NONE BUT THE HUNGRY HEART

Fellowship Bible Church

From the leadership development ministry of

FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH MISSIONS The contents in this devotional are a selection of writings from many Christian authors compiled by Miles Stanford. the true character of the old material--i.e. FORWARD all that he is as a child of Adam and a man in the flesh--and to be as dissatisfied with it None But the Hungry Heart is a as God is. You may see this in Job and devotional series that will help you in your Saul of Tarsus. One of them said, "I abhor Christian growth and walk with the Lord. myself," and the other said, "I know that in The first issue in this series was published me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good in 1968 and the final issue was completed thing." Such language as this is the mark of in 1987. For a period of approximately 20 one born again. He identifies himself with years, Miles Stanford has collected and that new "inward man" which is of God, categorized quotes from some of the best and he judges everything of a contrary authors in the realm of Christian growth. nature to be sin. In itself this is not a happy Contained at this site, you will find the experience. It is not very pleasant for one intimate truths of God's Word explained who has been self-sustained and self- and expounded by His humble servants. satisfied in a moral and religious life to find that there is not one bit of good in him. Before God could use these men, He had Some may discover this by a single flash of to bring them to the end of themselves. He divine light, as in the case of Saul of had to teach them that self-confidence--no Tarsus, and others may have years of matter what it's form--could only result in struggling and disappointment before they defeat. Many of these servants had to learn it, but it must, and will, be learned spend years of struggling in the "self-life" sooner or later by every one that is born before they learned to depend on the again. Risen Lord Jesus to be their All in All. One such man was C.A. Coates. The following You might be very well up in the doctrine of account reflects some of the lessons that deliverance (Gal 2:20), and yet all the time he learned in his own struggle with the be secretly attempting to correct and flesh. improve yourself, and suffering a good deal of private vexation and disappointment on I had to see about some work being done account of the failure of your attempts. I the other day, and was asking the know how long I struggled on in this way contractor how much it would cost. 'It won't myself, praying and striving to be more cost very much,' said he, 'because we can holy and Christ-like, and continually use all the old material.' Now that is disappointed with the result. I do not think precisely what God could not do. There that it ever occurred to me in those days must be a new start altogether with new that I was trying to improve the man whom material. God rejects the old material God had set aside. It was at a moment altogether and begins entirely anew, and when I was utterly discouraged, and ready the one who is born again begins to learn to give up the whole thing in complete despair, that God showed me how I was attempting to work upon the old material which He could only condemn, and that my disgust and despair as to myself were only a feeble echo of His. I shall never forget the joy of finding out that in the depth of my disgust with myself I was thoroughly at one with God. God had ceased to look for any good in me and had Christ before Him, the perfect and infinitely acceptable Object of His heart; and I, in my nothingness, had ceased to look for good in myself, and was tasting the deep joy of being in CHRIST, and free to have Him as my Object; while, as to life, I entered in some degree into the blessedness of knowing that it was "not I, but Christ liveth in me." This discovery of the inability of self to please God is what turned men such as Hudson Taylor, Andrew Murray and George Muller into instruments that could be used by God. In order to do any lasting work for the Lord, we too will need to make that same discovery. Only as we learn to abide in the Vine will we be a vessel that is It meet for the Master's use." In None But the Hungry Heart, you will be introduced to the heart beat of such men who "walked humbly with God" and "placed no confidence in the flesh." PREFACE April, 1968 None But the Hungry Heart is a devotional Colorado Springs study, originally published in a series of booklets each having thirty-one portions. Colorado, U.S.A. The following four factors have been considered in arriving at this form of presentation: 1. A spiritually hungry heart is the requisite for entering into the growth truths of identification with Christ. 2. Prayerful study on the part of the believer is the means by which the Holy Spirit ministers these truths. 3. The concentration of the Christ-life truths in brief daily studies facilitates their assimilation. The authors quoted have been carefully selected; however this does not necessarily mean that we advocate all that these writers teach. Only the initials of authors are given, where known. Much of the material has been gleaned through the years from tracts, magazines, and books long out of print. As always, dear friend, it is our 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 in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9, 10). ~Miles J. Stanford 1-1. Nothing Daunted onward and upward to heights toward which less ardent believers look with “Blessed are they that ... seek Him and entertain no hope of reaching.” with the whole heart” (Ps. 119:2). “For He satisfieth the longing soul, Once the Holy Spirit instills within and filleth the hungry soul with our hearts the hunger for God’s very goodness” (Ps. 107:9) best, all must and will become secondary to this supreme goal: “ . . 1-2. Life’s Purpose .the mark for the prize of the high “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). 3:14). Our puny, worthless all Our Lord the Vine provides all that His exchanged for the One who is All in all! branches will ever need for fruit- “For of Him, and through Him, and to bearing. All provision is according to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory our Father’s riches in glory by Christ for ever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36) . Jesus (Phil. 4:19). “A sage of India was asked by a “Christian growth is the becoming real young man how he could find God. For in ourselves, of what is already true of some time the sage gave no answer, us in the Lord Jesus. ‘I am the vine, ye but one evening he asked the youth to are the branches, He says. But the vine come and bathe with him in the river. furnishes the branches, not only with While there he gripped him suddenly the principle of life, but with the type of and held his head under the water until life. No pressure or molding from he was nearly drowned. When he without is needed to shape them to the released him the sage asked him: pattern of the parent stock. Every ‘What did you want most when you minutest peculiarity of form, and color, were under the water?’ ‘A breath of air,’ and taste, and fragrance is determined he replied. To which the sage by the root, and developed from it. A answered, ‘When you want God as you true believer, therefore, will ask no wanted the breath of air, you will find better thing of the Lord than that the life Him.’” -G.G. also of Jesus may be made manifest in “Every Christian will become at last his body (2 Cor. 4:11). For such a what his desires have made him. We manifestation will, by a necessary are all the sum total of our hungers. principle, be the unfolding within him of The great saints have all had thirsting every needed element of joy and hearts. Their cry has been, ‘My soul sorrow, of suffering and triumph.” - thirsteth for God, for the living God....’ A.J.G. Their longing after God all but “Straining, driving effort does not consumed them; it propelled them accomplish the work God gives a man 1 to do; we must partake of Christ so fully A-S. that He more than fills the life. It will “Afflictions are in the hands of the Holy then be not overwork but overflow.” Spirit to effect the softening of the heart “And ye are complete in Him, who is the in order to receive heavenly impression. head of all principality and power” (Col. Job said, ‘God maketh my heart soft’ 2:10) (Job 23:16). As the wax in its natural hard state cannot take the impress of 1-3. Relentless Purpose the signet, and needs to be melted to “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro render it susceptible, so the believer is throughout the whole earth, to show by trials prepared to receive, and made Himself strong in the behalf of them to bear, the divine likeness.” whose heart is perfect toward Him” (2 “Rooted and built up in Him, and Chron. 16:9). stablished in the faith, as ye have been All of God’s thoughts concerning us are taught, abounding therein with centered in His Son, where He has thanksgiving’’ (Col. 2:7). placed us. Hence they are “thoughts of peace, and not of evil” (Jer. 29:11). 1-4. Desert Riches Others may do evil against us, but our “And He said unto them, Come ye Father turns it into our good, for Jesus’ yourselves apart, into a desert place, sake. and rest a while” (Mk 6:31). “The purpose of God is that through the In the early days of our lonely conditions and sufferings of my life pilgrimage, the desert is nothing but should develop in me the features of burning heat and barren sand. As we His Son. On the one hand, the features “keep on keeping on,” we see our of the old creation may be seen to be desert become full of springs and more and more terrible and horrible, as blossom as the rose. I recognize them in myself; but over “Has the Father led you into the against that God is doing something desert? Has He plucked from under which is other than my old self. He is your feet all that you depended upon? bringing into being Another, altogether Then a glorious experience is yours. other, and that is His Son, my new life. See if this be not a way whereby God Slowly, seemingly all too slowly; will glorify you! Do not complain about nevertheless something is developing. what you have lost, and do not yearn to The sonship is not very much in have it back again, for then you are like evidence yet, but it is going to be Israel who wished to turn back to Egypt. manifested. What God has been doing God leads on, and instead of the flesh- will come out into the light eventually- pots He gives you bread from heaven, conformity to the image of His Son.” -T. and instead of water from the Nile, 2 water from the Rock. But you must put “If you feel the drawing of God within, your trust in Him also in the desert, and cherish it as you would cherish a great through the days of darkness and treasure. If you are aware of a deep difficulty. This is possible, however, hunger, if you are entering into a closer only for those who have lost their self- walk with Him, do not look upon it assurance in the desert whereto God carelessly, nor treat it lightly. But if you beckons His children.” do not feel the divine drawing and “Are there sorrows that sorely test hunger for God, cry to Him that He will our hearts? Be assured that our Father give it you; and ever remember that the intends every one of them to be a road desire for hunger is the beginning of for us to Christ; so that we may reach hunger, and that you cannot feed upon Him and know Him in some character the Lord Jesus Christ until you are of His love and power, that otherwise spiritually hungry.” -H. McI. our souls had not known.” -C.A.C. “Our Lord is generous in His provision, “And they thirsted not when He led but He is neither casual nor wasteful. them through the deserts: He caused There must be a real hunger and felt the waters to flow out of the rock for need. It is a fixed principle with the Lord them. . . .” “. . .for they drank of that that He does not move until something spiritual Rock that followed them: and like desperation makes it evident that it that Rock was Christ” (Isa 48:21; 1 Cor. is His move.” -T.A-S. 10:4). “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father who sent Me attracts and draws him 1-5. Love Draws And Conforms and gives him the desire to come to Me” “Yea, I have loved thee with an (John 6:44, Amp.). everlasting love: therefore with 1-6. Fulness Of Self lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer. 31:3). “Cease ye from man, whose breath God is the first and only Cause. He is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be always makes the first move. “For God accounted of?” (Isa. 2:22). so loved. . . that He gave”; “Ye have not As Christians we are going to be chosen Me, but I have chosen you” controlled by one of two powers: the (John 3:16; 15:16). Even the hunger of self-life, or the Spirit of life in Christ heart necessary for our response to His Jesus. The former will make life hell, love comes from Him. “But the God of the latter, heaven. all grace, who hath called us unto His “He who knows that awful power of the eternal glory by Christ Jesus” (I Pet. self-life within; its enmity with God; its 5:10). He brought us to His Son; He will carnality; its grieving and quenching of make us like His Son. the Spirit; its deadly blighting of all the 3 blessed fruits of the Spirit; its fierce and Are we seeking personal influence, desperate resistings of his hunger to popularity, reputation, prestige, enter into the full life of the Spirit, needs acceptableness, success? We may no other explanation of the lack of the think our motives to be perfectly pure; fulness of the Spirit than the fulness of but not until we pass into daily death, self.” -J.H. McC. death to any or all of the above, and “Do not seek to shatter the mirror which find ourselves ‘despised and rejected of reflects your soul’s lack of beauty; men,’ our names cast out as evil, and a rather welcome the truth, and believe real hold-up (seemingly) of our work, do that next to knowledge of the Lord we really come to face the true purpose Jesus nothing is so important as the and motive of our having any place in knowledge of self.” -N.G. the service of God. The Cross “There is nothing in self worth holding separating us from everything Adamic on to; it ought to be handed to the both within and without is a good test of Cross; we have submitted ourselves to motives. such a life as that, and our Father is “Men of God who have been truly used going to give us every opportunity to by Him have gone this way. Not upon allow the Holy Spirit to hold the old our flesh-whether it be the gross flesh nature in the place of death, with the or the refined, soulish, educated flesh- glorious end in view that our Lord Jesus will God allow His Spirit to come. will have the preeminence.” -F.M. Before there can be life for others there “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of must be death for us (2 Cor. 4-12). the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Before there can be the fire of God Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in there must be an altar and a sacrifice; dust and ashes” (Job 42:5, 6). and it must be the burnt offering.” -T.A- S. 1-7. Life’s Motivation “Present your bodies a living sacrifice. . “For as many as are led by the Spirit . which is your reasonable service” of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 12:1). (Rom. 8:14). 1-8. Unclean! Unclean! It takes a good many years of sin and failure in order to see through our “Woe is me! for I am undone; own motives. The growing believer because I am a man of unclean finally learns to trust but one source of lips...for mine eyes have seen the King motivation: “the Spirit of life in Christ the Lord of hosts’’ (Isa. 6.5). Jesus” (Rom. 8:2). Paul wrote, In everything give “All of our motives will be tested by fire. thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess. 4 5:18). This includes giving thanks for us” (Rom. 8:37) the disclosure of self! At first, we seek The world, the flesh, and the devil to hide our sinfulness and to save our say, Be powerful. The Father, the Son, life. Later, by His grace, we yearn to be and the Holy Spirit say, Be powerless - freed from self, regardless of the cost. “for My strength is made perfect in And the price is the Cross. [your] weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9) “Many a young Christian, who has “There would be little harm in trying to not been forewarned of this necessary imitate Christ if such an endeavor did voyage of discovery upon which the not hide from us what our Lord really Holy Spirit will certainly embark him desires; and so keep us back from ‘life (Romans Seven), has been plunged more abundant.’ Christ has come into almost incurable despair at the Himself into our hearts to dwell there, sight of the sinfulness which is his by and what He wants is to live His life in nature. He has in the first place rejoiced us, as the Apostle Paul says, ‘For to me greatly in the forgiveness of his sins, to live is Christ.’ Christ was the very and his acceptance by God; but sooner source and mainspring of all he was or later he begins to realize that all is and did. What a wonderful thing this is! not well, and that he has failed and We would be driven to despair if Christ fallen from the high standard which he had simply left us an example to follow set himself to reach in the first flush of or imitate, for we have no power within his conversion. ourselves to do it. We must have a new “Little does he know how healthy his source-a new spring of action, and condition is, and that this shattering Christ Himself wants to be just that for discovery is but the prelude to a us.” -E.C.H. magnificent series of further discoveries “The man in Romans Seven is of things which God has expressly occupied with himself, and his designed for his eternal enrichment. All disappointment and anguish spring through life God has to show us our from his inability to find in self the good own utter sinfulness and need, in order which he loves. The man of Romans to more fully lead us on into realms of Eight has learned there is no good to grace.” -J.C.M. be found in self. It is only in Christ; and “But the Lord is faithfull, who shall his song of triumph results from the joy stablish you, and keep you from evil” (2 of having found out that he is ‘complete Thess. 3:3). in Him.’” -H.A.I. 1-9. Powerless Recipients “I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me-I am ready for “Nay, in all these things we are more anything and equal to anything through than conquerors through Him that loved 5 Him who infuses inner strength into me” “For it is God Himself whose power (Phil. 4:13, Amp.). creates within you the desire to do His gracious will and also brings about the 1-10. Rest In Him accomplishment of the desire” (Phil. “He has created us through our 2:13, Wey.). union with Christ Jesus for doing good deeds which He beforehand planned 1-11. Designer And Designed for us to do” (Eph. 2:10, Wms.). “Blessed be the God and Father of The turning point in our Christian life our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath comes when we begin to “let God be blessed us with all spiritual blessings in God,” the day we throw all caution heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3) (fear) to the winds and look to Him to Since the sovereign God has every carry out His purpose for us in His own atom in the universe precisely timed time and way. and controlled for the carrying out of “Our Father never does a thing His perfect will, it should not be difficult suddenly: He has always prepared for us to understand why He is so long, long before. So there is nothing to meticulous in His development of us as murmur about, nothing to be proud of, His instruments. “Being predestinated in the calling of God. There is also no according to the purpose of Him who one of whom to be jealous, for other worketh all things after the counsel of people’s advantages have nothing to do His own will (Eph. 1:11). with us. ‘It is not of him that willeth, nor “You are one of God’s rough of him that runneth, but of God that diamonds, and He is going to have to hath mercy’ (Rom. 9:16). Our heritage, cut you so that you may really shine for our birth, our natural equipment: these Him. It takes a diamond to cut a are things already determined by God. diamond. You are to be ground and cut, We may pick up other things in the way, and hurt by other diamonds, by other for we are always learning; but the way Christians, by spiritual Christians. But is His way. When we look back over our the more cutting and the more life, we bow and acknowledge that all perfecting, the more you are going to was prepared of God. To have such an shine for your Lord.” -G.M. attitude of heart, that is true rest.” -W.N. “God in His wisdom has ordained “Let us take care lest we get out of our trials, and it is our folly that causes soul-rest in seeking further blessing. us not to welcome them. God sends us God cannot work whilst we are anxious, such trials as are exactly fitted for us. even about our spiritual advance. Let Our Heavenly Father knows what will us take Him at His Word, and leave the best serve us. He serves us by trials fulfillment of it to Him.” and by comforts. Let us remember that 6 our trials are few-our evil ways are Spirit. But that is all the wrong way many; our worthiness nothing-our around. If we are to wait until we have, comforts great. When God tries us let in some degree, mastered the lusts of us consider how we have been trying the flesh before we venture to walk in Him. By grace we will not murmur, but the Spirit: if we are to wait until we feel humble ourselves under His mighty that we can give some sort of security hand, and He will exalt us in due time.” to ourselves and to God that we shall “Beloved, think it not strange do a bit better in the future than we concerning the fiery trial which is to try have done in the past, then we never you” (1 Pet. 4:12) will walk in the Spirit. For until we walk in dependence upon the Spirit we shall 1-12. Dependent Reception not, and cannot, overcome the lusts of “Walk in [dependence upon] the the flesh.” -D.T. Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of “Be filled with [controlled by] the the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). indwelling of the Spirit” (Eph 5:18, Those who have thoroughly learned Cony.). full dependence on Him for justification 1-13. Source Of Sin will come to understand that sanctification is by the same faith “I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke principle. We are to rest in His finished 5:8). work-both for birth and for growth. When the believer first becomes “We are not to overcome the lusts of aware of the sinful self-life, he often the flesh in order that we may walk in makes the mistake of attempting to deal the Spirit. We are to walk in the Spirit in with its symptoms. He struggles to curb order that the lusts of the flesh may be his sins and tries to live righteously. overcome. The enemy can hold up The resultant failure leads him to young Christians on this point for a long reliance upon the work of the Cross, time, so that they do not really get which is effectively applied to the root of started on the Christian walk. They feel the matter by the Holy Spirit. The old they cannot expect to begin to walk in life is crucified; the new life is the Spirit until they have, in some manifested. degree at least, dealt with the lusts of “We are apt to think that what we the flesh. have done is very bad, but that we “They wait for some vague time ourselves are not so bad. God is taking when they hope they will have reached pains to show us that we ourselves are a more satisfactory position in regard to wrong, fundamentally wrong. The root the lusts of the flesh, and will feel more trouble is the sinner; he must be dealt confident about attempting a walk in the with. Our sins are dealt with by the 7 Blood, but we ourselves are dealt with assertion of the old man, and by the Cross. The Blood procures our everything in our natures that is against pardon for what we have done; the God, our spirit finds a clear way up to Cross procures our deliverance from the communion at the throne and a what we are.” -W.N. clear way out into conflict with our “It is for want of a complete or enemy. adequate realization of the meaning of ‘‘Prayer is the spring of power in the Cross, that so many Christians are conflict, and conflict gives the proof of carnal, or try to live for God out of the value and need of prayer. It cannot themselves. This goes to the root of the be too frequently emphasized that for everpresent weakness and poverty of the believer, the ground or basis of spiritual life. There is much prayer for prayer is the death of Jesus Christ-the ‘revival,’ and much effort for ‘the victory won by the Son of God on deepening of the spiritual life.’ The only Calvary, just as the ground and basis of answer to this is a new knowing of the His intercession at this moment is His Cross, not only as to sins and a life of propitiation on the Cross. Away from victory over them, but as to Christ as the Cross prayer becomes nothing supplanting the natural man.” -T.A-S. more than an ecclesiastical ordinance “The heart is deceitful above all or a religious exercise expressed in things, and desperately wicked: who devotional phrases; and I beg of you, can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). when you read a book on prayer, to find out the place in it which the author 1-14. The All-pervading Cross gives to the Cross, and you will be able “But God forbid that I should glory, to estimate its value.” -G.W. save in the cross of our Lord Jesus “God forbid that I should sin against Christ” (Gal. 6:14). the Lord in ceasing to pray for you” (1 It will save years of frustration and Sam. 12:23). effort for one to understand that prayer 1-15. “Disciple All Nations” can never be learned, or developed. Prayer is the outflow of the new life; as “If ye continue in My Word, then are one grows, as the Cross frees the new ye My disciples indeed” (John 8:31). from the old, there is the growth of The plague of personal work is the effective prayer. quick, the easy, the maneuvered “Without the Cross, prayer becomes decision. No matter how long it takes, a mere religious formality-without our Lord allows the necessary time for prayer, the Cross is arrested in its a heart to be prepared of the Spirit in purpose. As the Cross works in us, order that it might be truly born of the keeping in the place of death every Spirit. Adequate preparation before 8 bringing the soul to Him will eliminate In order to share effectively with much disappointment and frustration needy believers it is essential to know (for all concerned) after conversion. what the Father has purposed for His Once we see that the Lord Jesus saves own. And this understanding results individuals with the purpose of making from personal growth in the Lord Jesus. them His disciples, we will aim to be Those who are merely well-versed may more thorough in our witnessing and be able to teach, but they cannot truly subsequent soulwinning. share; their understanding of the needs “The commission given to the of the heart is deficient, and this apostles was to make disciples, not just becomes all too evident to the hearers. ‘converts,’ of all nations; and we can Head-knowledge (study) must be never set aside our Lord’s commands integrated with heart-knowledge without laying up for ourselves a whole (experience) in order for there to be store of unnecessary suffering and Spirit-motivated sharing. frustration. I wonder how many “The true hope makes all the promising ‘converts’ have been swept difference to us in our ministry. Our into the ranks of the sects whose expectations have been personally teachings are based in error, because proven. It makes possible joy in the of this omission?” midst of sorrow, confidence in the midst “In our day we promote elaborate of defeat. It changes our attitude toward ‘follow-up’ schemes to keep our those to whom we minister. We see ‘converts’ in the right way, but I them not as they are at the moment but sometimes wonder if a little more time as we know the Lord is going to make spent right at the outset in ensuring that them. Then patience and forgiveness these converts are properly ‘born,’ so are easy, for we already see the Lord’s that they can be receptive of the Spirit’s finished work. It changes our prayer for teaching, would not save much them. We ask not for some little heartache and make certain that God’s progress or partial blessing for them but work in their lives is done in His way.” - for the Lord’s complete victory. It J.C.M. changes our teaching ministry to them. “Woe to the worthless shepherd that Instead of fearfully giving a little more of leaveth the flock” (Zech. 11:17, ASV). God’s truth, we confidently declare all the counsel of God. There is ever 1-16. Mutual Viewpoint before us the joy of the finished work “That ye may know what is the hope which we know the Lord is going to of His calling and what the riches of the accomplish.” -A.M. glory of His inheritance in the saints” “Being confident of this very thing, (Eph. 1:18). that He which hath begun a good work 9 in you will perform it until the day of The soul in which the wondrous Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). combination of quiet passivity with the highest activity is most completely 1-17. Restful Activity realized, has the deepest experience of “In quietness and in confidence shall what the Christian life is.” -A.M. be your strength” (Isa. 30:15). “So He fed them according to the There is a great difference between integrity of His heart; and guided them sloth, and rest; between deadness, and by the skillfulness of His hands” (Ps. quietness. There is also a vast 78:72). difference between constant nervous busyness, and Spirit-controlled activity; 1-18. Developed Gift between working for God, and having “But the Lord is faithful, who shall Him do His work through us. It is the stablish you, and keep you from evil” (2 infinite difference between self, and Thess. 3:3). Christ, Though we receive our faith from “In God and man working together, Him, it must be developed in us by Him. there is nothing of the idea of a Undeveloped faith never progresses partnership between two partners who beyond the babe-in-Christ, milk-of-the- each contribute their share to a work. Word stage. “But solid food is for Rather, the true plan is that of co- adults-that is, for those who through operation founded on subordination. As constant practice have their spiritual the Lord Jesus was entirely dependent faculties carefully trained to distinguish on the Father for all His words and all good from evil. Therefore leaving His works, so the believer can do elementary instruction about the Christ, nothing of himself. What he can do of let us advance to mature manhood” himself is altogether sinful. He must (Heb. 5:14-6:1, Wey.). therefore cease entirely from his own “You will never learn faith in doing, and wait for the working of God comfortable surroundings. God gives us in him. As he ceases from self-effort, promises in a quiet hour; He seals our faith assures him that God does what covenants with great and gracious He has undertaken, and works in him. words. Then He steps back and waits “And what God does is to renew, to while we believe; then He lets the sanctify, and waken all his energies to tempter come, and the test seems to their most useful power. So that just in contradict all that He has spoken. It is proportion as he yields himself a truly then that faith wins its crown. Then is passive instrument in the hand of the the time to look into His face and say, ‘I Father, will he be wielded of Him as the believe, Lord, that it shall be done as it active instrument of His will and power. was told me.’” 10 “Without trials of faith we should all the manner in which He may see fit to be ruined. These trials give us accomplish it. We shall then be able to opportunities of linking on to the mighty testify, with Joshua of old: ‘Not one promises of God and finding through thing hath failed of all the good things the trials come blessing that which the Lord your God spake wonderfully glorifies Him, or else, concerning you; all are come to pass missing God, turns the blessing into a unto you, and not one thing hath failed burden that fills the heart with thereof’ (Josh. 23:14).” -E.H. weariness and pain.” -G.W. Our Father often encourages the “Behold, we count them happy weak in faith by giving speedy answers which endure. Ye have heard of the to prayer; but the strong in faith will be patience of Job, and have seen the end further developed by God’s delays. of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, Delayed answers to prayer are not only and of tender mercy” (James 5:11). trials of faith, but opportunities of honoring God by our steadfast 1-19. Not “How?”