In Psalm 127:2 we also read, “So He giveth His beloved sleep.” Now if the disciples had been wise, they would have directed their intent and worshipping gaze at their sleeping Master. They would have said, “Let winds and waves arise; He has said, Let us go to the other side, and that is the pledge of safety.” They might have gone to sleep with their Master, but instead, they look at the rising waves and cry, “Master, we perish.”

Are you often, in providence, called into company with a “sleeping Jesus”? He does not always manifest Himself at your side. Nevertheless, He has said, “Let us go over unto the other side.” His thought is on the end of the journey. Then, when the Lord makes good all that He had promised, they reap astonishment where they should have reaped worshipping admiration. Have you not often found it so? How often He comes down to your level, when you cannot reach His elevation! The result is a poor experience instead of a bright and sunny experience. If He cannot take you up on the wings of faith to His elevation, He will come down and save you to the end, though He will show you what you have lost.

Now beginning in verse 26 we get three cases together: Jesus in Gadara, Jesus in the crowd, and Jesus at the bedside. It is a series of victories. First we see Him in Gadara. Here the strength of Satan is displayed. Here Jesus did not wait on faith, for He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He would destroy them.

In the case of the poor woman in the crowd, He waits for and upon faith. But with this poor captive of Satan, nothing else could meet his desperate need. Human power must leave him as it found him. The Lord delivers him, and deliverance in His hand is as perfect as captivity in Satan’s. And more, his restoration is more than mere restoration. That would never describe the ways of God. With Him it is a bringing forth of fresh glories from ruins. Not only was Legion cast out, but the man was impregnated with this principle, that he would be with Jesus for eternity. Yes, and more at His bidding would go to the ends of the earth. Is that merely restoration? What would not one give for such a mind as that! To have found a home in His presence and yet, if it be His blessed will, to go anywhere in His service!

Then, as He passed on, a poor woman touched Him in the crowd. He was touched by thousands, but the virtue that was in Him waited on faith. The moment faith commanded, virtue went forth. Now, have you not more in Christ than a healer? This poor woman had. She did not know when she came up that she had a title to Himself. So she modestly retreated as a debtor. Very right that a debtor should carry herself with humility. But oh! Christ is more to you and me than that! The Healer puts Himself into relationship. When He inquired after her, she began to tremble. Her faith had measured her title to touch Him, but she was not prepared when He called her to look at Him face to face—not until He had said, “Daughter, be of good comfort.”

There is no spirit of liberty in our souls if we do not know relationship. Nature cannot trust God, but the blessed way of God is to show me that I have an interest in Himself, as well as in the saving virtue that is in Him. We have relationship now—it does not wait for glory. In spirit I walk in the family mansion now, as soon I shall personally in the glory. The woman left Him, not only with a healed body, but with a calm and satisfied spirit.

And finally we get to the house of Jairus. There the Lord meets the power of death in fresh victory. The poor damsel is delivered from the bands of death, as the man was delivered from the bands of Satan and the woman from the bands of corruption. Oh! let us acquaint ourselves with Him and say, “Christ for me, Christ for me!”

J. G. Bellett (adapted from Notes on the Gospel of Luke)

"Looking Upon Jesus As He Walked": Luke 9

Sin and Conscience

Let us look at Herod for a moment in Luke 9. Do you think you have done with sin when you have committed it? Well, one thing is certain, it has not done with you. The charm of sin is gone the moment it is perpetrated. That is your way of disposing of sin, but conscience, which makes cowards of us all, lets you know that it has not done with you.

Herod had beheaded John long before, but now it was said of some that John was risen from the dead, and Herod is perplexed. Here is the worm that never dies (Mark 9:44) doing its business. I am not seeking to make a determination of its eternity, but the Lord in such cases lifts the veil from hell and shows us the worm at its work. Herod could not rest. How could he—he, the murderer of the greatest witness of God in the world at that moment!

The Lord’s Feast

Then we have the apostles returning to Jesus and telling what they had done, and then the feeding of the multitude. Here we get the largeness of the heart of Christ in contrast with every human heart. Even the lovable, open-hearted, good-natured Peter stands in contrast with the heart of Christ.

They say, “Send the multitude away.” He says, No, “give ye them to eat.” And they in a sulky mood of mind ask if they are to go and buy.

The Lord does not refuse to go on with His sulky disciples. He met with vanity, ignorance, heartlessness and bad temper. He always overcame evil with good. If my bad temper puts you into a bad temper, you have been overcome of evil. God never gives place to evil. This is a beautiful instance of it. The disciples said, “Send them away.” Jesus said, “Make them sit down.” Then, being Master of the feast, He must supply the guests.

Mark the moral beauty of Jesus’ feast. He sits as the head of the table in the glory of God and as the perfect Man. As God, He puts forth His creative powers and was acting without robbery (Phil. 2:6). He not only was God, but there was no form of divine power that He would not put forth.

He took His place as perfect Man—an entire contradiction to Adam. What was Adam’s offense? He did not give thanks, but assumed to be master of all. It was a man refusing to be thankful. The Lord as perfect Man gives thanks.

I see Him taking His place at the head of the table in the wilderness, as perfect God and perfect Man. The worship that God got in the person of Jesus was richer incense to Him than if Adam had lived forever as a thankful man. Jesus came to erect out of the ruins a temple for the glory of God that the creation in integrity would never have yielded.

Now our blessed God would have us to know that at His table there is always more than enough. We know what it is to sit comfortably at a plentiful table. When I see very God making the feast and very Man giving thanks, then leaving the wagon loads of fragments, so to speak, what can I do but be thankful! We may, each one, be full and go away thankful that there is plenty for others.

Thoughts of Christ

Now in verse 18 we get a very important part of the gospel story. The Lord was in prayer, and when He arose, He asked His disciples, “Whom say the people that I am?” There is a great deal to be learned in the style [manner] in which an event is recorded in Scripture. Here the Lord’s question draws out the proof that the world was rejecting Him. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.”

You are in the vestibule—the porch—of the mountain of transfiguration. Now He has ascended into heaven as the earth-rejected Son of Man. Man would not give Him place here, so God took Him up to heaven. He asked, “Whom say the people that I am?” And they answered, “Some say, Elias; and others . . . one of the old prophets.” What! Is that the best thought that Israel has of Me? “But whom say ye that I am?”

The Glory of Christ

Then the Lord says to the disciples, as it were, “Do not be loving your life. Come away up to the hill with Me, and there I will show the glory.” Now, what suits the man on his way to heavenly glory? Is it money and power and such like that he should be seeking? Judge in yourselves if this is consistent in a man to load himself with clay on his way to a place where there is no clay? The Lord shows you the path and shows you the end of the path. It is only our love of present things that makes such a lesson difficult. My whole soul seals it; would that my whole heart adopted it.

The Ability of Christ

After this, the Lord comes down (vs. 37) and meets His disciples in their inability to cast out a demon. Now, on no occasion does the Lord express disappointment of heart more vividly than here. “O faithless and perverse generation,” He says. The Lord had been tasting the joys of His own land, and He comes down to find faithlessness and defilement. He does not look for glory here, but He does look for the labor and energy of faith. When He finds Himself un-helped by the disciples, He says, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?” They were amazed at His glory, but while those rays of glory were shining still about His countenance, He says, as it were, “Let this be your understanding of Me . . . for the Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men.”

J. G. Bellett (adapted from Notes on the Gospel of Luke)

"Looking Upon Jesus As He Walked": Luke 9-10:24

At the close of Luke 9 one comes to the Lord Jesus, saying, “I will follow Thee.” And He says, “Do not you see how the villagers have treated Me? If you will follow Me, you must take part with One who has not where to lay His head.”

Another comes: “Suffer me first to go and bury my father.” With a wonderful sense of the dignity of His ministry the Lord says, as it were, “One fellow creature may do the office of the dying to the dying, but go you and do the office of a living Saviour in the world.”

The Lord carried with Him the sense of His ministerial glory. Paul had it in the vessel going to Rome and before Agrippa. There he was, a prisoner in chains and degradation, and he stands and says, “I would you were like me.”

What consciousness of secret dignity in the midst of public degradation! “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” Go and do the Saviour’s business, the business of life, not of death, in a sin-stricken world.

Then in Luke 10 we are introduced to the commission of the seventy. They were to say, “The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” And they were to heal the sick. What a terrible verdict against this world—that God has to publish His kingdom in it! “Shake off the dust of your feet”—an insulting kind of thing to do. Ah! but the seriousness of the message required this.

Let them learn, if they receive it not, in the most awful terms you can convey, how they have jeopardized themselves.

The disciples return (ch. 10:17) and tell Him that the devils are subject to them. He immediately takes them into the book of Revelation, where not only is there power to cast out devils from this body and that, but He penetrates to where, in the majesty of His authority, Satan shall be cast down.

Have you been accustomed to think of Satan as being in heaven? We find him there in Job, in Kings, here, and in Ephesians, and in the Revelation we see him cast down from heaven.

Now which is dearer to your heart at this moment, your relationships or your circumstances? The Lord puts these balances into the hands of the disciples: “You may have power on earth, but it ought not to be so dear to you as your family place in heaven.”

Did it open Adam’s mouth when he was made lord of all around him? No! It was not opened by a sense of property or power; it was opened when he got relationship—when he got Eve. Property ought to be nothing when compared with affection.

So the Lord says to the seventy, “Rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” See how the Lord falls into the current of their joy for a moment. Then the Lord looks up to heaven and rejoices there (vs. 21).

I do not know that the Lord was ever happier than here, save—yes, let us tell it for our comfort—when a poor, believing heart gave Him meat to eat that the others knew not of (John 4).

The Lord here gave Himself to the disciples. They returned with joy, and He entered into their joy and swelled it out.

J. G. Bellett (adapted from Notes on the Gospel of Luke)

Love and Justice

Love and justice differ great,

But let us pause and meditate:

God’s love is boundless, rich and free;

It reaches out to you and me.

But justice says, because of sin,

“There is a breach that has come in;

It separates all men from God,

And someone now must bear the rod.”

Justice gives sinners what is due—

Eternal hell for me and you—

But love came down in form of Man

And said, This dreadful breach I’ll span.

Ten thousand angels from the throne,

If called could not for sin atone,

So with His face set like a flint,

To Calvary’s lonely hill He went.

“Away with Him!” The crowd went wild,

But Jesus always was so mild;

They bow the knee and plat the crown,

And bid the Lamb of God come down.

“Save Thyself ”: Oh! hear the crowd,

As scoffers mocking, cry aloud.

The blackness hides all but the groan,

As Jesus bears my sin . . . alone;

And all too often I forget

That scene where love and justice met.

M. Breman (1999)

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

A Loving Warning to Parents

“Whatsoever things are pure . . . think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).

Recently an entertainment fad has been increasingly capturing the hearts and minds of children. The craze, called Pokemon®, began some years ago in Japan, exploded in popularity and has spread to Western lands. Its immense profit-making potential is evidenced by the number of well-known companies using Pokemon® cards as incentives to motivate consumers to buy their products.

While we do not intend to present the profitless details of this frenzy, we do feel exercised to warn our readers—especially parents who have young children—of the very real and solemn dangers involved in this supposedly harmless entertainment. It is definitely not, as many may think, a “harmless fad.” The moral and spiritual danger of Pokemon® is real, though very subtle, especially as it affects the hearts and minds of its target audience—children.

Pokemon® Is Not a Good Name (Proverbs 22:1)

Briefly, Pokemon® is a game conceived by a Japanese teenager, supposedly based on a group of imaginary, harmless creatures. Each is displayed in color on small cards. He used the concept of role-playing games to create a fantasy world in which a small group of fictitious children chase these little creatures, seeking to capture all of them. But even these imaginary children in the original game are given godless, immoral character traits. A main purpose of this fantasy is to draw children into the same imaginary world, where they too will try to capture (collect) all the Pokemon® creature cards.

Let us all remember that “evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33). Neither the imaginary Pokemon® creatures nor the fictional band of children which chase them will draw the hearts of our little ones closer to the blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

“Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:16).

Hidden Dangers

Some Pokemon® monsters are vaguely fashioned after common animals while others may depict forces of nature or other mystical themes. In every case the bright, colorful Pokemon® creatures appear harmless. However, the very name Pokemon® betrays the hidden wickedness of these imaginary creatures. The name Pokemon® is a combination of two Japanese words literally meaning “pocket demons.” Each pocket demon (there are at least 150 different kinds) supposedly possesses certain abilities, strengths and weaknesses. These abilities are usually supernatural or mystical and can be developed into even greater abilities by fighting and winning battles with other Pokemon® creatures.

“Hold aloof from every form of wickedness” (1 Thess. 5:22 JND). “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Lulling Young Minds to Accept Evil

Such a name given to this fantasy, role-playing game ought in itself to serve as a warning to parents concerned with what occupies childrens’ minds. Pokemon® cards—in reality depictions of demons (imaginary or real)—are small enough to be carried in a child’s pocket and can quickly gain influence over their fertile imaginations.

Surely, one of Satan’s goals in Pokemon® is to fill childrens’ tender minds with images of demons as cute, small and harmless. Once this is achieved, they will more easily accept without fear the influences and effects of real, wicked spirits that are becoming more openly active in so-called Christian lands.

“I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. . . . Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” (1 Cor. 10:20-22).

An Angel of Light

Let none be fooled by the harmless-looking pictures and bright colors with which these imaginary demons are presented to impressionable children. We read in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” It was as a beautiful creature of light that the serpent presented himself to Eve in the garden—a form calculated to fool her, not trouble or terrify her. We believe that it is this very same character in which the enemy now seeks to corrupt and defile young childrens’ minds through such things as Pokemon® cards.

No Agreement Between Light and Darkness

The Spirit of God asks a very solemn question in 2 Corinthians 6:15: “What concord hath Christ with Belial?” May God grant that Christian parents, raising their children for the Lord’s glory and for their blessing, be careful about allowing their childrens’ hearts to get attached to what is clearly influenced by “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2).

Most Christian parents—aware of the demonic influences involved in role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons®—would never willingly allow their children to become involved with such evil. Yet we believe that Pokemon® is nothing more than an innocent-looking version of these very kinds of games—intended by the enemy of our souls to harden the tender hearts of young children into accepting the gross evils connected with other openly satanic role-playing games. “Exhort one another daily . . . lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).

Be Content

In closing, it should be noted that the trademark phrase of Pokemon® is “gotta catch ’em all”—an obvious effort to encourage children to continually buy more cards as they try to capture every pocket demon available. Of course, man looks upon such a thing as harmless—a clever way to market and sell more Pokemon® cards and related merchandise.

But in reality, such efforts instill discontent in young childrens’ tender hearts—a fleshly principle of covetousness which is wholly at odds with the admonition found in 1 Timothy 6:8, “Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content,” and 1 Timothy 6:6, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

There are multitudes of activities and hobbies which parents may encourage their children in, enjoying fellowship with them in that realm of nature. But much parental wisdom is needed to discern whether new forms of entertainment such as Pokemon® are harmless, innocent fun or part of the “smoke of the pit” (Rev. 9:2). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

May parents heed the warning, “Because the days are evil . . . be not foolish, but understanding what is the will of the Lord,” in the kinds of entertainment they allow their children to experience.

Ed.

The Lowest Place

Our Lord and Saviour, from Thy birth,

Thy footsteps to the cross we trace,

And all along Thy path on earth

We see Thee take the lowest place.

The world—its bitter hate and scorn—

Was met by Thee with patient grace;

Its taunts in meekest silence borne,

For Thou didst take the lowest place.

Thus didst Thou pour contempt on pride,

The pride of Adam’s fallen race;

For Thou didst all Thy glory hide

To take for man the lowest place.

And for Thy church Thou didst indeed,

O gracious Lord, Thyself abase;

As servant of Thy people’s need

Stoop down to take the lowest place.

That we might learn Thy lowly mind

(So fully hast Thou met our case),

And also have the joy to find

Thy presence in the lowest place.

Yea, from the manger to the cross

We see Thee go with steadfast pace,

Enduring grief, reproach and loss

To suffer in the lowest place.

“A little while,” our Lord, and we

In glory shall behold Thy face;

Teach us till then to take with Thee

Thy place on earth—the lowest place.

Things New and Old

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Meditations of a Father: (a)

Editor’s Note: In 2 Corinthians 12:14 we read these words, penned by a father: “I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” How happy are children whose parents seek, as the Apostle Paul did, to lay up for them a store of true riches from the Word of God, gleaned in communion with Himself. We begin this series of short meditations sent from a father to his beloved children, with the prayer and desire that they will serve as a source of blessing and encouragement to all who read them.

“And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee” (Psa. 9:10).

To know Him is to trust Him. The more we know Him, the more we trust Him. Therefore our need is to get to know Him better. How important to have our faces in the right direction. Truly our greatest need in this life is to have our faces toward Him. There may be bumps in the road and times that are hard, but the direction is right and all those bumps and hard times will only be reason to prove Him who has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.

“Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel” (Psa. 78:41).

Is it possible that an eternal, all-powerful God can be limited? In His own sovereign person it is impossible. But when it touches His working in the lives of His creature man, since we are created as responsible moral beings, our unbelief limits His working in our lives. To not believe God, John tells us (1 John 5:10), is to make Him a liar. “He did not many mighty works there [His own country] because of their unbelief ” (Matt. 13:58).

May God grant that we can discern if the doubts that we have relate to ourselves or other persons around or our God. We have abundant reason to mistrust ourselves. “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Prov. 28:26). The Word of God even tells us that it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psa. 118:8). This indicates that even though we should not be mistrusting of people in general, still there may be reason to mistrust them at times. But never will there ever be a reason to mistrust our God. To do so only limits His working for us and in us what is for our ultimate good. We often mistrust because of our lack of understanding. But that indicates that we trust our understanding more than His.

R. Thonney

Meditations of a Father: (b)

Promises

“Exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4). Promises—the Bible is full of them, waiting for us in the simplicity of faith to claim them for our own enjoyment. Sometimes we promise with all good intentions but are not able to make good due to human impossibility. But here we have promises from a God with whom nothing is impossible and before whom we stand in unchanging favor because of our position “in Christ.” He wants us to make good on those promises in the energy of faith.

Fear

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid” (Isa. 12:2). Fear sometimes crowds into the heart, but the secret is choosing simply to trust based on the exceeding great and precious promises that God has given us in His Word. When God fills the heart, so does trust, and consequently the fears have to go.

Strength

“Thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” (Isa. 30:15). The reason for returning is that the current of this world is away from the source of real and lasting strength, trying to get us to trust in ourselves. It is not a matter of being strong in ourselves that is the answer, but rather in resting quietly in His strength.

Majesty

“Lo, these are the borders of His ways; but what a whisper of a word do we hear of Him! and the thunder of His power, who can understand?” (Job 26:14 JND). Job had been speaking of the wonders of creation and then, when he considers HIM who made it all, he makes this eloquent statement. All that we hear of Him is but a whisper of a word. Isn’t it just marvelous to be able to know such a great God? And then to be able to look up in the simplicity of faith and call Him “Father.” The more we know of Him, the more we are brought to realize just how little we know of Him who fills heaven and the heaven of heavens.

Revelation

“But the people that know their God shall be strong, and shall act” (Daniel 11:32 JND).

“Being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead. . . . He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Rom. 4:19-21).

What gives strength is knowing who our God is and acting in the light of that revelation. Abraham did not consider what seemed to contradict naturally, but he chose to believe God. It is a strength that is evident not merely in youth but often in those of age who simply act in the light of the revelation of who our God is.

Obedience

Read Luke 5:1-11. It is interesting and important to give attention to the smallest of details of what the Lord has to say to us. Here Peter was told by the Lord to let down the nets. Oh, the blessing He wants to pour into our lives—when He gives, He gives in abundant measure. Peter probably thought the Lord, being a carpenter, did not know much about fishing, but he would comply and let down at least one net. But that meant (1) that his net broke, (2) he lost some of the fish and (3) he had to ask for help from the other boat and they both almost sank. There is only one response for us when our God speaks to us—simple, unqualified, wholehearted obedience. Let us simply set our thoughts aside and accept His thoughts.

Persistence

“Although he will not get up and give them to him because he is his friend, because of his SHAMELESSNESS, at any rate, he will rise and give him as many as he wants” (Luke 11:8 JND).

Here the Lord teaches that in asking in prayer we cannot be too shameless.

Think of going in the middle of the night to some person and, just because he is a friend, making him get out of bed just to give you some bread. Inside the friend tells him, “I cannot.” Still he persists, and in the end he gets all he needs. Most would be ashamed to do such a thing. But the Lord uses this to encourage the persistence of real faith. Because it is our God Himself, we cannot be too shameless in asking—insignificant or large. The persistence of faith asks, seeks and then, if necessary, knocks until there is the answer.

Do we really know what such supplication means?

R. Thonney

Meditations of a Father: (c)

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

To experience our new life in Christ will not be pleasant for the flesh—in fact, it can be excruciating. Still it is the way to experience the reality and blessedness of that life. “Not I, but Christ” is a tremendous motto for every situation of life. He is our life (Col. 3), and so this is just giving room for that life to be experienced in a world that had no room for Him. “The faith of the Son of God” simply means the faith whose object is the Son of God. How wonderful to forget self and get that blessed Man before our souls in all His perfection and glory—to say, because it is the truth, “This is my life.”

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.” “In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me” (Psa. 56:34).

There is a first-class and a second-class train to heaven. In the first verse (second-class), fear is there first and then trust in the Lord. We must confess that this is often our experience. In the second case (first-class), God is put first and there is no room for fear. How important to daily set the Lord always before us in a real and living way—leaving not much room for the fear.

R. Thonney

Meditations of a Father: (d)

The Father’s Care

“I will put My trust in Him” (Heb. 2:13).

The Lord Jesus, as Man, was going back to the Father after having completed His work down here. But He was leaving here some poor, failing, squabbling disciples. Up there He would be their great High Priest to intercede for them. He put His trust in the Father for their care. Isn’t it wonderful to think of Him praying for us now, as He did then for them, in those words, “I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me.” What better care could any of us have than that?

Crowded Out

“Behold, I stand at the door and am knocking; if anyone hear My voice and open the door, I will come in unto him and sup with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20 JND).

In the church of Laodicea there was no room for Christ inside. The call He gives as He knocks is individual: “If anyone,” “I will come in unto him,” “sup with him,” and “he with Me.” Life today is so high pressured it is easy to let its fast-paced confusion crowd the Wisdom of God right out the door [of our hearts] and let it be shut with Him on the outside. Then is the time we need to step back and reorder our priorities.

R. Thonney

Meditations of a Father: (e)

“Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 JND).

Cast your cares on Jesus for He cares so much for you. Things that now concern your heart, of course, concern Him, too. When we have a worry we can choose to let it grow, or we can place it in His hands and simply let it go.

“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:16). “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

The word for “comforter” and the word for “advocate,” although translated differently in the English, are the exact same word in the Greek. The first refers to the Holy Spirit and His present work in us; the second refers to the Lord Jesus and His present work at God’s right hand. We have One who lives within who maintains our interests down here and One with the Father in the glory who perfectly maintains our interests up there. What blessedness! May the Lord give us to prove in fuller measure in practice in our lives that God is for us.

“The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).

When we lay all at His feet in prayer, this is the result. We don’t keep the peace of God—it keeps us. There are so many troubled hearts and minds in today’s world. Just to bow in spirit there in heaven before the mercy-seat and leave it all there—how wonderful this prescription for the heart and mind.

To stand upon the mount with God,

With sunlight in the soul—

To hear the storms in vales below;

To hear the thunders roll—

To be calm with God, thy God,

Beneath the glorious skies;

For to the height on which you stand

No storm or clouds can rise.

Oh! this is life and this is joy,

O God to find Thee so;

Thy face to see, Thy voice to hear,

And all its love to know.

R. Thonney

Meditations of a Father: (f) The Armor of God

(Ephesians 6:13-18)

First Piece of Armor: Loins Girded

“Loins girt about with truth.” Nothing strengthens a person like the truth. How important is the daily reading and meditating on the Word of God. Lies are so common in our culture, and while at times from our limited perspective they may appear convenient, it always and only complicates and weakens us. The enemy well knows it and tries all he can to get us from the simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus. Cultivate love of the truth—it will strengthen you.

Girding it on simply means making it practical in life. Don’t just talk about it; do it. If you find you have been ensnared in some area by a lie, be truthful about that too—don’t cover it up. Set your face toward the Lord Jesus, for He is the truth. How wonderful to have the Word in our hands written in black and white for us to read. The Lord Jesus said to His Father, “Thy Word is truth.” In this way truth is completely objective and absolute. Remember, our experiences and feelings are not the norm.

Second Piece of Armor: Breastplate

“Having on the breastplate of righteousness.” This is simply keeping a good conscience. You know well that, when your conscience accuses you of something wrong in your life, you are in no shape to face the enemy. Paul said in Acts 24:16, “Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.” He did not make a blanket statement, “I have a good conscience,” but rather, “I exercise myself, to have.” That is a continual exercise. Even in Hebrews 13 he says, “We trust we have a good conscience.” Conscience is not a good guide—the Word of God and the Spirit of God guide—but it is a good policeman, so don’t ignore its voice. Face things squarely in the light of God’s presence. You only hinder yourself, if you refuse to judge yourself there.

Third Piece of Armor: Feet Shod

“Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” The feet speak of our walk. It is important to walk what we talk, if there is to be power in our testimony. If we walk in the peace of God, it will be evident in our demeanor, and people will listen when we give them the gospel of peace with God. The storm may be raging around us, but that cannot disturb the peace that surrounds God’s throne and our own souls, as we walk with God.

Fourth Piece of Armor: Shield

The fourth piece of armor is very important: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” It is, simply put, implicit and entire confidence in God. When every outward circumstance seems to indicate otherwise, but we have a positive word from God, we choose to believe God.

Paul in the midst of the storm in Acts 27 was told by an angel of God that “God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.” Based on that word from God, he could further say, “Be of good cheer: for I believe God.” You might have said to him, “Be reasonable, Paul; look at where we are!” But God had spoken and therefore the storm had ceased in his soul even though it yet raged around the ship.

Fiery darts are doubts that the enemy hurls to knock us down. We should mistrust ourselves and may have reason to mistrust others. But we should never allow mistrust of God. Hang on to His infallible Word. He will always be true to it. We need to let Him fulfill His promises as only He can and will. Sometimes we get our ideas on how He should come through, based on His Word. But His thoughts are greater than ours and His way far better all around.

Fifth Piece of Armor: Helmet

This is “the helmet of salvation.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:8, it says, “For an helmet, the hope of salvation.” Here it is broader. It simply means that when we enter the battle armed with this, we know (it covers the head) that whatever may happen, we will come out victorious in the end. We are “more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” This gives confidence and liberates us from fear.

Hymn 16 in the appendix of the Little Flock Hymnbook puts it well:

For every tribulation,

For every sore distress,

In Christ I’ve full salvation,

Sure help and quiet rest.

No fear of foes prevailing!

I triumph, Lord, in Thee!

O Jesus! Friend unfailing,

How dear art Thou to me!

Sixth Piece of Armor: Sword

This piece is the only offensive piece (not defensive as the first five)—“the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” It is not our sword, but the Spirit’s sword. When we learn to use it under the direction of the Spirit of God, it is effective. The Lord Jesus used it in that way when being tempted forty days of the devil. Even though as the very Son of God He could have used His reasoning power to defeat the enemy, He, as a dependent Man, only and always simply said, “It is written.” The devil could not stand before the piercings of that sword and left Him for a time.

It shows the extreme importance of not only reading the Word daily, but also of letting the Word of God abide in us. It is what gives strength to the young men in 1 John 2:13 so that they can overcome. If we are walking in the power of an ungrieved Spirit, He can bring the right Scripture at the right moment to give us the victory.

Seventh Piece of Armor: Prayer

The seventh and final matter concerning the armor of God is “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” In the warfare that we are in each and every day, we only advance in the spirit of continual dependence on God. Someone has said we advance on our knees. It is so important that nothing should take precedence over this. Martin Luther was known to say, “I have so much to do each day, I dare not spend any less than three hours in prayer.” No wonder God used him as a mighty instrument during the Reformation.

R. Thonney (adapted)

Meditations of a Father: (g)

“When Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect” (Gen. 17:1).

Notice the order. He does not say “be perfect” first, but rather, “I am the ALMIGHTY GOD.” We can almost hear people say, “Come on now, you’re asking for the impossible.” But when you get the thing in perspective—that is, it is the Almighty God who is speaking—what seems so impossible for us is not impossible any longer. But it is possible only as we have our sights set on Him. It is what Paul said: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Don’t get accustomed to saying, “I can’t,” when it is something that you know the Lord asks us to do. Just look to Him in all your insufficiency and find just how sufficient He is.

“Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5).

This was the instruction from the mother of Jesus to the servants at the wedding feast. How often we want to understand something before we do it. But here it was simple obedience that was important. We may want to stop and question ourselves whether we understand properly what He says, but once it is clear, there is only one path for faith—pure, simple obedience, leaving the results with Him. They might have thought it quite futile to fill those containers with that much water, when what they needed was wine. But they not only did it, they also drew from the stone pots and took to the governor of the feast. The result was better than anybody could have imagined. “But thou hast kept the good wine until now” (John 2:10).

R. Thonney

Meditations of a Father: (h)

“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).

Redemption is buying back with the purpose of setting free. According to this Scripture, we (believers) have it. As a result of that redemption that we have, we also have forgiveness of sins. Then in Romans 3:24 it tells us that another result, contingent on that redemption, is that we are justified. Just think of it—the price paid to buy us back to God is so complete that not only are all our sins forgiven, but we are looked at by God Himself as righteous.

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight” (Matt. 11:25-26).

It was the time of the Lord’s rejection by His people Israel. What, naturally speaking, would have been so hard, the Lord looks up in perfect confidence and accepts from the hand of His Father and even thanks Him. What seemed to make no sense to the wise and prudent (those who leaned on their own understanding) was revealed to babes (those who trusted in the Lord with all their hearts and accepted in the simplicity of faith what their Father had ordered for their own good). Then the Lord Jesus speaks of His yoke and the rest that comes from taking it. A yoke is often used for work, but there is rest in work when we are yoked with the Lord Jesus.

“Jesus . . . groaned in the spirit, and was troubled” (John 11:33).

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35).

The Lord Jesus knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead. Why then the groaning and weeping? It is because He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. What troubles us and makes us weep, even now as our great High Priest He feels and accordingly intercedes for us. No trial is out of reach for Him.

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. . . . I will maintain mine own ways before Him” (Job 13:15).

Job thought that he trusted God completely, but the fact that he maintained his own ways showed He really didn’t trust as He should. When, at the end, he was brought to see God and His greatness, Job bowed in humbleness with no more self-defense. Then God turned the captivity of Job. We often convince ourselves we trust God when really it is only self-confidence that none but God sees. In faithfulness and perfect wisdom God allows us to be painfully broken until we, ceasing to struggle, turn from ourselves. It is then we can appreciate in greater fullness all that He is for us.

R. Thonney

Meditations of a Father: (i)

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise” (Psa. 51:17).

It hurts to be broken, and yet it is necessary. Why? Because naturally we all have our own thoughts and ideas. But they are not as great and far-reaching as God’s thoughts. What He has for us is far more exceeding and eternal. When we pursue our own thoughts, often persuading ourselves that it is what the Lord’s will is for us, necessarily there has to be breaking. When there is brokenness—real brokenness—with a willingness to sit quietly in His presence until He shows us His way, then He will not despise. Then there is blessing.

“Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust” (Psa. 16:1).

This psalm is prophetic of the Lord Jesus. God has all power and all authority. Man is made to be dependent and obedient—dependent because God has all power and obedient because God has all authority. The Lord Jesus here as a perfect Man cries for preservation. We, as born into God’s family and, as such, partakers of the divine nature, can also properly cry to God with those same words. We live in a world system where man is encouraged to be independent and rebellious. But there is a blessedness in simply realizing our need and crying to One who is greater than all.

R. Thonney

Meditations of a Father: (j)

“Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh” (2 Cor. 10:3).

How often we find that some days go smoothly while we find that others are heavy sledding, so to speak. It makes us realize, perhaps, that we are not just materialistic pieces of flesh moving around in this world. We are also spiritual beings and spiritual conflict is a very real thing, especially in a world where Satan is god and prince. We can never expect to feel completely at home down here. But that will make it so much more vivid for us when we are called home to the Father’s house. The moment we set foot on that shore it will be with the fullest measure and sense that this is our home.

But remember that here and now it is not a matter of physical stamina in battle we engage in as believers, but of going on in the might of His strength. That is why so often believers that are weaker physically do greater feats for God. It is not a matter of what we are, but of what He is for us.

“Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long” (Prov. 23:17). “The fear of Jehovah shall be your treasure” (Isa. 33:6 JND).

The Lord is always right beside us, listening to every word, observing every action and weighing even the hidden motives of the heart. Even though this searches us deeply, still in the end we will find it, as Scripture says, “your treasure.” Oh, the liberty and blessedness of walking as before Him without anything to hide.

“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11).

God has full provision as to armor for us in this warfare, but we are responsible to put it on—that is, to make it truly practical in our lives. There is little value in knowing something, if we do not put it into practice. May God give us grace to reflect and see if we have really put on the armor He has provided.

Remember: (1) The armor should be put on before the battle starts—thus the importance of making sure it is all in place at any given moment. (2) There is no armor for the back. There is no place in God’s thoughts for fleeing from the enemy. We are told to resist him, and he will flee from us.

R. Thonney

Meditations of a Father: (k)

“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

In Exodus 17, Joshua, as captain of Israel’s army, was below engaging the enemy (Amalek). But victory did not so much depend on Joshua’s astute tactics as on the fact that on the hill above a man stood with his hands held up. When he grew weary, there were two who helped to hold up his hands.

What a picture! In the battlefield of life we may think that our courage and strength have gained the victory. But faith counts on a real, living Man there in God’s presence with His hands uplifted, never growing weary. He will save all the way home. How important to realize that our victory depends wholly on that glorious Intercessor at God’s right hand.

R. Thonney

My Neighbor's Bible

I am my neighbor’s Bible;

He reads me when we meet;

Today he reads me in my home,

Tomorrow in the street.

He may be relative or friend,

Or slight acquaintance be;

He may not even know my name,

Yet he is reading me.

And pray, who is this neighbor

Who reads me day by day,

To learn if I am living right

And walking as I pray?

Oh, he is with me always

To criticize or blame;

So worldly-wise in his own eyes,

And “sinner” is his name.

Dear Christian friends and brothers,

If we could only know

How faithfully the world records

Just what we say and do,

Oh, we would write our record plain

And come in time to see

Our worldly neighbor won to Christ

While reading you and me.

Anon.

“The blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

My One Desire

When brethren came out, what were they? Nothing. What was their feeling? They took up the interest of the church of God, desiring to see all who loved God manifested in it. A large measure of blessing followed; numbers joined. Then came trouble and trial within, and that plentifully occupied their hearts and practically became their circle, consequently not the church of the living God.

We ought to be humbled—ah! humbled in the dust, if you please, but not discouraged. A truly humbled man is not discouraged; the discouraged man is not a humble man, for he has trusted, as man, to something besides God; true nothingness cannot.

People say we have been too narrow—we must mix up a little. No, never—I cannot go back. If I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. I have nothing to go back from.

The one desire of my heart is the beauty and the blessing of the church—the bride of Christ. That will make me earnestly love all saints, for they are of it. I desire its (the church’s) entire separation to Christ to whom she belongs—espoused as a chaste virgin, my feet in the narrow way—my heart as large as Christ’s.

J. N. Darby

"My Son, Give Me Thine Heart"

“My son, give Me thine heart.”

So simple! And Christianity ought to be simple. These six simple words sum it up well—six words that would strip away all do’s and don’ts if I take them to heart. The Bible would not be to me a Book of rules—but one of loving requests. Love does incredible things for its object.

“My son, give Me thine heart.”

My Lord is the perfect example of the full measure and length of what love will do. Because He loved me, He died for me. And more, He is on call day and night answering more of my prayers than I could ever count. Oh! May I return to Him such love by really giving Him my heart.

“My son, give Me thine heart.”

If I did this there would be no need to ask Him so many questions. If my heart were His, I would automatically know the will of the Lord, I would know the Lord was at His table, and I would know that all things work together for good. I would know the answer to questions on the right way to date, whether war is right or wrong, whether I should vote, and what’s modest and what’s not.

“My son, give Me thine heart.”

There’s not too much more to say—if I give my heart to the Lord, I will want to do what He wants me to do—it’s that simple. But, if it’s so simple, why do I find it so hard?

“My son, give Me thine heart” (Prov. 23:26).

By a young believer (1999)

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Note to Our Readers

Concerning the article entitled “Thoughts on Grace and Mercy” included in the May 2000 issue, a sentence in the last paragraph may be easier understood if it is read this way: “Mercy is great in the greatness of our need; grace is great in the greatness of the Giver. Grace magnifies Him, while mercy delivers us from our peril.”

Ed.

Our Activities

“Let us work well, dear brother, while it is day; it is our only affair in this world. At the same time, let us be very watchful that the inner life, communion with our precious Saviour, be the true source of our activities. May we be faithful to the will of God in our walk and large-hearted towards all His children. I earnestly desire to preserve the true character of the work of brethren, poor as they may be—and we are poor—for whenever we have lost the sense of it, God has chastened us.”

“Where there is wise interest of parents in them [children], they [parents] can . . . lead children to find their enjoyment with themselves in kindly care of the poor and a thousand healthful enjoyments and occupations, and this I have seen done and children grow up attached to home and family. And this Scripture contemplates.”

J. N. Darby (from Letters of J. N. Darby)

Our Heavenly Calling: Hindrances to Our Practical Enjoyment

Hindrances to Our Practical Enjoyment

The hindrances to our walking practically in the good of our heavenly calling are simple, yet the lessons to be learned often take a lifetime. As someone has commented, “Truth is simple; it is we who are complicated.” So the truth of the heavenly calling of the church is simple, yet we make it complicated and difficult.

Failure to Be Occupied With Christ in Glory

Possibly the greatest hindrance to our walking according to our heavenly calling is our lack of seeing that Christ, who is our life, is there in heaven. If He is our life and He is there, then our hearts will be drawn out to Him. To the extent that this is so, we will have our affections taken up there to Him, and, as the hymn says, “the things of earth will grow strangely dim.” We cannot take up our heavenly calling simply as a doctrine, for in so doing we shall dissociate Christ from it, and affection for Him will be lost.

It was this that took place in Ephesus, so that the Spirit of God through the Apostle John charges them with having left their first love (Rev. 2:4). Outwardly, no doubt, all was in order, but God saw in the heart the spring of departure from Christ that eventually led to all the evil that followed. Doctrines that are separated from Christ tend to wither the vitality of the soul, and the higher the truth taught, the more sorrowful will be the results when it is pressed legally. Then hearts become discouraged and look for rest in self and the world rather than in the only place it can be found—in Christ.

May God give us not to be occupied with our love to Christ, but rather to dwell on how much He loves us! As another has said, “A thoroughly freed soul would walk as Christ walked. He would earnestly seek the good of man, he would use this world as not abusing it, thank God for all His creatures, for food and sky, and have his heart with Christ where Christ is.”

Failure to Be Practically Done With “Self”

Linked to this is another reason for our failure as to our heavenly calling, namely, that self has not been thoroughly dealt with. Of course, none of us would say that we had so thoroughly dealt with self so as never to have to do with it again, for we will never be rid of our sinful nature until taken home to be with Christ. But we must be willing to be broken as vessels, to have our hearts searched by the eye of Christ, that all that is not of Himself might be discovered and taken away. True Christianity makes everything of Christ and nothing of self, yet how often we want something of ourselves along with Christ! We subtly persuade ourselves that there is something good in us, even if it takes the form of pride in what we know. Then we are in danger of boasting of our knowledge—“knowledge puffeth up”—and perhaps of looking down on other believers. All of this must be laid open before God that His eye may search our hearts and that we may have Christ before us instead of self. In having Christ before us we will be kept happy, yet humble, as we see how little we are like Him.

Again, some may ask how this is to be accomplished. We must recognize that only God can work it in us, but if our desire is to have it, God will do it. As a brother said more than one hundred years ago, “If you see any beauty in Christ, and say, ‘I desire to have that,’ God will work it in you.” If we want to know more of Christ and all His beauty and practically to know more of our heavenly calling, God will work it in us. But we must be willing to let Him break us, to be “delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh” (2 Cor. 4:11).

Failure to Walk Practically Separate From the World

Still a third hindrance to our walking according to our heavenly calling is worldliness. This again is very subtle, for we are IN the world and thus must interact with it to some extent. To attempt practically to go out of the world is not God’s way, as we have already seen. No, we are saved out of this world but sent back into it to be living witnesses of the grace that has saved us.

The danger is that we take on the character of the world. It has been well said that the moment I do anything to meet the eye of the world, worldliness begins. It may not be actual sin, but rather a way of thinking and living that is natural rather than spiritual, worldly rather than heavenly, and thus I lose my testimony to a lost world. The world system began with Cain, who went out from the presence of the Lord, built a city, and then proceeded to surround himself with everything that might minister to his happiness, but leaving God out. The world system he began is with us today, and we are not to be OF the world. Yet how often believers are in a measure separate from this world but continue to love “the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15). While these things may not be wrong in themselves, they become a weight and hinder the believer from running the race that is set before him.

Again, what is the answer to this tendency? How can we walk through this world, witnessing to it, using it, yet not becoming part of it? I believe Scripture would show us that a risen Christ in glory is the answer to it all. When we remember that this world has rejected our Saviour and that He has no place at all in it, then we too will not want to be part of it. We will realize that the same world that cast the Lord Jesus out of it (and would do so again if given the opportunity) is the world through which we pass. We will want to “walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:6). There will be the fullest love to the lost and the earnestness of that love in bringing the gospel before them.

There will be the using of every chance to do good to others, knowing that while the world cannot see my heart, they can see good works and thus see Christ in me. But I will be bearing the character and deportment of one who belongs to heaven, whose future and treasure is all up there. It is this that will excite the hatred of the world. The world loves a Christian who exhibits all the graces that the life of Christ has given him, but hates the witness to Christ as the Source of it all and the witness that the world is under judgment. But the Lord Jesus could say, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We too can overcome the world, for “whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world” (1 John 5:4).

In our next (and concluding) article we will look at some practical problems in our lives and how our heavenly calling should affect them.

W. J. Prost

Our Heavenly Calling: Living According to Our Heavenly Calling

Living According to Our Heavenly Calling

In discussing the practical side of our heavenly calling, we would like to speak first of all of positive things. It is true that, as heavenly citizens, there is much which we must witness against, for we are in a world that has rejected our Saviour. However, there is much, too, that we can witness for, and how important it is that this be prominent in our lives! It is humbling to read the account in Acts 5 of the solemn judgment of God on Ananias and Sapphira who dared to lie to the Holy Spirit. This was followed by a healthy fear on the part of those who might not be wholehearted: “And of the rest durst no man join himself to them,” yet we also read that “the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord” (Acts 5:13-14). So where God is working, His power will be manifested in both grace and government.