- But “What?” confidence in Him.” “And God is able to make all grace “For all the promises of God in Him abound toward you” (2 Cor. 9:8). are yea, and in Him Amen” (2 Cor. Once we come to restin the factof 1:20). what He has accomplished for us in Christ, there need be no concern as to 1-20. Satisfying Portion how and when He will carry it out in our “God is the strength of my heart, and daily life. my portion forever” (Ps. 73.26). “How many a child of God remains Finally, when all else fails us, we weak and timid because, instead of find that God is enough. That which we being occupied with what God has most need in life-love, unfailing love-is promised, he is considering how it can abundantly and satisfyingly ours in the be fulfilled. But we have nothing to do Lord Jesus. But we so often seek it with the how; it is enough that our elsewhere. Father has given us His Word. “Nothing can be sweeter than the Whatever, therefore, may be the nature repose in divine love when it is known of the suffering or trial through which and the heart is free to rest in it. The we have to pass, let us ever account soul may have a long journey to reach it that God is able to fulfil all His experientially; there may be many promises. needs and exercises to be met and “Let nothing ever lead us to doubt removed on the way; self and the world the certainty of His Word, though we will have to be learned; but the great may be utterly at a loss to understand end of all our exercises-and, I may add, 11 of all our deliverances-is that we rest in ahead of time) that we should walk in the thoughts of divine love, and that them-living the good life which He love becomes in a very real way the prearranged and made ready for us to portion of our hearts. If our hearts are live” (Eph. 2:10, Amp.). not in the circle of divine love they have “Blessed be the God and Father of really got nothing, for as Christians we our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath have no portion on earth. Thank God! it blessed us with every spiritual blessing is a blessed and satisfying portion.” - in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. C.A.C. 1:3, ASV). If you can run over in your “There is no reserve in God’s love; mind and find one single blessing with He has given the best in heaven for the which God might bless us today, with worst on earth, and in this way has which He has not already blessed us, rebuked distrust and established then what He told Paul is not true at all, confidence, so that ‘the works of the because He said, ‘God hath....’ It is all devil’ might be undone in our hearts. If done, ‘It is finished.’ God hath blessed we only want what God gives us we us with every spiritual blessing in the shall be perfectly happy. Nothing is of heavenlies! The great pity of it all is that real value to us that we cannot take we are saying ‘O God bless us-bless us from our Father’s hand and thank Him in this, bless us in that! and it is all for.” done; He has blessed us with every “And the Lord direct your hearts into spiritual blessing in Christ in the the love of God” (2 Thess. 3:5). heavenlies. It is our place to believe and receive.” -L.L.L. 1-21. Prearranged “According as His divine power hath “As ye have therefore received given unto us all things that pertain unto Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). Him” (Col. 2:6). 1-22. Freedom To “Be” How readily and eagerly we take His Word when He says, “I go to prepare a “Having died to that wherein we place for you” (John 14:2), yet how slow were held; so that we serve in newness of heart we are to believe that He has of the spirit, and not in oldness of the prepared a walk for us, here and now! letter” (Rom. 7:6, ASV). For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His The law was applied to the natural workmanship), recreated in Christ man, that he might produce; grace is Jesus, [born anew] that we may do given to the spiritual man, that He might those good works which God produce. predestined (planned beforehand) for “Almost every believer makes the us, (taking paths which He prepared same mistake as the Galatian 12 Christians. Very few learn at conversion encumbered about much serving” (Luke at once that it is only by faith that we 10:39, 40). stand, and walk, and live. They have no A malingering student will make a conception of the meaning of the Word poor servant; a diligent student will about being dead to the law, freed from make a good servant. “Study to show the law-about the freedom with which thyself approved unto God, a workman Christ makes us free (Rom. 7:6). that needeth not to be ashamed” (2 Regarding the law as a divine Tim. 2:15). ordinance for our direction, they “Do not look for service, look for consider themselves prepared and preparation for it. Everyone has to fitted by conversion to take up the serve an apprenticeship. We do not fulfillment of the law as a natural duty. know what we are to be fitted for, but if They cannot understand that it is not to we keep at His feet He will prepare us the law, but to a living Person, that we for the very thing for which He has are now bound, and that our obedience designed us. We hinder both ourselves and growth are only possible by the and His work by attempting things to unceasing faith in His power and life which we have not been called.” ever working in us (Phil. 2:13).” -A.M. “If you begin with serving (as many “Good and holy and perfect as the do nowadays), you will never truly sit at law of God is, it is entirely powerless His feet; whereas if you begin with either to justify or sanctify. It cannot in looking unto Him you will soon serve any way make the old nature better; well, wisely and acceptably. When the neither is it the rule of the new nature. serving quiets the conscience, and the The old man is not subject to it, and the sitting is overlooked and neglected, the new man does not need it. The new enemy gains an advantage, for it is at creation has another object before it, the sitting that the conscience is and another power that acts upon it, in enlightened, and the pleasure and mind order to produce what is lovely and of the Lord become better known. I acceptable to God-Christ the object, never met with anyone making his realized by the power of the Holy service prominent who knew what it Spirit.” -W.K. was to sit at the Master’s feet; but, “Not after the law of a carnal thank God, I know indefatigable commandment, but after the power of workers who enjoy sitting at His feet an endless life” (Heb. 7:16). above any service. It is clear that those 1-23. Feet First who abide in Him must be most competent to serve, and most in His “Mary . . . sat at Jesus’ feet, and confidence, which, after all, is the clue heard His Word. But Martha was to all effective service” -J.B.S. 13 “Behold as the eyes of servants look which is not fully met in Him. And you unto the hand of their masters... so our are in Him. You only need to take the eyes wait upon the Lord our God” (Ps. position which is already yours. Abide!” 123:2). -D.T. 1-24. Abide In Abundance “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always “Abide in me, and I in you. As the having all sufficiency in all things, may branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except abound to every good work” (2 Cor. it abide in the vine; no more can ye, 9:8) except ye abide in Me” (John 15:4). The quality of the fruit of the branch 1-25. Author Of Peace depends upon the quality of the life of “For God is not the author of the vine. Neither quality nor quantity is confusion, but of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33). the product of the branch, for the The day we were saved, total war branch merely receives what is was declared between sinful self and produced by the vine. the Holy Spirit. Lasting peace will come “To walk with God in hallowed when we rest in Calvary’s conquest of fellowship is not only the secret of joy sin and self, and allow that victory to be and growth, it is the condition of all applied by the faithful Spirit of God. acceptable service, of all real “The Holy Spirit does not reason usefulness. The value of what we do from what man is for God, but from depends very much upon what we are. what God is to man. Souls reason from And what we are depends upon where what they are in themselves as to we abide. The mightiest power for whether God can accept them. He does usefulness is the quiet influence of a life not accept you thus; you are looking for that abides habitually in the secret righteousness in yourself as a ground place of the Most High. Such an one of acceptance with Him. You cannot get dwells in the source of all life, of all peace in this way. ‘But God purity, of all fruitfulness.” -E.H.H. commendeth His love toward us, in “It is just a matter of taking a position that, while we were yet sinners, Christ that is already yours. The enemy has died for us’ (Rom 5:8). filled the minds of many believers with “The Holy Spirit always reasons the delusion that they are poor, and in down from what God is, and this their poverty they must work and grind produces a total change in my soul. It is and toil in order to buy the blessings not that I abhor my sins; indeed I may which are already theirs in Christ. It is have been walking very well; but it is ‘I time to see that all you need you have abhor myself.’ The Holy Spirit shows us in Christ. There is no need of yours what we are, and that is one reason 14 why He often seems to be very hard you must suffer.” and does not give peace to the soul, as “There are blessings which we we are not relieved until we frankly, cannot obtain if we cannot accept and from our hearts, acknowledge what we endure suffering. There are joys that are. Until the soul comes to that point can come to us only through sorrow. He does not give it peace-He could not; There are revealings of divine truth it would be healing the wound slightly. which we can get only when earth’s The soul has to go on until it finds there lights have gone out. There are is nothing to rest on but the Cross- harvests which can flow only after the proved goodness of God; and then if plowshare has done its work.” God be for us, who can be against us?’’ “Comfort does not come to the light- -J.N.D. hearted and merry. We must go down “And the peace of God, which into ‘depths’ if we would experience this passeth all understanding, shall keep most precious of God’s gifts-comfort, your hearts and minds through Christ and thus be prepared to be coworkers Jesus” (Phil. 4:7) together with Him.” 1-26. Partakers “I take... pleasure in weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecution, and “If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, difficulties, which I endure for Christ’s ye take it patiently, this is acceptable sake, for it is when I am consciously with God” (1 Pet. 2:20). weak that I am really strong” (2 Cor. Affliction and suffering are the lot of 12:10, Wms.). all men, the privilege of all believers. Our sufferings bring forth need, and our 1-27. Christ - Confidence need brings forth His comfort and “For we worship God in the Spirit, consolation. Blessed need! “As ye are and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3). be also of the consolation” (2 Cor. 1:7). Contrary to general opinion, there is Blessed promise! no place for self-confidence in the “If you aspire to be a son of Christian life. Confidence is essential, consolation; if you would partake of the but not from the source of self. The priestly gift of sympathy; if you would awakened believer is so keenly aware pour something beyond commonplace of the sinful self-life that, for him, self- consolation into a tempted heart; if you confidence is out of the question. In would pass through the intercourse of time, his “O wretched man” complex is daily life with the delicate tact that never replaced by “I thank God through Jesus inflicts pain; you must be content to pay Christ our Lord” (Rom. 7:24, 25). Christ- the price of a costly education-like Him, confidence is the basis for the healthy 15 Christian’s walk. Sinful self-confidence and rejected, but the development of is the basis for the sickly Christian’s this attitude may be long removed from defeat. the initial revelation. Years of “Our Father takes all things from processing separate Romans Three under our feet until we have nothing left from Colossians Three, in our but Him. God has always the highest experience. goal in view, namely, to lead us into the “Why are we so deficient in divine denial of self. Everything is directed power? Simply because we do not like toward teaching us to entrust ourselves the way it begins. Its beginning is to to Him. Therefore we must often suffer hate one’s own life, and this is an awful defeat. You fight with all your might start; but there is no ‘tower’ built without against sin and find yourself it. You must refuse human material, or surrounded by failure. You pray you cannot build to true structure. fervently and sincerely: ‘O God, help Power enabled Elisha to take hold of me and stay by me.’ But it seems that his own clothes and tear them into two He does not hear. You cry yet more pieces. It begins with self-abnegation. earnestly for help, but He seems to This explains the reason why there is have no concern for you. Is He then so little power. Very often one lingers really merciless? No! Just because He over his losses like an exile, but he is merciful, He cannot help you. If He must rise out of it; he must bury his did, you would not be free from your dead out of his sight; it is a great day self-confidence; you would not learn to when that comes to pass, and then he fight the good fight of faith and thus can be useful to others.” -J.B.S. obtain the victory which the Master has “To be willing to accept crucifixion won; you would not learn to say ‘the with Christ, to leave all yourself, your Lord Jesus only,’ but you would still plans and your longings, your abilities continue to say ‘Jesus and I.’” and your possessions, all of them at the “For the Lord shall be thy Cross, so that you only trust and love confidence” (Prov. 3.26). and live for the Lord Jesus, hurts a great deal. It requires an absolute 1-28. Matriculation venture of faith; but beyond it, God “My grace suffices for you, for power says, ‘much fruit.’ And the way to it is matures in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9, ‘into the ground and die’-it is the only Wey.). way; His way.” There can be no true and intelligent “Most gladly therefore will I boast of rejection of the self-life without thorough my infirmities rather than complain of heart preparation by the Holy Spirit. We them-in order that Christ’s power may read in the Word that self is to be hated overshadow me” (2 Cor. 12:9, Wey.). 16 1-29. Sacrificial Self the foundational fact for Christian life “Be not deceived; God is not and work.” -G.W. mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, “For he that soweth to his flesh shall that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). of the flesh reap corruption; but he that It is essential for the believer to see soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit that his old nature has been completely reap life” (Gal. 6:8). rejected by God at Calvary, and that as 1-30. Spiritual Balance a “new creation” he is fully and eternally “Not I, but Christ” (Gal. 2:20). accepted in the Lord Jesus. Otherwise, self will continually seek to be Any abiding spiritual progress must something for God, to please Him, to be based upon our taking sides with merit His approbation. God against the old life. Why? “Because the carnal mind is enmity “It is very possible that our sacrifices against God: for it is not subject to the and self denials may be altogether law of God, neither indeed can be” selfish. Self can pray, and say, What a (Rom. 8:7). “Enmity” knows no lovely prayer! It can preach a fine reconciliation; crucifixion is the only message, and pat itself on the back and alternative! say, That was splendid, what a useful man you are! How, then, can it become “The life of Christ is the holiness of ‘not I, but Christ’? Well, we must above Christ. The reason we so often fail in all else see the reality and danger of the pursuit of holiness is that the old the thing, we must look at it frankly, and life, the flesh, in its own strength seeks choose to be free of its domination. The for holiness as a beautiful garment to worst and the saddest part of it is its wear and enter heaven with. It is the deception. It says, How that fits So-and- daily death to self out of which the life so, not me. But you must pass of Christ rises up.” -A.W.T. sentence upon it, or it will pass “In receiving Christ we receive the sentence upon you.” divine-human life, a life that is death to “Through the victory won on Calvary the life of fallen nature, which finds its we enter into newness of life; and as fruit in sin and self. The tragic mistake the old nature seeks to assert its of thousands of believers is in trying to supremacy, each uprising of it must be live in two worlds at the same time-in handed over to the Lord Jesus Christ, nature and in God, in self and in Christ, that He may deal with it. That He has in the flesh and in the Spirit, by faith dealt with it, through His death on the and in independence, by abiding and by Cross, in a way which satisfies God and effort. To have life is not enough: the makes deliverance possible for us, is life of the Lord Jesus demands the death of the flesh, if that life is to be 17 fully developed and become fruitful in thin line of light, like the crescent of the us. Here is the crux of the whole new moon, yet he sees it ever matter.” complemented by the clear outlines of “That I may know Him, and the that rounded wholeness which is his in power of His resurrection and the the Lord Jesus, and into which he is to fellowship of His suffering, being made be daily waxing till he grows to ‘the conformable unto His death” (Phil. measure of the stature of the fulness of 3:10). Christ’ (Eph. 4:13)” -A.J.G. 1-31. Worth Waiting For ot, the branches will wither and fall away. “But ye are sanctified but ye are “The Lord Jesus has been waiting justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus for us to come to the end of our own and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. efforts. He sends the call, ‘Come back 6:11). to the Cross.’ At last we can see we The fact of our position, which we have been standing and working on the can see in the Word, may take years to wrong ground, and we hear Him say, ‘It realize in life. Many believers feel that isyouwhoareinMy way.IcandoMy their appropriation of a truth must result work myself. I simply need empty in same-day experience of that vessels. You parted with your sins, but doctrine. It is true that we are often you kept yourself. Come now, part with given a foretaste, a brief experience of yourself, take your place where I put its reality, but we must then settle down you. When I died you were in Me on to the daily processing of the Spirit, that Cross.’ ‘Now I see! What next, whereby He slowly and thoroughly Lord?’ ‘Now you pass to another sphere translates the apprehended truth into where you become aware that you are character and walk. Paul testified, “I joined to Me as your life.’” follow after, if that I may apprehend that “Our identification with Christ in His for which also I am apprehended of death was a death unto Sin-the Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12). He pressed principle of Sin as a master and a toward the mark. tyrant-Sin, not sins. The Holy Spirit is “As a gift of grace, sanctification is ready to apply that finished work of conferred on each believer as soon as death to the depth of our self-life, until he believes. But it is a gift yet held on Sin loses its mastery at point after deposit, ‘hid with Christ in God,’ to be point. It goes deeper than the cutting off appropriated through daily communion of visible and external things. The and gradual apprehension. So, while Cross deals with the cause, not the believer’s realized sanctification symptoms.” appears painfully meagre, at most a “Christ, who is our life” 18 Number 2 2-1. Heart Of The Matter Number two of None But the Hungry “That I may know Him” (Phil. 3:10). Heart is shared with the specific Immaturity is selfish; maturity is purpose of setting forth some of the selfless. “He must increase, but I must scriptural principles of growth in the decrease” (John 3:30). “The question Christian life. for the tried and tempted, the harassed An over-all knowledge of the Word and oppressed, is this: ‘Which would of God is very important, and can you rather have, the power of Christ’s produce a certain amount of spiritual hand in deliverance from trial, or the development. However, careful study sympathy of His heart in the midst of and experiential heart knowledge of the trial?’ The carnal mind, the unsubdued explicit truths for growth in the Lord heart, the restless spirit, will, no doubt, Jesus Christ are required to bring us to at once exclaim, ‘Oh! let Him only put spiritual maturity. The contents of this forth His power and deliver me from this booklet are prayerfully designed to insupportable trial, this intolerable guide the believer to his satisfying burden, this crushing difficulty. I sigh for source-Christ Jesus, our life. deliverance. I only want deliverance.’ It must be remembered that for the “But the spiritual mind, the subdued most part the results of such study do heart, the lowly spirit, will say, and that not immediately appear. The without a single particle of reserve, ‘Let expectations of the hungry heart are me only enjoy the sweet company of often far in advance of the growth time the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ in my involved. But the faithful Holy Spirit can trial, and I ask no more. I do not want be fully trusted to bring us along step by even the power of His hand to deprive step on the path of life. “The Comforter, me ofone drop of consolation supplied who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father by the tender love and profound will send in My name, He shall teach sympathy of His heart. I know He can you all things” (John 14:26). deliver me, but if He does not see fit to “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, do so, if it does not fall in with His and God, even our Father, which hath unsearchable counsels, and harmonize loved us, and hath given us everlasting with His wise and faithful purpose consolation and good hope through concerning me sotodo,Iknowitis grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish only to lead me into a deeper and richer you in every good word and work” (2 realization of His most precious Thess. 2:16, 17). sympathy.’” -C.H.M. -Miles J. Stanford; January 1969 “The same faith that sees glory for us at the end of the path sees God for

19 us all through the path. This is the “It is when you see you are dead unto secret of real strength. What unbelief sin that you die to it (daily); it is when does is to compare ourselves and our you see you are risen that you arise; it own strength with circumstances. What is when you see you are a ‘new faith does is to compare God with creation’ in Him that you (progressively) circumstances.” grow. Seeing the accomplished fact in “For as the sufferings of Christ the Word determines the pathway to abound in us, so our consolation also the realizing of that fact. The end is aboundeth by Christ” (2 Cor. 1:5). reached by seeing, not by desiring or working. The only possibility of spiritual 2-2. Fact Finding progress lies in our discovering the “Grace and peace be multiplied unto truth as God sees it; the truth you through the knowledge of God, and concerning Christ, the truth concerning of Jesus our Lord” (2 Pet. 1:2). ourselves in Christ.” -W.N. We cannot too highly value and “Come and see the works of God” (Ps. appreciate heart-hunger for the Word. It 66:5). is of the Spirit of Truth. We may have 2-3. Need, Then Supply been born again without knowing much of the Bible, but we certainly are not “Not as though I had already going to grow to any extent apart from a attained. . . but I follow after, if that I careful and persistent study of the Word may apprehend that for which also l am of God. Yes, the maturing believer is a apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Phil. Spirit-dependent student of the 3:12). Scriptures, “whereby are given unto us The heavenly Husbandman exceeding great and precious develops a believer on the same promises; that by these ye might be principle that He does a tree: planting, partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. growth, consolidation, rest, and then 1.4). more growth. There are stages. We are “Christian progress is not a question of shown our sin and need-self. Then we attaining to some abstract standard, or hunger for freedom and life-Christ. This of pressing through to some far-off is a progression. At first, we consider goal. It is wholly a question of seeing the shocking revelation of self the God’s standard in God’s Word. You greatest of calamities; later, we realize advance spiritually by finding out what that it is the pathway to the blessed you really are (in Christ), not by trying revelation of our life in the Lord Jesus to become what you hope to be. That Christ. goal you will never reach, however “Before we can take on the likeness earnestly you may strive. of the Lord Jesus, we must see 20 ourselves and know how we look; we after a seemingly endless struggle, the must be brought into the place where defeated believer is brought back to the we are not dismayed nor cast down Cross. Here is the source of liberation when we discover how little we are from the power of self and the world. conformed to His image. It is only as we “Sinners are not saved until they see our need, that we can be supplied.” trust the Saviour, and saints are not -C.McI. delivered until they trust the Deliverer. “It does us no good, but only God has made both possible through discourages us if we see our failures the Cross of His Son.” -L.S.C. and shortages and do not behold the “The believer can never overcome beauty of Christ, and apprehend and the ‘old man’ even by the power of the experience our sufficiency in Him. On ‘new’ apart from the work of the Cross, the other hand, if we see only what we and therefore the death of Christ is are in Him and do not discern our indispensable, and unless the Cross is defects; if we do not apprehend that made the basis upon which he which must be appropriated and overcomes the ‘old nature,’ he only worked out in us; ifwe do notsee all drops into another form of morality; in that must be put off, and that Christ other words, he is seeking by self-effort must be put on in actual control and to overcome sin and self, and the manifestation, we become self-satisfied struggle is a hopeless one.” -C.U. and puffed up-we lose our invaluable “Just as the Lord Jesus came into ‘need.’” -C.McI. this world where this old humanity was “I certainly do count everything as and came into it not to ally Himself with loss compared with the priceless it but to take it into death by the Cross, privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my even so He now by the Holy Spirit, in Lord” (Phil. 3:8, Wms.). regeneration, comes into us where 2-4. Freedom’s Foundation there is this old fallen life and not to ally Himself with it, but to hold it in the place “I have been crucified with Christ, of death by the same means-His and I myself no longer live” (Gal. 2:20, Cross.” -N.D. Wms.). “But may it never be mine to boast Upon conversion, the new believer of anything but the Cross of our Lord feels that every opposition to a joyous, Jesus Christ by which the world has fruitful Christian life has been overcome been crucified to me and I to the world!” once for all. Later, when the world and (Gal. 6:14, Wms.). self begin to insinuate themselves once again, he thinks that determination and 2-5. Defective Beginning self-effort will keep him free. Finally, “Being justified freely by His grace 21 through the redemption that is in Christ “For the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). Christ Jesus hath made me free from Are we aware of the importance of a the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). personal assurance of salvation? 2-6. Heart Of Romans Healthy spiritual growth is founded upon it. Many Christians seem unable “Yield yourselves unto God, as to enter Romans Six and Eight simply those that are alive from the dead” because they are not truly established (Rom. 6:13). in Romans Three, Four and Five. Full Deliverance from the reign of sin, assurance as to our eternal security in and liberty in the life of Christ, are set the Lord Jesus is the basis for the ever- forth as a doctrinal unit in Romans Six, deepening experience of our Seven and Eight. This area of truth has identification with Him. but one key-the Cross. This is the great “The defect in souls in general is the master key to spiritual life and liberty. incompleteness of their conversion. It is When we begin to comprehend pardon that is apprehended and not Romans Six, we know that our death in acceptance. Acceptance embraces Christ unto sin was completed at God’s side-how He feels, and this Calvary. When we have been in should be chief, for we as sinners have Romans Seven for a time, we come to offended Him. The offender has been realize that we have been struggling to removed from His eye by a Man-the produce that which God has already Lord Jesus Christ, and He can receive accomplished for us in Christ. When we us on the ground of the Man who thereby come to Romans Eight, we glorified Him in bearing our judgment. know at last that the Holy Spirit will “We cannot enjoy acceptance but in produce in our experience what God the way in which it was acquired or completed for us on the Cross and in effected for us, and if we are in the Christ our life. acceptance we know that no “In Romans Six we see the improvement of the flesh could foundation of our deliverance-the fact commend us to God, and that we that we died with Christ; and also the cannot be before Him but in Christ. But conditions of our deliverance-that we if we are in any degree dark as to the reckon ourselves dead unto sin and crucifixion of the old man, we are not in yield to God as those that are alive from acceptance experientially, we are not in the dead. Romans Eight tells us the the daily benefit of it, and our liberty by means and the method of our the Spirit can never go beyond our deliverance-that it is through the conscious acceptance.” -J.B.S. blessed Holy Spirit alone that we are actually delivered in everyday life, from 22 sin’s reign; the moment we cease from place of spiritual maturity as in an act. all our own efforts and let Him do all the We must have this mentality corrected. work, He will begin delivering us from What the Lord does is to enlarge us to the power of sin. How long it takes possess. He takes us through some some of us to come to the end of our exercise, through some experience, own efforts can be seen in Romans takes us by some way which means our Seven!” -W.R.N. spiritual expansion, an increase of “That the righteousness of the law spirituality so we occupy the larger might be fulfilled in us, who walk not place spontaneously because of our after the flesh, but after the Spirit” growth ‘I will not drive them out from (Rom. 8:4). before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the 2-7. Grow To Share field multiply against thee. By little and “For they disciplined us only a short little I will drive them out from before time, as it seemed proper to them; but thee, until thou be increased’ (Exod. He does it for our good, in order that we 23:29, 30).” -T.A-S. may share His holy character” (Heb. “Now for the time being no discipline 12:10, Wms.). [child-training] seems to be pleasant; it It is only natural to feel that our need is painful; later on, however, to those requires immediate victory, but the truth who are trained by it, it yields the fruit of is that we cannot come to maturity peace which grows from upright apart from the Holy Spirit’s processing character” (Heb. 12:11, Wms.). and development of our life, day by 2-8. Subtle Self day. A quick and easy victory would cripple our usefulness in these two “Create in me a clean heart, O God, ways: we would not understand the all- and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. important principle of processing; we 51:10). would not appreciate the needs of A healthy spiritual birth results in the others. If we are unable to share, we falling away of many of the more abide alone like the grain of wheat that obvious works of the flesh, often does not die. causing the new believer to claim 2 “So often in the battle we go to the Corinthians 5:17 or Galatians 2:20 as Lord, and pray, and plead, and appeal his testimony. However, for the Lord for victory, for ascendancy, for mastery Jesus to be fully manifested, it is going over the forces of evil and death, and to involve a lifetime of the Holy Spirit’s our thought is that in some way the deep dealing with the more subtle and Lord is going to come in with a mighty deadly characteristics of the self-life exercise of power and put us into a “alway delivered unto death” (2 Cor. 23 4:11). Scriptures and, as we exercise faith in “By the daily ‘supply of the Spirit of what we have been shown, will begin to Jesus Christ’ (Phil. 1:19), the believer take us into the experience of it. united to his Risen Lord ‘grows Abnormally, a Christian will yearn for an continually to a more perfect knowledge ‘experience,’ and then attempt to find and likeness of his Creator,’ and grows corroboration for it in the Word. up ‘after the image of Him that created “Knowledge must carry the torch him, in the sphere where ‘Christ is all, before faith.” Always give God’s Word and in all.’ first place, “for the Word of God liveth “The child naturally grows up in the and worketh, and is sharper than any likeness of his father, and the new life two-edged sword, piercing even to the communicated to the redeemed grows dividing asunder of soul and spirit, yea, up in the likeness of Him who is the to the inmost parts thereof, and judging Creator of the new creation if so be that the thoughts and imaginations of the the death with Christ is unflinchingly heart” (Heb. 4:12, Cony.). recognized, and ‘old things’ are truly “A person may easily know his sins allowed to pass away to make room for forgiven, but it is a further truth to know the growth of the new man ‘which is that he himself has ‘died to sin.’ He after God . . . created in righteousness, finds this conflicts with his experience. and holiness of truth’ (Eph. 4:24).” Suppose I tell you a debt of a thousand “How many earnest and religious pounds which you owed was paid by people belong to ‘the Old Adam someone, it would not be a question of Improvement Society.’ It is the experience, but of simply believing my recognition of the Christ-life, it is union statement. Just so with God. He tells us with the Risen Christ, that men need our sins are forgiven, and it is a instead of the culture of the religious question whether we believe Him. But self-life.” -E.H. when He tells us we have died to sin, “Unto the measure of the stature of we look inside and say, ‘Ah, sin is still the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). at work; how is that?’ A person must be taught of God to know really the truth 2-9. Experience Superseded that he has died to sin.” -J.N.D. “And they who know Thy Name will “It is written, That man shall not live put their trust in Thee” (Ps. 9:10). by bread alone, but by every word of Our experiences must be judged by God” (Luke 4:4). God’s Word, never the Word judged by 2-10. Peace And Rest our experiences. Normally, the Spirit of Truth will reveal a truth to us from the “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me” (Ps. 138:8). 24 After the believer enters into life by 2-11. Profit faith, he wonders why it was so difficult “Heirs of God and fellow heirs with for him to see that it was all of grace- Christ-sharing His inheritance with Him; the humble reception of a finished work. only we must share His suffering if we And yet he goes through the faithless are to share His glory” (Rom. 8:17, struggle once again before he sees that Amp.). his daily Christian life is also a finished The term “profit and loss” is work-complete in Christ. reversed in the Christian life to “loss “‘God is faithful, by whom ye were and profit.” The principle never varies: called unto the fellowship of His Son our losses are all in the realm of the Jesus Christ our Lord’ (1 Cor. 1:9). old, never the new. Every loss in the life What believers need is the simple faith of self brings greater gain and profit in that the establishing in Christ, day by the new-our life in Christ. And, day, is God’s work-a work that He conversely, every gain for the self-life is delights to do, in spite of all our loss for our growth and His glory. “But weakness and unfaithfulness, if we will what things were gain to me, those I but trust Him for it. To the blessedness counted loss for Christ” (Phil. 3:7). of such faith, and the experience it “It is not the design of God to brings, many can testify. What peace deprive His children of happiness, but and rest, to know that there is a only to pour the cup of bitterness into Husbandman who cares for the branch, that happiness which the believer has to see that it grows stronger; who in anything outside of Christ.” -F.F. watches over every hindrance and danger, who supplies every needed aid! “Everything that tries us, that is a check upon us, that causes exercise of “What peace and rest, fully and heart, and makes us sensible of finally to give up our abiding into the weakness in ourselves, is of the nature care of the Father, and never have a of chastisement (child-training). It may wish or thought, never to offer a prayer come in the way of difficulties in the or engage in an exercise connected path of faith; or in the shape of such with it, without first having the glad trials and sorrows as are common to all remembrance that what we do is only men-loss of property, loss of health, or the manifestation of what our Father is bereavement; or it may be as the doing in us! The establishing in Christ is governmental consequences of sin; but His work: He accomplishes it by stirring in one way or other all have it. It is ‘for us to watch, and wait, and work.” -A.M. our profit, that we might be partakers of “Now He which stablisheth us with His holiness’ (Heb. 12:10). That is, it you in Christ, . . . is God” (2 Cor. 1:21). serves to break down that which is not

25 of God in us, that the life of the Lord understand that it is in the crucified Jesus might be made manifest.” - Christ, and in the fellowship of His C.A.C. death, that they are to abide daily and “When He hath tried me, I shall unceasingly. The fellowship of the come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Cross is to be the life of a daily walk-His taking the form of a servant, His 2-12. The Cross For Self humbling Himself and becoming “I have been crucified with Christ” obedient unto death, even the death of (Gal. 2:20, ASV). the Cross; this mind that was in the The Cross is the height of paradox; Lord Jesus is to be the disposition that it is at once God’s greatest agony, and marks our daily life.” His eternal glory. For the growing “Have this mind [attitude] in you, believer it means daily crucifixion, and which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. at the same time freedom from the 2:5, ASV). penalty and the power of sin and self. 2-13. Convicted, Or Filled? “But may it never be mine to boast of anything but the Cross of our Lord “And because ye are sons, God hath Jesus Christ, by which the world has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your been crucified to me and I to the world!” hearts” (Gal. 4:6). (Gal. 6:14, Wms.). When the Holy Spirit convicts us of “We need to enter deeply into the our sin, it is to remove self from the truth that Christ the Beloved Son of the throne of our hearts. When the Holy Father could not return to the glory of Spirit fills us, it is to place the Lord Heaven until He had first given Himself Jesus on the throne of our hearts. Ours over to death. As this great principle is the choice-”not I, but Christ” (Gal. opens up to us, it will help us to 2:20); His is the work, for He is “the understand how in our life, and in our Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:2). fellowship with the Lord Jesus, it is “The great secret of the Christian life impossible for us to share the fulness of is found in ceasing from self, in which His life until we have first in very deed the power of the Cross manifests itself surrendered ourselves every day as in us. We all know how our Lord Jesus, having died to sin and the world.” ere He could receive the new life from “Many believers appear to think that the Father in glory, and the gift of the when once they have claimed Christ’s Holy Spirit through whom He could death in the fellowship of the Cross, impart His life to His people, had first to and have counted themselves crucified give up the life He lived upon earth. He with Him, they may now consider it as had to take His place among the dead past and done with. They do not as yet in utter weakness and helplessness 26 before He could live again by the power transformation of the old man so as to of God. His death on the Cross was produce some kind of resemblance to indispensable to the life of the Spirit. Christ in Christian character and “And as it was with Christ, so it must conduct. There is only one place for the be with us. As we yield ourselves to be old creation, and that is the Cross. united with Him in the likeness of His “But it is not enough for us to say it death, we can share with Him in the is there crucified with Christ. Crucifixion glory and power of the life of the Spirit. was a lingering death, and while we To know what the Holy Spirit means, stand once for all upon the fact of God, implies the knowing of what death which is eternal and unchangeable, means. The Cross and the Spirit are when our Lord Jesus Christ went to the inseparable. The soul that understands Cross He took more than our sins with that the death to self is in Christ the Him; He took our old man and dealt gate to true life, is in the right way to with the source of all our sin, and dealt learn what and who the Holy Spirit is.” - with it satisfactorily. While we stand on A.M. that fact, there has to be the daily “If we live in the Spirit, let us also working out of the victory which Christ walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). has won for us; there has to be the daily dying to this old self. The Holy 2-14. Continuous Cross Spirit has to work into us the death of “For we which live are alway the Lord Jesus Christ in all its wonderful delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake” (2 power and purpose.” -G.W. Cor. 4:11). “Being made comfortable unto his The indwelling Lord Jesus is the death” (Phil 3:10) source of our life of liberation; the Cross 2-15. Indwelt To Be Filled is the means to it. As we abide in Him and He in us, we are to reckon upon “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the finished work of Calvary to deal the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God progressively with self. It is on this dwell in you” (Rom. 8:9). basis alone that the life of Jesus will be The believer knows that he is manifested in our mortal flesh (2 Cor. indwelt by the Holy Spirit on the 4:11). testimony of the written Word; others “God has taken the old creation and know when the believer is filled with the has condemned it in Christ, and is now Holy Spirit by the growing manifestation working on the new creation. There is of the Living Word. no place in the plan of God for the “There are believers who need the betterment of the old creation. He does reminder that deeper than mind and not bring about some kind of feeling and will, deeper than the soul, 27 where these have their seat, in the If we are weak in understanding the depths of the renewed spirit, there principle of complete justification by comes, at re-birth, the Holy Spirit to faith, we will be strong in seeking to dwell forever. His indwelling is there, produce our own sanctification. first of all, and all through, to be “In Romans Seven Paul is recognized by faith. Even when I describing the inevitable conflict that cannot see the least evidence of His every believer knows when he working, I am quietly and reverently to undertakes to lead a holy life on the believe that He dwells in me. In that principle of legality. He feels faith I am restfully and trustfully to count instinctively that the law is spiritual, but upon His working, and to wait for it. In that he himself, for some unexplained that faith I must very distinctly deny my reason, is fleshly, carnal, and in own wisdom and strength, and in bondage to sin. This discovery is one of childlike self-abnegation depend upon the most heart-breaking a Christian Him to work. ever made. Yet each one must and “His first workings may be so feeble does make it for himself at some time in and hidden that I can hardly recognize his pilgrimage. them as coming from Him; they may “The believer finds himself doing appear to be nothing more than the things he knows to be wrong, and voice of conscience, or the familiar which his inmost desires are opposed sound of some Bible truth. Here is the to; while what he yearns to do he fails time for faith to hold fast the Master’s to accomplish, and does, instead, what promise and the Father’s gift, and to he hates. But this is the first part of a trust that the Holy Spirit is within and great lesson which all must learn who will guide. Out of the hidden depths His would matriculate (enroll) in God’s power will move and take possession of school. It is the lesson of no confidence mind and will, and the indwelling in the in ‘the flesh’; and until it is learned there hidden recesses of the spirit will grow can be no true progress in growth. The into a being filled with His fulness.” - incorrigibility of the flesh must be A.M. realized before one is ready to turn “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, altogether from self to Christ for heisnoneofHis” (Rom. 8:9). sanctification, as he has already done for justification.” -H.A.I. 2-16. Legal Conflict “As conviction of guilt goes before known justification, so the experiential “Therefore being justified by faith, knowledge of self before sanctification. we have peace with God through our No effort clears the guilt; no effort Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1) effects the growth.” 28 “That they may receive forgiveness heavenly places with his Lord and of sins, and inheritance among them Saviour Jesus Christ. Without this he which are sanctified by faith” (Acts will go down in ignominious defeat in 26:18). spite of all his strivings and his prayers. With this position he is more than 2-17. Highly Placed conqueror through Him who loved him “OourGod ...wehavenomight and gave Himself for him.” -F.J.H. against this great company that cometh “For whatsoever is born of God against us; neither know we what to do: overcometh the world: and this is the but our eyes are upon Thee” (2 Chron. victory that overcometh the world, even 20:12). our faith” (1 John 5:4). Many believers have gone only as far as justification can take them- 2-18. Devoted Disciple spiritual birth, and a bit beyond. There “Remembering without ceasing your they stagnate, in dire need of the fresh work of faith, and labor of love” (1 streams of living water that come from Thess. 1:3). seeing their position in Christ. “God . . . The Cross cost God all that He had, hath blessed us with all spiritual for us. That same Cross will cost us all blessings in heavenly places in Christ” that we are, for Him, for growth, for (Eph. 1:3). “Always begin with your others. “For we which live are alway position, where you are; and then think delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, of your condition, what you are.” -R.P. that the life also of Jesus might be “Christians are at their wits’ end. made manifest in our mortal flesh. So Many have given up the fight. They still then death worketh in us, but life in you” go to church; but secretly they feel that (2 Cor. 4:11, 12). victory is out of the question. They have “Devotion, utter devotion, to God’s no weapons for such an hour. Frankly, purpose concerning His people, is they have capitulated to the prince of going to make the uttermost demand this world, for all their efforts to rout the upon any servant of God. It is going to foe have failed. test and find out our spirit of service. “But victory is the believer’s right, as And if we are going to be used of God truly his as the air he breathes. in this utter way, it is going to bring us However, he must understand the to the point where we have nothing left conditions. He must see himself to fall back upon, either of personal enthroned with Christ. He must see interest, position, or blessing: it is himself according to God’s own Holy simply a matter of God, and God only! If Word, as crucified with the Lord Jesus, God does not do it, we are finished. We dead, buried, raised and made to sit in have no alternative; we have no second 29 line; we are in this matter of the Lord’s dangerous enemy. The flesh is purpose to the last drop of blood. The irrecoverably fallen and you and I make purpose of God in His people will no real progress in the Christian life demand that. It is no use-we cannot until we have learned in experience to have any alternatives; we cannot have say with the apostle: ‘For I know that in a second course: it is everything or me (that is, in my flesh dwelleth no nothing.” -T.A-S. good thing’ (Rom. 7:18).” -J.C.M. “There are those who would be “Paul’s great endeavor, in all his more useful in the Lord’s work if only great struggle of Romans Seven, was they were more devoted. They are to make ‘the flesh,’ his old self-life, absorbed in something else, and this consent to do that holy law which his not only distracts them from their work, new self approved. Paul had not yet but when they do set themselves to it, despaired of himself. The fact is, he there is not that maturity, that finished had not yet realized the absolute condition of soul, that knowledge of distinction between the old and the new hearts, and of the way in which the creations. And it was through this Word suits itself to their needs, which terrible experience that he found the gives lasting value to ministry.” -J.N.D. new or ‘inward’ man to be distinct from “They loved not their lives unto the the old man; that the realm of ‘the spirit’ death” (Rev. 12.11). was absolutely separate from that of ‘the flesh’, that all of the old self, with its 2-19. Not Obligated life and energy, was to be despaired of, “The carnal mind is enmity against not sanctified.” God” (Rom. 8:7). “For it is not subject to the law of Early in the Christian life we God, neither indeed can be” (Rom. 8:7). naturally feel that it is our obligation to 2-20. Safe Beyond Question overcome self and become spiritual. We do not yet realize that time and “Neither give place to the devil” processing are required before we are (Eph. 4:27). able to give up self-effort for our growth. To a large extent, we will be pawns It is the work of the Holy Spirit, not our of the devil until we stand on the obligation. “God hath chosen you to specific facts of the Bible and assert, “I salvation through sanctification of the belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, and Spirit” (2 Thess. 2:13). am a new creation in Him on the basis “The self-life is surely our first and of the finished work of Calvary. He is most bitter foe, and the believer who my life; my death in Him on the Cross will serve God acceptably must learn separated me from the dominion of all His way of victory over this subtle and the old creation. As far as my Lord and 30 I are concerned, Satan, sin, self, the (Heb. 6:1, Wms.). world, and the law, all are on the other When the standard of the Christian side of that death.” “We never get into life is low, the responsibility for growth conflict with Satan until we realize our is placed upon the believer. But when it privileges in Christ. We cannot cross is known that God’s standard for us is the Jordan without finding the His Son, all expectation of maturity Canaanites in the land.” must be placed in Him-”for it is God “Satan may challenge my clearance which worketh in us both to will and to and my acceptance; he may raise all do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). kinds of questions about what I am and “The Lord Jesus Christ is the what I have done, but he can raise no Christian’s very life, and the Holy Spirit questions as to the worthiness or dwells within our spirit to manifest Him, acceptance of my Saviour. The forgiven to work out all that is in Him and to man is on an altogether new ground reproduce Him in us. We must with God; he is on the ground of grace- remember that there is something in the grace which is set forth in Christ. The sight of God that is higher than work. apprehension of this is redemption, and There is Christ-likeness. That is our it puts the soul beyond the reach of the Father’s purpose, and it is His work.” - oppression and harassing of the A.M. enemy.” -C.A.C. “It is not great talents God blesses “If the first step in the Christian so much as great likeness to the Lord course were definitely understood the Jesus. A holy ministry is an awful saints would have a happier time. If weapon in the hands of God.” -R.M.Mc. they saw that the power of the old man “In a great many evangelical was broken on the Cross, and that in churches the Gospel of salvation is Christ they are new creations before magnificently presented, seekers are God, they would walk here in led to Christ; but the totality of the deliverance. ‘You will know the truth Gospel, the Gospel in its ultimate and the truth will set you free.’” -J.B.S. category, is by no means so clearly “Your great accuser, the Devil, is presented, nor maybe even understood going about like a roaring lion to see by teacher as well as pupil. It is whom he can devour. Withstand him, evidenced by exhortation to Christian firm in your faith” (1 Pet. 5:8, 9, Wey.). living being mainly challenges to pray 2-21. One Standard - Christ more, study more, give more, witness more, surrender more. The emphasis is “So then let us once for all quit the predominantly on the active dedication elementary teaching about Christ and of the Christian to his Lord, and to a continue progressing; toward maturity” 31 much less degree on the dynamic struggles for victory. Faith stands in remolding of the believer by his Lord.” victory.” “For we are His workmanship, “The unbelieving heart looks at the created in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:10). circumstances, and leaves God out. Faith, on the contrary, looks only at 2-22. Waiting On God God, and leaves circumstances out. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently Faith delights in man’s extremity, simply for Him” (Ps. 37:7). because it is God’s opportunity. It In times of crisis, we are prone to delights in being ‘shut up’ to God-in question His care; in times of calm, we having the platform thoroughly cleared tend to forget our need of His care. of the creature, in order that God may “Don’t look at earthly difficulties. display His glory.” Saul said, ‘Because I saw that the ‘My soul, wait thou only upon God; people were scattered from me, and for my expectation is from Him” (Ps. that thou camest not. . . therefore said I, 62:5). The Philistines will come down now 2-23. Mount Sinai, Mount Zion upon me’ (1 Sam. 13:11, 12). It is fatal to look around and at consequences, “For you have not come to a especially in times of crisis, for it will be material object all ablaze with fire, and impossible to be still, and wait God’s to gloom and darkness and storm and time for deliverance. Jesus came to trumpet-blast and the sound of words” them in the fourth watch of the night (Heb. 12:18, Wey.). (Matt. 14:25). It is always His way. God Most of us know that we are not is never behind time! However dark the under the Law as summarized in the path may be, wait; do not go before Ten Commandments, yet we continue Him, don’t force yourself, like Saul. ‘The to labor under the principle of law. We crisis demands action,’ we say! Nay, seek to attain, instead of to obtain. Not ‘dwell in stillness and wait for until we are driven to the end of clearness’-wait until you are sure of the Romans Seven will we know the will of God, and leave the ‘Philistines’ to freedom of Romans Eight. Him.” -T.A-S. “So long as one thinks that his “Victory comes through the blessing depends in any way, or in any reckoning of faith and not through degree, upon himself, he is under the struggling and striving. ‘But,’ it may be shadow of Sinai, and naturally we all asked, ‘are we not exhorted to ‘fight the gravitate in that direction. Many truly good fight’? Yes, that is so, but you converted persons are more occupied must please finish the text, ‘Fight the with themselves, and in trying to good fight of faith,’ and faith never improve their own condition, than in 32 seeking to learn the grace of God. The are jealous for a free Gospel, with result is that where there is a shallow acceptance of Christ, and justification work in the soul they get lifted up with by faith alone. But after this they think pride and conceit, and perhaps deceive everything depends on their diligence themselves so far as to think there is no and faithfulness. While they firmly grasp sin in them. the truth, ‘justified by faith,’ they have “On the other hand, if souls are hardly noticed the larger truth, ‘the just upright and sincere they get into terrible shall live by faith.’ They have not yet distress, and experience what it is to understood what a perfect Saviour the have to do with Sinai-blackness, Lord Jesus is, and how He will each darkness, and tempest, so that a holy day do for the sinner just as much as man like Moses could only ‘exceedingly He did the first day when they came to fear and quake.’ Thank God! we are not Him. come to that mountain, but to another- “They know not that the life of grace even to Mount Zion.” -C.A.C. is always and only a life of faith, and “On the contrary you have come to that in the relationship to the Lord Mount Zion, and to the city of the ever- Jesus the one daily and unceasing duty living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to of the disciple is to believe, because countless hosts of angels, to the great believing is the one channel through festal gathering and Church of the first- which Divine grace and strength can born, whose names are recorded in flow into the heart of man. The old Heaven” (Heb. 12:22, 23, Wey.). nature of the believer remains evil and sinful to the last; it is only as he daily 2-24. Abiding Faith comes, all empty and helpless, to his “As ye have therefore received Saviour to receive of His life and Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in strength, that he can bring forth the Him” (Col. 2:6). fruits of righteousness to the glory of One day we came to Him in utter God.” -A.M. need and reliance, and received life. “Rooted and built up in Him, and Every day we are to abide in Him in stablished in the faith, as ye have been utter need and reliance, that He may taught, abounding therein with live that life in and through us. We are thanksgiving” (Col. 2:7). born again by faith, and we are to live 2-25. Unity Of Design anew by faith. “He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth “So now also Christ shall be much fruit: for without Me ye can do magnified in my body, whether it be by nothing” (John 15:5). life, or by death” (Phil. 1:20). “There are earnest Christians who If we look to other Christians as 33 examples to follow, we will soon be born from the dead, that in all things He discouraged by the prevailing low might have the preeminence” (Col. standard. If we look to Christ as our 1:18) example, we will be utterly discouraged 2-26. Acceptable Consecration because of His infinitely high standard. Hence it is essential that we understand “The carnal mind is enmity against that the Lord Jesus Christ is our life; He God: for it is not subject to the law of is not a legal example to emulate, but God, neither indeed can be” (Rom. 8:7). the source of life from which we grow. If a Christian does not realize his “It is not in any conventional identification with Christ in His death, standard of frames and feelings that the he does not know true consecration. disciple is to find the measure of Crucifixion is the path to, and attainment required of him. It is not by foundation of, consecration. The deeper any painful reproducing of another’s truths are not entered into through spiritual history that he is to acquire the consecration-they are its basis. “The true comfort of spirit which he longs for. price of consecration is crucifixion.” Outward imitation, though it be of the “‘Present yourself unto God as alive perfect Example Himself, has little from the dead’ (Rom. 6:13). This is the place in the order of spiritual growth- true ground of consecration. For little place because little possibility. believers to ‘consecrate themselves to ‘Without Me (i.e., apart from Me, in God’ ere they have learnt their union separation from Me) ye can do nothing.’ with Christ in death and resurrection is To abide in Christ is the only secret of only to present to God the members of Christlikeness; for only thus is obtained the natural man, which He cannot use. the likeness of unity, which is perfect Only those ‘alive from the dead’-that is, and enduring, instead of the likeness of having appropriated their likeness with conformity, which is only partial and Him in death-are bidden to present their transient.” -A.J.G. members as instruments unto God.” “In the pathway of discipline and trial “The modern teaching of we learn by bitter experience the truth consecration, which is tantamount to of Paul’s confession, ‘In me. . . in my the consecration of the ‘old man,’ seeks flesh dwelleth no good thing.’ Coupled to bypass the death sentence and with that is the lesson that God waits therefore only leads to frustration and with infinite patience, like the potter, to failure. When, however, you and I are work out a design and beauty with such prepared, in simple humility, to make frail material.” -M.H.F. the fact of our death with Christ our “And He is the head of the body, the daily basis of life and service, there is church; who is the beginning, the first- nothing that can prevent the uprising 34 and outflow of new life, and meet the we shall be able to look within, and say need of thirsty souls around us.” - that self is gone. Whilst we really J.C.M. believe God’s Word that we have died “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors with Christ unto sin, and count upon bound not to the Flesh, that we should Him as the Living One to manifest His live after the Flesh [but to the Spirit]” life through us, others will see that self (Rom. 8:12, Cony.). is inoperative, whilst we are occupied with Christ.” 2-27. Factual Freedom “Stand fast therefore in the liberty “You were set free from the tyranny wherewith Christ hath made us free” of Sin” (Rom. 6:18, Wey.). (Gal. 5:1). There are two extremes that keep 2-28. Canaan Conflict many of us in bondage. The one is ignorance as to the possibility of “We will pass over armed before the freedom; the other, ignorance as to the Lord into the land of Canaan, that the extent of freedom. Careful attendance possession of our inheritance . . . may to the facts of the Word will solve both be ours” (Num. 32:32). these crippling conditions. If our Lord were to give rest from the “The New Testament teaches that processing required for spiritual growth, the flesh is representatively dead in by what means would He accomplish virtue of the Cross, but it nowhere says His work in us? True, the war has been it will become actually dead by standing won at Calvary, but there are many on that fact. What it does say is that, “mopping up” battles to be fought. when reckoning the fact true, self will Victory is ours, but we must learn how lose its governing power over me. In to wear our armor and handle our Romans Six we find that through the weapons. We must also come to know death of Christ, sin shall not have and appreciate our Captain as we enter dominion over you-the idea is of into what He has accomplished on our bondage, ruling, governing, dominating. behalf. There is no such view presented as the “The Christian who imagines that life annihilation of the thing, the exclusion in the Promised Land is one of rest of its presence, but the loss of its from temptation and conflict, is due for governing power. So you see if we are a surprise. There is not less temptation, looking for the actual death of the old but more strong and subtle temptation. nature in us, we are looking for There is no less conflict, but more something that will never come to pass constant conflict. The difference lies in in this life.” -N.D. the fact that in Canaan the battle is not “Our Lord has never promised that fought under our own leadership, but 35 under that of the Victorious Man with keep the law as a means of salvation, the drawn sword, who has never we are under it as a ‘rule of life.’ Let a suffered defeat. It is not rest from Christian only confess, ‘I am under the conflict, but rest in conflict. In Canaan, law,’ and straightway Moses fastens his Israel lost only one battle in seven yoke upon him, despite all his protests years, and that was because of that the law has lost its power. culpable disobedience and sin.” -O.S. “Men have to be delivered from the “It has been well said that spiritual whole legal principle, from the entire believers are honored with warfare in sphere where law reigns, ere true the front line areas. There the fiercest liberty can be found. This was pressure of the enemy is known. But accomplished on the Cross. There we they are also privileged to witness the ‘died unto the law’ (Gal. 2:19); we were enemy’s crushing defeat, so abundant there ‘discharged from the law’ (Rom. is the power of God, and thus highly is 6:14). And those who believe this enter the spiritual believer honored.” -L.S.C. the blessed sphere where grace reigns. “No weapon that is formed against The Holy Spirit, indwelling the believer, thee shall prosper.... This is the performs in him the will of God, whose heritage of the servants of the Lord, will, at last, is a delight (Rom. 8:3, 4; and their righteousness is of Me, saith 12:2).” -W.R.N. the Lord” (Isa. 54:17). “Law taught me to love my neighbors as myself-made my love for 2-29. Liberated From Legality self the measure of my duty to my “For it is God which worketh in you neighbor. Christianity looks for having both to will and to do of His good no self at all, but giving up ourselves for pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). our neighbors.” One of the most subtle, tenacious, “He Himself, through Jesus Christ, and all-pervading errors amongst accomplishing through you what is Christians is slavery to the legal pleasing to Him” (Heb. 13:21, Wms.). principle (the Galatian error). And, as in deliverance from the power of sin, there 2-30. Administration Of The Cross is no freedom from law apart from the “For ye died, and your life is hid with death we shared in Christ on the Cross. Christ in God” (Col. 3:3, ASV). “You too in the body of Christ have It is futile for us to attempt to curb ended your relation to the law” (Rom. our sins while we ignore their source, 7:4, Wms.). the indwelling principle of sin. In “It is a harmful perversion of the trimming the branches (sins), we truth of God to teach (as did the Puritan strengthen the root (self). Rather, as we theologians) that while we are not to count upon the finished work of 36 Calvary, the Holy Spirit will apply the certain defeat to the Christian. Satan, Cross to the old life. And as that death sin, self, the world, and the law-all have cuts deeper and deeper into the root, been fully dealt with by the Lord Jesus the branches will wither and fall away. on the Cross. Our dealings with these “The Lord Jesus has been waiting enemies are to be through the finished for us to come to the end ofourown work of Calvary, hence indirect. This efforts. He sends the call, ‘Come back can be wonderful news to us when we to the Cross.’ At last we can see we have had enough of the struggle and have been standing and working on the failure of Romans Seven. wrong ground, and we hear Him say, ‘It “The believer who sees that self is isyouwhoareinMy way.IcandoMy incurably evil (‘know’), and that it has work myself. I simply need empty been taken into death (‘reckon’); who vessels. You parted with your sins, but gives self utterly to that death as he you kept yourself. Come now, part with sinks before God in dependence and yourself, take your place where I put surrender to His working (‘yield’); who you. When I died you were in Me on consents to death with Christ on the that Cross.’ ‘Now I see! What next, Cross as his position, and in faith Lord?’ ‘Now you pass to another sphere accepts it as his only deliverance; he where you become aware that you are alone is prepared to be led by the Holy joined to Me as your life.’” Spirit into the full enjoyment of the “Our identification with Christ in His Christ-life. He will learn to understand death was a death unto Sin-the how completely death makes an end of principle of Sin as a master and a all self-effort, and now, as he lives in tyrant-Sin, not sins. The Holy Spirit is Christ to God, everything henceforth is ready to apply that finished work of to be the work of God Himself.” -A.M. death to the depth of our self-life, until “It is not by renunciation, or effort, Sin loses its mastery at point after that we are morally apart from sin and point. It goes deeper than the cutting off self and the world, but by our death on of visible and external things. The the Cross with the Lord Jesus Christ.” Cross deals with the cause, not “Believers today seek the blessing symptoms.” and power of Pentecost apart from a “Christ, who is our life” (Col. 3:4). personal crucifixion with Christ, and the result is a counterfeit experience. 2-31. “Know Ye Not?” Calvary is always before Pentecost, “For the law of the Spirit of life in historically and experientially. The only Christ Jesus hath made me free from way into the riches of the fulness of the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2). Christ is through our acceptance of our To deal directly with sin brings crucifixion with Him.” -L.L.L. 37 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the inheritance, being predestinated Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14). according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of Number 3 His own will” (Eph. 1:11). Not only is God our Father not dead, Each section in the None But the but He is in eternal control of both life Hungry Heart series contains one and death. He who is our very life is hundred or more interrelated Scripture “the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge portions, as well as more than one the living and the dead at His appearing hundred quotations and comments. and His kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:1). The In meditating upon this material, our sovereignty of our God is not only attention should be centered in the universal, but also personal. What a Word of God. It is hoped that each source of heart rest! page may give enlightenment “We find in Romans 8:28 a great concerning the Scripture quoted. “Let marvel: All things work together for the word of Christ dwell in you richly in good to the believing lovers of God. all wisdom,” for “the Word of God is This involves that billion billion control living, and powerful” (Col. 3:16; Heb. of God’s providence-of the most 4:12). infinitesimal things-to bring them about All true devotional reading should for ‘good’ to God’s saints. give us a greater understanding of, and “When we reflect on the appreciation for our Bible. Anything innumerable ‘things’ about us-forces other than this will hinder spiritual seen and unseen of the mineral, growth. It goes without saying that the vegetable, and animal worlds; on man Word of God, ministered by the Spirit of at enmity with God; on Satan, and his God, is the primary means of knowing principalities and powers, in deadly the Son of God as our life. “The words array; on the uncertainty and even that I speak unto you, they are spirit, treachery of those near and dear to us, and they are life” (John 6:63). and even of professing Christians, and “And now I commend you to God of our own selves-which we cannot and to the word of His grace. He is able trust for a moment; upon our to build you up and to give you your unredeemed bodies; upon our general inheritance among His people” (Acts complete helplessness in ourselves- 20:32, Wey.). then, to have God say, ‘All things are -Miles J. Stanford; July 1969 working together for your good,’-reveals to us a Divine providence that is 3-1. Sovereign Providence absolutely limitless.” -W.R.N. In whom also we have obtained an 38 “There Is No Limit To God’s Favor dependence not only on what the Lord Toward Those In Christ.” -W.R.N. has done, but on what He is to you this “All things are Thy servants” (Ps. very moment. Rest in Him. ‘God is able 119:91, ASV). to make all grace abound toward you, that ye always [not sometimes] having 3-2. Rest Of Faith all sufficiency in all things, may abound “In nothing be anxious; but in unto every good work’ (2 Cor. 9:8).” - everything by prayer and supplication E.H. with thanksgiving let your requests be “And the peace of God, which made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6, passeth all understanding, shall guard ASV). your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Faith does not create or produce, Jesus” (Phil. 4:7, ASV). but rests and rejoices in what God has 3-3. Born To Grow already done. His finished work at Calvary was the basis for our birth, and “Feed the flock of God which is His completed work in our risen Lord among you” (1 Pet. 5:2). Jesus is the source of our growth. “For It should grieve us to realize how if while we were enemies we were many abandoned babes in Christ there reconciled to God through the death of are-spiritual orphans. In these days of His Son, it is much more [certain], now spiritual dearth there is an ever- that we are reconciled, that we shall be increasing need for the ministry of saved [daily delivered from sin’s nurturing new believers, that they may dominion] through His [resurrection] be “rooted and built up in Him, and life” (Rom. 5:10, Amp.). established” (Col. 2:7). “The greatest “A great many people have the faith proof of your love for Christ is that you that seeks, but they have not a faith care for those who belong to Him; ‘if that rests. The Lord Jesus is here, rest you love Me, feed My sheep’.” -J.B.S. in Him, let the burden go. ‘Lord, I trust “Let us not feel that our task is done Thee now; I abide in Thee now. Lord, with the rebirth of a soul. The great as I think about my home problems, my burden of the Christian ministry should business pressures, my personal be that Christ may be formed in men, difficulties in every sphere of life, I bring and that they, in turn, may be living them all, and give them all to Thee.’ witnesses to others. Notice Peter’s And believe that He keeps you. I am words: But ye are a chosen generation, sure this rest of faith is the center of all a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a activity. peculiar people.’ But for what purpose “You cannot work without friction has all this been accomplished? He until you have this rest of faith-complete goesontosay,‘. . . that ye should 39 show forth the praises of Him who hath he became a believer, the life he called you out of darkness into His received was life in Christ, that is, life marvelous light’ (1 Pet. 2:9). ‘But ye out of death, resurrection life, ‘newness are...that ye should.’ We believe in of life’; and the relation to sin and the Christ’s power and desire to win others, law which Christ had, became those of but for what? The whole purpose of the believer! Our experience of it all is salvation is that men and women may simply the entering by faith into what grow in the deeper stable has already happened at the Cross. characteristics of the Christian life-that “God now commands each of us to they might be conformed to the image reckon ourselves as having died with of the Lord Jesus Christ.” -G.D. Christ to sin-and therefore as now dead “The Christian life is not merely a unto sin; and as having risen with converted life nor even a consecrated Christ, and therefore now alive to God life, but it is the Christ-life. It is the (Rom. 6:11). Now it is always on the consuming desire of the Lord Jesus to basis of what God has done that He reincarnate Himself in the believer.” - asks us to reckon, to appropriate. God R.P. makes the facts and tells us to take the “Neither as being Lord over God’s attitude that befits these facts; and heritage, but being ensamples to the when we obey, He increasingly works flock” (1 Pet 5:3). our experiential victory in and through us.” -W.R.N. 3-4. Doctrinal-Experiential “Give attendance . . . to doctrine” (1 “Ye have obeyed from the heart that Tim. 4:13). form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Rom. 6:17). 3-5. Substitute-Representative The only true, consistent, and “Crucified with Him” (Rom. 6:6). Christ-honoring experience is that Often when a believer finally sees which emerges from clear-cut faith in his identification with the Lord Jesus in the explicit facts of the Word. Sound His death and resurrection, as set forth doctrine is the one basis for a mature in Romans Six, he will then seek to walk and effective service. “Thou shalt experience it by self-effort. The net be a good minister of Jesus Christ, result: Romans Seven! nourished up in the words of faith and “As our Substitute He went to the of good doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:6). Cross alone, without us, to pay the “We must remember that our death penalty of our sins; as our to sin was once for all accomplished at Representative He took us with Him to the Cross. There the believer shared the Cross, and there, in the sight of the death of the Lord Jesus; for when God, we all died together with the Lord 40 Jesus. We may be forgiven because He steadfast and establishes us...in Christ” died in our stead; we may be delivered (2 Cor. 1:21, Amp.). because we died with Him. “The good fight is the fight of faith. “God’s way of deliverance for us, a Nothing is easier than to step out of race of hopeless incurables, is to put us faith into feeling, or sight. But then it is away in the Cross of His Son, and then failure, and no longer a fight of faith. to make a new beginning by re-creating When we abide in the Lord Jesus, the us in union with Him, the Risen, Living force of the assault is borne by Him. He One. It is the Holy Spirit who will make takes the strain and the burden; whilst these great facts real and true in our the believer passes into His triumphs, experience as we depend upon Him; and is kept in perfect peace through it and so the plague of our hearts will be all. stayed, and we shall go on to be “The believer then understands the conformed to the image of the Lord meaning of Asa’s words: ‘Lord, it is Jesus Christ.” -J.C.M. nothing with Thee to help, whether with “The Holy Spirit so unites us to many, or with them that have no Christ that Christian experience power....O Lord, Thou art our God; let becomes a reproduction in us of the not man prevail against Thee... (2 essential facts of Christ’s fourfold Chron. 14:11). Against us? No; against revelation He died unto sin: with Him Thee! Why? Because the battle is the we died (Col. 2:20). He arose: with Him Lord’s! How often we have looked at we are risen (Col. 3:1). He is in heaven: the battle as ours and have asked that our life is hid with Christ in God (Col. man shall not prevail against us. But 3:3). He will appear again: with Him we perhaps you are not wholly on the shall appear in glory (Col. 3:4).” -N.B.H. Lord’s side; and this may be the secret “Risen with Christ” (Col. 3:1). of your failure. If you want continuous victory, you must be on the side of Him 3-6. Responsibility who knows no defeat. The question is “These things I have spoken unto not whether the Lord is on your side, you, that in Me ye might have peace” but whether you are on the Lord’s side.” (John 16:33) -C.A.F. There are far too many irresponsible “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace believers. At the same time, there are whose mind is stayed on Thee: far too many over-responsible believers because he trusteth in Thee” (Isa. who are seeking to carry out the Lord’s 26:3). responsibilities. Our primary concern is 3-7. Imitating Is Imitation to trust Him, and rest in Him, while ‘it is God who confirms and makes us “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil. 41 1:21). silence than the humble, quiet, devoted Once we learn the truth of our union walk of a thorough-going, heavenly- with the Lord Jesus, and of the Holy minded, and divinely-taught believer.” Spirit’s indwelling, any attempt to “But the Lord is faithful, who shall imitate Christ will be seen for what it is: stablish you” (2 Thess. 3:3). unscriptural, and futile. 3-8. In-born Ministry “Our Father is going to teach us, mainly through personal failure, that the “It is not you who chose Me, but it is life we live is the life of our Lord Jesus I who chose you and appointed you that alone. The Christian life is not our living you might go and be fruitful” (John a life like Christ, or our trying to be 15:16, Wey.). Christ-like, nor is it Christ giving us the We must be born into our ministry, power to live a life like His; but it is our service; and it must be born in us. Christ Himself living His own life Thus it will be a sharing of life, through through us; ‘no longer I, but Christ.’“ which others will be born and will “grow “The end of Christ’s incarnation, in grace, and in the knowledge of our death and resurrection was to prepare Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. and form an holy nature and frame for 3:18). us in Himself, to be communicated to “Our Father will never put work or us by union and fellowship with Him; service in the place of character; and, if and not to be able to produce in we do that, eternity will reveal that, ourselves the first originals of such an however much we may have done, we holy nature by our own endeavors.” are very small amongst the inhabitants “Thc believer’s true education is in of the Land, whose stature will be the growth of Christ within. The measured by ‘the measure of Christ.’ It Church’s real ministry is not would be well if all who contemplate or multitudinous public services, so-called, are engaged in the work of God were but the forming of the Lord Jesus Christ governed by this one absolute final law: in the lives of His people; the that, both as to themselves and as to reproduction of Christ; epistles made those amongst whom they minister, the alive by the Holy Spirit, to be seen and ultimate test is-not how much work is read of all men.” -C.A.F. done, but how much of Christ is present, or results from the sharing.” -T. “There is no answer to infidelity like A-S. the life of the Lord Jesus displayed through the Christian. Nothing puts the “The Gospel can never be fully madness of the infidel, and the folly of preached by the eloquence of the the superstitious more to shame and evangelist; it finds its true authority only in the lives of those it has laid hold of. 42 We live in a day when it is easy to question, whether it concerns ourselves evade the Cross worked out in our or others, we can, from that moment, lives, and in which we are apt to place begin praying downwards from the our confidence in modern methods, and Throne, instead of praying upwards techniques of evangelism. But lacking from ourselves.” -L.T. the solid evidence of godly living and “We must not think the revelation as devotion to the Lord Himself, these will to the will of God is an end in itself; it is become ‘a fanfare of trumpets or the but the first phase of a prayer ministry. crashing of cymbals-nothing more’ (1 When Daniel had prayed through to an Cor. 13:1, Phil.) .” -J.C.M. understanding of the ways of the Lord, “Ye are My witnesses, saith the he then set himself three times a day to Lord, and My servant whom I have persevere in prayer for the fulfillment. chosen” (Isa. 43:10). His prayer ministry took him into the lion’s den, but it also brought him out 3-9. Prayer Perseverance again, and he was able to see the “God . . . hath quickened us together things through to the glorious end.” - with Christ and hath raised us up H.F. together, and made us sit together in “Let us therefore come boldly unto heavenly places in Christ Jesus’ (Eph. the throne of grace, that we may obtain 2:4-6). mercy, and find grace to help in time of What is our attitude concerning our need” (Heb. 4:16). needs in the Christian life and warfare? Are we outside the armory, struggling 3-10. Rest Of Sanctification and pleading for supplies? Or are we “According as His divine power hath inside the arsenal, ready to be fully given unto us all things that pertain unto supplied and armed as our daily needs life and godliness, through the require? “Be strong in the Lord-be knowledge of Him that hath called us to empowered through your union with glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3). Him; draw your strength from Him” It is necessary for our Father to (Eph. 6:10, Amp.). utilize very firm means in order to “It has come these days with new separate us from the ingrained idea that light and power that the first thing we sanctification is produced by our work, have to see to as we draw near to God plus His help. day by day is that our fellowship is with “A superficial acquaintance with the Father, and with His Son Jesus God’s plan leads to the view that while Christ. If we listen in the stillness till our justification is God’s work, by faith in hearts begin to respond to what He is Christ, sanctification is our work, to be thinking and feeling about the matter in performed under the influence of the 43 gratitude we feel for the deliverance we spectators in the battle of life. Later, have experienced and by the aid of the when we know Him better and are Holy Spirit. But the earnest Christian thereby able to trust Him more fully, we soon finds how little gratitude can become willing to let our Father take us supply the power. When he thinks more down into the arena and make us prayer will bring it, he finds that, participators. “No man that warreth indispensable as prayer is, it is not entangleth himself with the affairs of enough. Often the believer struggles this life; that he may please Him who hopelessly for years, until he listens to hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Tim. the teaching of the Spirit, as He glorifies 2:4). Christ again, and reveals Christ, our “If you would know victory you must Sanctification, to be appropriated by have conflict; it is ridiculous to talk faith alone.” -A.M. about having a victorious life when you “Look not upon a life of holiness as a have never been in conflict. You must strain and an effort, but as the natural be prepared to enter the arena with the outgrowth of the life of Christ within Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and He will you. And let ever again a quiet, hopeful, give you lessons day by day. No one gladsome faith hold itself assured that can enjoy freedom without paying the all you need for a holy life will most price, even in the ordinary values of life. assuredly be given you out of the If you would know what it is to triumph, holiness of the Lord Jesus. Thus will you must certainly pass through you understand and prove what it is to tribulation. If you want patience, then it abide in Christ our Sanctification. -A.M. is tribulation; if you want victory there “Whereby are given unto us must be conflict.” exceeding great and precious “Does Paul regret the thorn in the promises: that by these ye might be flesh that drew forth words that have partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. comforted countless millions? Do the 1:4). men for whom the winds were contrary wish they had been spared the storm 3-11. Bench, Or Arena? that brought their Lord to them, walking “Wherefore let them that suffer on the sea, and caused Him to speak according to the will of God commit the that immortal ‘It is I; be not afraid’?” keeping of their souls to Him in well “The things which happened unto doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Pet. me have fallen out rather unto the 4:19). furtherance of the gospel” (Phil. 1:12). Initially, all we are able to trust God for is our justification. During this stage 3-12. Not Pruning, But Death we are usually satisfied to remain “For the death which He died He 44 became, once for all, dead in relation to regard yourselves as dead in relation to sin; but by the life which He now lives sin, but as alive in relation to God, He is alive in relation to God” (Rom. because you are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:10, Wey.). 6:11, Wey.). When we seek to suppress self in 3-13. Not Influence, But Life one area, it will express itself in another. If we attempt to prune the “For the law of the Spirit of life in branches of the old life, we find that its Christ Jesus hath made me free” (Rom. root has thereby been strengthened. 8:2). The one answer to this enemy, both The more fully the Lord Jesus God’s and ours, is the daily crucifixion controls within, the less we will be of the Cross. influenced by externals. The more we “Romans Six is one of the most are affected by externals, the less blessed portions of the New Testament, freedom He will have within. teaching us that our ‘old man,’ our old “The Lord Jesus’ miracles did not nature that is in us, was actually have a character changing effect upon crucified with Him, so that now we need the people who saw them or no longer be in bondage to sin. But participated in them. They were but for remember it is only as the Holy Spirit a testimony to who He was. With all His makes Christ’s death a reality within us, miracles, in the end the principle of that we shall know, not by force of unbelief has not been rooted out of a argument or conviction, but in the single individual! Though they saw all reality of the power of an endless life, that He did, the deep-rooted unbelief that we are in very deed dead to sin.” - was untouched. The amazing thing- A.M. even with the disciples themselves-was “Not by a stringent ‘cutting off’ of that they were still capable of deep- exterior things, nor by seeking a mental seated unbelief. ‘O foolish men, and apprehension of ‘death with Christ’ in slow of heart to believe....’ ‘He the conscious life, but by a simple upbraided them with their unbelief....’ reckoning upon His death as yours- With all they saw, it did not touch shall you experience in the inner depths character, it did not touch their nature.” of your life, servant of God, the divine -T.A-S. spiritual reality that ‘Christ in you’ is in “As in the apostolic days so now the truth your very life, displacing the old desire exists for the manifestation of the life of nature and continually ‘making to Spirit in marvelous ways; but a life die’ its inclinations and habits” sober, righteous, holy, lived in the hope “In the same way you also must of the glory to come, is the more excellent way of the Spirit’s 45 manifestation and undeniable proof of the truth communicated to us in the His indwelling. The prayer should not bright day. The learning is at one time, be so much for this or that gift, or this or and the proving at another. In fact, we that result, as for Christ Himself to be ought to be prepared for the dark hour; made manifest to us and through us. so that, though it be dark, there is The Apostle who was most filled with something so blessed, so suited, the Spirit sums all up in that one great pouring its comfort and sustenance on word, ‘For to me to live is Christ.’“ - our souls, that, after all, the dark and W.F.E. dreary hour becomes a more really “It is no longer I that live, but Christ festive time to the heart, because of the liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20). virtues of the truth now made known, than the time of its reception, which 3-14. Light And Shadow was so happy and exhilarating.” -J.B.S. “Before I was afflicted l went astray: “But the God of all grace, who hath but now have I kept Thy word” (Ps. called us unto His eternal glory by 119:67) Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered The head-knowledge of Spirit-taught a while . . . stablish, strengthen, settle study becomes the heart-knowledge of you” (1 Pet. 5:10). Spirit-led life, via Romans 8:28 and 29. 3-15. Earthly, Or Heavenly? How good it is to have a sovereign Father controlling all! “Blessed be the God and Father of “You will find that no one learns truth our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath easily. He who built on the rock was not blessed us with all spiritual blessings in secure merely because he built on the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). rock; but he also digged deep. What The New Testament believer’s springs up quickly has no root. The spiritual growth is not based upon Old more you understand the nature and Testament doctrine. We are not to scope of the Word, the more will you neglect the Old, but its introduction of see the demand it makes on you and the law was designed to lead to the how unreserved must be your grace of the New. For a believer who is subjection to it; while as you are subject not yet established in the risen Lord to it, you learn the blessedness and Jesus, it is a temptation to go to the virtues of it. promises of the Old Testament for “The true value of anything is known comfort. This may result in some help only when it is wanted. For this reason at times, but also may bring frustration. bright days must be succeeded by dark It is simply not our ground. “So now we ones. In the dreary and desolate hour serve not under [obedience to] the old to nature, we begin to know the value of code of written regulations, but under 46 [obedience to the promptings] of the I did eat them; and Thy word was unto Spirit in newness [of life]” (Rom. 7:6, me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: Amp.). for I am called by Thy name, O Lord “‘The Law made nothing perfect’ God of hosts” (Jer. 15:16). (Heb. 7:19). It was given to discover sin “The best merely human literature and imperfection, not to impart holiness that was ever written will not feed the or perfection. The Lord Jesus has new nature. You may bring the noblest poured out His blessed Spirit that we thoughts which ever sprang from a believers, while on earth, might walk in human mind, you may couch them in that spirit of life and liberty that prevails the most fragrant rhetoric that ever in heaven where Christ is. God has distilled the perfume of literature in the given unto us His human-divine nature, book lover’s nostrils and you will not and put within us His Holy Spirit. Shall quicken a single pulse of the new and we not therefore walk in that liberty in spiritual life. Shakespeare may analyze, which Christ liveth? For He lives the Milton soar, Bacon lead us step by step same life of blessed freedom from up the royal stairway of induction to the bondage, and of joyful service to God, throne of logic, yet not a gleam of light within us by His Spirit, as He does or pulse of strength will be added to the seated in a body, in heaven before God Christ within.” -I.M.H. His Father.” -W.R.N. “With God all is uncultured which is “If I would bring forth fruit and live to not in accord with the likeness of Christ- God, I must see myself as having died of Him in whose image man was first to law. Law is a principle on which we created. Christ is the typical Man, and cannot live to God any more than we all in our education which is not after can be justified.” the pattern, after His likeness, is “For I through the law am dead to the law, uncultured-only a caricature. We have that I might live unto God” (Gal. 2:19). only that degree of culture which results from the measure in which the image of the Lord Jesus Christ has penetrated 3-16. Christian Culture us.” “And He shall stand, and shall feed “But strong meat belongeth to them His flock in the strength of Jehovah, in that are of full age, even those who by the majesty of the name of Jehovah his reason of use have their senses God: and they shall abide” (Micah 5:4, exercised to discern both good and evil” ASV). (Heb. 5:14). To an overwhelming degree “we are what we eat”-spiritually as well as 3-17. Past History physically. “Thy words were found, and “For He hath made Him to be sin for 47 us, who knew no sin; that we might be to Christ.” -C.A.C. made the righteousness of God in Him” “He died for all, that they which live (2 Cor. 5:21). should not henceforth live unto The Lord Jesus was in our place of themselves; but unto Him” (2 Cor. death and judgment; we are in His 5:15). place of life and glory. 3-18. Cost Of Leadership Romans Seven describes the experience of the believer who has “Love suffereth long, and is kind” (1 been shown by the law principle the Cor. 13:4). terrible consequences of his position in The price of leadership remains high Adam. Romans Eight describes the and hard; it may be cheap and easy for experience of the believer who knows the dictator, for the hireling, but never whatit is to be “in Christ,” and who is for the shepherd. The dictator being made free experientially from “the dominates; the hireling flees; but the law of sin and death” by “the law of the good shepherd loves his sheep and is Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” loved by them. He lays down his life for “It is of immense importance for the sheep. True spiritual leadership every Christian to know that ‘our old involves this principle: “Death working man’ has been fully judged and ended in me works life in you” (2 Cor. 4:12, before God. Not changed or forgiven Cony.). but utterly condemned in the death of “It is the quality of leaders that they the Lord Jesus. ‘God sending His own can bear to be sat on, absorb shocks, Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and act as a buffer, bear being much for sin, condemned sin in the flesh’ plagued. Moses put up with the (Rom. 8:3). Where sin brought us, love complaints and the waywardness and brought the Lord Jesus-even to death; revolt of the people. He pursued a and His death is the end before God of steady course, enduring as seeing Him all that we were as children of Adam- who is invisible. The wear and tear and men in the flesh. the continual friction and trials which “On the other hand, we have life in come to the servants of God are a great One who is risen from the dead. We did test of character.” -F.M. belong to the race of which Adam was “Bridge the gaps! A bridge means head; but the death of Christ is, in something-generally a life laid down. God’s reckoning, the termination of our The very simplest bridge, a plank history in Adam. A new Head has been thrown across a stream, was once part provided for us, and we have been of a tree standing erect, sapping life transferred by divine grace from Adam from the earth, and beautifying all the area around it. Now it is dead, but 48 perhaps saves other lives; anyway it wrong basis. helps to make others useful, and is “God does not expect them, as a content to push others on, unnoticed, result of their own endeavors, to be like unthanked. ‘Seekest thou great things the Lord Jesus. He expects them to for thyself? seek them not,’ just be a realize the utter impossibility of such a bridge. It is so simple. See that others thing (as in Romans Seven, where Paul are placed on the right track with God comes to the end of himself). He through the Lord Jesus. When they get expects them to know the Lord Jesus there, they will not thank you, will never as their very life, disowning any other. look back probably at the bridge; but He expects them to realize their the Great Architect will know and love position of absolute oneness with and care.” -E.W. Christ, for He ‘has blessed them with “Let this mind be in you, which was every spiritual blessing in heavenly also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5) places in Christ’ (Eph. 1:3).” -F.J.H. 3-19. Effortless Grace “Be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:7, ASV). “God . . . called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me” (Gal. 1:15, 16). 