Perhaps the most powerful testimony to our heavenly calling is a life lived in the atmosphere of heaven. If our hopes and treasure are all up there with Christ and the things of this world mean little to us, there will be a peace and composure that the person of the world knows nothing of. There will be a calmness in meeting difficulties, a peace that looks beyond all that is down here, and an equanimity that the world covets. Coupled with this will be the earnest desire to display the character of our blessed Saviour who came “not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” The world of today is a world of takers, where all want to be served. How good to be like the Master, who could say, “I am among you as He that serveth.” The Christian will freely give, having freely received, and will look for opportunities to be of help, to “do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Living Realities—Wordless Preaching

May we say that the lack of this, perhaps more than anything else, has discredited the believer in this world. We may speak of our heavenly calling, we may profess to wait for the Lord to come and take us home, and we may even tell others about Him. But if our lives are characterized by the same self-seeking, the same materialism, and the same going after the things down here as the world exhibits, then our witness will be a hollow one. May we show the fruits of what we have been brought into, and above all display Christ in our lives. The world does not want Christ, it is true, but that new life in us, if lived out, will compel others to acknowledge that we have been with Jesus. Many years ago, an unbeliever, much against his will, was compelled to spend the night with an earnest Christian. So powerful was the life and testimony of the believer that in the morning the unbeliever rushed from the room exclaiming, “If I stay in that man’s company any longer, I shall become a Christian in spite of myself!”

Added to this, of course, is our witness in the gospel and the truth. As someone has aptly remarked, “Preach always, and if necessary, use words.” We are told in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt,” and we are to remember both. Grace has saved us, and it is the grace of God that will draw others to Christ and save them. But we are always to have that heavenly character in our speech, that “salt” that preserves and seasons, a flavoring of that which might otherwise not properly witness to God’s character. Only walking with the Lord and in the power of the Spirit can give this. When the Lord Jesus met the woman at Sychar’s well, He seasoned His speech with salt in exposing her sinful life, but His grace drew her to Him in spite of this, making her want to know more.

A Silent Witness

Our witness will also have a negative side, for the one who follows a rejected Christ must witness against this world and its course. As we have seen in an earlier article, Satan diluted the church’s witness by bringing believers down to the level of the world and by having them try to reform the world. If we are to witness to this world, we must be clearly seen to be ambassadors down here, not citizens. We must be clearly seen to belong to another country, having seen that the world is under judgment.

Thus we will not be allied with the world, trying to make it better. While as individuals we will surely do good wherever we can, yet we must carefully avoid any compromise of our position as heavenly citizens. We will not join with those who try in an organized way to promote the betterment of mankind, realizing that only a work of God in the soul can do this—a work of the Spirit of God in saving individuals. God has saved us and called us out of this world, but then sent us back into it to do His work of calling others out of it. We will recognize that the work of the Lord by believers is done by the energy of the Spirit of God in the individual, not by man-made organizations, even if Christian in origin and membership. Someone has aptly remarked that a good principle for the Christian to follow is, “Never join anything!” The only membership Scripture knows is membership of the body of Christ, and God has made us such, not ourselves.

Dangerous Neglect

It is this neglect as heavenly citizens that has often ruined Christian character and testimony. As previously noted, when the believer allies himself with the world, even in a good cause, he must take up the world’s methods and ambitions, since the world cannot take up Christian principles. If Christians as a body try to reform the world, they run contrary to the truth that the world is under judgment and depart from their command to call souls out of this world. The call to save a particular people or nation collectively from the effects of moral and spiritual decline, while well-intentioned, is out of character for those who profess heavenly citizenship. God is not dealing today with nations, but with individuals from all nations, calling them out to be part of His church. May we understand God’s purposes and work.

The Importance of Attitude

Connected with this is our attitude toward the enforcing of right principles of justice in the world. How often our souls are indignant when we see God’s claims rejected, the Word of God laid aside, righteousness abandoned, and human passion and selfishness resulting in tyranny and misery. It is tempting for those who know right to seek to enforce it by physical power! Yet it is not the place of the heavenly citizen, for the time has not come for God to set the world right. We may talk of wars where justice or the lack of it was more evident at one time than another. But the believer does not belong to this world and should not become involved in all this.

Our blessed Saviour never became involved in righting all the injustice and sin in His day, but His words carried the weight of God’s comment on it all. Thus it should be with the believer. A well-known preacher in the nineteenth century was once accosted by some sailors on board a British naval ship and asked about his stand on the subject of a Christian’s going to war. He replied, “I believe in fair play! Suppose I go to war and meet an enemy who is not saved. Suppose I shoot him and he shoots me. He sends me straight to heaven, and I send him straight to hell. Boys, I don’t call that fair play!” May we be found using our energy to relieve suffering, help the poor, feed the hungry and above all to bring Christ before them.

Living as Pilgrims and Strangers

Likewise we will not be found seeking political office or a position that tries to enforce the law. We are to obey the law, and may well speak out as to that which is contrary to the Word of God. It is most fitting, for example, for us to give God’s mind about such things as euthanasia, abortion and capital punishment and to expose the sinfulness of man’s heart. The moral weight of our words will be in proportion to the degree that we walk as heavenly ones, for it must be clearly seen that we are giving God’s thoughts and not merely our own opinion. But we leave this world to carry on in its own way, rather seeking to bring souls out of it before the judgment falls. We will not be taken up with various causes in this world or become involved in such things as protest marches, lobbying of influential people, or forming organizations to take up some particular grievance. We will rather seek to be the salt of the earth by our walk first and then our speech, but we will leave vengeance to the One who has said, “I will repay” (Rom. 12:19).

The Importance of Communion

In all of this we must remember that only a walk with the Lord, constant dependence upon Him, and communion with Him can effect all this. We may realize the truth of our heavenly calling in an intellectual way and even wish to walk in it, but we cannot do so in our own strength. Without constantly being in the Lord’s presence we will duplicate the error of the early church when they either withdrew from the world in isolation or became part of the world and thus lost their testimony. If we seek to act on the teaching of Scripture in an honest and true heart, it will always drive us back to the Source of it all and make us more dependent. Our affections are drawn out to Christ and all that He has done for us, and at the same time we realize more and more that, as He is now in heaven and we belong to Him, we have a heavenly calling.

Called from above, and heavenly men by birth

(Who once were but the citizens of earth),

As pilgrims here, we seek a heavenly home,

Our portion in the ages yet to come.

We are but strangers here, we do not crave

A home on earth, which gave Thee but a grave:

Thy cross has severed ties which bound us here,

Thyself our treasure in a brighter sphere.

(Little Flock Hymnbook, #212)

W. J. Prost

The Power of Life

Are you living in the power of life in Christ? We have heard of many who have been forced to live for a long time in a damp, dark prison. Then when brought out into the sunshine, they have found themselves unable to walk or go through the varied functions of life. Believers want more than pulsation of life—they want the power of life—life not only to make a start, but to press on.

Christ not only gave me life, but I am to show the power of that life—to show what the persons are who have that life. I have to walk with feet unsoiled in a world where there is a great deal to soil them. I am, by every act, to develop and display the great fact of my life being a life hid with Christ in God.

Can I bring anything into God’s presence where none but Christ is precious? Will my work shine there? No! none but Christ can shine there!

G. V. Wigram

Practical Reflections on Acts - 3:24-4:15

Acts 3:24-26

24. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

When the priesthood failed in Eli (1 Sam. 4:18), the people no longer had a way to be brought into the presence of God. He graciously raises up prophets who will bring Him through His Word to them.

God’s prophets speak the same truth, for He and His truth never change (Mal. 3:6). That truth centers upon His beloved Son (John 14:6). May we hold the truth of God taught us by “faithful men” (2 Tim. 2:2), speak “the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15), teach “the same thing” (1 Cor. 1:10) and receive the truth sent for our present need (1 Thess. 2:13).

25. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

They were the descendents (the seed of Abraham) of those who preached the coming Messiah. It was with their fathers that God had made His covenant. Yet they were guilty of casting out and murdering the One in whom all these promises were to be fully realized. Without faith, position and knowledge are helpless to produce blessing. Being raised in a Christian home and being brought to the bosom of the assembly—great blessings indeed—do not automatically impart reality before God.

26. Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

The Lord Jesus as Messiah had come, sent from God to the people in order to turn them from their sin and disobedience. And they were the more responsible, for He had come first to them. With privilege comes solemn responsibility.

Acts 4:1-15

1. And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them.

Satan uses the religious leaders of that privileged nation in order to stifle divine truth. The nation had drifted far from God, for its leaders openly taught evil doctrine concerning the resurrection (Mark 12:18; Acts 23:8). It is so today—Christianity, which ought to have been a beacon of pure truth, has become the dwelling-place of every foul and wicked Christ-dishonoring doctrine (Matt. 13:32; Rev. 18:2).

2. Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

“Being grieved” at the truth! The awful result of giving up what once they possessed, they chose a liar rather than the Truth. Thus the truth of life from death through resurrection—hope and joy to believers—is a source of grief to them. How blind a dead, faithless religion makes man (Matt. 15:14)! They chose a hopeless grave, rather then bow before Jesus—the Prince of Life!

3. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

It was morally “eventide” in the hearts of these servants of Satan. Earlier, the enemy had sought to turn aside God’s blessing, by using men to “mock” (Acts 2:13). Now the enemy seeks to “shut up” the testimony by physical, rather than verbal, means. Joseph—a blessing in prison just as much as when in Potiphar’s house or Pharaoh’s court (Gen. 39-40)—gives wonderful encouragement today when the enemy is so busy hindering the truth of God.

4. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

The apostles are put in hold, unable to preach the truth in full liberty—but the Spirit of God is not restrained. The company of believers keeps growing. We needn’t give up preaching and spreading the truth of God. The power (the Spirit) is the same and the Word is the same, and He promises the truth will not return to Him void (Isa. 55:11).

56. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

The whole responsible leadership of the Jews is represented here and they take sides against Jehovah and His Christ. It is not the Gentiles, but the very leaders of the Jewish nation who were responsible before God and who gather together against the truth. Professing Christianity is fast moving to this same gross darkness and unbelief (Matt. 6:23).

7. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

They couldn’t deny the miracle, but having “denied the Holy One and the Just” (Acts 3:14), they are blinded as to the power that worked this healing. The actions of our lives ought to cause those around to ask “by what power” we are enabled to walk in peace through this dark world (1 Peter 3:15).

8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel.

The solemn message—directed to those most responsible for the death of the Messiah—must be given by one under the control of the Spirit of God. Believers are to be filled with the Spirit of God (Eph. 5:18). Only then can a truly effective, fruitful testimony for Christ be rendered in this world.

9. If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole.

“If we be examined.” Christians will always be scrutinized by the world. May the world only find “good deeds” to examine in our lives, rather than things which dishonor the Lord (1 Peter 3:17).

10. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.

What an indictment! The despised name of Jesus and their horrible guilt concerning Him and God’s complete satisfaction were gloriously shown in His resurrection. And before their very eyes, the healed cripple gave proof to the truth they denied.

11. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Building a happy life that glorifies God must start with this Stone—Jesus Christ—rejected in the world, yet chosen of God and precious (1 Peter 2:4). They wanted their place and nation (John 11:48) but rejected God’s foundation for getting that blessing.

12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The blessed name of Jesus, so hated of the Jews, is the only hope for them and the world. The urgency of Peter’s message is found in the words, “must be saved”—not “can be saved.” Salvation is not a choice left to man’s will; it is a must, and solemn, eternal issues rest on obeying the gospel.

13. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

It was not so much the words that Peter and John spoke, but the manner of their bold testimony that surprised these learned religious antagonists (Prov. 28:1). They saw more with their eyes than they heard with their ears. What they saw caused them to marvel, knowing the apostles—unlettered and uninstructed men (JND)—had been with Jesus. Here again we see the Spirit press the importance of our actions over our words.

14. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

The healed cripple didn’t talk, he didn’t walk, he didn’t leap—he stood. For him it was now a time of standing with those who proclaimed the truth. What a powerful silent testimony to Peter’s words he gave! We need wisdom and grace to act thus, “and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:13).

15. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves.

No room for divine truth in this group! Their deliberations were among themselves—God in whom they boasted was left out. The subject was how to stifle the truth they could not deny, even as they had tried to stifle the truth of His glorious resurrection (Matt. 28:12-13).

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 4:16-33

16. Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

Fear of the people (Prov. 29:25), not any sense of uprightness, kept the leaders from denying the truth. Repentance born of faith—not caused by miracles—leads to true blessing (Luke 16:31).

17. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

Neither the world nor its religions will hear that name, the source of all power and blessing. Even in these Christian lands it is easy to speak of God, church or the Bible—anything but that blessed name of Jesus.

18. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Though the spirit of this present, evil world will not hear about Jesus, the glory and authority of His name are reasons enough to continue speaking of and teaching about Him.

19. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

The apostles’ decisions were made as responsible to One infinitely greater than the Jewish leaders, nor were they “careful to answer” the Jews (Dan. 3:16).

20. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

They had seen perfection in every step of the Lord’s life—had heard grace and truth in His every word. What motives for preaching the gospel!

21. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

These religious zealots’ wicked threats and plans were governed by the whims of the people. The believers’ blessed resource is the Lord (Heb. 13:6).

22. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was showed.

The cripple’s condition provides a picture of Israel (born lame), whose religion could not bring blessing (begging at the temple gate). His healing is a proof of the grace and power of God.

23. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

Their own company—fellowship with those of like precious faith! Where we go when “let go” from our necessary daily routines is a profound test of our spiritual state. How we use this liberty speaks volumes about who and what we are enjoying.

24. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is.

The Jews’ opposition brings forth collective praise from the assembly to God who is above all.

25. Who by the mouth of Thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

David, the very one in whom they took such pride, prophetically condemned them, connecting them with the Gentiles in their hatred of Jesus.

26. The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ.

The elite of the world find a common ground of fellowship in their rebellion against God and His Sent One, Jesus. Why spend our time searching for satisfaction in this wicked, Christ-hating world?

27. For of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together.

A better reading is, “Thy holy servant Jesus.” Our blessed Lord and Saviour came meek and lowly, as a servant, that man might be blessed through His perfect service. Those who by nature opposed each other united not only against this perfect servant, but against God who sent Him.

28. For to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done.

Man was fully responsible for what he did to the Son of God—but God moves according to His own sovereign purposes and counsels. Let us always seek to be in fellowship with His sovereign ways.

29. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word.

They did not ask for power to overcome or stop persecution. They leave all with God, submitting to His ways, desiring only that the Word of God would not be hindered (Rom. 12:19; 2 Thess. 3:1).

30. By stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus.

They weren’t occupied with self—as being vessels of healing and miracles. All was left to the will of God and the power and authority of the blessed name of His holy servant (not “child”) Jesus.

31. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

What blessing earnest collective prayer brings (Eph. 3:20)! They had asked that the servants of God speak forth His Word with boldness (vs. 29). But God gave them all the ability to speak it boldly! Let us continue instant in earnest prayer (Rom. 12:12)!

32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

The Spirit produced oneness in love and in practice. Their earthly possessions, belonging to God, were used for the blessing of all. Should God get just a tenth of our possessions? They all belong to Him. May we be tender and wise hearted in using all that He has given to us for His honor and glory.

33. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Great power and great grace marked the public testimony of the early assembly. Today, public testimony to the unity of the body of Christ has been spoiled because of our collective failure. Yet in the midst of this ecclesiastical confusion we still have available the power of the Spirit (Rom. 15:13) and the grace of Christ (2 Tim. 2:1). The Spirit of God and the grace of God remain unchanged. We still can walk as Elisha the man of God in the midst of great breakdown and ruin among God’s people. Elisha especially pictures one who walks in faith by the power of God in grace, though the day morally be ever so dark.

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 4:34-5:14

Acts 4:34-37

34-35. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

All earthly possessions were placed at the disposal of the apostles for those in need. If following the apostles’ pattern of giving to those in need guides us, the happy result will surely be blessing to others.

36-37. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Under the law a Levite expected to receive from others (Deut. 26:12-13), for he had no possessions in this world (Num. 18:23). Under grace Barnabas, a Levite, takes what he had and puts it at the Lord’s disposal to give to others. Let us be cheerful givers (2 Cor. 9:7), walking as those who have nothing and yet possess all things (2 Cor. 6:10).

Acts 5:1-14

12. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Previous to this solemn account, Satan’s attempts to corrupt the assembly had come from without (Acts 2:13; 4:23,17-18). Now he seeks to corrupt from within, by using covetousness (keeping back part of the money) which then led to deceit and lies. God does not need our puny wealth, but He must have reality—truth in the inward parts (Psa. 51:6).

35. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

The early believers were filled with the Spirit of God (ch. 2:4; 4:31; 13:52), but Ananias’s heart is filled by Satan with covetousness and lies. The Word of God is silent as to the reality of this couple’s faith, for their actions were not consistent with their profession. Let us walk in reality and in fear before God.

6. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

The “young men” (representing strength and service), guided by the Spirit, realizing the assembly had a need, fulfilled that ministry, apparently without receiving special directions. Love for Christ and communion with Him produce intelligent service.

7-9. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Peter gave opportunity for Sapphira to repent and confess her sin, but she persisted in covering it (Prov. 28:13) and fell under solemn judgment.

10. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

Sapphira falls dead at the feet of Peter—a place where others had laid their wealth and possessions. The young men must again undertake a sad but necessary service. The way in which they perform it, however, is beautiful in its moral seemliness. Her body is not “wound up” by them (as was Ananias’s), but with as little contact as possible, they simply carry the body out, burying it by her husband.

11. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

One can hardly think of an event more calculated to prove the truth of Psalm 89:7: “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.”

We find in Romans 3:18 that fallen man as a race has no fear of God. Sadly, today the fear of God seems lacking even among those who profess Christianity. While believers ought never to be afraid of our God and Father, we should be very careful to act in a way which is pleasing and honoring to Him.

12. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

Miracles that were done provided indisputable proof of the truth and power of the gospel. Today, a soul redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, walking in the newness of life (Rom. 6:4) and shining as a light in the midst of a crooked and perverse world (Phil. 2:15) gives similar testimony.

Solomon’s porch pictures the entrance into coming millennial blessing for Israel. But a greater than Solomon is here, and the proper hope for the assembly is heavenly, not earthly glory.

13. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

The judgment that had come on Ananias and Sapphira served as a solemn safeguard, for a time, to any who might seek to connect themselves with the assembly without a reality in their hearts.

14. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

The assembly in Jerusalem grew, both in the esteem of those who observed it and in the numbers of those who were saved. Some may argue that Christians must be careful not to drive people away from the Lord by being too legal. Yet here, when all Jerusalem was aware that unfaithfulness to the name of Christ cost two souls their lives, the numbers in the assembly increased, rather than decreased. Though today we may not always see increased numbers, faithfulness to Christ will always result in increased blessing.

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 5:15-33

15-16. “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.”

A shadow is cast by something which exists in the light. The more believers walk in the light of the glory of God, revealed in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6), the more blessing will result to the spiritually needy with whom they may come in contact.

17-18. “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”

What is darker than a faithless, godless religion! Through the apostles’ preaching in the name of Jesus, everyone in need who came to the Lord had been healed in Jerusalem. This was the city where blessing was to flow out to the whole world, had the Jews received their Messiah. But the weak, unbelieving leaders—guilty of His death—angrily try to stop the blessing.

19-20. “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

It was night, morally, in the hearts of the leaders of the nation of Israel. They would lock away in prison the truth, even as they had delivered to death the One who is truth. But it is at the morally darkest times, when it seems most impossible to testify of the Lord Jesus, that His power brings liberty and freedom to preach the life-giving message.

21. “And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.”

The Lord Jesus gives liberty; religion imprisons. How far from Jehovah had the leaders of the nation gone! Those who were responsible to be in the temple, leading the people in worshipping God, were instead gathered together seeking to stop the outflow of divine truth.

22-24. “But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.”

We read that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17). The Jews’ prison and guards were no more able to contain the apostles who were guided by the Spirit of God than the grave was able to hold the blessed Lord Jesus Christ. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” is a precious truth. The enemy goes to great lengths to stifle the gospel, but those who are led by the Spirit of God are free and at liberty to proclaim the wonderful news of salvation to the lost.

25. “Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.”

The Apostle Paul suffered “trouble, as an evildoer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound” (2 Tim. 2:9). What a comfort to know that the Word of God can never be bound, in spite of our failures or the darkness of the day in which we live.

26. “Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.”

These wicked rulers, no doubt, wished to harm the apostles. But they could not, for “when a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov. 16:7). It is wonderful if our ways adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, even as our words speak of the Prince of peace.

27-28. “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

The gospel message is filled with good news and joy. Yet, if faithfully proclaimed, it first affects the conscience, bringing a sense of guilt and responsibility before a holy God. This the religious leaders could not stand. So blinded and hardened were they that the very oath they bound themselves with (“His blood be on us, and on our children”; Matt. 27:25) they now desperately try to refuse to accept.

29. “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

This simple, eloquent answer could only have come through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Do mere men, haters of the blessed name of Jesus, seek to silence those who speak well of Him? What is that to the believer? In relation to the powers that be, Christians ought to obey. When those powers, ordained of God, go beyond their God-given authority, Christians ought to obey God.

30. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.”

The very God these religious leaders boasted in and the One whom the patriarchs trusted in had raised from among the dead the blessed Jesus whom they would deny. Their fathers had trusted in God, yet they who were descendents of the patriarchs were guilty of slaying His Son, their Messiah.

The faith of family members is precious—a priceless heritage—but it does not in itself benefit unless personal faith in each member is in exercise. It is eternally fatal to rest in family religious position.

31. “Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

They condemned Jesus to death, spit in His blessed face, cast Him out, mocked Him and rejected Him, but God exalted Him. Rather than execute the judgment their wicked acts deserved, God (the God of their fathers) was offering through that despised One repentance and forgiveness.

This is the heart of our blessed God—what a striking example of grace abounding to the chief of sinners! And it is so with every soul who has come to God in true repentance, confessing that complete lack of even one good thing found within themselves. Each has come away eternally blessed.

Mephibosheth, who as Saul’s grandson had good reason to fear reprisal from David, received instead, for the sake of another, all the possessions of Saul his grandfather and, most wonderful of all, a place at the king’s table. This is abounding grace such as our blessed God delights to bestow upon unworthy sinners for the sake of His beloved Son.

32. “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.”

Believers who bear witness to divine truth in the world have confidence that their testimony is supported by and in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

33. “When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.”

The truth that Peter preached had pricked their hearts and many were saved (Acts 2:37). Now the truth cuts their heart as will Stephen’s message in Acts 7. The result, rather than blessing, is murderous outrage and hatred. Oh! how solemn to continually reject God’s divine truth!

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 5:34-6:13

Acts 5:34-6:3

34-35. “Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.”

Though not a divine message, Gamaliel’s warning was timely. Man, so hardened against God’s truth, may still be swayed by human reason and may even do the right thing, though without faith in God.

36-37. “For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.”

With all his natural learning, Gamaliel could only equate Jesus, the Son of God, with two common criminals. His human reasoning is flawless, but there is no heart attachment to the ascended Christ. This brilliant and respected doctor of Jewish law by wisdom knew not God, for the preaching of Jesus was foolishness to him (1 Cor. 1:18).

38-39. “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

Gamaliel would exercise prudence in his advice. Though he evidently did not believe in his heart (else he would have openly embraced Christianity), he encourages caution just in case the evident, mighty work was of God!

He seeks neutrality, distancing himself from the hatred of the other Jewish leaders, which, to his cultured mind, was unreasonable. But though he cautions not to fight against God, Gamaliel did not realize that his prudence was as much a rejection of the truth as the open hatred of his brethren. There can be no neutrality with Christ, for the soul that “is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad” (Matt. 12:30).

40. “And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”

For all of Gamaliel’s reputation, wisdom and prudence, the hearts of the Jewish leaders remain implacable and unchanged in their hatred of Jesus and the gospel of His resurrection. Beatings and threats are the manner in which these hypocrites “refrain” from hindering the work of God!

41. “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”

The reality of the gospel and faith in the risen Jesus of Nazareth is evidenced in the early church not only in miracles and acts of mighty power, but in seeing those who suffer unrighteously filled with joy. What a testimony to this dark world when a believer suffering for the name of Christ at the hands of wicked men does so with joy, counting such to be a privilege! (See 1 Peter 2:19; 2 Timothy 3:12.)

42. “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

The apostles submit to the unrighteous beatings, but they did not heed the Jewish leaders’ wicked commands to cease preaching the glorious gospel. We should expect and submit to unrighteous persecution for the blessed name of Jesus. But let us never cease doing the work of an evangelist.

Chapter 6:13

1. “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.”

Satan, unable to hinder the early assembly by outward persecution, seeks to corrupt it by discontent from within. The Grecians may have had good reason for their concerns, but the apostles had just given the brethren a wonderful example of quietly suffering injustices and wrongs.

How vital to the spiritual health of assemblies that this humble spirit still characterize the interactions of believers. “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).

2. “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.”

Both services are necessary—ministering the Word and ministering to practical needs. But the apostles’ service was clearly to teach the doctrine of Christ to believers—the apostles’ doctrine. If Satan were successful in drawing them away from that vitally important ministry, a greatly weakened assembly would result.

Each saint of God—young and old—has some specific ministry to accomplish for the glory of Christ and the blessing of His body, the assembly. In any measure that Satan is able to draw one away from their appointed ministry, the body of Christ suffers lack. May we all be diligent in fulfilling that which our blessed Head, the Lord Jesus, has given each to do (Col. 4:17; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6).

3. “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”

The importance of moral weight in personal life is seen early in the assembly. We might think that the first requirement for deacon ministry is that one be full of the Holy Spirit. Yet, though absolutely vital, the Spirit has seen fit to mention “honest report” first. This principle—that one carry moral weight before the world and his brethren—is vital for the health and welfare of the assembly. Today, even though there are no longer apostles, it is just as critical that the life and ministry of each believer be marked by being of honest report.

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 6:4-15

4. “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

Satan’s attempt to turn the apostles aside from ministering the truth to the assembly in dependence upon God fails. The two vital and essential bulwarks of Christian growth are prayer and reading the Bible. Satan uses all means necessary to hinder believers from daily attending to these two vital spiritual activities. May we have purpose of heart to continue instant in prayer and reading, never giving in to distractions the enemy may place in our way as we walk the path of faith.

5-7. “And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

Dependence on God and a desire for peace and blessing in the assembly produce a wonderful display of grace. The seven who were selected were all Grecian believers—the very group who were concerned that their widows were being neglected in the daily ministrations! (See verses 13, 5.)

Another vitally important assembly principle seen here is that ministry must be carried out in fellowship with the apostles’ doctrine. There is great activity today done in the name of Christianity. But if the apostles have not expressed fellowship (laying on of the hands) with it, that is, if the ministry is not carried out according to divine truth taught by the apostles, believers do well to separate themselves from such things. The assembly in all its ways should always be in fellowship with the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42).

8. “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

As the day of grace draws to a close, we do not expect to see great wonders and miracles marking Christianity. But believers need more than ever to walk diligently in the fear of God. Walking to His glory amid the confusion of professing Christianity will still require great faith and being filled with the Spirit.

9. “Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.”

Where the Spirit of God is working, Satan will ever be found opposing. But God was infinitely above the enemy’s efforts to cause the growing hatred and eventual murder of Stephen. They of Cilicia, whose chief city was Tarsus, must surely have included an insolent, overbearing young man named Saul (1 Tim. 1:13 JND). Gathered together with those who vehemently denied the gospel, he was to become a tremendous trophy of the mighty, sovereign grace of God!

10. “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”

Had Stephen by nature been nothing more than an eloquent speaker, these wicked men would have been able to resist and confound his message. But he spoke as the Spirit gave him utterance (Acts 2:4), and they were powerless to withstand his words. The wonderful, divine truth of God, when spoken in any circumstance and in any age, always renders the enemy’s opposition powerless. But it is not the ability of the speaker that brings about this effect—it is due to the power of the living Word of God.

11. “Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.”

Open opposition of the truth is raised against Stephen by those who hated the truth. The one who motivated their actions—Satan—is a liar and the father of it (John 8:44), and they were those who changed the truth of God into a lie (Rom. 1:25). They seek to influence the people using the lie of blasphemy against Moses and God. But this only shows the real condition of their heart. Moses, the servant of Jehovah—a mere man—has become more important to them than the God he faithfully served. In the garden Satan led man into sin by suggesting that he could become as gods (Gen. 3:5).

12. “And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council.”

The people come first. Once the crowds are stirred up, the wicked leaders feel safe to move according to the desires of their hearts. They had feared the people when the Lord Jesus was here, had used the people to gain their wicked ends with Pilate, and had deceived the people concerning His glorious resurrection. Now they act toward the servant as they had previously acted toward the Master (Matt. 10:25). Today the world, which chose Barabbas instead of Jesus, still rejects God’s truth.

13. “And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law.”

The sinful, dark condition of the Jewish leaders’ hearts is clearly displayed. Stephen is no longer accused of speaking against Moses and God, but against the temple and the law. And even in this, the Word of God is last. They had turned the Father’s house of prayer into a house of merchandise while arrogantly flaunting the law they wouldn’t obey. Man’s religion glorifies and worships what is seen, while it only pretends to value God’s Word.

14. “For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.”

The hatred of man’s heart willingly and knowingly twists the truth of God. How dangerous are the thoughts of the religious man in whose dark, lifeless heart dwells such animosity against Light, Love and Truth! God’s Word then—as today—is to unsaved man nothing more than a book of customs.

15. “And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”

Stephen’s countenance proved the reality of his faith in God’s Word, before he spoke. Again we see that action comes before words (James 2:17).

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 7:1-19

1-2. “Then said the high priest, Are these things so? And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran.”

Ever since Adam sought excuse for his sin—“the woman whom Thou gavest to be with me” (Gen. 3:12)—man has been defending his sin. So, though well knowing that the charges against Stephen were lies, the high priest expected the accused to defend his innocence. Such a course would have given credence to the false charges and made the wicked religious leaders appear to be desirous of the truth.

But dear Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, begins to talk about God rather than himself. What a lesson! Let us ever speak well of Christ, while never seeking to defend ourselves before the world.

3-5. “And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. And He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.”

The Jews were clinging to a place and customs (Acts 6:13-14) but lacked faith, without which it is impossible to please God. Stephen, guided by the Holy Spirit, takes them back to Abraham, in whom they also boasted, showing that he moved by faith, not by sight.

6-7. “And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve Me in this place.”

It should have touched these hard-hearted religious leaders’ consciences that they, too, were now in bondage (to the Romans), and like their fathers in Egypt, they, too, needed deliverance.

The place (Jerusalem, the temple and the nation) of which they were so proud was not now where they by faith served Jehovah, but a place of pride to them (John 2:16). How sad when Christianity—that which in the reality of faith brings a soul to the place of nearness to God in Christ—becomes only a source of faithless, fleshly, religious pride of heart.

8-9. “And He gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him.”

Though they might take pride in their heritage as having Abraham for their father (John 8:53), the Spirit of God was using Stephen to exercise their conscience about their fathers’ rejection—due to envy and unbelief—of God’s deliverer.

These same fleshly feelings may cause believers today to reject one of God’s servants, sent in grace to help them, because they are passing through difficulties or so that the difficulties may not have to be experienced.

10. “And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.”

It should have been apparent to these hard-hearted religious leaders that if God were with Joseph (see verse 9) in blessing and raising him to a place of prominence in Egypt, He could not have been with the patriarchs who sold him into slavery.

Was Jehovah with them now in their false accusations against Stephen? How sad for a person to take a stand in direct opposition to the mind of God.

11. “Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.”

Jehovah’s promise to bless Jacob was unconditional, but the patriarchs were going to be passed through a time of reaping the consequences of their wicked treatment of Joseph, before they could enjoy the promised blessing of God.

12-14. “But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.”

If those religious leaders had listened with ears of faith, they too would have heard the blessed, life-giving message: There is corn in Egypt. But to receive that blessing, they must humble themselves, admitting their guilt in betraying their Joseph—delivering the Messiah to be crucified by the Romans. The time is yet future when He will be made known to a repentant nation of Israel.

Joseph called all his kindred to himself. How God desires the blessing of whole families (Acts 16:31)!

15-17. “So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, and were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt.”

The one part of this world that Abraham seems to have owned was a place to bury his dead (Gen. 23:4). He “looked for a city . . . whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10). May it be so with us. The time when we shall be caught up to be forever with the Lord draws nigh. He has promised mansions in the Father’s house for those who trust Him. Faith does not fear that the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation, as did these unbelieving Jews, for we belong to a better country (Heb. 11:16).

18-19. “Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. The same dealt subtilely with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.”

Satan is ever the same in his hatred of Christ and those redeemed by His precious blood. He uses every means at his disposal to bring Christian parents into such cruel slavery and bondage in this present evil world that they cannot display the energy of prayer or the courage of faith in the preserving of their beloved children. His most successful means are often very subtle—hidden under an attractive and harmless-appearing surface. But this wicked angel of light has one object—spiritual devastation, often achieved through the destruction (moral more than physical) of believers’ children.

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 7:20-33

20. “In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months.”

Moses was the deliverer God would use to bring His beloved people out of Egypt’s slavery. How fair (or, lovely [JND]) he was to God. Amram and Jocabed’s faith shone brightly. Seeing Moses as God saw him, they diligently and lovingly nourished him for those three critically important months.

Christian parents have very little time with their precious lambs before the world begins to exert its influence—attempting to claim them for its own selfish, godless purposes. May each Christian family see to it that their home is a place of nourishment for their beloved children.

21. “And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.”

In his father’s house, Moses was nourished for God’s glory and the blessing of His people. In the palace of Pharaoh’s daughter, he was nourished according to her desires and for the good of Egypt. For which world are we seeking to nourish our children and our younger brethren?

22. “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.”

Moses had two natural abilities most valued by the world—eloquence and courage. Added to this, Egypt taught him its special wisdom—a wisdom so advanced that it engineered and constructed the great pyramids. Moses had gained every quality necessary to become a “productive member of society.” One possessing such abilities as he might go far, making a great name for himself in this world.

23. “And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.”

Here we find the faith of Moses’s parents rewarded. When the time of testing came—full forty years old—Moses visits his brethren. With all of Egypt’s wisdom and advantages, his heart had been attached to God’s people—his people. Moses desires to leave Egypt’s fair courts to visit a poor, enslaved people.

24. “And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian.”

All too often, we, like Moses, seek to do a right thing in a wrong way. Love for his brethren caused Moses to seek to deliver the oppressed from his persecutor. But he had not God’s guidance in the way he sought to deliver his brother.

25. “For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.”

The people of God rejected Moses, when he would have delivered them, not understanding the desire of his heart for their good. The Jewish leaders, rather than believing Stephen’s words and finding true deliverance, through hardness of heart didn’t understand God’s desire to deliver them from a bondage far worse than Israel experienced in Egypt.

26. “And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?”

Not only did Moses desire to see his brethren delivered from slavery, but he desired their happy oneness. “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psa. 133:1). The desire for liberty and unity for the people of God ought to animate each servant of Christ.

27. “But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?”

The guilty seeks to justify himself, even as the guilty leaders of Israel sought to justify their horrible sin against the Lord Jesus by seeking to silence Stephen. The blinded eyes of the Israelite slave were an apt picture of the blinded eyes of the nation of Israel. Rather than seeing in Moses and in Christ deliverers who would have freed them from bondage, they only see a ruler and a judge.

28. “Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?”

A bad conscience and a hardened heart accuse the blesser with bringing death rather than deliverance. But it is the wages of sin which bring death. And the nation of Israel had sinned in the most horrible way possible—slaying the Lord of glory—the Messiah—who came to deliver His people from their sins. Rather than repenting, the nation, as did the Israelite in Moses’s day, rejected the only One who could deliver them from their bondage.

29-30. “Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.”

If the blindness of the nation of Israel was so great that it did not allow the Lord to do many mighty works—did not allow Him to bring them into blessing at that time—there still would be fruit. Christ, the perfect antitype of Joseph was that true “fruitful bough . . . whose branches run over the wall.” Thus the Gentiles are brought into blessing through His rejection by Israel.

But God was still working with His beloved earthly people: The bush was burning but not consumed.

31-32. “When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.”

The God of the Patriarchs was sustaining Israel through its trials and suffering in Egypt. The bush which burned but was not consumed was a picture of the fiery trials through which they passed.

Moses showed an appropriate fear of God. When God, in the person of the Son, walked among His beloved people, the nation collectively showed no such fear of God in their blinded hatred and rejection of the Lord Jesus. Those who looked with the eye of faith saw who it was that stood in their midst.

33. “Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.”

Nothing from within himself could ever provide man with the ability to stand in God’s holy presence. If Moses were to stand there and if he were to serve God acceptably, he must learn that his shoes (man’s ability to serve) were of no value—rather they were an offense to the presence of holy God.

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 7:34-47

34. “I have seen, I have seen the affliction of My people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.”

Our wonderful God is a seeing, hearing and delivering Saviour God. Though at times, while we are passing through adversity, it may seem that He is not taking notice of our trials, still faith trusts Him. Not one thing through which His child passes is unimportant to the Father. And at the perfect time, and in the perfect way, He will come in to deliver.

35. “This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.”

The heart of the Israelite slaves was so faithless that they dared to question and reject the very one God raised up to deliver them. This same danger exists today among God’s people. Self-will may reject a servant—God’s messenger or deliverer—when sent in a time of individual or collective trial or difficulty.

36. “He brought them out, after that He had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.”

Their sad unbelief did not turn God from His purpose of blessing. Egypt, the Red Sea and the forty years of wilderness journey proved two things: (1) God’s purposes of grace were unchanged, and (2) the Israelites’ hard heart of self-will and unbelief was also unchanged. Now, in Stephen’s day, the final appeal was being made to this stubborn people—the often unthankful recipients of divine long-suffering grace and kindness.

37-38. “This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear. This is He, that was in the church [assembly] in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us.”

How solemn! “This is that Moses” —a special, chosen vessel of God. He was sent not only to be a deliverer, but he had communed with God, and he spoke the Word of God to them. To reject a servant is to reject God and His Word and to miss the blessing that He would send through that channel.

39. “To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt.”

The sad work of rejection of God’s authority over them began in their hearts. It was there where they first rejected Moses that they in spirit turned back to the world. How important for believers to guard their heart’s affections!

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23).

40-41. “Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.”

Though they received the “living oracles” (the Word of God), it did not profit them, because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it (Heb. 4:2). Man is religious by nature, but without faith, human reason and his lusting heart will take him from truth and light and into idolatry and the world.

We rightly recoil at the awfulness of worshipping an image (the golden calf; Ex. 32:4) in the place of God. But even believers can be caught up in that spirit of idolatry—the allowance of an object that replaces the blessed Lord in the affections of the heart. And these idols—such as wealth, fame, careers or hobbies—are just as repulsive to God as the calf that Aaron fashioned from the golden earrings.

42-43. “Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to Me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.”

What solemn consequences they reaped! Though chosen of God—His precious, peculiar people—He allowed them to follow the desires of their heart, desires which resulted in seventy sad years of captivity in Babylon. They lost the enjoyment of that good land, flowing with milk and honey, to which Jehovah in long-suffering grace had brought them.

What sorrow and loss Christians experience today—those who have been caught up in the idolatry of humanism, which encourages self-pleasing. Let none be deceived. There will be in each life a time of reaping the fruits of such a course of self-will.

44. “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.”

More solemn yet! During the very time when they were taken up with idolatrous worship, in their midst was the divine witness of the true God. How dark and horrible the blindness that could not see the glory of Jehovah displayed in the tabernacle.

45-47. “Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus [Joshua] into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built Him an house.”

Generation after generation in Israel’s history, though often involved with idolatry, experienced the gracious presence of Jehovah. The tabernacle, with them in the wilderness and the promised land, finally gave way to the glorious temple Solomon built in Jerusalem. But the wonder and privilege of having the presence of Jehovah among them only made them more solemnly responsible for their idolatry and dark unbelief.

“Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48).

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 7:48-8:13

Acts 7:48-8:3

48-50. “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will ye build Me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of My rest? Hath not My hand made all these things?”

The spiritually blinded Jews were proud of their temple, which had taken 46 years to build (John 2:20), thinking this insured the presence of Jehovah. But He could not find rest in a building which had become, through wicked unbelief, a defiled house of merchandise (John 2:16). The longsuffering presence of God among His earthly people was due to His grace and patience, not because of the presence of the temple.

51. “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”

What good did the outward ritual of circumcision do, when they would not hear or act on God’s Word given them by the Holy Spirit? Of what eternal value is the outward name of Christian—bestowed through baptism—if there has been no real work of faith by the power of the Spirit in the soul? Such empty profession produces the grossest kind of conduct by those who call themselves Christians.

52-53. “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.”

What an indictment! Their fathers and they themselves would not have these channels of God’s mind, even as they did not honor the Son (Matt. 21:38). The law, divinely received (by the disposition of angels) that they might be blessed, served only to condemn them. How exceedingly solemn today for any who have had free access to the divine Word of God and yet have rejected its truth.

54. “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.”

The word given by Stephen, through the power of the Spirit of God, was living and “powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” It cut to the wicked “thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). But rather than allowing a work of repentance, which would cause them to smite their breasts and cry, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13), they react in the same horrible way in which those in a lost eternity will react—they gnash (Luke 13:28) with their teeth on the one who has told them the truth.

55. “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.”

What a view filled Stephen’s gaze—in the midst of the worst imaginable circumstances. He saw the glory of God and Jesus. And more, he saw the power (Jesus standing at God’s right hand) of that coming kingdom (Psa. 63:2; Matt. 6:13; 24:30).

We are exhorted to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). In the measure that is true in a believer, there will be a corresponding view and enjoyment of the Lord Jesus crowned with glory and honor (Heb. 2:9).

56. “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.”

These wicked rulers had heard the Lord in an earlier day say to them, “But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins” (Matt. 9:6). Still ready to come back in grace and blessing to the guilty nation of Israel, the blessed and rejected Son of Man is here seen standing (not yet seated) at God’s right hand. May we believers be ever ready, in like spirit, to show the patient, long-suffering grace of God to a world so often guilty of mistreating and persecuting the children of God.

57-58. “Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.”

What a difference in their loud cry and the loud cry of Stephen (vs. 60)! Their’s was a cry of hatred at Stephen’s divine vision of Jesus standing in glory; his, a cry of love and forgiveness. Such a horrible reaction is all the worse for the place of divine favor they had been brought into by Jehovah. Yet this place of blessing only brings greater responsibility and condemnation in view of their wicked rejection.