3-20. Risen Fare Just think! Our Father has placed us “He humbled thee, and suffered thee in eternal and living union with His Son, to hunger, and fed thee with manna” that He, not we, may “be.” Moreover, (Deut. 8:3). He has placed His Holy Spirit eternally The wilderness wanderers were within us that He, not we, may “do.” maintained by manna, but those in Further, He has given us the necessary Canaan flourished on “the old corn of faith and Scripture that we may rest in the land.” The carnal Christian exists on this wonderful reality, trusting Him “to the milk of the Word, while the hungry- will and to do of His good pleasure.” hearted believer feeds and matures on This is a far cry from futile struggle and the meat of the Word. frustrating self-effort! “The old corn of Canaan typifies “Christians in the main groan and what the risen and ascended Lord strive and struggle largely on the basis ministers directly to us now by the Holy of human effort where the grace of Spirit. Those who appropriate their God, though acknowledged, is scarcely position in Christ feed no longer merely operative-only to come to grief. Even at on the manna, which represents Christ their best, they find the purpose of the as supporting our life while we yet Lord Jesus remains an ideal infinitely ‘know Him not’ as regards any intimate beyond their reach. The trouble lies in fellowship. the fact that they are proceeding on the 49 “If positional truth, rather than the This eventuates in my intelligently duties of attainment, were taught first to yielding myself to Him as one who is the saints, much more satisfactory “alive from the dead” (Rom. 6:13). results would follow the ministry of “God asks us to present our bodies many Christian workers. We should as living sacrifices to Him (Rom. 12:1). note most carefully that Israel was Until we have done this, there is brought into Canaan, all uncircumcised nothing else we can do. But notice that and unworthy as they were, before they this exhortation comes after Romans were asked to take the circumcised, Six. There is a reason for this order- separated position as the people of crucifixion comes before consecration. God, or enter upon their warfare. Uncrucified self refuses to be “So we, as believers, have been consecrated (to say nothing of God’s already brought by Jesus Christ our refusing to accept it). That is why so Head, in His death and resurrection, many people with all sincerity walk into the ‘heavenly places,’ and to us down the aisles again and again, have been given ‘all things that pertain consecrating uncrucified self to God.” - unto life and godliness’ (2 Pet. 1:3). H.D. And it is always on the ground of where “We must learn to know Him and to we already are, and what we already love Him. Then we will not have to are, and what we already have, that the struggle to move into consecration. The Holy Spirit shows us our blessed heart will lead into it. A lover never privileges and responsibilities of ‘the thinks about giving himself to a loved calling wherewith we are called.’“ - one. He cannot do otherwise. He loves W.R.N. to do it. Is there not here a key to “And the manna ceased on the consecration? Why do we not yield? morrow after they had eaten of the old Because we do not love. Why do we corn of the land” (Joshua 5:12). have to fight the battle and vow and groan and struggle? Because we do not 3-21. The Cross, Then Consecration know Him.” -C.A.C. “The carnal mind is enmity against “That I may know Him...and the God: for it is not subject to the law of fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil. 3:10). God, neither indeed can be” (Rom. 8:7). The Cross is the altar upon which 3-22. Deepened Channels God sacrificed His Son. It is upon this “God is faithful, by whom ye were same Cross (take up your Cross called unto the fellowship of His Son “daily”), this same altar (the place of Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). death), that I am to be consecrated to We want fellowship with the Lord God as “a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus in His peace and joy, and 50 naturally fear and seek to avoid merciful” (James 5:11 Wms.). suffering. However, it is in the 3-23. Calvary And Pentecost fellowship of His sufferings that we partake of His peace and joy. “But now that you have been set “The Lord has a wonderful way of free from the tyranny of Sin, and have bringing us into the fellowship of His become the bondservants of God, you sufferings, even when everything have your reward in being made holy” outside looks prosperous. Sometimes (Rom. 6:22, Wey.). the most apparently prosperous lives When the believer truly sees Calvary have the deepest sufferings at the back he says, “There, through the work of of them. The Lord must one way or the Cross, I died with the Lord Jesus another teach us fellowship with unto sin.” When the believer truly sees suffering, or we cannot be of much use. Pentecost he says, “There, through the We dwell much upon the side of being ministry of the Holy Spirit, I was filled with joy, but let us not forget there baptized into the risen Lord Jesus.” are broken hearts all round us, and if Here are the two mighty pillars of our we are to be channels of divine comfort freedom from the power and to them, we must learn something of domination of sin. the fellowship of His sufferings in our “The believer is to rejoice in the own experience.” double blessing of Calvary and “We shall err if we think that life in Pentecost. He is freed from the Sanctuary, hidden with Christ in condemnation because of the Blood God, means freedom from suffering, shed, and he is set free from the law of sorrow, and trial. Rather will the soul be sin and death by the indwelling Spirit strengthened inwardly to be trusted that he received when he came to the more and more with the ‘fellowship of Lord Jesus. It is not only that there is no His sufferings, becoming conformed condemnation, but there is liberty. unto His death’ (Phil. 3:10).” “‘The law of the Spirit of Life in “Our Father can advance His Christ Jesus hath made me free from children into conformity to the image of the law of sin and death’ (Rom. 8:2). His Son, more by suffering in one day, ‘...hath made me free....’ Let me walk in than in many years of ease from trial.” it; let me enjoy it, and I am free. I am “See how we call those who thus not struggling to get free; I have been endured happy! You have heard how set free in the Spirit, and I am bidden to patiently Job endured and have seen stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ how the Lord finally blessed him, has made me free (Gal. 5:1). I am not because the Lord is tenderhearted and struggling for victory; I am standing in victory. I have not to struggle to get out 51 of the horrible pit. He lifted me out; set the pleasure of the Lord prosper in His my feet on the Rock and established hand (Isa. 53:10).” -J.C.M. my goings; and He bids me, ‘Stand fast “The more useful anyone is, the in the victory that I have gained for you.’ more he requires to be brought to an Believe and rejoice in it, and you will end of himself, and to find that his all is know what it is to be free.” -G.G. in the Lord Jesus. We find some of His “Walk not after the flesh, but after servants deeply chastened at first, in the Spirit” (Rom. 8:4) order to prepare them for a useful course; and some after a useful period 3-24. Pattern Of Mercy are brought low and afflicted in order “That He might make known the that they might learn how truly and fully riches of His glory on the vessels of our Father is sovereign.” -J.B.S. mercy, which He had afore prepared “From Me is thy fruit found” (Hosea unto glory” (Rom. 9:23). 14:8) Mercifully, day by day, He unfolds before our startled eyes the evil depths 3-25. Cooperative Living of the self-life. It is thus we come to “Put away, as concerning your know Him as the “God who is rich in former manner of life, the old man” mercy,” and ourselves as “vessels of (Eph. 4:22, ASV). mercy.” Positionally, in the finished work of “Today sinful men, not angels, are the Cross and resurrection, we have entrusted with the preaching of the been cut off from the old man through Gospel, and before they can be used of death, and have been born into the new God must first of all have plumbed the Man by the new birth. “Ye have put off depths of their own sinfulness, and the old man...and have put on the new have, therefore, discovered the heights man, which is renewed in knowledge and glories of God’s longsuffering. In after the image of Him that created him” this way they can become a pattern of (Col. 3:9, 10). Experientially, day by His mercy, by means of which He can day, our part is to choose against the demonstrate His grace to others.” - old (“put off”) in favor of the new (“put J.C.M. on”), thus allowing the Holy Spirit “The power effectively to present freedom to apply the finished work of Christ as Lord, is by means of the Cross (Rom. 6:11). “I have been revelation deep within us, bringing into crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I being an unshakable knowledge of His that live, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. authority and might, and making us 2:20, ASV). content to accept our weakness and “The flesh need not be an ugly form nothingness in order that we may see of life, indeed it can be apparently very 52 nice, but it is alien to this new life in the on the person who did it, first be still, Spirit. It belongs to another race; it is and remember, God allows me to come not the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. So into this trouble to see if I shall glorify we are told that the Holy Spirit is in Him in it. This trial, be it the greatest or open conflict against the self-life (Gal. least, is allowed of God, and is His will 5:17). concerning me. Let me first recognize “It is equally true that the flesh lusts and submit to God’s will in it. Then in (strives) against the Spirit, but He is the rest of soul which this gives, I shall well able to take up the challenge. He receive wisdom to know how to behave will not quietly accept this rival to the in it. With my eye turned from man to rule of Christ, so He stands, with His God, suffering wrong is not as hard as it great weapon of the Cross, to render seems. inoperative everything which is a “The Lord Jesus knew that His menace to the life of Christ in us. He Father would care for His rights and calls us to cooperate with Him in this honor. But he who lives in the visible, matter by reckoning, for only so can the wants his honor to be vindicated at excellency of Christ be manifested in once here below. He who lives in the the believer.” -H.F. eternal, and as seeing the Invisible, is “Put on the new man” (Eph. 4:24). satisfied to leave the vindication of his rights and honor in God’s hands; he 3-26. The Hand Of God knows that they are safe with Him. “For this is thankworthy, if a man for Giving one’s all into God’s keeping conscience toward God endure grief, brings rest and peace.” -A.M. suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, “When He suffered, He . . . if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, committed Himself to Him that judgeth ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye righteously” (1 Pet. 2:23). do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God” (1 3-27. Softening Sorrow Pet. 2:19, 20). “Nevertheless God, that comforteth When self reacts correctly in a those that are cast down, comforted us” difficult situation, it can only result in the (2 Cor. 7:6). sin of self-righteousness. In order for All of us are going to have sorrow, Christ’s righteousness to be and none of us should miss its spiritual manifested, the Holy Spirit must hold benefits. “Godly sorrow worketh self inoperative by means of the Cross. repentance...while the sorrow of the “Accustom yourself in everything world worketh death (2 Cor. 7:10). that happens, to recognize the hand of “God’s purpose is to conform us to the Father. Before you fix your thoughts the image of the Lord Jesus. God had 53 one Son, without sin, but not without will of God in the matter. “The God of sorrow.” -A.S. our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou “Sorrow reveals unknown depths in shouldest know His will” (Acts 22:14). the soul, and unknown capabilities of “I do not think that a petition that experience and service. God never misses the mind of God will ever be uses anybody to a large degree, until answered (1 John 5:14). Personally, I after He breaks that one. It takes feel the need of trusting Him to lead me sorrow to widen the soul.” in prayer as well as in other matters. I “We cannot do good to others save find it well to preface prayer not only by at a cost to ourselves, and our meditation but by the definite request afflictions are the price we pay for our that I may be directed into the channels ability to sympathize. He who would be of prayer to which the Holy Spirit is a helper must first be a sufferer. ‘Who beckoning me (Rom. 8:26, 27).” -J.O.F. comforteth us in all our tribulation, that “When we once have the deep, calm we may be able to comfort them which assurance of His will in the matter, we are in any trouble, by the comfort put in our claim, just as a child before wherewith we ourselves are comforted his father. A simple request and nothing of God’ (2 Cor. 1:4). We cannot have more. No crying, no beseeching, no the highest happiness of life in wrestling. No second asking, either.” - succoring others without tasting the cup J.O.F. which our Lord Jesus drank. The school “The Lord may see it needful, for the of suffering graduates rare scholars.” trial (development) of faith, to seem for “Well, it is but a little while and He a season not to regard our will appear to answer all enquiries and supplications; yet, if we patiently and to wipe away all tears. I would not wish, believingly continue to wait upon Him, it then, to be of those who had none to will be manifest in His own time, and wipe away, would you?” -J.H.T. way, that we did not call upon Him in “And God shall wipe away all tears vain.” -G.M. from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17) “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him” (Ps. 3-28. Directed Prayer 62:5). “Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord 3-29. Tyranny Of Sin is” (Eph. 5:17). “You were set free from the tyranny Prayer to God must come from God. of Sin” (Rom 6:18, Wey.). There can be no prayer in the full The tyranny of sin over the lost assurance of faith apart from the known necessitated the death of the Lord

54 Jesus on the Cross. The tyranny of sin God!” -J.N.D. over the saved necessitated the death “But now, being freed from the of the believer in the Lord Jesus on that bondage of sin . . . your fruit is growth same Cross. The dual truths of Calvary: in holiness” (Rom. 6:22, Cony.). His death for our sin, as payment; our death with Him unto sin, for 3-30. Previously Prepared deliverance. “Let the same disposition be in you “The believer sees that Christ by which was in Christ Jesus.” “Forasmuch dying for him has completely delivered then as Christ hath suffered in the flesh, him from the penalty of sin. So it is his arm yourselves likewise with the same privilege to see that because he is mind: for he that hath suffered in the identified with the Lord Jesus in that flesh is at rest from sin” (Phil. 2:5, Wey; death, he is also delivered from sin as a 1 Pet. 4:1m). ruling principle. Its power is broken. He Too late! Too late! If we seek to deal is in that sense ‘free from sin’ (Rom. with sin by reckoning at the moment it 6:18, 22).” -E.H. becomes an issue. Our stand and “Through my life-union with Christ in attitude from the beginning of each day His death and resurrection, I have ‘died is to be a settled matter as we rest in to sin.’ His death to sin is my death to our risen Lord Jesus: the death of the sin. In my very humanity, Christ so took Cross separates me from the me up with Himself in death that, when enslavement of sin and self, and I He died unto sin, I too was executed continually abide in my new life, Christ and there died to sin’s reign and power. Jesus. My life is “hid with Christ in God” Has Christ so dealt with sin that He has (Col. 3:3). exhausted its every claim and “The reckoning believer is to meet dominion? And do I share with Him His every proposal of self-gratification death unto sin? With bold and explicit armed with the mind to suffer in the reckoning, then, let me count on my flesh. Sin is the gratification of self, but death-resurrection relationship to God ‘he that hath suffered in the flesh hath through the Lord Jesus. In Christ ceased from the domination of sin.’ crucified I have been discharged from “If you allow yourself to entertain a sin’s domination.” -L.E.M. suggestion of self-gratification-if you “When victory does not tend to consider it, and give it a place in your worship, we and God part company, so mind-you are defeated. You have laid to speak, as soon as the victory is aside your armor, and will fall an easy achieved. How sad to see victory often prey to the foe. But there will be no leading to mere joy, instead of still response to the suggestion or greater dependence on, and delight in, temptation if you stand armed with the 55 mind to suffer in the flesh. That which is the letter brings only failure, and proposed to you is exactly opposite to condemnation; for it prescribes a rule what you are set for. It is suggested which man, being a sinner, can never that you should be pleased and follow. It does not change a man; it gratified in the very thing in which you proves him ‘ungodly and without are fully minded to suffer. You are now strength.’ in conflict with sin-not going along with “We may turn even Christ into that it; you suffer in the flesh, and have letter of condemnation; we may take ceased from the practice of sin.” - His life, for instance, and make it our C.A.C. law. Nay, we may turn even the love of “So that he can no longer spend the Christ into our law; we may say, ‘He rest of his natural life living by [his] has loved me, and done all this for me, human appetites and desires but [he and I ought to love Him, and do so lives] for what God wills” (1 Pet. 4:2, much for Him, in return for this love,’ Amp.). etc. Thus if we turn His love into a rule of life, it becomes the ministration of 3-31. Now No Condemnation condemnation.” “Ye also are become dead to the law “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith by the body of Christ; that ye should be Christ hath made us free, and be not married to another, even to Him who is entangled again with the yoke of bondage” raised from the dead, that we should (Gal. 5:1). bring forth fruit unto God” (Rom. 7:4). Romans Six reveals our position as Number 4 having died unto the principle of sin; Romans Seven teaches us our position Although the pathway of the hungry as having died unto the principle of law. heart seems lonely, be assured that Both must be counted upon if we are to you are one of an increasing number abide in Christ, and walk in the Spirit, who are seeking, and finding, God’s as set forth in Romans Eight. very best as it is in Christ Jesus. “We have to look at ourselves and To this end we simply set forth see how far we are devotedly following spiritual truths for your study and the Lord Jesus, with full purpose of meditation, while you depend upon the heart-how we can say, ‘This one thing I Holy Spirit to establish your life more do’; but we must take care at the same fully in the Lord Jesus Christ. time not to get into legal bondage by “Meditate upon these things; give this standard. If I say, ‘Here is a rule of thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting conduct: follow it,’ this cannot reach the may appear to all” (1 Tim. 4:15). heart, the affections. The ministration of 56 -Miles J. Stanford; August 1970 “God never gives anything till the soul is ready to receive it. When you 4-1. His Hunger are ready you will long and hunger for “Oh that men would praise the Lord it.” for His goodness, and for His wonderful “For He satisfieth the longing soul, works to the children of men!” (Ps. and filleth the hungry soul with 107:8). goodness” (Ps. 107:9). Our Father gave us the hunger to be 4-2. Constant Care justified (John 6:44), and He gave us the hunger to be sanctified (Phil. 3:10). “The Lord recompense thy work, This same principle applies to our and a full reward be given thee by the service, our sharing. He never pushed Lord God of Israel, under whose wings us, but drew us in loving kindness-and thou art come to trust” (Ruth 2:12). He would treat others likewise, through The Lord Jesus not only died for us. every sin in our life, but He lives for “If we are not living near the Lord every second of our life. We cannot rest Jesus and are not where we should be, in Him until we realize that there is we neither have an appetite for spiritual never an instant that He is not caring things, nor can we feed upon Him who for us. It is as though each of His own is the living Bread. When God pours were His only one. into you a hunger for your Beloved and “So many saints are disturbed, so begins to reveal your privileges in Him, many are restless, because they are rejoice with great joy and gratitude not living in the knowledge that they are toward God. If He did not put into our under the care of the Lord; and then hearts the longing to know Him better there is no power to walk. Why have and to have His very best, we would be you so little power in walk or service? It satisfied with the least we could have is because you are not yet clear that and be saved.” -C.H.MacI. the Lord is caring for you, that He is in “How wondrous are the working and all watchfulness over you, that He has drawings of God upon a human heart! let down the strong pinions of His How little do we behold Him or know protecting care till they sweep the that which He is doing, as day by day ground around you, and, if you are He works down in the depths of our wise, you will creep up close under His beings. The most favored place a child wings, into the very down.” -J.B.S. of God can be in, is to continually feel “It belongs to the nature of our the drawing of God urging and pilgrimage and life of faith, that we constraining him to a greater hunger for cannot see the land for which we are Him.” bound. If only thou hast bid farewell to 57 thy past, have confidence in thy God; which is so sadly evident: ‘Lord, I was trust Him to bring thee into a better land so busy tending Thy Vineyard, that my than the one thou art leaving. Should own vineyard I have not kept’ (S.S. we find that Divine things do not at 1:6).” -C.H.MacI. present correspond with our hopes, we “Our Lord is more concerned for a may be quite sure they will eventually testimony than for a work. We need to exceed our expectations; we shall get clear on that. A good deal of realize above all we ask or confusion comes in when you begin to comprehend.” -O.S. think of things in the light of a work. “And a man shall be like an hiding When you get a lot of people leaving place from the wind, and a covert from their employment to go into ‘the work,’ the tempest; like rivers of water in a dry all kinds of complications arise. It is not place, like the shadow of a great rock in that we aren’t to serve the Lord, but in a weary land” (Isa. 32:2). the first place it is not the work the Lord is after, it is a testimony, it is a light, a 4-3. Growth For Service living flame.” “My little children, of whom I travail “That ye might walk worthy of the in birth again until Christ be formed in Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in you” (Gal. 4:19). every good work and increasing in the A ministry of life, whether it be at the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10) kitchen sink, or from the First Church pulpit, must flow from the life of the 4-4. Internal Priority Lord Jesus Christ. That life must be “Christ in you, the hope of glory” developed in and shared through the (Col. 1:27). growing believer, by the Holy Spirit. We Beware! The world, both secular and are to rest in Him for spiritual growth, religious, is seeking to destroy your and He will work through us for spiritual individuality by conforming you to the service. mass of faceless ones. But our heritage “He, whom the Lord cannot trust and destiny in the Lord Jesus Christ is with the faithful care of his own to be conformed to His image-not at the vineyard, will not be trusted with the loss of our individual personality, but by tending of God’s Vineyard of living, the gain of His nature and character. “I immortal souls. How shall we face the in you”; “Christ liveth in me” (John 15:4; Owner of the Vineyard, if we have Gal. 2:20). neglected our own lives; if we have not “Something has got to be done in us entered into that which God has shown as well as for us. We want to proceed us; if we must say, when He asks us on the line of having things done for us, about the lack of fruit and the neglect heaven intervening for us, our 58 difficulties removed for us, having a “A sense of spiritual poverty is straight path made for us. Heaven may necessary to spiritual growth. This be ready to come in, the Lord may be awareness of failure becomes acute to prepared to work for us, but it is not the believer during those days when he sufficient for Him-and it would not prove is attempting to attain holiness of heart good enough for us-if that were all. The through self-effort. Knowing what he very principle of spiritual growth and ought to be and do, he proceeds to try maturity demands that He keep the to reach those goals. He purposes, objective and the subjective balanced; resolves, promises, struggles, weeps, that is, that something is done in us as and fails again. His testimony, with well as for us.” -T.A-S. Paul, is, ‘The things that I want to do, I “We are apt to think that if and when do not do, and the things that I do not the circumstances and conditions of our want to do, I do’ (Rom. 7:15). lives are changed and we are in “What a delightful day it is for him another position than the one we now when he realizes that ‘in him, that is, in occupy, then something will happen, his flesh, dwelleth no good thing’ (Rom. the purpose of God will begin to be 7:18). Only then does he, in his failure, fulfilled. But the Lord says, ‘No, it is not cry out, ‘Who shall deliver me from the circumstances, not conditions, at all; it body of this death?’ ‘I thank God is you.’“ through Jesus Christ our Lord’ (Rom. “Being confident of this very thing, 7:24, 25) comes back the reply. He that He who hath begun a good work in begins to recognize that God expects you will perform it until the day of Jesus only failure from the flesh, never Christ” (Phil. 1:6). success, but that ‘in Christ’ is his sanctification, his growth. Thus it is that 4-5. Rags To Riches freedom comes through bondage, life “But I see another law in my through death.” -W.W. members, warring against the law of my “For the law of the Spirit of life in mind, and bringing me into captivity to Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin which is in my members” the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). (Rom. 7:23). 4-6. Reliance In Toto Self is the believer’s indwelling enemy; its degrading bondage is his “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, deepest heartache. However, the reign and God, even our Father, which hath of self is overthrown by its own enmity, loved us, and hath given us everlasting since it creates the needs that cause us consolation and good hope through to hunger for and appropriate Christ’s grace” (2 Thess. 2:16). life and liberty. It has been well said that “it takes a 59 lifetime to learn real dependence upon after righteousness, ye that seek the God, and to accept practically our own Lord; look unto the rock from which ye inadequacy.” We are going to learn this are hewn” (Isa. 51:1). only through experience, and now is the If we care for His glory, we will want time to settle down to this schooling-a to serve. If we care for others, we will day at a time. want to be well prepared for that “We are to understand that God service. And that care will enable us to loves us, and that He justifies us by the hold still and trust Him through all that work of His Son. We have no longer is entailed in the preparation. conscience of sins before God, “When a certain breaking down of because He Himself has taken them self takes place in a believer’s life, it away before His eyes; we know that produces a marked change in him; but being united to the Lord Jesus Christ, afterwards he has to learn it all in who has fully glorified God in that which detail.” -J.N.D. concerns our sins, we have been made “This is a fact borne out in the case the righteousness of God in Him. So of every servant of God in history who the heart is free to enjoy His love in the has really come under the hand of God- presence of the Father.” -J.N.D. that the real values of their lives for all “I no longer attempt to produce that time have been those which correspond which will satisfy God from myself as to the wine of the grape, the thing originator. I know that even if I try I shall trodden out in the winepress, the agony only fail. But I do seek to please God by of heart; and you know that it is true in faith in the activity of Another. The Son your case that if ever you have had of God who indwells me by His Spirit is anything at all which you knew to be able and willing to carry out in me worthwhile and which has helped ‘those things that please Him’; and I someone else, it has been born out of count upon Him to do so. Consciously, some travail in your own experience.” day by day, I take the attitude that I “If we knew the heart of our Father trust Him to work the will of God in me, we would never question any of His and in that attitude I go forward and dealings with us, nor should we ever serve Him. I do not trust myself. ‘I live desire His hand lifted off us till we had by faith in the Son of God.’“ -A.I.K. learnt all He would teach us.” -E.D. “Comfort your hearts, and establish “Now, therefore, ye are no more you in every good word and work” (2 strangers and sojourners, but fellow Thess. 2:17). citizens with the saints, and of the 4-7. Hand Hewn household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and “Hearken unto Me, ye that follow 60 prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being stand quiet in the thick of it all, and say, the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:19, 20). ‘God is God,’ and know that you are held by Him-which is infinitely better 4-8. Triumph In Trial than all your trying to hold things “Always guarded by the power of steady.” God through faith.... In such a hope “Therefore, my brethren . . . stand keep on rejoicing, although for a little fast in the Lord” (Phil. 4:1). while you must be sorrow-stricken with various trials” (1 Peter 1:5, 6, Wms.). 