But in the midst of all this darkness, God’s divine purposes and counsels shine so brightly. They can never be overruled or defeated by man’s failure or the enemy’s efforts. At this dark moment we are, for the first time, brought in contact with the zealous and overbearing Saul—later to become Paul the Apostle of the risen Christ, the vessel of the mysteries of Christ and His bride, the church. What grace!

59. “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

In every extremity, the believer has instant and effectual recourse to God through and because of His well beloved Son, Jesus our Lord.

60. “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Stephen had looked up in faith (vs. 55). Now he kneels down in dependence, submission and love. Every day of our Christian pathway, we need to do the same—look up and kneel down.

With words of love and forgiveness fitting to a child of God, Stephen enters the glory and bliss he had seen by faith—he fell asleep. “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51).

Acts 8:13

1. “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

How dark the circumstances seemed—how glorious the victory that God was working! The death of Stephen and the persecution of believers seemed to be a victory for Satan, yet his attempts to destroy the assembly were thwarted in two ways.

First, the gospel was carried to many other parts by those who escaped the persecution at Jerusalem. Those in Judea and Samaria who might not have heard that wonderful message, had the assembly in Jerusalem remained in peace, now were also able to hear of the wonderful works of God.

Secondly, about 40 years after this event, the Roman army under Titus swept into Jerusalem and destroyed it, massacring most if not all the Jews who remained there. This present persecution was used by God to send many believers to places of safety before this awful event took place.

2. “And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.”

It is appropriate to mourn the loss of a saint of God. Though knowing that joy comes in the morning, we weep in this present night when temporary separation through death takes a loved one home.

3. “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”

Many homes in Jerusalem were privileged to host believers who gathered in assembly around the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst. Saul’s hatred of Christianity, however, even set aside Moses’s teaching as to the sanctity of the home in the matter of pledges. “Thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge” (Deut. 24:10). In faith, the Christians had pledged their souls to Christ. The insolent, overbearing zealot was busily dragging that pledge back, either to Judaism or off to prison and death.

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 8:20-35

20. “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.”

And so it shall be with all who, in blind arrogance, think they can purchase that which God offers freely. “Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isa. 55:1). “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).

21. “Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”

Man’s outward religious appearance, diligent efforts at good works, reasonings and philosophies of his mind—none are of value to God. Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). Let us ever remember that “He knoweth the secrets of the heart” (Psa. 44:21).

22-23. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”

The wickedness hidden inside (“gall”) and visible outside (“bond”) Simon had completely bound him. Yet God, in infinite, loving grace held open a place of refuge—but it must be entered through the door of repentance. How vitally, eternally important is true repentance before God!

24. “Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”

Poor, blinded Simon! There was only one safe path open to him. He must bow before God as the publican in a prior day, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Sadly, like King Saul (1 Sam. 15:15-30), there was evidently no personal reality. He desires Peter to pray for him—to make things right with God for him. Fatal error! “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).

25. “And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”

How beautiful to see the grace of God at work. It took a great persecution to scatter the gospel from Jerusalem to Samaria, by disciples fleeing Jewish religious hatred. Now, as some disciples return to Jerusalem, they too preach the gospel. The persecution resulting from Stephen’s martyrdom is still used of God to bring blessing!

26. “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”

While many preached the gospel as they fled from Jerusalem, Philip does not seem to have done so. He is referred to as the evangelist in Acts 21:8. He is evidently exercising his evangelical gift when he goes (not “flees”) to Samaria to preach the gospel. After his work there is accomplished, the Lord (not “persecution”) sends him to another location.

All believers are to do the work of an evangelist—whether in the daily tasks of life or resulting from persecution of the enemy. We are to be instant in season and out of season.

Those who have been given the gift of an evangelist, however, have but one guide—the Lord’s voice. Philip’s path shows the Spirit’s leading (rather than guidance by circumstances—see Psalm 32:8-9) in his travels to Samaria, then to the desert, and finally when taken to Azotus.

27-28. “And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.”

How often in our lives, in order to bless us, the Lord must strip away all that we rest in—position, ability, wealth and friends. Then, placing us in desert circumstances where there is no distraction nor visible means of support, He shows through His Word where the source of true blessing is found.

The eunuch, with the intense longing of an unfulfilled heart, had made a difficult and, no doubt, expensive pilgrimage to the place where he naturally expected to find heart satisfaction. Yet he was returning as empty and unsatisfied as he had come. But in that desert wasteland, he was finally to discover true heart satisfaction.

29. “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.”

The Spirit’s leading and a willingness to identify with those in need are two essential requirements for evangelizing. “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luke 15:2).

30. “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?”

We find here three more essential elements of evangelization—eagerness to share, willingness to listen, and ability to discern real soul needs.

31. “And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”

A sixth essential element of evangelization is humbleness. Philip took the low place until he was invited to come up and help the seeking eunuch.

32-33. “The place of the Scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.”

Nothing the eunuch had observed in the proud, unbelieving religious display at Jerusalem corresponded to the divine prophecy of Isaiah 53.

34-35. “And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

A seventh essential element of evangelization is preaching Jesus. May God ever fill the hearts, minds and lips of all who evangelize with that precious name which is above every name.

Ed.

Practical Reflections on Acts - 8:4-19

4. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.”

We know that God overrules for blessing—that Satan can never get the upper hand. But these dear believers not only knew that—they put this knowledge into practice. Those dear, persecuted Christians who were scattered everywhere did not spend time telling others of the severity of the persecution, nor of how difficult life had become for them, nor did this persecution discourage them in the path of faith. They preached the Word wherever they were scattered. The very gospel, which had brought this persecution on them, was the joy of their hearts to share with others. May we use every circumstance of life to preach the gospel to others! “Be instant in season, out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2).

5. “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”

Even the poor Samaritan woman knew that the proud Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. Apart from a work of God in their heart, the Jews could never accept that the Messiah (Christ) would reach out in blessing to the despised Samaritans. Yet, in the day of grace, that is just what Philip the evangelist had the joy of proclaiming—a message of blessing to the unworthy Samaritans through the Christ. Let’s not try to determine who is worthy or not to hear of Christ—let’s just preach the gospel.

6. “And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.”

God granted special signs to accompany what Philip said. Everyone who heard and saw paid attention to that message. In the measure that our actions support what we preach, people will be willing to listen to us.

7. “For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.”

The message Philip preached was clearly marked by complete power over the effects of sin. We do not expect to see these physical signs today. But they are ever in evidence spiritually. Those in the grip of the wicked one find freedom in Christ. Those unable to control sin and vice which have overtaken them find liberating victory in Christ. Those unable to walk to God’s glory are now able to do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

8. “And there was great joy in that city.”

The Old Testament history of the city of Samaria (the capital of the rebellious ten tribes of Israel) is marked by continual sadness, strife, violence and destruction. And it did not become a happier place after the King of Assyria (2 Kings 17:6) overran it, carrying Israel (those constituting the ten tribes) away captive. But now the work of God in Jerusalem, marked by great grace and great power, reaches out with great joy to the hopeless.

9. “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.”

Man ever strives—like Simon—to be a great one. But the gospel of God makes nothing of man, for its divine Author made Himself of no reputation. Being great, the Lord Jesus willingly took upon Himself the form of a servant. Believing the gospel brings great joy and true humility to the sinner.

10-11. “To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.”

Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44), would invest Simon with wicked demon power in order to astonish the people. There is much in the world today which in the name of religion seems to accomplish astonishing things. But the true great power of God is publicly displayed in great weakness. “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9).

12. “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

The truth of God, the gospel of His grace, produces its effects, not in a display of great power, but in a public display of the symbol of death (the greatest example of weakness known in this world): They were baptized. The gospel makes nothing of man but everything of Christ, and that through His death at the cross.

13. “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.”

Evidently this servant of Satan believed only what he could see. Simon desired power, and in Philip’s preaching, he saw the effects of a power far greater than that which Satan was able to give him. He believed only that there was a power available greater than what he possessed. Being astonished by these displays, he is baptized and connects himself in outward fellowship with Philip.

14. “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.”

Here is a further, wonderful effect of the gospel of God’s grace. Those at Jerusalem—believing Jews—are brought to a place where they happily have dealings with the Samaritans. Peter and John are sent by the apostles to express fellowship with the results of Philip’s preaching and to be God’s channels of further blessing to the Samaritan outcasts. The true gospel always has this effect—bringing together in unity and joy that which was divided and at enmity.

15-17. “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”

Philip was mightily used of God to bring the gospel to Samaria. And through him, mighty works and miracles were wrought. Yet he is not given power to impart the Holy Spirit to the new believers. How important that we fulfill the service the Lord has given us, without seeking a greater service.

We also learn here that baptism does not impart the Spirit of God. Faith in Christ’s finished work does (Eph. 1:13). Though already baptized in the name of Jesus, the Samaritan believers must wait for the apostles from Jerusalem to lay hands on them to receive the Spirit. Thus, in the early church, the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3) was maintained as the grace of God spread beyond the Jewish nation.

18-19. “And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”

The Lord had told His disciples, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” Unregenerate man seeks to make financial gain of the free grace of God—whether by turning the temple of God into a house of merchandise or seeking to purchase the power of God.

Simon, though baptized (vs. 13), was still an unbeliever. Baptism does not save. Simple faith in Christ alone brings salvation to a lost soul. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Ed.

Practical Thoughts on Eternal Life

It is not persecution that the people of God find now, but a slippery day—a day in which it is difficult to keep the feet. The hot blast of persecution is not so dangerous as the clear frost which, after a shower of rain, makes the ground slippery as glass. And that is the character of the day in which we live. Little snares of Satan are on every side, the feet slip and slide, and you get discouraged. But why?

God says, “Is not eternal life yours? Have I not Myself pledged that it is? If you fail, Christ will not fail. If you slip, get up again and go on. You have eternal life in Him.”

Is it possible that your heart is discouraged and drooping when Christ in heaven is yours? Or are you drooping because you are going through the stormy sea and cannot steer? Take hold of that precious promise (the promise of eternal life—John 10:28; 1 John 2:25) and never let it go.

And when others are discouraged, saying, “We cannot go on; we see no way whatever to turn,” you bring them that word and see the effect.

The eternal life pledged to me is in the Son. That is what I have got and that eternal life entirely changes death and the grave for the believer. I have a life which is altogether new, a life born of incorruptible seed, which nothing has power to corrupt. It is not only like pure water, gushing out of a rock, but water of such purity and brightness that you can neither color nor corrupt it.

But let us ask ourselves, “Has this eternal life been marking the life we are leading?” Today, for instance, have we been passing with it through every duty? A saint has no business to do anything unless he can recognize Christ in it. If today you have been living a life in the flesh, indulging its lusts, wishing for this thing and that, you have not been walking as one who possesses the eternal life.

You may be called to pass through a stronger trial of principle than any you have yet had. Suppose you were in prison, with none to love you, to comfort you, left there all alone. But if it be so, there is the eternal life.

I have to walk on earth as one who possesses it, and if so, have I to care what my circumstances may be? Sorrow, and nothing but sorrow, there may be for a time—but if I have the eternal life, I am soon to be up and above it all.

G. V. Wigram

Prayer: A Channel of Blessing

Prayer is sure work and the harbinger of blessing. So I have found in forty-six years’ pilgrimage. Having been laid aside this spring, these past two months, this thought has been a comfort to me. I, too, have been reminded that there is a still more precious truth—that if prayer be a channel of blessing, the spring is in God and the fountain of blessing is Christ Jesus. The blessings flow down freely, and often what sets us praying for more is a first dropping of His rich love and grace.

I have been preaching this evening from 1 John 4 to a simple, poor people, showing what the gospel which John wanted us to hold fast was. We begin with God’s love—love, that is, for sinners, His Son to make propitiation for sin, to give life, to be the Saviour of the world.

G. V. Wigram (from a letter)

Pride in Religious Possessions

“The Jews which believed not . . . set all the city on an uproar. . . . When the . . . word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came . . . and stirred up the people” (Acts 17:5, 13).

Knowledge of old revelation gives no security for receiving the truth God is sending or using most at any given time. If there be pride in what is already possessed, it will act powerfully in rejecting what is meant of God to test the heart, especially if grace is opening the door of faith to those who had no religious standing. The gospel is of all things most repulsive to the ancient people of God, who madly refused the mercy which waited on them first of all, before it was preached to the Gentiles.

W. Kelly (excerpted from An Exposition of Acts)

Principles and Practice

I do not believe that the Brethren are the church of God, but they are on the ground of the church of God. But as to our conduct on that ground, we can only put our faces in the dust. The position is divine, but as to our condition, we have ever to humble ourselves before our God.

A friend once said to me, “Do you know that the Rev. Mr. ____ is delivering a course of lectures against the Brethren?”

“Tell him,” I said, “with my kind regards, that I am doing the very same just now. But there is a difference between us. He is lecturing against their principles, while I am lecturing against their practices. He is attacking the ground; I, the conduct on the ground.”

It is not that I consider the Brethren any worse than their neighbors. But, when I consider the high ground we take, our conduct and character ought to be correspondingly high. This alas! is not the case. Our spiritual tone, both in private life and in our public reunions, is sorrowfully low. There is a sad lack of depth and power in our assemblies. There is excessive feebleness in worship and ministry.

I believe the vast increase in our numbers, within the last twenty years [written in 1874-1875], is by no means an index of an increase of power. No doubt, we have to be thankful for every soul brought into what we believe to be a right position.

But the enemy is ever vigilant, seeking to discredit the ground and dishonor the Lord. In denominations, inconsistencies of individuals are in a measure hidden behind the bulwarks of the system. But Brethren stand fully exposed, and their failures are ever used against them.

The grand point for us all is to be humble, lowly, dependent and watchful. May we be kept very little in our own eyes, clinging to Christ, confessing His name, keeping His Word, serving His cause, and waiting for His coming!

C. H. Mackintosh (adapted from Fifteen Letters to a Friend)

Remembering the Lord: A Recollection

I remember the first time I attended a meeting when the hymn, “O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head” (Little Flock Hymnbook #137), was sung. There was a table in the center on which sat one cup of wine and one large loaf of bread. Having been a cleric, I wondered how they would get along. Who was going to take charge? Who would lead? One dear old brother gave out that hymn, “O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head.” They sang it with such feeling and I found my soul deeply touched.

I wondered who next would say something—who was going to take the next step. Well, another brother read from Psalm 102 and then Psalm 82 and sat down. After that another brother over on the side prayed. I had never heard a prayer like that—extolling the work of Christ on the cross of Calvary—how He had dealt effectually and absolutely with the question of sins and had borne all the judgment that was my due. He stressed sins, not sin, because the Lord dealt with that definitely, eternally: “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). This was the form of the meeting.

I was wondering what would happen next when another note of praise—a hymn—was given out on the same theme, the suffering of Christ. After this a brother got up and broke the bread and they all partook of it except a group at the back. I asked another, “Why didn’t they partake?” The answer was, “Because they’re not in fellowship yet; they haven’t been gathered to His name. They’re the Lord’s, but they haven’t asked for their place at His table.”

The same brother then gave thanks for the cup and they partook of it. Later a basket was passed around and they put in as the Lord had prospered each one. The meeting ended with a little exhortation from Psalm 102, which I’ve never forgotten.

It says there, “I am like a pelican in the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. I watch, and am as a sparrow upon the housetop.” The brother then turned to 2 Corinthians 5:21: “He hath made Him to be sin . . . who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Why had he brought that in? “Well,” another said, “those are unclean birds according to the law of Moses, and that’s what the Lord Jesus endured. He was without sin, but our sins were laid on Him; your sins and mine were heaped upon that blessed One.” That is my memory, beloved, of the first time I was able to observe a worship meeting. It was precious. Are we growing careless?

Now another thought I have enjoyed: Nearness to the Lord Jesus would keep us from sectarianism, the most natural weed of the human heart. The service of love will seek to give according to the need, and because of the need we will never think of slighting the objects of the Saviour’s love. “Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee” (1 Chron. 12:18).

E. F. Smith (excerpted from an address)

Restore

“If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1).

If there is one place more than another where we betray our unspirituality, it is in our inability to restore the overtaken. I solemnly believe the Lord has a controversy with us, not only for what we allow in others, but for what we allow in ourselves in our manner of handling issues in the assemblies and for the spirit and temper of our action towards those failing.

We might ponder with profit Psalm 103:8-14. Do not yield an atom of truth. “Stand fast” and “hold fast,” but stand where His searching light shines on you even as on your brother and hold the truth, “as the truth is in Jesus” who was “meek and lowly in heart.” He was the great Peacemaker, and it cost Him most dearly. To us He says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” It may cost us something to make peace, but in it we are blessed.

How much we have missed just here. But “the peace of Christ” must preside in our hearts (Col. 3:15 JND) if it is to spread to others. “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” Are you a peacemaker, or are you sowing discord? With Christ before our hearts, we shall feel that there is the same mercy for others that there is for ourselves. It should be written before our souls in letters bold and bright, “God . . . is rich in mercy.”

Had mercy not been shown us in lingering patience, as sinners or as saints, what would be our state? It should never degenerate so as to tolerate evil in ourselves or in others. For those who have been dealt with in faithful discipline, may we cultivate the spirit of “Since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still” (Jer. 31:20).

F. C. Blount

The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is a great fact, one which we must apply to ourselves. In the book of Acts it is dealt with as a fact—a fact from which none can escape its application. Though it have its twofold force and meaning, men are to know how it addresses itself to each, and none can elude it.

Resurrection is thus set before us, even as, at creation, the sun was set in the heavens and all the creation of God had to do with it. Who could pluck the sun out of the heavens?

The glory seated itself in the cloud, and Israel must know it there and have to do with it there (Ex. 13:21-22). It may conduct them cheerfully, or rebuke and judge them. But there it is in their company, in their midst, and the camp in its different conditions must have to do with it.

Consider too the budding rod (Num. 17:8). It is brought out from the sanctuary to the camp, and the camp must accept its presence. It is there, a fact none can deny. But whether they will use that fact obediently and taste the fruit of the service of God’s anointed One or rebel to their own destruction is another thing. The budding rod speaks both of judgment and mercy.

So, too, Christ in the world that Satan had usurped through subtlety was also a fact. None could deny or rid themselves of its force. Satan shall know it, and men shall be blessed by it or find in it their guilt and judgment enhanced. The kingdom of God had come—they must accept that as fact.

Just in this manner is the present great fact of the resurrection. Jesus is risen and exalted—He is ascended and glorified. Men might as well try to pluck the sun from the heavens as to try to escape the application of this fact to their condition—whether that be repentance or unbelief.

Thus in Acts, Peter opens that ministry taking the resurrection of the Lord as his text (Acts 2:22-36). He exhibits that great fact in its judicial and in its saving power. Peter’s fullest interpretation of it is found in the house of Cornelius when he preaches that Jesus is set of God both for judgment and for salvation (Acts 10:42-43).

Paul does the same as Peter, in his ministry, interpreting the resurrection to both heart and conscience. At Antioch he preaches the forgiveness of sins upon it. But he solemnly warns that being careless or indifferent to it will surely bring judgment (Acts 13:16-41).

To man as man, the resurrection speaks of judgment. It witnesses a solemn collision between God and man, and God is on the side of man’s Victim. God has glorified the One whom man denied and crucified. God is stronger than man, and man must be overthrown in such conflict, judgment falling on him that is opposed to God.

To the broken, confessing sinner, resurrection speaks of salvation. It witnesses God’s satisfaction in that atonement for sin which Jesus offered. If God is satisfied, who can condemn? God witnesses the efficacy of the death of Christ for all who believe—who shall lay anything to the charge of such?

Thus we see the resurrection speaking both of judgment and mercy—as man either looks at the cross of Christ with a believing heart, or despises and slights it. Thus it speaks to us whether we will hear or forbear. To enjoy it as the salvation of God, we must personally and livingly by faith be brought into connection with it. But if it be slighted all our days, at the end it will bring itself into connection with us, whether we will or not.

If we do not now by faith use a risen Jesus and get the virtue that is in Him, He will visit us by and by, and that, too, with the judgment that will then be in Him. No deprecation will then avail—now, seeking will avail.

In the book of Acts we learn that God has taken out of man’s hand the very weapon of his fullest enmity against Himself and used it for man’s eternal blessing! If man despises such goodness, he must answer to God for having taken that weapon into his hand. Solemn thought!

The sword that man was using in hostility to God, God has turned as into a plough-share, whereby to get for man the Bread of everlasting life. Joseph of old was sold by his brethren—but Joseph sold became an instrument and channel of life to them who had sold him. Their very wickedness was turned of God to their blessing.

J. G. Bellett

The Righteousness of God

A lot of confusion exists among Christians about the term “the righteousness of God.” In Paul’s introduction in the Epistle to the Romans (ch. 1:1-17), we read that in the gospel of God is revealed “the righteousness of God . . . from faith to faith,” or “on the principle of faith, to faith” (JND). Many understand the righteousness of God to be the personal righteousness of the walk of the Lord Jesus in His life here below imputed to—put to the account of—the believer when he believes. There is no biblical evidence for this.

I believe it is clear from Romans that righteousness is God’s perfect consistency with what He is in His nature when He saves the sinner. God makes no compromise with His character as light in justifying him that is of the “faith of Jesus” (Rom. 3:22).

The perfect, holy walk of the Lord Jesus here is not in question (Heb. 4:15 JND). Because of His perfect, sinless life, He is the spotless Victim who satisfied the claims of a thrice-holy God on the cross. Any who would deny the sinless humanity of the Saviour would indeed be guilty of solemn doctrinal error. There would be no Saviour and no gospel, if the Lord Jesus were not the spotless Man.

However, the Lord’s sinless life would only condemn me. What saves me is His obedience unto death, offering Himself without spot to God for my guilt (Heb. 9:14). That obedience constitutes me righteous before God, so God then is “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26).

This righteousness is “[apart from] law” (Rom. 3:21). If our justification were based on the Lord’s keeping the law for us, then “righteousness [would be] by the law,” which Scripture says it is not (Gal. 3:21).

While we do not, of course, get doctrine from hymns, the following hymn by Albert Midlane seems to summarize the apostles’ doctrine regarding “righteousness” which Paul presents in Romans:

The perfect righteousness of God

Is witnessed in the Saviour’s blood;

’Tis in the cross of Christ we trace

His righteousness, yet wondrous grace.

God could not pass the sinner by;

His sin demands that he must die;

But in the cross of Christ we see

How God can save, yet righteous be.

The sin is on the Saviour laid,

’Tis in His blood sin’s debt is paid;

Stern justice can demand no more,

And mercy can dispense her store.

The sinner who believes is free,

Can say, “The Saviour died for me”;

Can point to the atoning blood

And say, “This made my peace with God!”

Loving-kindness and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psa. 85:10 JND).

R. K. Gorgas

Safely Home

I am home with Jesus, dear ones,

Oh, so happy and so bright;

There is perfect joy and peace

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief are over,

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,

Safely home in heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly

Trod the valley of the shade?

Ah! but Jesus’ love illumined

Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me,

In that way so hard to tread,

And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,

Could I have a doubt or dread?

There is work still waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now while life remaineth;

You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you home;

Oh! the rapture of that meeting,

Oh! the joy for you to come.

Anon.

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

The Secret of Rest

There was one Man whom men would not have. That Man was standing as Son of the Father, in the light with the consciousness of the Father’s eye brightly beaming on Him. That Man said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The Man Christ Jesus alone had the secret of rest.

There was divine, inexhaustible fullness in Him, all the divine glory being in Him, and we have it revealed to us: “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” To whom then could He not and would He not give rest? It is not the question of how much you have to bear, but of the Lord’s eye upon hindrances. When He looks on anyone, even if it be a little child who does not yet feel its burden, He sees it and knows all that is connected with conflict.

He sees the burden within each heart; He sees everything that is against us. I may be like a ship wrecked between two seas. He says, “Come unto Me . . . and I will give you rest.” How can you get away from that word? Is anything beyond His power? It is just there that we get the very essence of the gospel. He goes on: “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me . . . and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” How was it that Christ found such perfect rest in the midst of all that was against Him? Ever quiet and at home, in the midst of it all, He says, “Learn of Me.”

If we could put down self in every way and entirely, we should find rest in all circumstances of life. If we walked as Christ did, we should see God and our Father in everything—privations, temptations, difficulties—God and our Father in it all.

Subjection to His Word in everything—saying, “It is written”—makes the bitterest thing sweet. Our Lord Jesus Christ has pledged Himself that I shall have rest. He reveals the Father to me—the blessing He has shut me up to. All blessing comes from Christ teaching me every day to find rest by seeing God and my Father in everything.

G. V. Wigram (adapted)

Serving the Lord - Ministering to the Saints

We find in 1 Corinthians 16 four channels, so to speak, of ministry. First, the Apostle, sent direct from the Lord and by the Holy Spirit. Second, persons associated with the Apostle in his work, acting at his desire, and (in the case of Timothy) pointed out by prophecy. Third, an entirely independent laborer, partly instructed by others (see Acts 18:26), but acting where he saw fit, according to the Lord and to the gift he had received. Fourth, one who gives himself to the service of the saints, as well as others who helped the Apostle and labored. Paul exhorts the faithful to submit themselves to such and to all those who helped in the work and labored.

He would also have them acknowledge those who refreshed his heart by their service of devotedness. Thus we find the simple and important principle according to which all the best affections of the heart are developed, namely, the acknowledgment of every one according to the manifestation of grace and of the power of the Holy Spirit in him.

The Christian submits to those who addict themselves to the service of the saints; he acknowledges those who manifest grace in a special way. They are not persons officially nominated and consecrated who are spoken of here. It is the conscience and the spiritual affection of Christians which acknowledges them according to their work—a principle valid at all times, which does not permit this respect to be demanded, but which requires it to be paid.

J. N. Darby (Synopsis on 1 Corinthians 16)

Seven Gospels Described

The Gospel of the grace of God: the most comprehensive title given to the gospel that is found in Scripture (Acts 20:24).

The Gospel of the glory of the blessed God: God’s glory and satisfaction revealed (1 Tim. 1:11 JND).

The Gospel of the glory of Christ: where the heavenly side is meant to be prominent (1 Cor. 9:18).

The Gospel of Christ: where Christ is in view through whom alone the Glad Tidings can be revealed from God to man (Rom. 15:19; 2 Cor. 9:13).

The Gospel of God: Here we have its divine source (Rom. 15:16; 2 Cor. 11:7).

The Gospel of the kingdom: This looks to the Messiah in power and glory, having taken His rightful place of reigning in this world (Luke 8:1).

The everlasting Gospel: the unchanging good news, beginning from when it was first announced that the coming one would bruise the serpent’s head (Rev. 14:6).

N. Berry

Seven Wonderful Things

Here are seven wonderful things that the precious blood of Christ does for us. By it we are redeemed (1 Peter 1:18-19), we are forgiven (Eph. 1:7), we are brought near (Eph. 2:13), we have peace with God (Col. 1:20), we are cleansed (1 John 1:7), our conscience is purged (Heb. 9:14), and we have access into the holiest (Heb. 10:19).

T. A. Roach

Should We Continue Asking?

Question: “Is it appropriate to continue asking things of the Lord, such as increase of faith or conversion of relatives, or, when these requests have once been made, leave them in His hands?”

Answer: God exercises our hearts and our faith in delaying, at times, answers to our prayers. The earnestness of our prayer will be according to the [felt need] and the consciousness that He alone can give the answer. Our hearts are kept in exercise and dependence, waiting on Him, and faith is kept alive.

Prayer is a mighty engine, a fitting expression of the newborn soul’s dependence on God and contrasted with the flesh which would ever be independent of Him. Continuing in prayer shows that we are not indifferent to the result, when the heart can, in earnest entreaty, wait upon God.

In the midst of our cares and conflicts we have to “be careful for nothing,” but to “let [our] requests be made known unto God.” He who has no cares—God—keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. But we also are to “continue in prayer,” “watch in the same” and that “with thanksgiving,” for His ear is ever an opened ear.

One of the exhortations in Romans 12:12 is “continuing instant in prayer,” which might be rendered “pursuing” or “persevering in prayer.”

There are times when there is consciousness that we can but cry to God until the heart is at rest concerning the petition. He will not give it until His own time, and meanwhile the soul is kept exercised.

F. G. Patterson (adapted)

"Sons of God"

We find sonship so blessedly brought out in John’s gospel. Not only has He given me eternal life, but the Father enters into all my smallest wants; the least things about me are remembered, the Father’s love and grace streaming round me.

Sonship is relationship. The Only Begotten came out of the divine glory, and everyone who received Him became a son. If I am a son, then God is my Father, and I can say, “Abba, Father.” What rest there!

All the saved will be in glory, but for the children, given by the Father to the Son, it is the Father’s house. God takes all the blessing Christ won and shares it all with us. There is a spring in the heart of God, flowing forth for us as sons, individually, for you and me, for His name’s sake—not only the new and living way opened, but beloved in Him as sons.

G. V. Wigram (from Gleanings)

Spirit, Soul and Body

“I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).

Man is a tripartite being (three parts)—spirit, soul and body. This is revealed to us in God’s Word, the Bible. When God created animals, birds, fish and creeping things, He said, on the fifth day of creation, “Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven” (Gen. 1:20). Then on the sixth day, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind” (Gen. 1:24).

When it came to the creation of man, we read in Genesis 1:26, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing.” We then read in Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man become a living soul.”

We can say then that all the lower creation have a body and a life given of God, but with mankind there was a special act of God when He breathed into man’s nostrils the breath (or “spirit”) of life, placing him in a relationship with his Creator (“for we are . . . His offspring”; Acts 17:28) and giving a command from Him as to man’s position and responsibility. This is what distinguishes mankind from the lower creation. In a word, we may say that the lower creation has a body and a life given of God, but mankind has spirit, soul and body. The spirit is the intelligent, God-conscious part of his being, the soul is the seat of his appetites and desires, and the body is physical. Mankind is placed in headship over the creation and is responsible to his Creator. An animal is guided by God-given instincts, while man was to be guided by instructions from his Creator. This is why we speak of man as a tripartite being and responsible to his Creator as such.

When an animal, bird, fish or insect dies, that is the end of its existence. It is not responsible to God for its conduct; it dies and that is the end. But the Bible makes it very clear that man must answer to God. “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). Death is not the end for man or woman. They must meet God as living souls, either as their Saviour or as their Judge. If one has received Christ as Saviour, he or she is forgiven and justified before God through the finished work of Christ on the cross. If not, it is a solemn thing to die in one’s sins and meet God as a Judge. Every human being has a soul that will live on forever, either in eternal joy or in eternal punishment, as we read in Matthew 25:46, “These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

If the one who reads these lines is a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus, you have the privilege of living to please Him, your Saviour and Lord. The Bible says, “Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

The Apostle’s prayer, as quoted at the beginning of this article, was his desire for those who were children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, and he desired that every part of their being—spirit, soul and body—would be devoted to the Lord and that they would live to please Him.

I would like to say a little about the order given here—“spirit and soul and body”—and that all our decisions in life should be made in that order. Too often, even as believers, we put our bodies first and go places and use our bodies as we wish, without considering whether our decision is pleasing to the Lord. Would it not be better—and pleasing to the Lord—to ask first, Is this the Lord’s will that I make this plan to do this or that? It is putting our spirit first, when we intelligently seek the Lord’s mind in accordance with His Word, saying as Paul did when he was saved, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10).

Next comes the soul—the appetites and desires. Having prayed and sought the Lord’s will for our path, our souls are thankful, peaceful and happy in choosing what is pleasing to Him. “Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee” (Psa. 143:8).

Then comes the body. When we have sought the Lord’s mind and will in light of His Word (a reasonable or intelligent service; Rom. 12:1) and our souls are willing and happy in the path of obedience, pleasing the Lord, we present our bodies a living sacrifice to do His will.

This was the prayer of the Apostle in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 for the Thessalonian believers, and though we are living over 1900 years later, it should be the desire of every believer, even today, in all our decisions in life. In choosing our friends, the kind of employment we take up for our livelihood, the company of Christians with whom we gather in Christian fellowship, the life partner we choose as wife or husband—indeed, in everything in life may we say, first of all, Is this the Lord’s will for me and in accordance with His Word (the spirit)? I will enjoy that because it is pleasing to Him (the soul), and that is the path my body takes because I want to glorify Him in my body (1 Cor. 6:20). “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:6).

In closing I would like to quote again the verse with which we began: “I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).

Do Thou, the very God of peace,

Us wholly sanctify,

And grant us such a rich increase

Of power from on high,

That spirit, soul and body may,

Preserved free from stain,

Be blameless until that great day;

Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

(Little Flock Hymnbook, #288)

G. H. Hayhoe

A "Staff" or a "Broken Reed"

This past weekend, my wife and I took one of our granddaughters home. One of the pleasures of that assignment was the opportunity to swim in the lake, near the spot where my father had years ago built a tent platform cottage and where our family had spent many happy vacations.

But age takes its toll, and we found that getting out of the water is more difficult these days. I found an ideal staff to help us with that task—both of us using it to steady us on the rocky lake bottom.

As I thought about that staff, it reminded me of a comment by one of the nineteenth-century writers with regard to Hebrews 11:21, “By faith Jacob, when he was a dying . . . worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.”

It was, he said, the highest point of Jacob’s life—no longer scheming, nor leaning on his own intelligence, but rather worshipping while leaning.

I brought that staff home with me to remind me of the lesson that Jacob took all his life to learn. How often we lean on that broken reed that pierces our hand instead of “learning to lean”—as the hymn reminds us—on Him who never fails.

R. K. Gorgas

Success

In meditating on the subject of “success,” I carefully looked up that word and found it to be a very rare word in the Bible. I haven’t been able to find it but in the one passage read in Joshua (ch. 1:8). I suppose it is a word used often in the vocabulary of the present day. There never was a day when that line of things was more pressed upon young people. In order that their lives might be lived in a way to contribute to their own encouragement and the good of society, they must make what the world terms a “success.”

However, if we are to be guided by worldly standards and ideals, we will live a different life from that mapped out for young Christians in the Bible.

When one is referred to in the world, one of the questions generally asked is about his standing or accomplishments. And one of the requisites to a satisfactory answer is to be able to say, “He has made quite a success.”

A man who can write his name at the bottom of a check and perhaps that check tells its story in six or seven figures—that one is, in the eyes of the world, a success. Then here is another who has not accumulated so much in material wealth, but he is a great political leader. The world pays tribute to him too. They, and many more like them, are successful.

However, when we consider success using the Word of God as the measuring stick, how different everything appears. This divine standard never fails to tell the truth, and it is the only standard by which you and I can judge these matters.

If you use a faulty standard, your conclusions will be faulty. Recently I wanted a new pipe for my furnace. I took a measurement of the old pipe and it came out exactly at 10". I ordered the pipe, but when it came it didn’t fit. I thought the clerk had made a mistake. I was positive my measurement was right. Then I checked the yardstick I used to take the measurement and found that it had one inch cut off! I used the wrong standard and thus my conclusions were wrong, though I was absolutely sure I was right. So it is in measuring what is called worldly success. What is the standard you are using to measure such success?

In Matthew’s Gospel where the Lord gives the talents to His servants, He gives to every man according to his several ability. He didn’t give the same to each man. When He came to reckon, He reckoned with them on that ground, too. So He is going to reckon with you on that ground.

You are a steward of what God has entrusted to you. Will you use all this splendid equipment to advance yourself—pushing on, getting to the front, to the top? What about this, “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2)? How will it be in that day when you give account to the Lord Jesus—when the question is asked how you have used your talents?

One came to the Lord and told Him he had kept what was committed to him laid up in a napkin. He was rebuked. God has given you these to use for Him, and in that day He will require it of you again.

C. H. Brown (excerpted)

Sunny Pisgah

In days of increasing gloom and perplexity like the present, the soul is more sent to the sure hiding place of safety—to the sunny Pisgah heights (Deut. 34:1) of hope and observation. There it can meditate on the strength of those foundations which God has put under our feet and know the intimacy of that communion into which He has even now introduced our hearts and the brightness of those prospects which He has set before our eyes.

And is He our object? The heart well knows the power of that which is its object. Do we make the Lord Jesus such? Do we find anything of that sickness of hope of which we read in Proverbs 13:12? Are we able to say, “When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?” (Job 34:29).

Tell Him All

In the calm of sweet communion

Let thy daily work be done;

In the peace of soul outpouring

Care be banished, patience won;

And if earth with its enchantments

Seek thy spirit to enthrall,

Ere thou listen—ere thou answer—

Turn to Jesus—tell Him all.

Then as hour by hour glides by thee,

Thou wilt blessed guidance know;

All thy burdens being lightened,

Thou canst bear another’s woe;

Thou canst help the weak ones onward,

Thou canst raise them up that fall:

But remember, whilst thou servest,

Still tell Jesus—tell Him all!

And if weariness creep o’er thee

As the day draws to its close,

Or if sudden, fierce temptation

Bring thee face to face with foes;

In thy weakness, in thy peril,

Raise to heaven a trustful call:

Strength and calm for every crisis

Come—in telling Jesus all!

Anonymous

Jesus said: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

"Ten Thousand"

“And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Sam. 18:7).

The “ten thousands” slain here by David, in figure, suggest to our hearts the mighty power and victory that our blessed Lord Jesus has displayed over the enemy.

“But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succor us out of the city” (2 Sam. 18:3).

Here, the people’s refusing to allow their beloved king to go forth to battle against the enemy because David was worth “ten thousand” of them gives us a beautiful picture of the priceless value that Christ has to the redeemed soul.

“My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand” (Song of Sol. 5:10).

The “chiefest among ten thousand” suggests the beauty and loveliness of the Lord Jesus—far above any other object—to the soul that loves Him.

“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Rev. 5:11).

Here we have the unlimited, eternal praise that He who is victorious, infinitely precious and lovely beyond description will receive for all eternity from redeemed hearts. No longer is it ten thousands, but rather a number is used by the Spirit to convey to our hearts that which is infinite and eternal.

Ed.

"The Bridegroom Cometh"

The day of the apostasy is hastening on with rapid strides, and so is the day in which the Lord shall come to catch His own away.

Godly men everywhere, who watch the signs of the times, see the moment approaching which shall terminate the present actings of grace. One feels constrained to speak plainly, asking you where you are and what you are about. You have, by grace, which has shone brighter and brighter as it has approached its termination, been gathered out of the seething mass of idolatry and wickedness which [is fast overtaking] Christendom and the world. Now the question is whether you are adequately impressed with the responsibility and blessedness of the ground you are on and walking like men and women whose eyes have been opened.

There has never been in the world’s history such a time as the present, and Satan is occupied with none as he is with you. His occupation with you is the more to be feared, because of the subtlety of his operations.

His object is to withdraw your attention from Christ, while you suppose you are on safe ground. It is true, you are on safe ground—but only while Christ is your all in all. Here is where Satan is drawing some away. Interpose anything between your soul and Christ and Philadelphia becomes Laodicea; your safe ground is as unsafe as the rest of Christendom; your strength is gone, and you are become weak.

Again I say, Satan has his eye especially upon you for the purpose of interposing the world in some form between your soul and Christ. He cares not how little or in what form. If you knew but how little will answer his purpose, you would be alarmed.

It is not by that which is gross or shameful—such is the development, not the beginning, of evil—nor is it by anything glaring that he seeks to ruin you, but in small and seemingly harmless trifles—trifles that would not shock nor offend anyone, yet constitute the deadly and insidious poison, destined to ruin your testimony and withdraw you from Christ.

Brethren, Christendom is being infected with the spirit of the world—its dress, manners, talk and lack of spirituality betray it in every gathering. There is a dead weight, a restraint, a want of power, that reveals itself in the meetings, as plainly as if the heart were visibly displayed and its thoughts publicly read.

A form of godliness without power is in Christendom generally. As surely as you tamper with the world, so surely will you drift away to its level. If you tamper with the world, the privileged place you occupy, instead of shielding you, will only expose you to greater condemnation.

It must be Christ or the world. It cannot be Christ and the world. Remember, you take the place and claim the privilege of one whose eyes have been opened, and if on the one hand this is unspeakably blessed (and it is), on the other hand it is the most responsible position in which a human being can be found.

Nothing can be more glorious than the position you are called to occupy in these closing days. Saints have stood in the breach—have watched through weary days and nights these nineteen hundred years—and now we only wait for the trumpet of victory to go in and take possession of the glorious inheritance.

Awake, then, from lethargy—slumber no longer. Put away idols and false gods and go to Bethel, where you will find God to be better than ever you knew Him. Let your prayers mingle with those of other saints at the prayer meetings; they never were more needed. Neglect no opportunity of gathering up instructions from the Word which alone can keep us from the paths of the destroyer, and let your life be the evidence of the treasures you gather up publicly in assembly or in secret with the Lord.

He could have taken the world without the cross and left you out, but He would not. Now will you, having been enriched by those agonies and that blood, take the world into your tolerance and leave Him out? Impossible! Your pure mind needs but to be stirred up by way of remembrance. Let us therefore take courage from this very moment forward. Then we shall not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

The Remembrancer (circa 1900; adapted)

Thoughts for Our Time

“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).

God’s grace is unmerited favor, thus it gives us much. However, it will never give us any cause to boast. If grace made us better in ourselves, it would work itself out of a job; we would merit something. God would have us know that by His grace we are what we are (1 Cor. 15:10), and He would have us strong in His grace (2 Tim. 2:1) so that we don’t lose the sense of unmerited favor and think that our blessings are merited (Gal. 5:4).

B. Warr

Thoughts on Bonds

“And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor” (Matt. 27:2).

Chains mean nothing to a submissive man; he needs no restraint and is not daunted by obstacles. The bonds of the Lord Jesus could have been torn apart as those of Samson (Judges 15:14), reduced to ashes as those of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan. 3:25), or just have fallen off as those of Peter or of Paul, Silas and their fellow-prisoners (Acts 12,16). The will of His Father was what bound Him who said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34).

The Apostle Paul in prison exhibited the spirit of Christ when he said, “I can do all things,” in spite of the chains that bound him (Phil. 4:13). If one of the Roman guards had heard him so speak, he might well have mockingly retorted, “Then why don’t you just throw off these prison chains and walk away?” Can we not hear Paul responding, “God hasn’t told me to do that.”

Paul well knew that his bonds were no hindrance to God. He could think of the earthquake that night in the prison in Philippi when “everyone’s bands were loosed.” He and Silas had sat there quietly, free yet submissive. In what perfect wisdom does He who cares for us order all our circumstances.

Happy, peaceful path—following the precious Savior in submissive confidence! May He give it to be our portion by grace, each in the chains His love has provided.

W. M. Warr

Thoughts on Evangelization

I should be greatly grieved if brethren ceased to be an evangelizing set of Christians. Indeed, they would fade in their own spiritual standing and get probably sectarian—not in theory, but in practice—because the enlarging principle of love would not be there.

I confess I feel a sort of envy of those whom God has called to evangelize. My want of courage keeps me humble. At the beginning brethren were engaged, and pretty much alone, in the roughest evangelizing—fairs, markets, races, regattas and everywhere in the open air. Gatherings grew up, and the care of them became needful, though evangelizing went on and was blessed in many places. At all times in a general way we have to do it, as Paul says to Timothy, “Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5).

As to [the evangelist], while evangelizing ever, let him look after these small gatherings and visit them elsewhere. But evangelizing in Christendom is different from doing it in heathenism. A full salvation gives a basis for [Christian] growth, but in Christendom it is necessarily separative. Hence the need of wisdom in such work. But I should indeed be sorry if [evangelization] was given up.

I see joy and gladness in conversions, even in heaven (Luke 15:7,10). But making a fuss about them and writing [about] the people [those saved] I dread. The feebleness of such work is felt afterwards. It requires both distinct gift and being very near Christ in consecration of heart to carry on [evangelizing] and [shepherding].

J. N. Darby (adapted from a letter, 1875)

Thoughts on Grace and Mercy

Grace is God in sovereign goodness coming out in blessing to man, who deserves nothing but judgment. “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).

You get that in Ephesians 1:6 (JND), “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has taken us into favor in the Beloved.” That expression is used one other place in Scripture (Luke 1:28) in connection with Mary: “The angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored [or, thou that art taken into favor], the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”

In Ephesians 2:8 the faith that we have is the gift of God’s grace. We wouldn’t believe but for the grace of God. It says, “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” What is the gift of God? Grace? No! Grace means gift. The gift that is being spoken of is faith—the gift of God—the very faith that enables us to lay hold upon what the God of grace has provided. It’s the gift of God—even our believing.

We can’t say, “Well, I’ve believed, and that’s why I’m in heaven; that’s to my credit. You didn’t and that’s why you’re in hell.” Why, even the faith that enabled me to believe is the gift of God. It’s all grace; it’s all sovereign grace.

The difference between mercy and grace is that mercy spares us from what we deserved. We deserved hell, but mercy spares us from what we deserve. Grace gives us what we don’t deserve, and that’s heaven and all the blessings that we have.

Mercy is great in the greatness of our need; grace is great in the greatness of the giver. Grace magnifies Him, while mercy delivers us from our need. Paul, when he asked that the Lord take away that thorn in the flesh, was asking for mercy. “Deliver me from it.” The Lord said, “No, but I’ll give grace to bear it.”

C. Hendricks (excerpts from a reading)

Thoughts on Law and Grace

To mingle grace with the law changes nothing in its effect, except to aggravate the penalty that results from it by aggravating the guilt of him who violated the law, in spite of the goodness and the grace. The second descent of Moses from Mount Sinai [took place after] he had heard the name of Jehovah proclaimed: “merciful and gracious” (Ex. 34:6). God [had made] all His goodness pass before him, and the face of Moses reflected the glory which he had seen, partial as it may have been.

Though grace had been shown in the sparing [of the people] on Moses’s intercession (Ex. 32:30), the requirement of the law was still maintained, and every one suffered the consequences of his own disobedience.

There are many Christians who make a law of Christ Himself. They think of His love as a fresh motive to oblige them to love Him. It is an obligation, a very great obligation which they feel bound to satisfy. That is to say, they are still under the law, and consequently they are under condemnation.

The ministry which the Apostle Paul fulfilled was not this. It was the ministry of righteousness and of the Spirit—not as requiring righteousness in order to stand before God, but as revealing it. Christ was this righteousness, made such on God’s part for us, and we are made the righteousness of God in Him. The gospel proclaimed righteousness on God’s part, instead of requiring it from man according to the law.

J. N. Darby (Synopsis on 2 Corinthians 3)

Thoughts on Music and Dancing

“As he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing” (Luke 15:25).

When someone draws nigh a believer’s home, he should hear it filled with music and dancing. The music would speak of those precious teachings of our Lord Jesus. He said in Luke 7, referring to His ministry, “We have piped unto you.” What a wonderful music that was!

But in the father’s home in Luke 15 we also have dancing—the proper response and effect in those who hear the music. In Luke 7 they heard the Lord as He piped to them—but they had not danced.

What makes a happy Christian home is that there is more than good teaching (music); there is also a good response (dancing). Oh! may we, especially we who are fathers, ever be found not simply being many teachers, but ourselves doers of the Word. Surely this will bring joy to our homes.

“Lo, Thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear Thy words, but they do them not” (Ezek. 33:32).

H. Short

Thoughts on Sin

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men. . . . For if through the offence of one many be dead. . . . For the judgment was by one. . . . For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one. . . . By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation. . . . By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners. . . . Sin hath reigned unto death” (Rom. 5).

The “one” man in these verses is Adam. He, as the head of the human race, took that race into that condition of manhood under the power and reign of the principle of “sin.” Sin is a principle of rule that attached to fallen man. Man is identified with it as “the body of sin” (Rom. 6:6). “I am carnal, sold under sin” (Rom. 7:14). “But I see another law in my members . . . the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:23-24). Sin here is the principle that produces the “fruit” of “sins.” “Sin,” the principle, is condemned (can never be forgiven), but “sins” may be forgiven.

The answer to this condition of sin is not forgiveness; it is death—that is, the condemnation of “sin in the flesh,” not its forgiveness. “God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3). “Sinful flesh” is what man is, as long as the first man Adam is his source of life.

We need a new “head,” and, praise God, we find Him in Christ Jesus our Lord. “The last Adam was made a quickening spirit” (1 Cor. 15). Thus, we—mankind—are either “in Christ Jesus” or “in the flesh.” Righteousness and life are the portion of those who are “in Christ Jesus,” while sin, death and condemnation are the portion of those described as being “in the flesh” (Rom. 8:9). “Sin,” “sin in the flesh” and “sinful flesh” are not forgiven; they are condemned.

H. Smith

Thoughts on the House of God

God has a temple, or house, today. Notice what Paul says in writing to Timothy: “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Timothy was told that he must know how to behave himself in that house.

It is very important, dear young friends, to be concerned about our behavior in the house of God. In 1 Peter 2:4-5 we are told how this house is built. “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively [living] stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” The house of God today, instead of being built with great, costly stones (1 Kings 5:17) that were quarried from the bowels of the earth, is being built with living stones—believers in the Lord Jesus. Are you saved, dear young friends? Are you boys and girls trusting Christ as your Saviour?

It is not a matter of age or maturity nor because a brother has a distinct gift that he is a stone in that house. Peter tells us that those who come to Christ are the living stones in that spiritual house.

So the house of God in this world today is composed of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. And the house of God is built for a very definite and special purpose. In that house there is a holy priesthood. Thank God that everyone who is trusting in Christ is not only a living stone, but he is also a holy priest to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ!

How wonderful it is that you, dear young brothers and sisters, are just as much priests as the older brothers who take the public lead in the meetings. You can be present, gathered in the Lord’s name, and be just as much a holy priest, just as much offering up a spiritual sacrifice, as the brother who may eloquently express his praise to the Lord. If your heart is full of Christ and you are enjoying that blessed One in your soul, you are sending up what is most acceptable to the heart of God the Father, and that is worship. You are a worshipper!

A. M. Barry

Thoughts on the Judgment Seat of Christ: A Meditation on David’s Mighty Men - 1

A Meditation on David’s Mighty Men

As Christians we must get our principles from the New Testament, for truth relevant to believers in this dispensation is properly found there. But many times we find these principles and truths illustrated for us in the Old Testament and light given as to their practical application.

Judgment Seat of Christ—Christian Truth

One of the cardinal truths given to us in the New Testament is the judgment seat of Christ for believers. We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” Also, in Romans 14:10 we have very similar words: “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” First Corinthians 3:13 tells us that “every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it.” Again, in 1 Corinthians 4:5 we are told to “judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.” Scripture is clear. There will be a review of the believer’s life in heaven—not judicially, but rather that God may place His estimate on what we have done in our lives. What has been done for the Lord will receive a reward (1 Cor. 3:14).

David’s Mighty Men

In connection with this truth, I would suggest that we have an illustration of it in the account of David’s mighty men and his estimate of them. The account is given twice: in 2 Samuel 23 and in 1 Chronicles 11. The accounts differ somewhat, the one in Chronicles being much longer. The account in 1 Chronicles is given at the beginning of David’s reign, and thus perhaps it brings before us those who were instrumental in setting David up as king. The account in 2 Samuel is given at the end of his reign, and no doubt it gives those who were faithful throughout this time, as well as being present at the beginning.

The Value of Endurance

We know that all will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ (“Then shall every man have praise of God”; 1 Cor. 4:5), but some will get a greater reward than others. God places a high premium on endurance in the Christian life, and how many there are that start out well, only to falter as testing becomes more severe! So the Apostle Paul had a burden, “So that I finish my course” (Acts 20:24 JND), and he could with confidence say in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have finished my course.” May it be our earnest wish to do this too!

Adino the Eznite

Let us consider the account in 2 Samuel 23, looking at ten different men who illustrate some truths connected with the judgment seat of Christ.

The first one to be named is Adino the Eznite, of whom it is recorded that he slew eight hundred at one time. The figure of eight hundred is one of the largest slaughters of men by one individual recorded in the Old Testament, exceeded only, perhaps, by some of Samson’s exploits. In 1 Chronicles 11 the figure given is only three hundred, probably at an earlier time. Evidently this man’s courage and faithfulness increased during David’s reign, and thus he slew far more later on in his life than at the beginning. May it be our experience to walk with the Lord and have our faith increased as time goes on, so that the Lord may work even more mightily through us!

Eleazar the Ahohite

The second one named is Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, who stood alone against the Philistines when the men of Israel were gone away. Of particular interest is the fact that “his hand clave unto the sword.” The sword would, no doubt, speak of the Word of God, and how needful today to hold God’s Word above all else, if we are to see a great victory! Note that it says that “the Lord wrought a great victory,” for it is only in His strength that we can go out against impossible odds.

It is recorded that “the people returned after him only to spoil.” He might well have resented this, having had to stand alone against the enemy when others had gone away. But there is no record that he complained. How good it is to be willing to share the fruits of a spiritual victory with others, even if they do not deserve it!

If God has given one the energy and help to have more spiritually than others, let it not be used to accredit and distinguish self; rather, let it be used for the good of all saints. Let us seek grace and ever remember the Lord’s admonition, “Freely ye have received, freely give.”

Shammah the Hararite

The third one mentioned is Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite, who defended a field of lentils against the Philistines. We might have thought that they were not of sufficient value to warrant his facing such odds, especially as it seems that he too was obliged to stand alone. But this was the inheritance given to them of the Lord, and he would not let even a field of lentils fall into the enemy’s hands. Perhaps this would speak to us of Christ and all the truth given to us concerning that blessed One. Many today are willing to give it up, rather than stand alone, but love to Christ would exhort us that “ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).

Serving Unnoticed

But what was it that gave these three men the first place? To my knowledge they are not mentioned elsewhere in the Word of God. In all the accounts of David’s various campaigns and battles, in all the incidents recorded in his life, they are not named. Would this not suggest that they were faithful in a quiet and unassuming way—not in the public eye? God will put His estimate on our service, taking into account things that are seen only by His eye. “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”

Affection for David

If these three are accorded the first place only on the basis of their personal courage, it could readily be argued that others performed acts of bravery that at least approximated those recorded of these three men. I believe that there is another reason why they have the first place. In the subsequent verses, 2 Samuel 23:14-17, a very touching incident is recorded of three men who, hearing David’s expressed longing for a drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, boldly broke through the host of the Philistines and brought the water to David. While they are not named as such, I believe it is clear that it was also these first three who did this. Their hearts were so devoted to David that they would risk their lives to give him that which his soul wanted. As the rightful king he should have been in control of Bethlehem and had access to the water. Though it was David’s hometown and also the future birthplace of the Messiah, it was the day of his rejection and the enemy held that place.

Perhaps this would speak to us of worship today, for it is the day of our Lord’s rejection. His vindication awaits a coming day, but by faith you and I can break through the enemy who would usurp His claims, and we can give Him what is His due. Perhaps there are many who would gladly fight the Lord’s battles in service, but are we willing to use our spiritual strength to give that blessed One a drink? How precious this is to His heart, as it was to David’s. We may well ask why David would pour it out rather than drink it, but in type this would bring before us the blessed truth that the Lord Jesus, while appreciating our worship in the highest degree, will not take His rightful place until we are associated with Him. If David had drunk of the water, he alone would have had it. He valued fully the cost involved in getting it, but he would not drink it until all could enjoy it with him.

Thus it seems that these three men fill the first place because they were characterized by both worship and service, and both in total devotedness to David. They had courage that few could equal, but they were devoted to David’s person in a wonderful way. May you and I by grace seek to do the same towards our blessed Master!

Lord willing, we will look at the remainder of these ten servants of David in future articles.

W. J. Prost

Thoughts on the Judgment Seat of Christ: A Meditation on David’s Mighty Men - 2

In a previous article we considered the first three in David’s list of mighty men in 2 Samuel 23. We saw that they held the first place in David’s heart because of their exemplary courage and devotedness to him. Let us now consider the next three.

Abishai—Courage Without Communion

Evidently there were three others who, although not in the same rank as the first three, were worthy of special mention. The first is Abishai, brother of Joab and a first cousin of David. He is credited with lifting up his spear against three hundred and was most honorable of the three, thus being their captain. He was surely a strong and unwavering supporter of David, and few were braver than he or more zealous of David’s cause. When David wanted to make a dangerous visit to Saul’s camp (1 Sam. 26), Abishai was a ready volunteer. When David was compelled to fight against Absalom, Abishai was captain of a third of the army. His name is prominent in other incidents in David’s life. Why then was he not placed among the first three?

May we suggest that while Abishai was a most devoted and brave man, he did not share David’s heart for the Lord and his understanding of God’s ways. His energy for David’s cause was sometimes exercised in a wrong way. He had to be restrained from killing Saul during the visit to Saul’s camp (1 Sam. 26), and also he had to be prevented from killing Shimei when he cursed David (2 Sam. 16). In 2 Samuel 3:39 David referred to Joab and Abishai saying, “These men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me.”

May this be a voice to our own souls. We may be very zealous for the Lord’s glory, but do so with human energy. How many times have those who thought they were honoring the Lord used their energy in the flesh instead of in the power of the Spirit and in communion with the Lord! While the motive may be right, such actions tend to dishonor the Lord, for they don’t display His character. God desires that we seek His interests in this world, but in keeping with His whole character. “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

Benaiah—Growing in Christ

The next man in this group of three is Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, who was probably a young man. We note that his father was also a valiant man. This illustrates the important influence fathers exert on their children. While he did not at this time attain to the first three, we suggest that in type he is one who grew in his soul during David’s reign. It is recorded that he slew two lionlike men of Moab, perhaps speaking to us of overcoming the power of Satan in those who would oppose us. Later he slew a lion in a pit, speaking to us of meeting Satan himself as an adversary. You and I as believers are able to “overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:13) because of our Saviour’s victory over him.

Also, he slew an Egyptian, which would speak to us of overcoming the world. Benaiah had only a staff in his hand, a type of the priesthood of Christ. (We know that Aaron’s rod spoke of priestly grace that brought the children of Israel through the desert.) With this staff he was able to take the spear away from the Egyptian and kill him with his own spear. So we also can overcome the world, if we recognize our weakness and avail ourselves of our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. How needful it is for young Christians to overcome both Satan and the world, if they are to advance in spiritual things! Such victories, like those of Benaiah, must often be fought and won as individuals, out of the public eye. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

As a result of all these exploits, David set him over his guard, or, as it might better be rendered, “in his council” (JND)—a place where he could not only contribute but also learn from others.

Benaiah’s history, however, does not end here. He is not mentioned often during David’s reign but evidently was diligent in the limited responsibilities given to him, and he reaps an abundant reward later. When Solomon inherited the kingdom (a type of Christ reigning in millennial glory), we find that Benaiah is the instrument used to execute judgment on the king’s enemies, and then he is given the highest place—that of being over the host (1 Kings 4:4). He had served in the background for many years while another, who was not a man of faith, occupied the place of captain of the host. But under Solomon, Benaiah is accorded that place of honor.

May this encourage each heart. Those who serve down here out of the public eye—secretly learning to overcome—will doubtless be given places of responsibility and distinction in the coming kingdom. Many things are not as they should be, but we may rest assured that in heaven all is just and according to God’s discerning eye. We must remember that the vindication of a life lived for the Lord may have to wait until that day. But this should be considered an honor, for our blessed Saviour will not be vindicated publicly until that day.

Jonathan—Refusing the Path of Rejection

But what of the third man of this trio? Clearly there were three, yet neither in this chapter or in 1 Chronicles 11 is the third one named or even mentioned. Yet evidently he is meant to be included in the list, for while only thirty-six are named in the chapter, a total of thirty-seven is given at the end.

While not desiring to go beyond Scripture, we would suggest that very likely Jonathan is the one who is in view here. He too was a valiant man, and the Lord used him and his armor-bearer to win a great victory in the days of Saul (1 Sam. 14). Likewise, he had a love for David like no other, and there is no record that he displeased David at any time. The lamentation David made over him in 2 Samuel 1 shows how much Jonathan meant to him.

Sadly, he did not follow David into rejection, and perhaps he is not named here because he never fought directly under David. He could not seem to rid himself of his connection with his father, despite his recognition that David was the rightful king.

Again, this should speak to our own souls. How many dear believers today exhibit such love and devotedness to the Lord, yet are unwilling to give up that which is clearly not according to Scripture! Many do not fully follow a rejected Christ, yet display love and grace in their lives that may put us to shame! May this history encourage us to be balanced Christians, having the unwavering faithfulness of Abishai with the love and grace of Jonathan.

We know that every type falls short of the reality, and how good it is to realize that while Jonathan’s name may be omitted here, there will be no names omitted at the judgment seat of Christ. “Then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Cor. 4:5). Then even a cup of cold water will not lose its reward!

W. J. Prost

Thoughts on the Judgment Seat of Christ: A Meditation on David’s Mighty Men - 3

A Meditation on David’s Mighty Men

In this last of the series on David’s mighty men, we will consider the long list of names that follows the description of the first two trios, those who occupied the place of special prominence. From 2 Samuel 23:24 to the end of the chapter, we have a large number of names, many of whom we know nothing about. But while we are not told the particulars of their service to David, they were well-known to him, and he includes their names here. This, too, is in keeping with the judgment seat of Christ, where no doubt many names will become prominent who were comparatively little known down here. Many having served in obscurity here will there enjoy the fullness of, “Thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:18).

Asahel—Energy and Devotedness

Let us consider Asahel, the brother of Joab, first. We remember that he was killed at a comparatively young age, before David became king over all Israel. When a fight broke out between the followers of David and those who, under Abner, continued to support Saul’s son Ishbosheth, Abner and his men were defeated.

Asahel made a point of pursuing Abner, no doubt thinking that if Abner were dead, the rest would quickly make peace and follow David. But Abner was the more experienced soldier and, after remonstrating twice with Asahel, was obliged to kill him.

There are at least two lessons to be learned here. First of all, we see in Asahel the energy and speed of youth. (Scripture tells us he was “as light of foot as a wild roe”; 2 Sam. 2:18.) But sometimes this energy is not directed in the right way. God cannot bless such zeal, although it is well intentioned. So, too, we may die in battle if we go forth in our own strength and without God’s mind.

On the other hand, we find that David includes Asahel in his list of mighty men. Though he died as a relatively young man, David never forgot his zeal and his devotedness. David valued the motive even if the act itself was not done with God’s mind. So we sometimes seek to act for the Lord with an energy and zeal that has much of the flesh in it. God is faithful and may not allow us to get the victory under such circumstances. However, the One who knows the heart can and will reward a right motive, and in that day when God will “make manifest the counsels of the hearts . . . then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Cor. 4:5).

Eliam—Faithfulness in the Face of Failure

Another name that is in this list is that of Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite. We will find that this man was the father of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, with whom David committed adultery. We know too that Eliam’s father Ahithophel defected to Absalom when he rebelled against David, and when Ahithophel’s counsel was not followed, he committed suicide. We can only imagine the thoughts and feelings that must have rent Eliam’s heart over all this—how he must have felt to see his beautiful daughter’s marriage destroyed and her husband killed. No doubt he was one of the few who knew the details of the case. Yet how encouraging to see that Eliam did not waver in his loyalty to David, continuing to serve him faithfully. He is rewarded by a place in David’s list of mighty men.

This also has a solemn lesson for us. The Lord may allow wrong to be done to us or to our loved ones—serious wrong that cannot be passed over. At such times we are tested most severely as to whether we will honor the Lord, or whether we will succumb to the pain and sorrow of it all and do that which ultimately dishonors the Lord. On the human level we can understand how Ahithophel might have been influenced to follow Absalom, perhaps thinking that by his despicable conduct David had forfeited the crown. But the One who could say, “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense” (Deut. 32:35), would take care of the matter. Meanwhile David was the rightful king and was to be owned as such. So today we are to honor God in all our ways, not allowing even the deepest pain to distract us from following the Lord with a full heart. We may rest assured that such faithfulness will have its reward in that day!

Nahari—Humble Service

Another name that comes before us is that of Nahari the Beerothite, armor-bearer to Joab. Here we find a man who perhaps all his life was given a relatively simple job to do, although involving a great deal of trust and also potential danger. Combined with this he was compelled to serve Joab, a man who was himself not a man of faith. But evidently Nahari did his job well, and he is rewarded for it.

Again we find a real lesson for our souls in this. We will not be rewarded necessarily for doing great things, but rather for using the particular talent that the Lord has given, doing what He wills. In Matthew 25 the man who was given two talents got the same reward as the one given five talents, for each used what he was given for the Master. May we be content to do that which may seem menial, for God rewards according to faithfulness and not gift.

Uriah—Faithful Unto Death

The last name in the list is that of Uriah the Hittite. We know how David first of all committed adultery with his wife and then used his authority as a king to have him set in the battle where he would be killed. We know too his remarkable devotedness to David while all this was going on, refusing the comforts of home while others were in conflict. We feel sad at the end of such a faithful man. Yet surely this has been, in principle, the lot of more than one devoted Christian down through the ages.

How many have been betrayed by those from whom they had a right to expect protection and support. How often selfish motives have allowed even dear Christians to take part in such treachery!

Does our blessed Master know and understand this? Indeed He does, for He was betrayed by one who had been intimately connected with Him during the whole of His earthly ministry, then forsaken by all His disciples, and eventually denied by one of them with oaths and curses. He may allow us to feel in some measure the same rejection, while reserving a reward for faithfulness under such extreme testing. May we count it a privilege to follow in His steps!

Joab—Fleshly Ambition

In closing we mention one name that occurs three times in the chapter, yet is not one of the mighty men and is mentioned only because of his connection with others. Joab’s name is most prominent in David’s history, and no doubt he performed mighty acts as well as supervising the winning of many victories.

But he was not a man of faith, and he is typical of man in the flesh. He had a great deal of ambition, no doubt a measure of ability, and also a fair degree of common sense. He could even discern at times a wrong spirit in David, but he responded using intrigue and human wisdom rather than moral power. It is sad to see such a man, so prominent in David’s various wars, yet not included in David’s list of mighty men.

At the end of his life David had to tell Solomon not to allow Joab’s hoar head to go down to the grave in peace, for he had killed two men better than himself and had shed the blood of war in peace. It seems clear from the history that both of these needless killings were motivated largely by a fear that somehow his position as captain of the host might be threatened.

May this also be a voice to us, for ambition and a fleshly desire to have the first place may in fact place us in the public eye down here, and for a time we may seem to have triumphed. However, God who knows the heart will reward according to His estimate, and He cannot reward that which has been done for self. No, all such things constitute wood, hay and stubble, and they will have to be burned up in that day (1 Cor. 3:12-15). Let us not be envious of the present glory others may seem to get. Rather, let us quietly follow the Lord, for His approval in that day will make up for it all.

We trust the Lord will bless this meditation to our souls, that we live our lives down here in view of the Lord’s approval, rather than man’s.

W. J. Prost

Thoughts on Worship and Praise

“Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high” (2 Chron. 20:18-19).

I have enjoyed thinking lately about the difference between worship and praise. Worship, it seems to me, is to bow before God for who He is, while praise seems to have more to do with what He has done. There is a tendency in the church today to neglect worship, while emphasizing praise. Both are important, but these verses give the order and position with regard to both.

It also seems to me that, in singing, worship hymns call for a somewhat slower tempo than do praise hymns. Hymn 150 in the Little Flock Hymnbook is an outstanding example of a worship hymn. May the blessed Holy Spirit raise in our hearts worship suited to the greatness of our God and His Christ, and may we also respond to the call in Psalms 148, 149 and 150 in everlasting praise to the One who created us and has redeemed us from our lost condition!

“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psa. 29:2).

“Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord” (Psa. 150:6).

R. K. Gorgas

A Timely Word

The whip and the scourge may be righteous, but there is no winning the heart of man with these, nor is it righteousness which reigns among the saints of God, but grace through righteousness unto eternal life. Alas! how many sins that might have been washed away (John 13) have been retained! How many brethren alienated for all time, that might have been won back to God and to us, because we have hammered at the conscience merely, with the heart ungained—with the heart, I may say, almost unsought!

We have not overcome evil, because we have not overcome it with good. We have taken readily the judge’s chair and have got back judgment, but the Master’s lowly work we have little done.

But how little yet do we understand that mere righteous dealing, yes, absolute righteousness, as it may be, will not work the restoration of souls—that judgment, however temperate and however true, will not touch and soften and subdue hearts to receive instruction that, by the very facts of the case, are shown not to be in their true place before God. Man is not all conscience, and conscience reached with the heart away will do what it did with the first sinner among men—drive him among the trees of the garden to escape the unwelcome voice.

J. N. Darby

Trials and Difficulties

It is in the day of trial and difficulty that the soul experiences something of the deep and untold blessedness of being able to count on God. Were all to go on smoothly, this would not be so. It is not in gliding along the surface of a tranquil lake that the reality of the Master’s presence is felt, but when the tempest roars and the waves roll over the ship.

The Lord does not hold out to us the prospect of exemption from trial and tribulation—quite the opposite. He tells us we shall have to meet both, but He promises to be with us in them, and this is infinitely better. God’s presence in the trial is much better than exemption from the trial. The sympathy of His heart with us is sweeter far than the power of His hand for us.

The Master’s presence with His faithful servants while passing through the furnace was better far than the display of His power to keep them out of it (Dan. 3). We would frequently desire to be allowed to pass on our way without trial, but this would involve serious loss. The Lord’s presence is never so sweet as in moments of appalling difficulty.

C. H. Mackintosh (from Notes on Exodus)

Trials and Temptations

“He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver” (Mal. 3:3).

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

God puts His children to the test, but never tempts them to do evil (James 1:13).

God has a positive purpose in trials (James 1:34).

God has an answer for trials (James 1:5).

God reveals worthwhile values and worthless values through trials (James 1:911).

God rewards those who endure trials (James 1:12).

Satan tempts for evil purposes that we might sin and fall, but God proves His children for benevolent ends that we might stand (Heb. 12:10).

If there is a secret spirit of rebellion against the trials that are sent for our good, they may become temptations to our harm (James 1:1314).

God is the Giver, not primarily of trials, but of blessings (James 1:1617).

God’s purpose in trials is that the Lord Jesus Christ would have the praise, honor and glory at His appearing (1 Peter l:7).

N. Berry (adapted)

What Are We Here for?

When it is said that “Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Eph. 5:25), He saw her in the past eternity in all her glory and beauty. This ought to encourage us, even in this day of real weakness. It’s something like Paul told Timothy in the first chapter of 2 Timothy. He brings in the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. It is as though the Apostle were saying, “God is going to carry out fully what He purposed in a past eternity; He’s going to carry it all out. Now, Timothy, all I’m telling you to do is to go on in the truth and God is going to take care of things.”

You know believers sometimes get so excited and nervous over the conditions of things that we actually forget what we’re here for. We’re here to respond to the Lord’s affections. We’re here to yield some meat for Him, as the woman in John 4: “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” Sometimes we are so busy trying to keep the ship right side up that we forget that really we’re here to give the Lord some satisfaction out of our hearts.

Where Is Your God Now?

This morning we were reading in Micah 7. Verse 10 says, “Where is the Lord thy God?” It reminded me of an incident. A Christian man was dying of cancer. His believing wife, understandably, was sorrowing for him. An unbeliever said to her, “Where is your God now?”

In such circumstances, how good to be able to say, “He is right beside me. He is always beside me and will never leave me nor forsake me.” (See Hebrews 13:5.)

How comforting it is to know this—to be assured of it! Many times a dear believer in deep trial has said, “What would I do without Him?”

How good to know that “the Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5). He was there at Paul’s side in prison, and we hear the beloved Apostle saying, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).

His love in times past forbids us to think

He’ll leave us at last in trouble to sink.

(Little Flock Hymnbook, Appendix #10)

T. A. Roach

The Word of God

What a wonderful privilege it is to have the precious, living Word of God. It just doesn’t matter where we open this precious Book; we’re sure to find something that God has for real blessing to our hearts. Every once in a while, as I pick up the Book, my memory goes back to my early boyhood days and I remember how this Book was read and honored in the home in which, by God’s grace, I was brought up. Perhaps you often see your father and mother reading this Book, and it may be, sometimes, that you’re tempted to think that you can find a lot of pleasure and satisfaction in other things. I want to tell you that, having had the happy experience of being brought up in a home where this Bible was read and loved, there is just no privilege like it.

I was just a very little fellow, just learning to read, when my father and mother first gave me a rather large-print Testament with my name in the front. You know, I thought it would be a good thing to have a Testament of my own—it would be fine to be able to hunt for the answers to the questions in the Bible Searcher papers—it would be a fine thing to learn my weekly Sunday school text from my own Bible.

I remember, one day, seeing one of my brothers sitting and reading his Bible. I said to him, “Are you looking for your answers?” He looked up and said, “No.” “Then, are you learning your Sunday school verse?” Again he said, “No.” I didn’t ask him any more questions, but I remember how it struck me; I thought, Is he just reading that Bible because he enjoys reading it?

I remember going and getting my own Testament and thinking, That would be a good idea for me. And to this day when I pick up this precious Book, a sense comes over me of how very, very little to this day I know of the precious treasures that are in it and what a wonderful, wonderful Book it is. With all that is within me, I urge you dear young people, and older ones too, to read this precious Book.

I took a funeral recently of a dear old sister in the Lord, and this precious Book was lying open on her casket. Her two daughters had laid that Book there, and I asked them if I could pick it up and look at it. I turned to the front, and there in the front I found her name and the word “Finish” and the date, and then again the word “Finish” and a later date, and again the word “Finish” and a later date, and all down the page was that word “Finish” and the date on which she had read the last verse in Revelation and had started over again. I beg you to make this precious Book your daily companion and guide.

I want to turn to a verse which I trust will speak to the conscience. It is Jeremiah 17:9-10. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart.”

Have you ever felt this verse probe deep down into your heart and into your conscience? It’s so easy to live in a community where a certain code of conduct is expected; it’s easy to come to the meetings and to Sunday school and have Father and Mother, perhaps, consider that everything is well with your soul, because you can sing the hymns so nicely and because you’re found reading the Bible every once in a while. Yet, is it true of you that the finger of God has probed right down into that heart and caused you to feel just exactly what He has seen there?

I refer again to my childhood days in a home where this Book was loved and where Father and Mother loved the Lord Jesus. I’m sure they prayed for their son, and I’m pretty sure they thought their boy was a Christian, because I came to meeting with them, sat between them in the meeting room, and read that precious Bible that they had given me. But let me tell you this: I sat down in those meetings week after week and listened to the preacher as they called him, but the finger of God, although it probed deep down into my heart, had never yet laid bare to me what was there.

Oh, when the time came in my life when I realized what was in my heart in the sight of God, I found what a poor, guilty, helpless sinner I was in God’s sight and that I was lost. I tell you, it sent me home to lie awake at night and many a time to lie there at night fearing that the Lord Jesus would come and take Father and Mother, brothers and sisters away and leave me behind.

I want to read these verses, as though the very voice of God were speaking to your inmost conscience. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” “As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.” We’re not speaking about the man behind bars, nor of those who are awaiting execution, nor the poor man down in the gutter of sin whom everybody avoids and considers unfit company. No, the finger of God points with one sweep and tells that “there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

We read also in Hebrews 4:13, “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” There’s a solemn statement! I remember the first time that statement really struck home to me. I had known the Lord at that time for many years, but the force of that verse struck home to me as a dear brother was preaching one time in a gospel tent, and I was sitting there on one of the benches. I sat there on that bench, and I thanked God that the cleansing power of the precious blood of Christ had cleansed and blotted out forever all that the eye of God had seen in that wretched heart of mine.

You may pass among your fellowmen as a pretty respectable person. But that’s the part of the verse that rings in my soul: “Who can know it?” Oh, what matchless news it is! In spite of what God saw in my heart and in yours too, He loved us just the same. He loved us with a love that we cannot possibly express. We know that the answer is: None but God can know the depths of sin that He sees in the human heart. Yet we know that the wonderful news of the gospel looked right down into a depraved and sin-stained heart like ours, bringing the glorious news of forgiveness and cleansing from all sin.

A. Hayhoe (adapted)

A Word on Bible Commentaries

“The Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading” (Neh. 8:7-8).

I would like to offer a few comments concerning the use of Biblical commentaries for the believer. When I was a young man, a beloved brother, now home with the Lord, used to speak often to us about the unjust steward who said he was unable “to dig” and “ashamed” to beg (Luke 16:3). Our brother stressed that while every believer should be able to dig (get things out of the Word of God for himself), he should not be ashamed to beg—that is, to seek help from other believers by asking questions or reading written ministry and commentaries.

Some dislike or even disdain Biblical commentaries. But I feel such an attitude results in a real loss of enjoyment of the limitless treasures found in the inspired Word of God. Not only was Ruth the Moabitess invited to glean for herself, but she was encouraged, when thirsty, to drink from that which the young men had drawn (Ruth 2:9). I feel Scriptural commentaries are included in the latter. They provide that which seeks to enlighten the reader’s understanding of the Word in a verse-by-verse or paragraph-by-paragraph format.

While some commentaries have been written expressly as expositions of the Word of God, others are records of addresses, open meeting ministry, or gospel meetings which have been put into print format. Generally these are reviewed by the speaker, if possible, before they are published.

Believers have available a wealth of wonderful written ministry—especially beginning from the early 1800s. Recently, a number of CD-ROM disks (for use in computers) have been produced, containing all the writings of Mr. Darby, Mr. Kelly and other brethren who were specially used of God in the recovery of assembly (church) truth during this time (1825-1900). In addition, audio cassette tapes of this rich ministry are now also available so that shut-ins or those with a lot of “windshield time,” due to work-related commuting, can spend that time profitably.

Of course, reading commentaries written by those who accept the Bible as the inspired, flawless Word of God, totally sufficient for faith and practical walk, is vitally important. Commentaries and expositions written by those who have not morally walked in the truth they try to minister from the Word are rightly to be regarded with some suspicion. “Knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Tim. 3:14) is a wise Scriptural principle to follow when searching for profitable written or audio ministry.

Some commentaries that we have available are highly technical, containing minute details of Greek and Hebrew syntax. Others are more devotional in nature. Believers have need of both when studying the infinite treasures of God’s Word. When this author was much younger and still forming his basic Biblical thinking, he read many commentaries and is thankful to the Lord for providing them. Now, as a more mature believer, I tend to consult these commentaries when I am unsure if a thought I (or others) have is doctrinally correct.

I have often been asked what commentaries I recommend, and I confess that I do have some very definite views on this subject. While having no desire to create a dogmatic list of titles of ministry, commentaries or authors, I would make the following suggestions as a profitable and safe starting point for those who would like to begin building a library of good Biblical ministry.

Brethren are generally agreed that the ministry of three brethren from the 1800s is especially helpful and sound: (1) J. N. Darby—especially his Synopsis and Letters plus many others of his doctrinal and expository writings, (2) G. V. Wigram—especially for practical matters such as his letters on marriage and other short fragments of sweet meditations, and (3) J. G. Bellett—especially for devotional ministry such as The Son of God and The Moral Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. To these three I would also add W. Kelly—especially his expositions of Scripture—as well as F. G. Patterson’s dispensational and prophetic ministry.

Remember, however, in order to profit from any written or spoken ministry, there must be a willingness to receive the “word with all readiness of mind, and [to search] the scriptures daily, whether those things [are] so” (Acts 17:11). While there are many more commentaries which I have profited from reading, time would fail me to tell of them all.

May God graciously stir all our hearts to more diligent reading and study of His precious Word, while availing ourselves of the various gifts of ministry He has given through written commentaries.

R. K. Gorgas

Editor’s Note: Requests for further information regarding the subject of written ministry may be directed to the author, R. K. Gorgas; his email address is SingingPilgrm@aol.com. Bible Truth Publishers (Addison, Illinois) and Bibles & Publications (Montreal, Quebec) are two suppliers of good written ministry and commentaries.

World-Bordering

I believe there are many Christians whose intelligence does not enable them to realize that they are in the position of Ephesians 2:56—quickened and raised up together with Christ. When the Israelites were brought through the Red Sea, there would have been no difficulty in finding borderers, trying to blend the two things, Egypt and Canaan, together. If you do not believe that God sees you dead, buried, and risen in Christ, it is no wonder if you are a borderer. But if, by His grace, you see your standing there before God as identified with the death and resurrection of Christ, I defy you to be a borderer!

G. V. Wigram

The Writings of C. H. Mackintosh

“C.H.M.,” as he has been popularly known for over a century, was and is a well-known Christian writer of the nineteenth century. Born in Ireland in 1820, he was converted to Christ at the age of 18. About this time, he got particular help from a statement in J. N. Darby’s Operations of the Spirit: “It is Christ’s work for us, not His work in us, that gives us peace.” That C.H.M. enjoyed this truth throughout his life is apparent in many of his writings.

He became a schoolmaster and pursued that vocation until, at the age of 33, he began to devote his life to preaching and writing. For 21 years he edited the periodical Things New and Old, and many of his articles first appeared there.

He is best known, however, for his Notes on the Pentateuch—a commentary on the five books of Moses, which began to appear in serial form in his magazine and continued to appear during the following 40 years. This has more recently been published in one volume titled Genesis to Deuteronomy. These “Notes” are more devotional commentary than exposition (not being verse by verse). Their emphasis on basic truth, practical application and the exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ and His work have endeared them to many. The writer of these lines witnesses to the particular and lasting blessing he received from reading C.H.M.’s notes on Genesis and Exodus in his youth.

These writings should be read prayerfully and patiently. C.H.M. tended to ramble—but not idly. Have patience, stay with him, and you will be amply rewarded. His writings are full of choice morsels—rich nuggets of truth. Although he was apparently happily married, little is known of his wife or family. However, his writings on the character and conduct of the family have been especially appreciated. After a life of active and fruitful service, C.H.M. departed to be with Christ in 1896—leaving a rich heritage for the benefit and blessing of many to this day.

C.H.M. authored many other works—some book length, some shorter. Many of these were collected and published in another six-volume set titled Miscellaneous Writings. Found here are many very helpful articles on basic Bible doctrines, the Christian life, the authority of Scripture, lessons from the lives of Old Testament saints, church doctrine and practice, and his widely circulated and much blessed Papers on the Lord’s Coming. In more recent years, the six volumes were combined into one larger volume called The Mackintosh Treasury. The value of these writings can hardly be overstated, and they are warmly recommended.

In the years since C.H.M.’s periodical Things New and Old, succeeding generations have discovered the value of C.H.M.’s other articles which appeared there, and these briefer articles have been collected and released in several additional volumes.

One of these, Answers to Correspondants, is comprised of selected questions from the readers of his magazine and his answers which he shared with his readers for their edification. This little volume is very well suited to young people, since it answers simply and briefly the types of questions young believers often ask.

Short Papers is a volume of short to very short articles which appeared in Things New and Old. These cover a wide variety of subjects and are very practical, instructive and easy to read. If you want something challenging and useful to read five minutes at a time, try reading this volume.

J. A. Kaiser

The Year 2000

Thou dwellest in Eternity,

Beyond the reach of time,

In glory indescribable,

In holiness divine;

By faith we gaze upon Thee there,

By faith, we see Thy face—

So full of love and tenderness,

So marvelous in grace.

Our thousand years draw to a close,

(As but a day to Thee),

Oh how we long these chains to burst,

Forever to be free!

To worship Thee without restraint,

To see Thy glory there;

Oh come, dear Saviour, take us home,

To that bright land so fair.

Where time will be forever past,

And righteousness will dwell,

And all around Thee will be joined,

Forevermore to tell

The glories of that Central One,

His praises loud to sing,

To fall before Thee and adore

Our Lord forevermore!

B. A. Thonney (2000)

“The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

The Christian Shepherd: 2000

Table of Contents

"An Hundredfold"

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 1999 - L

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - A

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - B

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - C

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - D

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - E

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - F

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - G

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - H

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - I

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - J

Answers to Last Month's Bible Challenger: 2000 - K

The Armament of Faith

Better

Bible Challenger: 2000 - A

Bible Challenger: 2000 - B

Bible Challenger: 2000 - C

Bible Challenger: 2000 - D

Bible Challenger: 2000 - E

Bible Challenger: 2000 - F

Bible Challenger: 2000 - G

Bible Challenger: 2000 - H

Bible Challenger: 2000 - I

Bible Challenger: 2000 - J

Bible Challenger: 2000 - K

Bible Challenger: 2000 - L

Can You Have More?

Children of Light and Children of Night

Christian Love

The Clay and the Rose

Contrasts Found in Revelation 19

The Cross

Dead and Risen With Christ

Divine Love

Editorial: Are You Hungry?

Editorial: Collectibles - Priceless or Worthless?

Editorial: Evangelization

Editorial: Faith, Blessing and Suffering

Editorial: Fellowship in Difficult Times

Editorial: "Help Me!" - "It's Not Fair!"

Editorial: Living in the Year 2100

Editorial: Paying the Price

Editorial: Setting Examples

Editorial: Which Master?

Editorial: "Will Build to Suit"

Editorial: Working Mothers or Mothers Working?

Errata

Extract

Extract

Extract: Three Things God Wants From Us

The Face of Jesus

"Feed the Flock"

"Feed the Flock"

"Feed the Flock": A Foe and a Friend

"Feed the Flock": "Coals of Fire"

"Feed the Flock": Deadly and Uncontrollable

"Feed the Flock": God's Mysterious Ways

"Feed the Flock": Good Manners

"Feed the Flock": Good News

"Feed the Flock": "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"

"Feed the Flock": His Mysterious Ways

"Feed the Flock": Lost and Found

"Feed the Flock": "When I'm Happy"

Fishers of Men

Food in the House

For Those That Know Him As Saviour

Four Men

Fragment

Fragment

Fragment

Fragment

Fragment

Fragment

Fragment

Fragment

Fragment

Fragment