4-9. Llttle-known Requisite There are testimonies, and there are “My beloved children, I am again testimonies. Some can testify as to how bearing the pangs of travail for you, till God cleared up adverse circumstances Christ be fully formed within you” (Gal. for the victory; but others can testify to 4:19, Cony.). the triumph God gave in the midst of It is essential that we “grow in grace, difficult circumstances. The essential and in the knowledge of our Lord and consideration is that our Father be Saviour Jesus Christ,” for three glorified in all His dealings with and for reasons: (1) that our Father may be us. How He brings it all about should be glorified; (2) that the Lord Jesus might secondary to us. be manifested in us; (3) that the Holy “If there is a great trial in your life Spirit might have a suitable instrument today, do not own it as a defeat, but through which to win and establish continue, by faith, to claim the victory others. through Him who is able to make you “Paul had one great consuming more than conqueror, and a glorious purpose to be brought to birth by his triumph will soon be apparent. Let us sufferings for the Galatians, and that learn that in all the hard places our was the living expression of the Lord Father brings us into, He is making Jesus Christ in them. Nothing less opportunities for us to exercise such could satisfy God, and nothing less faith in Him as will bring about blessed than this should ever satisfy a servant results and greatly glorify His Name.” of God. Numbers were still good in “God has put you in exactly the right Galatia, activities well maintained and crucible to burn up what He sees needs zeal unabated, but the Lord Jesus was to be burnt up. Many think ‘victory’ being crowded out-and that is the means getting your circumstances put greatest tragedy possible.” -H.F. right. No! true triumph is within-when in “It is a marvellous grace that we the midst of your circumstances the should be conformed to the image of Spirit of God can so energize you and God’s Son. I think it is very sad that the strengthen you in spirit, that you can highest thought which God has about 61 us, and that which His heart is set on, is rather than upon an experience. that which is least known by Christians; However, those who really appropriate for I know no truth that is so little this truth cannot fail to have daily realized as union with Christ.” -J.B.S. experiences with the Lord.” -L.L.L. “Who hath saved us, and called us “Nowhere in Scripture is it taught with an holy calling, not according to that there is a sudden leap to be taken our works, but according to His own from carnality to spirituality, or from a purpose and grace, which was given us life of comparative unconcern as to in Christ Jesus before the world began” godliness to one of intense devotion to (2 Tim. 1:9). the Lord Jesus. On the contrary, increase in piety is ever presented as a 4-10. Truth, Then Experience growth, which should be as normal and “But grow in grace, and in the natural as the orderly progression in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour human life from infancy to full stature.” - Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). H.A.I. The Christian who relies mainly “Meditate upon these things; give upon “experiences” for growth will thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting manifest little spiritual discernment, may appear to all” (1 Tim. 4:15). dependability or maturity, whereas the believer who relies upon doctrinal truth 4-11. Inwrought For Outreach will be found to manifest these aspects “Rooted and built up in Him, and of a healthy walk. If we bypass truth, we established in the faith, as ye have fall short of spiritual reality. been taught, abounding therein with “Many people today are seeking for thanksgiving” (Col. 2:7). a new religious experience and when At first our concern is to be used, to the last grows old, they seek to get yet serve; but it is our concern. Then He another experience. The actual need of begins to impress His concern upon our most believers today is not an hearts, that we be like Him. Finally, it is experience, but a true apprehension of His concern and ours that others may what the Lord Jesus Christ be reached by Him and established in accomplished on the Cross for us and Him. of our present day union with Him. “The Holy Spirit indwells us and “When a person begins to thereby accomplishes our apprehend what it means to be united sanctification-an adjustment of our to the Son of God and what he has personal lives to His own person and through this union, he will at once character, to the dropping away of sin’s realize that his spiritual growth depends power over us and the implanting of His upon a clear understanding of truth Christ-imparting attributes in us. But to 62 what purpose is all of this? For the of the Object. beautifying of our personal lives? To “I find that Christ loved me, and terminate upon us? Not at all. His work gave Himself for me when I was in a in us is that He may have an instrument most unattractive state; but He makes adjusted to His use, thus to work me suitable to Himself, and I am so through us to the blessing of others. - assured of the permanency of His love N.B.H. and of my association with Him that my “It is not so much a matter of our heart is free to study Him. The more I attainments or full conformity to Christ, am in His company, the more I acquire but rather our progressive movement the tastes and characteristics which towards the final goal. Even if we were answer to His mind.” perfect in ourselves, that would not “There is an amazing effect of make us ministers, for ministry consists beholding the Lord’s glory. You may be in the Spirit’s manifesting in our lives transformed from some old taste something more of Christ that was not without even feeling it; but you are there before, and then making it shine transformed! and you cannot tell how. It out for the blessing and transformation is not the process that occupies you, of others.” -H.F. but you are engrossed with the Lord. “And the Lord make you to increase We are united to the glorified Lord and abound in love one toward another, where He is at home, and, blessed by and toward all men” (1 Thess. 3:12). God, that is our home, our life is there.” -J.B.S. 4-12. Not How, But Who! “Your life is hid with Christ in God” “Seek those things which are above, (Col. 3:3). where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). 4-13. Dual Reckoning We never question how He works, “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness once we know Him for who He is. When of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). I gain the treasure of knowing Him, I “Reckoning” on the work of the can well afford to trust Him. Cross is the only relief from the carnal “The heart that is captivated by an burden of self. Then comes the spiritual object could never be at rest until it was burden of Christ-to be more like Him. with the one who had won it; for “Reckoning” is the answer there, too. satisfaction you must be where He is. “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to Love really does not think of anyone but be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto its Object until it is quite sure of its God through [in] Jesus Christ our Lord” place with Him, and then when at rest (Rom. 6.11). If we seek to escape the about itself it studies the mind and heart death, we will not experience the life. 63 “We are not to try to crucify self, but “The Lord Jesus on the Cross we are to agree (reckon) with what God removed the barriers which separated has said and done. In the lives of most me from God-my guilt, my sin, the law; believers self has usurped the place and He dealt with my enemies-the belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is world, the flesh, the devil. These six a criminal worthy of death, but the things were dealt with, so that we need trouble is that they do not realize that no longer be in bondage through fear this self-life has been crucified on the and that we may come boldly to the Cross. They do not believe the facts of throne of grace. the Word, and sin therefore reigns in “Have we given a hearty assent to their lives; they live in bondage to sin, these things which the Lord Jesus did praying for deliverance, praying that for us? Or have we, as we read the they may die to sin, but refusing to Word, drifted by them, taking it all for believe what God says He has already granted? Let us lay hold of that for done.” -L.L.L. which God has laid hold of us. Let us “The constant tendency is to try to gird up the loins of our mind and improve the manner of one’s life here consent to that which He did for us. Let below by adopting Christian principles, us enter into all that which being united whereas you will never arrive at it to Christ as our Life means. Let us unless you start from ‘crucified with rejoice in all that was accomplished for Christ.’ Then it is not thinking of what I us on Calvary.” -L.L.L. am, but of what He is, ‘Christ liveth in “It is necessary that the truth me.’“ -J.B.S. conferred by grace should be known as “And ye are complete in Him, who is a possession and the virtue of it the head of all principality and power” apprehended, before there can be any (Col. 2:10). walk in keeping with it. For if there be ignorance or misapprehension, the 4-14. Appreciation, Not Depreciation truer the conscience, the more “Let the word of Christ dwell in you defective is the practice.” -J.B.S. richly” (Col. 3:16). “Set your affection on things above” As believers we rejoice in the fact (Col. 3:2) that the Lord Jesus died for us, but few are affected by the fact that He arose 4-15. Purpose, Provision, Process for us. Fewer still realize that we died “I beseech Thee, show me Thy and arose with Him. Learn the facts! glory” (Ex. 33:18). There will be continual struggle and There are three vital factors that will failure until we gain adequate keep us on the path, and in the power, understanding of the liberating truth. of spiritual growth: (1) study to know 64 that God’s purpose in saving us is to 3:18, Cony.). conform us to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28, 29); (2) learn to reckon 4-16. Handicapped For Christ upon the finished work of the Cross as His provision for that purpose (Rom. “My grace is sufficient for thee; for 6:11); (3) yield to the Holy Spirit as He My strength is made perfect in [your] carries out the daily process of that weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). purpose (2 Cor. 4:11). In self we are crippled; in Christ we “Christ Jesus’ earthly life showed the conquer. The secret is to face up to the path, His heavenly life gives the power, former, and rest in the latter. The in which we are to walk. What God hath disadvantaged believer has all the joined together no man may separate. advantage-he knows it must be “not I, Whosoever does not stand in the full but Christ.” faith of the Redemption, has not the “It is a great step when the believer strength to follow the Example. And fully consents to his own weakness, whosoever does not seek conformity to and the abiding consciousness of it, the Image as the great purpose of and so works faithfully on, fully assured Redemption, cannot fully enter its that his Lord is working through him. He power. Christ lived on earth that He rejoices that the excellence of the might show forth the image of God in power is of God, and not of us. His life; He lives in heaven that we may Realizing his oneness with his Lord, he show forth the image of God in our considers no longer his own weakness, lives.” -A.M. but counts on the power of Him of “God has but one way of revealing whose hidden working within he is Himself, it is ‘Christ in you.’ He has no assured. other way of showing Himself to men “It is this secret assurance that gives except as Christ lives in us; not by the a brightness to his look, and a gentle Shekinah glory in the temple built with firmness to his tone, and a hands of men, but in lives redeemed perseverance to all his efforts, which of and freed and cleansed as they walk themselves are great means of about in this dark world with Christ influencing those he is seeking to win. living in them.” -L.L.L. He goes forth in the spirit of one to “And we all, while with face unveiled we whom victory is assured; for this is the behold in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are victory that overcometh, even our faith. ourselves transformed continually into the He no longer counts it humility to say same likeness; and the glory which shines that God cannot bless his unworthy upon us is reflected by us, even as it efforts. He claims and expects a proceeds from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor. blessing, because it is not he, but Christ 65 in him, that worketh. The great secret of “To the believer who has been abiding in Christ is the deep conviction taught by the Holy Spirit something of that we are nothing, and He is his own utter, inbred sinfulness, it everything.” -A.M. comes as a message from God full of “Not that we are sufficient of hope and encouragement. He grasps ourselves to think anything as of the rescue rope flung to him by the right ourselves, but our sufficiency is of hand of Omnipotence, and with humble God”. (2 Cor. 3:5). thankfulness sets out to learn how he can reckon himself dead indeed unto 4-17. Rest And Receive sin, but alive unto God in Jesus Christ “I long to know Christ and the power our Lord. When he looks at the Cross which is in His resurrection” (Phil. 3:10, he sees there the fact that not only did Wey.). the Lord Jesus die for him, but that he The difficult thing for most hungry- himself was taken down into His death, hearted believers is to wait in in order that the practical reality of His dependence upon the Lord for resurrection life might transform him everything. Truth is not to be grasped, into the divine likeness.” -J.C.M. but received-received by faith, mainly “For if we have been planted through study. How true this is together in the likeness of His death, concerning reckoning! Many seek to we shall be also in the likeness of His reckon before they understand the resurrection” (Rom. 6:5). scriptural facts upon which to count, 4-18. Abiding Liberation and that adds up to failure. The secret is to learn the truth of our identification “For we preach not ourselves, but with the Lord Jesus so thoroughly that Jesus Christ the Lord, and ourselves reckoning and its resultant growth will your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. come as a matter of course, just as in 4:5). our justification. Our Father took the old fleshly life “The death of our Lord on the Cross into death at the Cross (Rom. 6:6). He has depths of meaning that can only be gave us new spiritual life in Christ at the plumbed by way of discovered need, resurrection (Rom. 6:4, 5). As we keep but then reveals ‘unsearchable riches.’ our eyes upon the Cross for the old, To the believer who still has hopes of and upon the Lord Jesus Christ for the ‘attaining’ in the Christian life, a verse new, all that will remain for others to such as Romans 6:11 is a rather see will be “not I, but Christ.” meaningless jargon used by those who “In Romans Seven, the personal give messages on the ‘deepening of the pronouns ‘I,’ ‘me,’ ‘my,’ are used 47 spiritual life.’ times in 18 verses. This is the way in 66 which believers live who do not know or “There is no way of deliverance from who do not recognize the fact of their the law and its bondage, into that liberty union with the Lord Jesus Christ. for which Christ set us free except to “To be occupied with self is to be believe, and to keep reckoning, that we defeated and to have failure and live in died to the law with Him, and are now sin; but to be occupied with the Lord risen, and joined to Another, the Risen Jesus will mean victory. He must be the One-even as Romans 7:4 asserts: ‘Ye center, He must be everything to me. In also were made dead to the law Him is liberation; apart from abiding in through the body of Christ; that ye Him is defeat and failure. Are you trying should be joined to another, even Him to please God, or trusting the One to who was raised from the dead, that we whom you are united, the One who did might bring forth fruit unto God.’“ - ‘always the things that are pleasing to W.R.N. Him’?” -L.L.L. “In man the law and the flesh always “In our Position (union) in Him we go together. The Cross was the end for are made manifest to God; we are holy both in the sight of God. The flesh was and complete in Him. In our Possession judged and condemned there; it was of Him He is manifested to men; He treated as a dead thing before God- lives out His life through us. As we are dead and buried; and the law which accepted in Him, so may He be deals with the flesh we are dead to. We manifested in us.” -N.B.H. have passed out of both; we are not in “But we have this treasure in the flesh (Rom. 8:9), and we are not earthen vessels, that the excellency of under the law (Gal. 2:19). -W.K. the power may be of God, and not of “But you are not living the life of the us” (2 Cor. 4:7). flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells 4-19. Law Of Life within you-directs and controls you” “For the law was given by Moses, (Rom. 8:9, Amp.). but grace and truth came by Jesus 4-20. Solid Gold Trials Christ” (John 1:17). We need not submit to the law, nor “For all things are for your sakes, do we need to struggle against it. It is that the abundant grace might through now a matter of our standing on the thanksgiving of many redound to heavenly ground in our risen Lord, free the glory of God” (2 Cor. 4:15). from the influence and demands of the Since He is both my God and my entire principle of law. In Christ Jesus Father, and since all of the hardships we are motivated by a higher law, ‘the He takes me through are specifically law of the Spirit of life’ (Rom. 8:2). designed to conform me to the image of 67 the Lord Jesus, how can I help but trust God” (2 Cor. 1:4, Wey.). Him and rejoice in His faithfulness? It is a great comfort to know that “It is well to remember that the everything our Father takes us through- deepest and truest spiritual qualities are much of which may be hard and not learnt or established in us by our heartbreaking-has a dual purpose. That happy or enjoyable times, but in the which He utilizes to cause us to grow difficult ones! There is nothing wrong in spiritually is at the same time designed times of great joy and spiritual blessing; to prepare us for His service. He does in fact we long for more of them, and nothing in vain; He wastes nothing. look back perhaps to some days of “In the very service itself God makes much blessing in our lives or in the the servant fit to carry it out. A person is work of the Lord; but in the securing of first disciplined for service, and then in Christ in greater measure in our lives, the service he is made fit by it for the we find that it is by the things which we character of it. God has not servants suffer that we learn most. So let us give ready made. He makes them fit for His thanks for the joyful days, and learn all own service in connection with the race that the Lord intends by the days of they have to run. The word ‘chasten’ is waiting and difficulty.” -C.J.B.H. the same as that used in Ephesians “Faith asks for no props from the with respect to bringing up the children: men and things around it; it finds ‘all its it is nurture. We attach too much the springs’ in God; and hence it is that idea of severity, or retribution, to it.” - faith never shines so brightly as when J.B.S. all around is dark. It is when nature’s “Why does God take some through horizon is overcast with the blackest such deep and trying experiences? clouds, that faith basks in the sunshine Why is it that He does not allow some of the divine favor and faithfulness.” - of His children to have an easy way and C.H.M. to be satisfied and gratified with “For our light affliction, which is but elementary things? The needs of for a moment, worketh for us a far more others-that is why. exceeding and eternal weight of glory” “We know quite well if any have (2 Cor. 4:17). been able really to help others, it is 4-21. Trinity-trained because they have gone through deep experience, they have pioneered this “He comforts us in our every way, they have paid a great price for affliction so that we may be able to this freedom. It has been costly, but comfort those who are in any kind of worthwhile if others can be really affliction by means of the comfort with helped.” which we ourselves are comforted of 68 “But to God be the thanks who in attitude of reliance (‘by means of the Christ ever heads our triumphal Spirit be walking’) upon the Holy Spirit. procession, and by our hands waves in This is the believer’s divinely appointed every place that sweet incense, the task and place of cooperation in the knowledge of Him” (2 Cor. 2:14, Wey.). mighty undertakings of God. Thus, and only thus, can the Holy Spirit possess 4-22. Guiding Comforter and vitalize every human faculty, “If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not emotion, and choice.” -L.S.C. under bondage of effort to please God “If we are living in the Spirit’s power, by works of the law” (Gal. 5:18, m.). let our conduct also be governed by the The motivating principle of the old Spirit’s power” (Gal. 5:25, Wey.). life is the law; the motivating principle of the new life is “the Spirit of life in Christ 4-23. Fulfilled Law Jesus.” The one produces “the works of “For sin shall not have dominion the flesh”; the other, “the fruit of the over you; for ye are not under the law Spirit.” but under grace” (Rom 6:14) “To be guided by the Holy Spirit is to The believer’s attitude toward the be moved through the most delicate law is that it is “holy...and just, and relationships the heart can know. The good” (Rom. 7:12). He does not belittle ‘bit and bridle’ of the law must give way it by refusing to be under it; he honors it to the glance of the eye of grace (Ps. by acknowledging its fulfillment. “For I, 32:8, 9). At this point Satan, appearing through the law, am dead to the law, as ‘an angel of light,’ will seek to that I might live unto God” (Gal. 2:19). misdirect the believer’s life by making “If I say I am under law, and stop use of a morbid conscience, a mistaken there, I am left in spiritual anarchy. If I impression as to duty, or a lack of say I am under law and under grace, I understanding as to the exact teaching am in the current Galatian heresy which of God’s Word. However, Satan’s seeks to combine law and grace. But if I leadings are to be detected since they say I am not under the law but under are irksome, painful, and disagreeable. grace, I am giving a biblical and The leading of the Holy Spirit is sweet Christian testimony.” -C.I.S. and satisfying to the heart of the one “Our identification with Christ in His who is yielded to God. We must death places us in perfect reconciliation remember that the will of God is said to to a violated law. God has said, ‘The be ‘good,’ ‘acceptable,’ and ‘perfect’ soul that sinneth, it shall die.’ The (Rom. 12:2).” -L.S.C. believer has sinned, and has died in “The believer has an all-engaging Christ’s death. The law has said, responsibility of continuing in an ‘Cursed is every one that continueth not 69 in all things which are written in the externalities of Christianity, with its book ofthe law to do them.’ None have whole structure and system, that continued in obedience. But Christ has nothing but that which will overthrow, been ‘made a curse for us’; for it is disintegrate, destroy, and raise written, ‘Cursed is everyone that tremendous questions about the whole hangeth on a tree.’ Hence, crucified business, will bring them to the place with Christ, we have been accursed in where the Spirit of God can begin really Him. Not one jot or tittle has then to do the work He has come to do in passed away from the law, but all has them.” -T.A-S. been fulfilled.” -A.J.G. “Job was a true servant of God; but “If, then, when you died with Christ, he needed to learn himself, as we all you put away the childish lessons of do. He needed to have the roots of his outward things, why, as though you still moral being laid bare in his own sight lived in outward things, do you submit so that he might really abhor himself, yourselves to decrees?” (Col. 2:20, and repent in dust and ashes. And Wey.). furthermore, he needed a truer and deeper sense of what God was, so that 4-24. My Father Cares! he might trust Him and justify Him “I have heard of Thee by the hearing under all circumstances.” -C.H.M. of the ear” (Job 42:5). “But now mine eye seeth Thee” (Job The heart that is hungry to have 42:5). God’s purpose worked out in his life is going to be neither disappointed, nor 4-25. Fit First pampered. When it comes to seeing “And the servant of the Lord must self for what it is, there can be no not strive” (2 Tim. 2:24). pampering; when it comes to seeing the Our one responsibility, that of Lord Jesus Christ for who He is, there concentrating upon the Lord Jesus, has can be no disappointment. a three-fold result: (1) fellowship with “Why are the people of God Him; (2) growth in His image; (3) suffering?-that they may be conformed ministry of life to others. to the image of His Son. Of course, we “The love of the Lord culminates in may not need a world upheaval to do this, that we should be with Him. He this, but God is going to use all died for us, that whether we wake or conditions to that end, and, tragically sleep, we should live together with Him enough, there are multitudes of the (1 Thess. 5:10). I find the one who is Lord’s people who do need a world set on usefulness (Martha) does not shaking. advance like the one set on personal “They are so bound up with the affection to Him (Mary). The Lord give 70 us to be more personally attached to behold in a mirror the glory of the Lord, Himself; then we shall be useful are ourselves transformed continually according to His good pleasure.” into the same likeness” (2 Cor. 3:18, “There is one thing that all can do-be Cony.). ‘meet for the Master’s use’ (2 Tim. “Many a new believer has obtained 2:21); and this is the secret of relief in his conscience from his sins, usefulness. Usefulness is not activity; it because of faith in the Blood of Jesus is not merely being used, but it is Christ; that is, he does not see further fitness, cleanness, preparedness, and than Romans 3. He has faith in the separation of heart, singleness of eye, work of Christ, but has not yet come in the affections set on things above-all, in faith to Christ. He is like the woman fact, that proceeds from the judgment who touched the hem of His garment, and denial of self, and the manifestation assured of His work but not yet of Christ in the life by faith.” acquainted with Himself.” -J.B.S. “All my ability to act for the Lord “It is one thing to believe on the Lord Jesus here depends on my conscious Jesus, to be born again, to be saved. identification with Him where He is, not That is a glorious thing as a beginning, where He was for me; though as I but it alone will not take you right receive power from Him I walk here through all you have to meet; and if you even as He walked; His life is are really in the Lord’s hands He will manifested in me. -J.B.S. see to it that by virtue of need you are “But be gentle unto all men, apt to drawn into knowing more and more of teach, patient” (2 Tim. 2:24). His Son. It is the normal course of a true, Holy Spirit-governed Christian life 4-26. Know To Grow that, in order to get through, an “And this is life eternal, that they increase of Christ, a growing discovery might know Thee, the only true God, of Christ, is necessary.” -T.A-S. and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent” “That I may know Him” (Phil. 3:10). (John 17:3). 4-27. The Cross And The Spirit The heartbreaking knowledge of self brings a life-giving compensation, which “But God forbid that I should glory, is knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. except in the cross of our Lord Jesus The needs generated by the realization Christ, by whom the world is crucified of the sin of self produce the necessary unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. motivation and hunger which cause us 6:14). to focus upon the Lord Jesus and The Lord Jesus carried out the work become conformed to His image. “And of the Cross as to our eternal position. we all, while with face unveiled we The Holy Spirit carries out the work of 71 the Cross as to our present condition. Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18, Wms.). “He will take the things that are Mine 4-28. The Oneness Of Prayer and will transmit them to you” (John 16:15, Amp.). “And we have an assured “We cannot separate the Cross from confidence that whenever we ask the Holy Spirit. We can have no Easter anything in accordance with His will, He and no Pentecost, until we have first listens to us” (1 John 5:14, Wey.). had a Good Friday. Through the Cross The Christian life is the expression alone we are prepared for life in the of the Lord Jesus Christ through the fulness of God; only he who is crucified believer to men in the world, and in the with Christ can be a vessel unto honor. church. The prayer life is the Our ‘old man’ must be crucified with expression of the Spirit of Christ Christ, and in His resurrection we find through the believer to the Father in the roots of our new life. Whosoever Heaven. As there is growth in Christ, loses his life, shall find it. We must there will increasingly be prayer in the learn the lesson of the Cross, as Spirit (Rom. 8:26). condemned and rejected ones, who “Through the Lord Jesus every true have been crucified with Christ. believer is united to God in Heaven by “Then the door will be open for a life a life-link. We are not praying down of power and blessing. All that belongs here on earthto Onewhoisalongway to death must be turned over to the off in Heaven. We are one with Him death of the Cross, even as the body is there and He is one with us here! The laid away in the earth, because it devil is all the time trying to create a belongs to the earth. The Holy Spirit, sense of distance between us and the the Eternal Spirit, is unchangeable. He Lord: but there is no distance between brought Christ our Head to the Cross, if we abide in Christ, for no one can be and us His children with Him. For this closer to the Father than the Son, and workinusistwofold. On the one hand, we are in Him! -T.L.M. it leads us to death; and on the other “Efficacious prayer is to the glory of hand, to that life which God has placed the Father (John 14:13), in the Name of within us and which leads from glory to the Son (John 14:14), and in the glory.” -A.M. enabling power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. “And all of us, with faces uncovered, 8:26, 27). Compliance with these because we continue to reflect like conditions insures that the human will is mirrors the splendor of the Lord, are in agreement with the divine will. being transformed into likeness to Him, Transforming things, mighty indeed, are from one degree of splendor to another, wrought by prayer, but only such things since it comes from the Lord who is the as comport with the will and purpose of 72 God.” -L.S.C. our own, the end of which would be “If we want our own way we will find moral ruin. He intervenes and that everything is against us; but if we withdraws us from our purpose. He have chosen that God shall be dashes to fragments our air-castles, sovereign in our lives then everything is dissipates our golden dreams, and for us.” interrupts many a darling scheme on “And since we know that He listens which our hearts were bent, and which to us, then whatever we ask, we know would have proved to be certain that we have the things which we have destruction. ‘Lo, all these things asked from Him” (1 John 5:15, Wey.). worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be 4-29. Loving Kindness enlightened with the light of the living’ “Now the God of peace . . . make (Job 33:29, 30).” -C.H.M. you perfect [complete, mature] in every “Now thanks be unto God, who good work to do His will, working in you always causeth us to triumph in Christ” that which is well-pleasing in his sight, (2 Cor. 2:14). through Jesus Christ” (Heb. 13:20, 21). 4-30. Liberty For All My life is not only in His hands, but He is my very life. “For by Him were all “If ye died with Christ from the things created . . . and by Him all things rudiments of the world, why, as though consist” (Col. 1:16, 17). He controls and living in the world, do ye subject maintains the universe, and we can yourselves to ordinances?” (Col. 2:20, surely depend upon Him to care for us R.V.). who share His life. When it comes to spiritual growth “We are all of us prone to forget the and walk, any help from ourselves is a weighty fact that ‘God trieth the hindrance to us. The source is wrong. righteous.’ ‘He withdraweth not His On the death side, we are to receive eyes from the righteous’ (Ps. 11:5; Job deliverance from sin’s power through 36:7). We are in His hands, and under the Spirit from the Cross; on the life His eye continually. We are the objects side, we are to receive growth through of His deep, tender, and unchanging the Spirit from the Lord Jesus. It is a love; but we are also the subjects of His matter of receiving, not contributing. We wise moral government. His dealings are branches, not vines. with us are varied. They are sometimes “The old elementary legal rudiments preventive; sometimes corrective; of a legal age are for those ‘living in the always instructive. world’ (having an earthly temple and “We may be bent on some course of worship). Believers are seated in the heavenlies in Christ, and are spiritual 73 people with a sanctuary in Heaven. the fact that self has been to the Cross, ‘Touch not,’ ‘taste not,’ ‘handle not’; and that Christ is your life. The old man such commandments of men have no was crucified, and you cannot reform value. They perish with the using. him; all attempts of amiable people to “‘Voluntary humility,’ ‘neglecting of reform him are only denying the fact the body,’ ‘fasting,’ etc., have a show of that he has been dealt with in judgment. wisdom. They gratify religious pride and The responsible (law) man is not before self-righteousness, they ‘puff up the God now. It is now the day of grace. fleshly mind,’ but they are ‘not of any Everyone who receives His grace is set value against the indulgence of the free from the domination of the old flesh.’ The flesh is not subdued by man. The appeal to the believer now is fasting, nor pride by whipping, nor not to do, but to look.” -J.B.S. worldliness by neglect of the body. “The believer is never told to These are of ‘no avail’ though men ‘overcome sin,’ but to reckon, on the glory in them. Only the Holy Spirit ground of his death with Christ, that he brings one into liberty-and that via the has died to it. On the basis of death, he Cross. ‘The law of the Spirit of life in is told not to ‘let’ sin reign in his life. It is Christ Jesus hath made me free from to be dealt with by an attitude of death, the law of sin and death’ (Rom. 8:2).” - not by ‘overcoming.’ The believer G.G. therefore is not to be spending his “Stand fast, then, in the freedom whole life in getting victory over sin, but which Christ has given us, and turn not understanding his position as having back again to entangle yourselves in died unto sin.” the yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1, Cony.). “[We] are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the 4-31. Why Struggle? Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Number 5 Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). Our Father allows the believer to What is shared herein is designed to struggle with self, not for victory, but for further your acquaintance with the Lord defeat. Then the “wretched man” learns Jesus on high, and to enrich your to rest in the Victor. fellowship with Him and with the Father. Through prayerful meditation in None “Once you have begun the Christian But the Hungry Heart #5, we trust the walk, and know the blessedness of it, Holy Spirit will bring about a you are not trying to correct yourself, for strengthening of faith and an upward you know that all has been removed drawing of heart. from the eye of God; and you insist on 74 Furthermore, it is hoped that these Himself. ‘I am my Beloved’s’ (S.S. 6:3). thoughts may provide you an “The third step is the consciousness opportunity to try your “faith wings”-to that He loves me so much that He learn more fully the need to abide wants my company ‘His desire is above, and thereby walk here below in toward me’ (S.S. 7:10). Love’s delight is the “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. found in the company of its object. May 8:2). we know in a deeper way, and in a “And this I pray, that your love may fuller measure, the sweetness of abound yet more and more in personal intimacy with ‘the Son of God, knowledge and in all judgment who loved me and gave Himself for me’ (discernment); that ye may approve (Gal. 2:20). things that are excellent; that ye may be “Much ministry is lost upon us as to sincere and without offense till the day any practical result, because we are not of Christ, being filled with the fruits of prepared to be detached from things righteousness, which are by Jesus here, so as to be simply here for Christ. Christ, unto the glory and praise of And the preparation for this is to come God” (Phil. 1:9-11). personally under the influence of the -Miles J. Stanford; Sept. 1973 blessed attractiveness of the Lord Jesus. When we sit under His shadow 5-1. The Greatest with great delight, everything else “We love Him, because He first becomes so small, and loses its hold loved us” (1 John 4:19). upon our hearts.” -C.A.C. We first come to know something of “But we all, with unveiled face the Lord Jesus’ love by what He did for beholding as in a mirror the glory of the us; but that is only the basis for coming Lord, are changed into the same image to know His love in what He is to us. from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit The first is known at the Cross, the of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). latter is entered into through personal 5-2. Initial Preparation fellowship with the risen Lord. “Saul armed David with his armor.... “There are three steps in And David said unto Saul, I cannot go appreciation of His love for us. First, I with these; for I have not tested them” learn that He loves me so much that He (1 Sam. 17:38, 39). saved me. He is our treasure ‘My Beloved is mine’ (S.S. 6:3). The second Years of preparation are worth a step of affection is the consciousness moment of truth! Rest assured that that He loves me so much that He has once we are developed and trained by a right to me. He would have me for the Holy Spirit, the work whereunto He has called us will be ready and waiting 75 (Acts 13:2). “Our Lord must have an “That which we have seen and instrument which He has formed in the heard declare we unto you” (1 John fire and to which He has given peculiar 1:3). knowledge of Himself.” 5-3. Apprehended To Apprehend “The greater the knowledge committed to a servant, the more “I count all things but loss for the necessary and important it is that he excellency of the knowledge of Christ should be much alone with God about Jesus, my Lord” (Phil. 3:8). it, in order that he may realize the Positionally, our Father subjected nature and effect of it on himself before our old nature to the Cross and its he undertakes to make it known to resultant death. Experientially, He others. applies the work of the Cross to our old “It rebukes the haste and readiness life, thereby progressively holding it in with which many now enter the ministry, the grip of that death. He is “unforming” attempting to impress others with a the old nature in death, and conforming measure of the truth which they have the new nature in life. not proved for themselves. Surely the “Life more abundant requires that servant should ever be able to say: ‘I what He did for us shall be made good believed, and therefore have I spoken’ in us. In His Cross He dealt with our (2 Cor. 4:13). It is better to lose time as sins, and He also dealt with ourselves; to work in preparation for service than but that is something which has to be to lose time in repairing one’s mistakes made good progressively. It is as we in undertaking a work for which one is ourselves are dealt with in the power of not yet qualified.” the Cross that the way is made for His “A servant’s discipline must always life to express itself in ever deepening be in advance of the service prepared fulness. for him. He cannot lead beyond the “The fact is that it is the old life point to which he himself has been led. which is in the way of the new life and But when the depth and reality of the its full expression. It is the natural life truth has been established in his own which obstructs the course of the divine soul, he is made the channel of it.” life. Thus what has been done for us “I have found that many a thing has to be done in us,and as it is done which I had presented in an extreme in us that life becomes more than a way because I was sure of it, I put forth deposit, more than a simple, though in a simpler and a more real way when I glorious possession; it becomes a had touched it in my own experience.” - deepening, growing power, a fulness of J.B.S. expression.” -T.A-S. “You may have been in the fires and 76 have been having a pretty hard and of the life to God. Yes, the first painful time in your spiritual life, but that revelation of the secret of victory also only means that God has been may constitute a real crisis in the life of preparing you for something more. No, the believer, but that crisis or God is not a God who believes in experience can never, in itself, avail for bringing everything to an end. He is the future. always after something more. And if He “There is a subtle danger in relying has to clear the way for something upon some isolated experience of more by devastating methods (Cross), ‘sanctification,’ so-called. The victorious well, that is all right, for it is something Christian life is a Person, not an more that He is after. There is so much experience. Following the crisis, more, far, far transcending all our whatever phase or landmark in the life asking or thinking.” that may represent, there must be the “I follow after, if that I may daily reckoning, the moment-by- apprehend that for which also I am moment abiding and the control of the apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Phil. Holy Spirit. Whatever may have been 3:12). our experience of holiness, and the measure of spiritual attainment in the 5-4. Fixed Position past, we can never get beyond the “And He said to them all, If any man need of abiding in Christ and the will come after Me, let him deny continuous reckoning of faith.” -R.W. himself, and take up his cross daily, “For we, alive though we are, are and follow Me” (Luke 9:23) continually surrendering ourselves to True spiritual experience will result death for the sake of Jesus” (2 Cor. from our standing immovable in our 4:11, Wey.). position “in Christ.” All too often believers allow certain “experiences” to 5-5. Old Rejected, New Accepted move them from the faith-ground of “You were set free from the tyranny their objective position, and they are of Sin, and became the bondservants of soon adrift on the sea of subjective Righteousness” (Rom. 6:18 Wey.). feelings and unscriptural influences. The principle underlying resurrection “The Christian life is essentially a life is, of all things, death. “For since we continuous dying, and a continuous have become one with Him by sharing living. Of course, there may come a in His death, we shall also be one with particular crisis in experience where the Him by sharing in His resurrection. Spirit of God brings the soul face to Surrender your very selves to God as face with a definite issue as to a living men who have risen from the willingness for the Cross, and a yielding dead” (Rom. 6:5, 13, Wey.). Let the 77 facts of your position overwhelm the above, where Christ sitteth on the right feelings of your condition. hand of God” (Col. 3:1). “By exercising faith in the Word, The growth truths seem complicated apart from any feelings, be ‘planted and difficult to understand on first together with Him in the likeness of His encounter. However, with progress in death’ (Rom. 6:5). Only by thus grace we find them to be as clear and standing in your position will you begin logical as the truth of justification. For to experience ‘the likeness of His both time and eternity, all is summed up resurrection.’ Reckon on your life-union in John 17:3: “And this is life eternal. . . with Him. Reject the old life on the [to] know Thee, the only true God, and basis of your death in Christ on the Jesus Christ.” Study on! Cross, and count yourself alive in Him “The marvel of divine grace is that until He makes experiential your not only has everything according to the resurrection position. Do not forget that heart of God been secured for me you must stand firmly upon the specific through the death and resurrection of truths: ‘dead indeed unto sin-alive unto the Lord Jesus, but that I, a child of God in Christ Jesus’ (Rom. 6:11). Adam, should be, not only in peace with “The sharing of His life is our God where I was under His judgment, blessed experience just in the measure but that I am transferred from Adam to in which we share His death. So many Christ, and I am to have Christ formed of us are content merely that the Cross in me now. should be the power to save us from “I am born of God-of new and divine the penalty of sin, but death was not the origin-a new creation to be here on end of the manifestation of Christ. It earth now where I was a child of Adam, was resurrection, and it is the risen life, in the grace and beauty of Christ, led by shining forth in the believer, that alone His own power to stand for Him; daily can carry out the purpose of God in more and more transformed into the redemption. The believer, in whose same image from glory to glory even as daily attitude the mark of resurrection is by the Spirit of the Lord’ (2 Cor. 3:18).” seen, becomes what the world is “I used to study this passage and looking for, a convincing witness to the that passage to obtain guidance and power of the Living Redeemer.” -G.W. light. I see now that if I were really near “That I may know Him and the Him beholding His glory (2 Cor. 3:18), I power of His resurrection” (Phil. 3:10). should be transformed, should come 5-6. Transferred And Transformed from Him so impressed with Himself that His interests would, as it were, “If [since] ye, then, be risen with naturally control me.” -J.B.S. Christ, seek those things which are 78 “When the heart has found its rest “Many do not go beyond Christ’s and satisfaction in Him, it can turn to resurrection; they do not extend to His Him naturally and continually in every ascension. They do not know Him in circumstance.” glory. They are occupied with Him in “Set your affection on things above, relation to their own side.He was atmy not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). side and glorified God there both in His walk here and in His death; but He is 5-7. Abide Above now at His own side, and it is there I “And hath raised us up together, and intelligently realize the vastness of my made us sit together in heavenly places life, for He is my life.” in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). “My mind must rise above what I am The Cross has separated us from to what God is; then itis thatone is the power of sin (Rom. 6:11), the old formed by the revelation of what God is. man (Rom. 6:6), the world (Gal. 6:14), To this we are called.” -J.N.D. the law (Rom. 7:4), and the devil (Heb. “Faithful is He that calleth you, who 2:14). The Spirit has joined us to our also will do it” (1 Thess. 5:24). risen Lord, and we are “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). We are free-to 5-8. Position Possessed abide above; free-to fellowship with our “The God of peace . . . working in Father in glory. you that which is wellpleasing in His “The lack I find in souls is, that while sight, through Jesus Christ” (Heb. they know that their sins are forgiven, 13:20, 21). they do not know their new place. What Abiding involves a dual choice. We place do you have? Is it earth or can abide in the old nature and thereby heaven? It could not possibly be earth, become the victims of the internal civil for the Lord Jesus was rejected from war as depicted in Romans Seven. Or, the earth. It has a great moral effect we can abide (rest) in the risen Lord upon a person to be able to say, ‘I have Jesus, the Source of our new nature, a place in heaven; I have no property and thereby become the glad recipients on earth at all, it is all in heaven.’ of His life and liberty, as depicted in “‘It is the Lord’s property I have on Romans Eight. “The Spirit of life in earth, but in heaven I have my own.’ In Christ Jesus hath made me free from the garden of Eden, man lost his place; the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). the question to him then is, First-Where “How do we abide? ‘Of God are ye art thou? then, What hast thou done? in Christ Jesus’ (1 Cor. 1:30). It is all Every believer seeks to be clear as to the work of God to place you there, and the latter, but very few are clear about He has done it. Now stay there! Do not the former.” -J.B.S. be moved back onto the ground of the 79 old nature. Never look at yourself as to face up to the incorrigibility of the though you were not in the risen Lord Adamic life within, it might not take us Jesus Christ. Look at Him and see so long to be freed from its domination. yourself a new creation in Him. Look at “It is quite possible for every one of Him as the very source of your us to have a perfectly good conscience. Christian life. Abide in Him. Rest in the A happy state to be in! Have you a fact that God has placed you in eternal good conscience? Are you under union with His Son, and let the Holy accusation, under condemnation? Are Spirit take care of His work in you. It is you fretting and worrying about the for Him to make good the glorious badness of your own heart? That promise that sin shall not have means that you have not the answer of dominion over you’ (Rom. 6:14).” a good conscience to God. What is the “We should be spared years of matter? You are still looking for struggle and failure if we learned at something from nature, from the old once-as the converts did in the days of man. You had better give it up, as that Paul-that we ourselves were taken is the only way out; repudiate it. through the death of the Lord Jesus. “Tell yourself and tell the accuser The past blotted out, the pardoned once for all that in you, that is, in your sinner accounted crucified with the flesh, dwelleth no good thing, and you crucified Lord, henceforth joined as a never expect to find anything. The new creation to the risen Lord and now enemy knows it, and yet he is trying to sharing His life (Rom. 5:10).” get you on an impossible quest for “The Lord Jesus is all that we need something he knows you will never find, for all that we are.” and that is how he worries you. Years “Your life is hidden with Christ in of it! Then why not come onto the God” (Col. 3:3). Lord’s ground and out-maneuver him? Let us settle it that we can never expect 5-9. Wrong Source to find any good in our old nature. All “Rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have our good is in another, even our Lord no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3). Jesus. It is the law of the Spirit of life in There are two ways in which God Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:2).” -T.A-S. reveals to us the true condition of the “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty natural man. The first is via the Word: with which Christ hath made us free” “In me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no (Gal. 5:1). good thing” (Rom. 7:18). The second is 5-10. “Search Me, O God” via experience: years of struggle with the constant sinfulness and failure of “I, the Lord, search the heart” that old nature. If we were more willing (Jeremiah 17:10). 80 During the early, carnal years we removes the guile of heart that seeks to are afraid to face up to the sinful nature conceal its sin.” -J.N.D. within, not fully realizing that it was “For I know the thoughts that I think dealt with in condemnation to God’s full toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of satisfaction at Calvary. When we come peace, and not of evil, to give you an to see that all the old nature was taken expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). down into the death of the Cross, and in Christ Jesus we are completely clear of 5-11. Reliant Rest its penalty and power, then it is that we “Not by might, nor by power, but by begin to welcome the work of the Cross My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” upon all that of which the Holy Spirit (Zech. 4:6). convicts us. Our Father allows us to be “The natural man cannot bear the independent until by that means we thought of being searched by God; he come to know our own weakness and cannot stand to think of being found out need. “Strength is always the effect of in his true condition and character. But having to do with God in the spirit of to the truly hungry believer it is a dependence.” positive comfort to be assured that God “Some say, ‘I want to feel that I am knows everything about us; He knows strong.’ What we need is to feel that we the very worst that can be discovered. are weak; this brings in Omnipotence. He has searched out all that we are, We shall have a life of feeling by-and- and in spite of all He has thoughts of by in the glory; now we are called upon blessing concerning us. There is, to lead a life of faith. What believer but therefore, no fear of anything coming to knows from the experience of the light that might cause Him to change or deceitfulness of his own heart, that, had reverse His thought of blessing and we power in ourselves instead of in acceptance.” -C.A.C. Christ, we should be something. This is “Our acceptance with God in Christ what God does not intend.” is perfect, and therefore unimprovable. “The very essence of the condition It never alters; never varies. And it is of a soul in a right state is conscious very important for us not to mix the dependence. Now one may use the fact acceptance itself with our enjoyment of of completeness in Christ to make one it. Our acceptance is ‘in Christ,’ and independent. Two things are implied in therefore eternal; the enjoyment is ‘by dependence: first, the sense that we the Spirit,’ and therefore (because of cannot do without God in a single the working of the flesh) often instance; and, secondly, that He is ‘for hindered.” -J.B.S. us.’ In other words, there is confidence “The sense of His goodness in His love and power on our behalf, as 81 well as the consciousness that without godly and divine may be his intent. For Him we can do nothing.” -J.N.D. we greatly err if we think that having the “We are to walk humbly and lean divine thought is all that is necessary as ever and only on the mighty arm of the to our service; we must truly and living God. Thus the soul is kept in a efficiently be expressive of the thought; well-balanced condition, free from self- and this subjects us, as servants of confidence and fleshly excitement, on God, to discipline which we often the one hand; and free from gloom and cannot understand. depression, on the other. If we can do “Discipline for known faults or nothing, self-confidence is the height of shortcomings we can easily presumption. If God can do everything, comprehend; but when it is that peculiar despondency is the height of folly.” order of training which fits a man to be “But my God shall supply all your God’s instrument and witness, we can need according; to His riches in glory no more understand it than the plants of by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). the earth can understand why they must pass through all the vicissitudes of 5-12. Trusted Trainer winter in order to bring forth a more “He knoweth the way that I take; abundant harvest.” -J.B.S. when He hath tested me, I shall come “God leaves us in the world that we forth as gold” (Job 23:10). may learn the sufficiency of His grace in In every field, whether the arts, practice, as we know the triumph of it in industry, sports, or the Christian life and Christ.” service in general, the necessary “Jesus answered and said unto him, training goes far deeper and is much What I do thou knowest not now, but more rigorous than the actual thou shalt know hearafter” (John 13:7). performance. “Now, at the time, discipline seems to be a matter not for 5-13. Free, To Serve joy, but for grief; yet it afterwards yields “No man that warreth entangleth to those who have passed through its himself with the affairs of this life, that training a result full of peace-namely, he may please Him who hath chosen righteousness” (Heb. 12:11, Wey.). him to be a soldier” (2 Tim. 2:4). “The Father chooses the servant God has a unique plan concerning who is suited to carry out His will; but each one of us. The secret of realizing though that servant be endowed by Him our personal calling is not to look at with power to do so, yet unless he be others, but simply to walk in close controlled and disciplined by the Spirit fellowship with the Father. “My soul, of God he will continually fall into the wait thou only upon God; for my devisings of his nature, no matter how expectation is from Him” (Ps. 62:5). 82 “No one Christian has a right to stop the surge of the sea, driven by the wind on his way for another; he must go and tossed into spray. A person of that forward himself in individual sort must not expect to receive anything faithfulness. The effort to drag others from the Lord-suchaoneisamanof along with us is in reality but a device of two minds, undecided in every step he Satan to keep ourselves back. Note takes” (James 1:6-8, Wey.). Jehovah’s word to Jeremiah, ‘Let them First, we are to rest in the fact that return unto thee; but return not thou to our Father has made full provision for them’ (Jer. 15:19). Are any desirous of all our needs; positionally, we are going forward, let them not stop to carry complete in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then along with them ‘the men of Ephraim.’ it is that we can trust Him daily for His Farbetter is itto go on with buta few to “exceeding abundantly above.” “But my follow, than to get numbers with us who God shall supply all your need are only halfhearted.” according to His riches in glory by “You may say, ‘Show me a pattern Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19) man.’ We all like to copy; but there is no “It is true that all God requires of us gain in copying. You have to learn the we lack; but it is also true that all we Lord for yourself. All you learn for need He supplies. The believer can yourself will remain, and nothing else. give thanks that God has supplied all Every one has his own history.” his need as to standing, and He “It is plain enough that every engages to supply all his need as to believer is called of God to something walk. But while we see our Father’s definite. The real difficulty is to requirement, and recognize His ascertain the specialty, and this I do not provision, let us not overlook our think can be discovered but in nearness responsibility. to the Lord, and when you are “When we fail it is to this our failure interested in His interests. We first learn may be traced. It is not because the that He is interested in us, and then we provision has been insufficient, or gradually become interested in His unavailable, or afar off-but because the interests. It is then you apprehend your channel has been obstructed, the mission in life.” -J.B.S. avenues of the soul have been closed, “And if a man also strive for so that the need has remained masteries, yet is he not crowned, unsupplied. Our responsibility lies in the except he strive lawfully” (2 Tim. 2:5). exercise of faith.” -E.H. 5-14. Full Provision “I will not think of the infinities of my need, except to lead me to the divine “Let him ask in faith and have no simplicity of the infinity of His supply.” - doubts; for he who has doubts is like 83 H.C.G.M. permission. You can, therefore, be “And this is the confidence that we confident in every circumstance of life, have in Him, that, if we ask any thing however baffling, that it has been according to His will, He heareth us; permitted in your own best interest by and if we know that He hear us, the wisest and most loving of fathers, whatever we ask, we know that we who knows our ‘load-limit’ (1 Cor. have the petitions that we desired of 10:13).” -O.S. Him” (1 John 5:14, 15). “All that we pass through is that we may get a fresh view of the Lord Jesus, 5-15. The First Cause or a deepening of a former one; but “A man’s goings are established of often we are so occupied with Jehovah; and he delighteth in His way” ourselves and the circumstances, that (Ps. 37:23, ASV.). we fail to ‘behold the glory of the Lord.’“ Throughout time and eternity the -C.T. God of circumstances has every “If the external plannings of men or situation planned for our good and for Satan further God’s plans, they His glory (Rom. 8:28, 29). That is all succeed; if not, they come to nothing.” - that should matter to us. “Surely the J.N.D. wrath of man shall praise Thee” “For all “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast things are for your sakes, that the down; for the Lord upholdeth him with His abundant grace might through the hand” (Ps. 37:24). thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God” (Ps. 76:10; 2 Cor. 4:15). 5-16. Selfless Service “What the other person said or did to you was undoubtedly wrong and cannot “In whom also we have obtained an be justified. Nor did he do it at God’s inheritance, being predestinated direction; but God permitted him to do it according to the purpose of Him who for some wise reason which will yet worketh all things after the counsel of prove to have been abundantly His own will!” (Eph. 1:11). worthwhile for you. By the time that It is easy to just “let George do it,” action reached you it had become the but it is so unrewarding. There is a will of God for you, since to a yielded Christ-honoring ministry of being and believer there are no second causes. sharing awaiting each believer, and the “He believes the Psalmist’s secret is to let Christ do it! declaration that every step of his life’s “Our Father has a different line of pathway has been ordered by the Lord. things for everyone, and each of us has No trial or affliction can reach you who been sent into this world for some are abiding in Him, without His special mission. It is not a question 84 whether it is great or small; it may be Satan is allowed to sift, and try the only a flower to shed fragrance, though believer; he is used of God as a this is really the greatest of all. winnowing machine to clear away the “There is no higher service than chaff in us. moral influence, ‘thy whole body . . . full “No power in present things allowed of light’; and this, of all the highest to Satan annuls the will of the invisible moral order, is within the compass of God.” -W.K. all. ‘Christ shall be magnified in my “The story of Job shows clearly that body whether by life or by death’ (Phil. it is God who sets the limit to the extent 1:20).” -J.B.S. of the devil’s activities and power. From “A mark of the true servant is that he the human viewpoint the Cross looks is consciously nothing. John could like a colossal failure. In it the victory of speak of himself as only a ‘voice,’ and a the power of evil seemed complete. But greater than John was consciously ‘less ‘the weakness of God is stronger than than the least of all saints.’ The moment men’ or the enemy, and by the power of we think ourselves to be anything, we weakness having ‘spoiled principalities are out of the servant’s true position and powers, He made a show of them and spirit. There is a beautiful contrast openly, triumphing over them in it’ (Col. between John’s account of himself, and 2:15).” -C.J.M. the Lord’s description of him (John “It is inevitable that in a world like 1:22-27; Luke 7:26-28). The more this the faith of Christians must be tried. worthy we are of the Lord’s For we are in an enemy’s land, and he commendation, the less do we think of resents our presence. And we have an ourselves.” -C.A.C. enemy within our gates-the old man- “For we are His workmanship, that opposes us too. But take heart created in Christ Jesus unto good fellow believer, the trials of your faith works, which God hath before ordained will be found unto praise, honor and that we should walk in them” (Eph glory at the appearing of the Lord Jesus 2:10). Christ (1 Pet. 1:7). The happy outcome is a foregone conclusion. Trials work 5-17. Frustrated Enemy patience, experience, hope-and these “Then saith Jesus unto him, Begone, are abiding qualities. Satan, as it were, Satan” (Matt. 4:10). is God’s scavenger, and all he can do is There is a great difference between to remove out of your life those things a foe, and; defeated foe. A conquered that mar your joy, your growth, and your enemy can be put to valuable use in the service.” hands of the victor, and that is exactly “For this purpose the Son of God what God is doing with that old serpent. 85 was manifested, that He might destroy He has accepted them, and set His [undo] the works of the devil” (1 John stamp upon them, we receive them 3:8). back, to hold them as His property, to wait on Him for the grace to daily use 5-18. Gain Through Loss them aright, and to have them act only “But what things were gain to me, under His influence.” -A.M. those I counted loss for Christ” (Phil. “Above all the difficulty which Paul 3:7). had to meet in his care of the churches, As far as our Father is concerned, that which arose from our disposition to the early and middle years of the return to the law, or to ‘confidence in Christian life have to do primarily with the flesh,’ was the most frequent and our spiritual development. Maturity the greatest.” must underlie all abiding effectiveness. “I count all things but loss for the Most of our service during this time is excellency of the knowledge of Christ learning how not to do it. Jesus, my Lord” (Phil. 3:8). “Incalculable harm has been done to the deeper spirituality of the Church, by 5-19. Abiding Prayer the idea that when once we are saved “And this is the confidence that we the using of the gifts in His service have in Him, that, if we ask any thing follows as a matter of course. No; for according to His will, He heareth us” (1 this there is indeed needed very special John 5:14). grace. And the way in which the grace In order for us to pray according to comes is again that of sacrifice and His will, we must first know His will; not surrender. We must see how all our only that, but His blessed will must gifts and powers are, even though we become our will. “If ye abide in Me . . . be children of God, still defiled by sin, ask what ye will, and it shall be done and under the power of the old nature. unto you” (John 15:7). Prayer is the We must feel that we cannot at once fellowship of an intimate, living union; proceed to use them for God’s glory. as with all of the Christian life, it must We must first lay them at Christ’s feet, be carried on in dependence upon the to be accepted and cleansed by Him. Holy Spirit. He is known as “the Spirit of “We must feel ourselves utterly grace and of supplications” (Zech. powerless to use them aright. We must 12:10). see that they are most dangerous to us, “If I ask anything of God, and have because through them the flesh, the old received His answer, I then act with nature, will so easily exert its power. In assurance, with the conviction that I am this conviction we must part with them, in the path of His will; I am happy and giving them entirely to the Lord. When contented. If I meet with some difficulty, 86 this does not stop me; it is only an “If a believer surrenders or lays obstacle which faith has to surmount. aside anything without an adequate “But if I have not this certainty before divine motive, he will either secretly I begin, I am in indecision, I know not hanker after it, and probably long to what to do. There may be a trial of my return to it, or he will take credit to faith, or it may be that I ought not to do himself for having given it up, and will what I am doing. I am in suspense, and thus reveal self-righteousness and I hesitate; even if I am doing the will of spiritual pride. God, I am not sure about it, and I am “A certain school of religious not happy. I ought therefore to be teachers make much of ‘surrender’ as assured that I am doing His will before I the way to attain blessing, but it ends in begin to act.” -J.N.D. self-sufficiency, because the only “All flows from the soul being motive that is presented for it is the consciously in the place where it is set, acquisition of a better spiritual state, or in Christ risen. He can then trust us with power for service, or something of that the knowledge of His will; He can trust kind. A divine motive and attraction is the sons of the family with the family needed if souls are to be drawn into the affairs.” race and prepared to surrender in a “And if we know that He hear us, truly spiritual way, and this divine whatever we ask, we know that we motive and attraction is our risen Lord have the petitions that we desired of in Glory.” -C.A.C. Him” (1 John 5:15). “Communion with the Lord Jesus requires our coming to Him in the Word. 5-20. Spirit-motivated Surrender Meditating upon His person and His “Keep on seeking the things above work requires the prayerful study of His where Christ is seated at the right hand Word. Many fail to abide in Him of God (Col. 3:7, Wms.). because they habitually fast instead of When the Spirit of Christ has the feast.” -J.H.T. hungry heart prepared, there will be “Lord, Thou wilt ordain peace for us; surrender. No struggle; no questions. for Thou also hast wrought all our “We reason when we ought to repose; works in us. O Lord our God, other we doubt when we ought to depend. lords beside Thee have had dominion Confidence in our Father’s love is the over us; but by Thee only will we make true corrective in all things.” “For I know mention of Thy name” (Isa. 26:12, 13). whom I have believed and am 5-21. Fulness Of Life persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him” (2 “To know the love of Christ which Tim. 1:12). passeth knowledge that ye might be 87 filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. “We shall never be able to glorify 3:19). God, if we only take what we need.” Our Father’s fulness of supply “Now unto Him who is able to do infinitely exceeds the sum of our needs. exceedingly abundantly above all that Positionally it is so: “For in Him dwelleth we ask or think according to the power all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. that worketh in us, unto Him be glory” And ye are complete in Him.” (Eph. 3:20, 21). Conditionally it is so: “He that spared 5-22. From Milk To Meat not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him “By people who live on milk I mean also freely give us all things?” (Col. 2:9, those who are imperfectly acquainted 10; Rom. 8:32). with the teaching concerning “As to the Gospel and the work of righteousness. Such persons are mere the Lord Jesus, I do not find that it is babes” (Heb. 5:13, Wey.). adequately apprehended that the Promises and blessings have mainly benefit conferred by the Father is far to do with the milk of the Word. In order beyond the need of the sinner. You for a believer to grow in grace and in cannot measure the benefit by the the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, he need. You may ask, ‘Does it not cover must fellowship with Him in the Word. the need?’ It does; but you get no clue There is general Bible study, and there to the benefit from the measure of the is feeding upon the Lord Jesus in the need. You cannot find it in your own Word of life. The former serves for thoughts or expectations; it cannot be foundation, the latter is needed for found anywhere save in our Father’s growth. heart. It is ‘above all that we ask or “People may receive ‘blessings’ and think. . . . ‘ temporary ‘deliverances’ in answer to “How little, indeed, do we enter into prayer, for God is merciful to His the fulness of the benefits of the children and His Spirit refreshes and Gospel! The elder brother in Luke 15 blesses us even apart from the real did not object to his brother being walk of faith. But it is of greater benefit forgiven, but it was unwelcome to him finally to us, and much greater glory to to see the wonderful excess of grace God, if we simply accept His Word and bestowed on him by the Father. ‘Thou learn to walk in the power of it by naked hast killed for him the fatted calf.’ Many faith; which asks no longer certain have the sense of forgiveness without ecstasies, but being sure of God’s truth the knowledge of His abundance.” - because it is His truth, maintains an J.B.S. attitude of faith therein; attitude-a fixed heart. 88 “Faith, when once we see the truth, pillar.’ ‘I will write upon him the name of consists of a believing attitude of the my God.’ He is going to do it. All the will toward God. This involves a striving will never bring that end about, negative attitude toward all doubt of His but He will do it. promises or anything that would raise a “The great majority of us would say, doubt; and it also involves a continued ‘If it all depends on me, then it is a bad refusal to rest upon appearances or lookout!’ Well, of course, that is true, feelings, even though these may come but let us look at the blessing of in great abundance. It is God’s written Joseph-’The arms of his hands were Word that supplies strength to the heart made strong, by the hands of the of faith.” -W.R.N. Mighty One of Jacob . . . even by the “It is an easy thing to set sail and get God of thy father’ (Gen. 49:24, 25).” - fairly out into the ocean; but when many C.O. days have passed and no land is in “Let a man renounce himself, and sight, one is apt to weary. If the heart is see himself as crucified with Christ, and not fully occupied with the Lord in the soon another Himself-the Lord Jesus Word, something is taken on board to Christ-will take the central place in the fill up the void.” heart, and quietly bring all things under “Nourished up in the words of faith His sway.” and of good doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:6). “It is a great thing to offer the Lord 5-23. God Will Do It Jesus Christ as the Saviour to sinful man, but it is still greater to express “For it is God who works in you both Him in a world where He is rejected.” - will and deed” (Phil. 2:13, Cony.) J.B.S. As we mature we come to see more “According as His divine power hath and more clearly that our Father just as given unto us all things that pertain unto fully controls our lives as He does the life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). universe. As C.A. Fox said, “Climb on, and you will find the correcting, the 5-24. Grace Crown chastening, the cleansing, the calming “The God of all grace, who hath of the deep affection of God.” called us unto His eternal glory by “All the testing and trying is to first Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered deal with, by the Cross, that which can awhile, make you perfect (mature), never stand the stress and which must establish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Pet. be forever failure to the Lord, and then 5:10). to develop that which is Christ within At first, the old nature hides from us. us. That is the spiritual life-Christ in us Then, we try to hide from it. But when in all His fulness. ‘I will make him a 89 we begin to grow in grace and in the your care upon Him; for He careth for knowledge of the Lord Jesus, we are you” (1 Pet. 5:6, 7). able to face up to the awful facts 5-25. Stand Where You Are! concerning the old man and his condemnation at the Cross. As the Holy “God, who is rich in mercy, for His Spirit reveals the old man (Col. 3:9), we great love with which He loved us . . . count upon death; as He reveals the hath made us alive together with Christ new man (Col. 3:10), we count upon life . . . and hath raised us up together, and (Rom. 6:11). made us sit together in heavenly places “The believer, at the opening of his in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:4-6). course, never knows his own heart; Believers are not occupying their indeed, he could not bear the full position! At best, most are trying to knowledge of it; he would be attain a victorious position by means of overwhelmed thereby. ‘The Lord leads prayer, Bible study, commitment, us not by the way of the Philistines lest reconsecration, surrender, and so forth. we should see war, and so be plunged But the answer is simply to abide where into despair. But He graciously leads us we have already been placed-in our by a circuitous route, in order that our risen Lord Jesus Christ. Abide above, apprehension of His grace may keep and keep looking down! pace with our growing self-knowledge.” “Our Father has taken us over -C.H.M. Jordan and placed us in Canaan, but “It was not for nothing that God let the reality of it is never known until by Satan loose upon His dear servant, faith we accept the fact on the basis of Job. God loved Job with a perfect love; having died with Christ, and that a love that could take account of therefore heaven is our place, and we everything, and, looking below the know it to be our place now; and that surface, could see the deep moral roots this side is not our place, and we know in the heart of His servant-roots which that it is not. Job had never seen, and, therefore, “The more we abide in the Lord on never judged. What a mercy to have to the other side, the less disappointed we do with such a God! to be in the hands will be here, for when we are there we of One who will spare no pains in order import new joys and new hopes into to subdue everything in us which is this old world, from an entirely new one, contrary to Himself, and to bring out in and we therefore in every way surpass us His own blessed image!” the inhabitants of this lost world.” - “Humble yourselves, therefore, J.B.S. under the mighty hand of God, that He “You must abide in Christ in heaven may exalt you in due time, casting all before you can descend with heavenly 90 ability to act for Him down here. The “It is, then, simply a case of ‘stand great secret of all blessing is to come still and see the salvation of God.’ This from the Lord. Most Christians go to should give us confidence in praying Him.” intelligently for those who are far from “Christian experience is our Gospel light. The longer the measure of apprehension of that which preparation, the deeper the work. The is already true of us in the Lord Jesus deeper the root, the firmer the plant Christ.” -A.J. when once it springs above the ground. “Stand fast in the Lord” (Phil. 4:7). I do not believe that any deep work of God takes root without long preparation 5-26. “Good Ground” somewhere.” -J.O.F. “Jesus answered and said unto him, “Concentrate your prayers on behalf Before Philip called thee, when thou of some soul or souls and pray for wast under the fig tree, I saw thee” such, night and day, until they come to (John 1:48). Christ. Then continue to pray for them “And other fell on good ground, and until Christ is formed in them!” (Phil. sprang up, and bore fruit an 4:19). hundredfold” (Luke 8:8). The more fully “Behold, I will send my messenger, and thoroughly hearts are cultivated and he shall prepare the way before before conversion the more healthy and Me” (Mal. 3:1). fruitful they will be after conversion. 5-27. Slow But Sure Many Christians hurriedly seek to plant the seed in unprepared soil, and then “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently wonder why it is so soon withered, for Him; fret not thyself” (Ps. 37:7). choked, or snatched away. “Good Our Father moves on the basis of ground are they who. . . having heard His finished work, therefore hurry is not the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit a factor with Him nor should it be with with patience” (Luke 8:15). us. We are to ‘walk in the Spirit,’ and “I believe that a work of God the blessed Holy Spirit will see to it that sometimes goes on behind a particular we obtain all that our Father has for us, man or family, village or district before step by step. “The steps of a good man the knowledge of the truth ever reaches are ordered by the Lord, and he them. It is a silent, unsuspected work, delighteth in His way” (Ps. 37:23). Don’t not in mind and heart, but in the unseen be discouraged-Enoch walked with God realm behind these. Then, when the for three hundred years before he was light of the Gospel is brought, there is translated! no difficulty, no conflict. The battle has “We cannot become spiritual all at been won. once; we must be content to begin as 91 babes. Spiritual maturity and strength to our level, for our use; later on we do not come by effort but by growth; learn to take our position in Him at His and growth is the result of being level, for His use. nourished by proper food. But if we do “The desire of many and the not grow by effort it is important to tendency of all is to connect the Lord remember that we do not grow without Jesus with ourselves on this earth, exercise. instead of accepting that we are in “God begins by giving our hearts a living union with Him in heaven. The sense of the blessedness of the grace Lord give us to apprehend the reality of in which He has called us, that we may our true position; that we are outside be awakened and enhungered to this scene when we are in our true pursue the knowledge of all this with place. We are thankful that Christ was purpose of heart and prayerful study.” - here, and that He made a pathway C.A.C. through the wilderness, but we have “Whatever we do accurately must properly to come from Him in glory to take time and collectedness of mind, learn the path and to find His succor in and there is no accuracy in all the world it.” like keeping company with God, and yet “If you do not know your union with nothing so free from bondage or the Lord Jesus in heaven, you cannot tediousness. By going slow with the come out in the power of the heavenly Lord we accomplish more than by going Man to act from Him on earth, to be with a rush, because what we do is descriptive of Him. You can never be done so much better and does not have heavenly by effort. Many seek to be to be undone. It is done in a better heavenly by prayer, reading the Word, spirit, with deeper motives, and bears devotedness, but the only pathway to it fruit far out in the future, when all is to be brought by the Holy Spirit to mushroom performances have been realize union with our risen Lord. You dissipated forever.” -G.B.W. are heavenly by union, by nature. Abide “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and in Him.” He shall give thee the desires of thine “Are we prepared to accept our heart” (Ps. 37:4). union with the crucified and risen Lord, not only as the basis of being received 5-28. Heaven Now And Forever by the Father, but also as the way we “[God] hath raised us up together; walk day by day? If this question was and made us sit together in heavenly honestly faced, and answered places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). affirmatively by the members of our In the first stage of our Christian life churches, there would be no need to we seek to bring the Lord Jesus down endeavor to whip up a ‘revival.’ There 92 would be a spontaneous upsurge of life confining the Lord to myself instead of and blessing-the direct work of the rising up and seeing myself lost in Him, Spirit of God Himself.” -J.C.M. and then following Him in all the “Risen with Him through the faith of greatness and blessedness of His work the operation of God, who hath raised and ways down here.” -J.B.S. Him from the dead” (Col. 2:12). “We may love as Jonathan, and follow as Ruth, but until we know that 5-29. Christo-centric we are united to the Lord Jesus Christ “Let this mind be in you, which was in glory, we will not be free enough from also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). our own interests, to take up His.” Just whose side are we on? The “[Who] made Himself of no enemy who would occupy us with reputation, and took upon Him the form ourselves, or the Comforter who would of a servant” (Phil. 2:7). occupy us with the risen Lord Jesus? The spirit of death, or the Spirit of life in 5-30. “Love Never Faileth” Christ Jesus? “Know ye not that to “And to know the love of Christ, whom ye yield yourselves servants to which passeth knowledge, that ye might obey, his servants ye are whom ye be filled with all the fulness of God” obey, whether of sin unto death, or of (Eph 3:19). obedience unto righteousness?” (Rom. God led the children of Israel into 6:16). the desert with its thirst, that He might “If we have only learned the Lord at bless them. “For they drank of that our own side, the tendency is to be spiritual Rock that followed them, and occupied with ourselves, or to seek to that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4). It is be an object of consideration; whereas for no less a reason that He takes us if we have been led by the Spirit to His into the desert at times. “How shall He side, His interests and concerns will not with Him [Christ] also freely give us singularly occupy us.” all things?” (Rom. 8:2). “The natural inclination is to make “Our Father disciplines us that we oneself the center of everything may be more fully free from the old passing, how it pains or cheers oneself, nature, and find everything in the Lord even musing on oneself as if one were Jesus. But He begins the lesson with the one solitary object for the sunshine the assurance, ‘I love you perfectly.’ orthe cloud to reston.If I am a hero, or “‘I bring you into the desert to learn a martyr to myself, I look at and regard what you are, and what I am; but it is as divine things as they suit my thinking those I have brought to Myself!’ He about myself, and not as answering to gives us a place with the Lord Jesus, what He is thinking of me. I am 93 but then shows us what He is and what author and perfecter [marg.] of our we are. The discipline of the way faith” (Heb. 12:2). teaches this; but if He, in His love, “God sets me in nearness to Himself strikes the furrows in the heart, it is that in the Lord Jesus; and as I learn my He may sow the seed which shall ripen nearness to Him, I am prepared for the in glory.” exposure of my natural distance from “Those who receive deliverance Him, and I am, through grace, morally from their troubles never, grow like apart and sheltered from it (Rom. 8:9), those who get strengthened in the at the very moment when I see it. The difficulties.” greater my height, the greater the “How slowly one learns that His enormity of the depth appears; but I am sympathy is not expressed in removing safe from it. As a consequence I the affliction but in raising one above it ‘rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no to Himself, so that He becomes so confidence in the flesh’ (Phil. 3:3).” endeared to the heart that He is more “Two things mark spiritual growth; an object to the heart than oneself.” - one is a deeper sense of the sinful old J.B.S. nature, the other is a greater longing “The hand of God never deals but in after the Lord Jesus Christ. The concert with His heart of infinite love sinfulness is discovered and felt as the towards us.” -J.N.D. power of the Holy Spirit increases; for “Now no chastening for the present many a thought and act passes without seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; pain to the conscience where the Lord nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the Jesus is less before the soul, which will peaceable fruit of righteousness unto be refused and condemned as the them who are exercised by it” (Heb. knowledge of the Lord increases in 12:11). spiritual power within.” -J.B.S. “When the Lord Jesus Christ is 5-31. Eternally Nigh enjoyed, things unlike Him drop off like “But now in Christ Jesus ye who fading leaves.” once were far off are made near by the “For the word of God is living, and blood of Christ” (Eph 2:13). powerful, and sharper than any two- Until we know our position in the edged sword, piercing even to the risen Lord Jesus, we can never really dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and face up to the sinfulness of our old of the joints and marrow, and is a nature. But “hidden with Christ in God,” discerner of the thoughts and intents of we can both face up to and face away the heart” (Heb. 4:12). from the old, “looking unto Jesus, the Number 6 94 It has been with much satisfaction sometimes it would appear that He is and thankfulness that we have watched careless or indifferent-and that just the Lord draw together the quotes and when our needs are most acute. Two of Scripture portions that now formulate the major elements in the spiritual life None But the Hungry Heart #6. and experience of His own are the Especially encouraging has been the seemingly slow and hidden ways of assurance that He has prepared and God, and the demand for persistent directed these growth truths for your faith in His servants.” -T.A-S. heart, hungry as it is to grow in the True “The work of God in the lives of His Vine and share the fruit of His Spirit people is designed to make them with others. “Wherefore, I will not be ‘partakers of His holiness.’ He negligent to put you always in undertakes their training in His school remembrance of these things, though with the intention that, however difficult you know them, and are established in in practice the course may be, it will the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12). yield ‘the peaceable fruit of “By Him, therefore, let us offer the righteousness’ in the lives of those who sacrifice of praise to God continually, undergo it. that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks “This evidently represents His norm- to His name. But to do good and to no shortcuts and no exceptions. At share forget not; for with such sacrifices least, He did not make an exception of God is well pleased” (Heb. 13:15, 16). Abraham, or Joseph, or Moses, or any Miles J. Stanford; February 1976 of the great men and women whose names are listed in the eleventh 6-1. Time To Grow chapter of Hebrews. Their training “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently lasted for decades and led them into for Him” (Ps. 37:7). painful situations and difficult places. Lincoln said that “a short speech But their lives, as a result, were requires great preparation; a long incomparably fruitful.” -J.P. speech can be given anytime on short “My soul, wait thou only upon God; notice.” Now, are we going to “spend for my expectation is from Him” (Ps. our years as a tale that is told” (Ps. 62:5). 90:9); or are we going to settle down 6-2. Cross Of Love and grow in the image of our eternal Lord? “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us “In our spiritual experience we often from the love of God, which is in Christ find that not least of our trials is the fact Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39). that God seems so slow to respond; John 3:16: The Saviour laid down 95 His life for His enemies. 1 John 3:16: 6-3. Nothing But A Nothing We are to “lay down our lives for the “Sanctify the Lord God in your brethren.” The death of the Cross spells hearts” (1 Pet. 3:15). love for both friend and enemy. Many sincere believers are apt to “If we get a wrong idea about the put up an insincere front in order to inward working of the Cross we shall “protect the Gospel,” so as not to “let lose our own enjoyment of God’s love the Lord down.” But He will increase, if and fail to manifest that love to others. we but decrease. There is nothing like We have no doubt that, for the sinner, being nothing! the Cross is the outstanding expression “It is true that there is the hunger to of God’s love, but when we realize that be devoted, and to be like the Lord it brings us, as believers, into a very Jesus, long before one’s acts and personal experience of being crucified manner corroborate the hunger, and together with Christ, we are apt to lose make it a fact; but the more the hungers sight of the love of God. which grace has generated in your “We set our teeth, as though making heart are given a place, the sooner will up our minds that from now on they become experiential facts; and the everything is going to be grim and more the Lord Jesus has His throne harsh. It almost seems that the carnal within you, the more you will ‘rejoice in Christian may be cheerful and happy, Him, and have no confidence in the but the crucified ones must expect to flesh’” (Phil. 3:3). pass into a gloomier experience. “‘I know so little of the Lord Jesus,’ Nothing is farther from the truth. The one may say, and this may be true; but Cross will always bring us back to the every grace that is in Him is in every love of God in ever-increasing fulness.” saint, though not developed. If I am a “The challenge of the Cross, the babe in Christ, where there is true insistence that we have been crucified lowliness of heart, I display God, as a with Christ, may sometimes appear to babe manifesting Him; but if, as a babe, be a dark and forbidding message. The I am attempting to manifest Him as a Cross is not the end: It is the way man, there will be frustration and through to His end. God is working for failure. something beyond the immediate; He is “My wisdom will be, not to set myself working towards the glory.” -H.F. up above that which I really am. If “I know the thoughts that I think walking in true lowliness and toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of manifesting that measure of the Lord peace, and not of evil, to give you an Jesus in which we have grown, there expected end” (Jer. 29:11). will be certain progress.” -W.K.

96 “Perhaps there is nothing so hard as soul knows union with Christ. Has your not to appear anything but what you soul ever got a glimpse, by the Spirit, of are. If you do so to your advantage, you Christ risen? Of ‘the mark’ of which will be some day found out, but if to Paul speaks? It is Christ in heaven; He your disadvantage, there is no doubt is my Object! that He who searcheth the heart and “Practically it is what souls have lost trieth the reins will one day vindicate sight of. They do not look for you.” acquaintance with Christ Risen. The “But now I forbear, lest any man first thing is the education of the Word; should think of me above that which he the second, Christ Himself must be seeth me to be, or that he heareth of seen (2 Cor. 3:18). The Word delights me” (2 Cor. 12:6). the heart, but till the eye of your spirit has rested on the Person of Christ, you 6-4. Gaze And Grow have not the model for the Word to “Who (Jesus), being the brightness take; there is no formation.” of His (God’s) glory, and the express “Looking unto Jesus the author and image of His person” (Heb. 1:3). finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). Basically, the Bible is the Biography of the Beloved. Its primary object is to 6-5. “Free Born” provide the Object for our “If God be for us, who can be contemplation and conformity. against us”? (Rom. 8:31) “Many a Christian has not got Faith in the facts alone gives the rest beyond this: Christ is a shelter for me, of reliance. and takes care of me. Souls look for “Is there an accuser, a judge, or an their barrel of meal not to waste, and executioner, still after us? The accuser their cruse of oil not to fail. But is that may go away rebuked by this, that God all? Is it that Christ comes and dwells has justified us; the judge may go away with me and cares for me? rebuked by this, that the Lord Jesus “Imake bold to say it is not. Is it has died-has already suffered the shelter only? No! You are mutilating judgment, and His work has been Christianity if you confine it to that. God accepted to the full in heaven itself; the says: I have saved you by My own Son, executioner may go away rebuked by and now another factor must come in; this, that all the malice of earth and hell you are to live by the One who has together shall never drag us away from saved you; My purpose is that you are the firm embrace of our God. And if to be conformed to His blessed image.” there be now neither accuser to charge, “There comes a moment when the nor judge to condemn, nor executioner to slay, the court is cleared!” -J.G.B. 97 “It is a blessed thing to be shown our when I make up My jewels” (Malachi enemies and told with Gideon, that 3:17). Jehovah has delivered them into our “Those who know the Lord best are hands (Josh. 8:7). Our old man has those who have gone the deepest way. been crucified (Rom. 6:6), the world Those who go the deep way of trial do ‘overcome,’ and its prince ‘judged’ so because God puts the premium (John 16:33, 11). If we are walking by upon their knowledge of Him. They are faith, as risen with the Lord Jesus the people who are shut up to God. But Christ, Satan, the world, and the flesh this knowledge is firstly, constitutional: are under our feet.” -J.N.D. that is, it is to constitute a certain kind “Not a hair of the child of God can of person and character; and secondly fall without God’s permission. Satan is it is vocational: it does not end with the but the unintentional instrument to person concerned, but is the essence accomplish God’s will; he can do no of service, in time and eternity. God is more than he is allowed to do. If trials very practical, and requires that things come as a host against us, we know in His service are never merely that the Almighty is between us and theoretical but real and true to life.” -T. them. They will but work out for us His A-S. own purpose of love.” “Our path ought to be the mold, the “What shall separate us from the opportunity, for the expression and love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or virtue of Christ’s life. Saints seek to use distress, or persecution, or famine, or Him rather in order to get through their nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Nay, circumstances, instead of seeing in the in all these things we are more than circumstances the mold in which they conquerors through Him that loved us” are to be taught the strength and power (Rom. 8:35, 37). of the Lord Jesus. May we grow in Him, knowing Him, not only as helping us 6-6. Circumstantial Evidence through circumstances, but using the “If any man suffer as a Christian, let circumstances which He puts us him not be ashamed, but let him glorify through as opportunities for enlarging God on this behalf” (1 Pet. 4:16). our souls in Himself.” Often the lapidary will polish the “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are jewel with its own dust. Just so our partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that, Father makes use of the weak and when His glory shall be revealed, ye beggarly element of our nature to may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 produce the mirror-like lustre in which Pet. 4:13). His image is finally reflected for all to see. “They shall be Mine. . . in that day 6-7. Proffered Provision 98 “We have known and believed the provided a remedy for all ruin which the love that God hath to us” (1 John 4:16). light of His throne has revealed.” The Spirit convicts us of sins that we “If we walk in the light, as He is in may be convinced of God’s cleansing. the light, we have fellowship one with We do not deserve to be forgiven, but another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus deserves to be trusted. His Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (1 “We find the greatest difficulty often John 1:7). in bringing our sorrow to God. How can 6-8. The Word’s Word Ido so,some may be saying, as my sorrow is the fruit of my sin? How can I “Having therefore, brethren, take it to God? If it was suffering for boldness to enter into the holiest by the righteousness’ sake, then I would, but I blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19). am suffering for my sin; and can I, in The written Word is meant to reveal the integrity of my heart towards God, the Living Word, not to hide Him. Many take my sorrows to Him, knowing I know prophecy better than the Prophet. deserve them? Our Father gave us His written Word “Yes: the Lord Jesus has been to that we might know His Son, not only God about them. This, then, is the as Saviour but as our very Life. ground on which I can go. There has “Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy been perfect atonement for all my sins; Word is truth” (John 17:17). Christ has been judged for them. Will “The knowledge of the Lord Jesus God judge us both? No; I go to Him on Christ is the basis of the believer’s life. the ground of atonement, and God can That is, it underlies our very relationship justly meet me in all my sorrow, with God; it underlies all our growth in because Christ’s work has been so grace; it underlies every fragment of our perfectly done.” -J.N.D. service. There is nothing which comes “The guilt which the throne detects, within the compass of the life of the the altar removes. If in the light of the Christian which does not depend upon throne one object is seen, namely, the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.” -T. ruined, guilty, undone self; then, in the A-S. light of the altar, one object is seen, “Heart acquaintance with Christ is namely, a full, precious, all-sufficient the secret of spiritual growth. One may Christ. The remedy reaches to the full know all the truths of the Bible, and yet extent of the ruin, and the same light be practically ignorant of the person of that reveals the one reveals the other the Lord Jesus. It is possible to go back likewise. This gives settled repose to into the world with acquaintance with the conscience. God Himself has the scriptures, but it is virtually impossible to return thither with the 99 scriptural acquaintance of Christ in the failure of our youth-our spiritual youth, heart.” as well as our natural youth; eagerness “The believer should have but one to run in God’s path, but not object: knowing Christ has laid hold of apprehending what the path is, or what him for glory, his heart is running after it requires to walk in it. On the other Him.He is to have no other object, hand, when the cost is counted, and though he may have many things to do. our weakness known, the energy The Lord Jesus is ‘in all’ believers as begotten of self-confidence being gone, the power of life, and He is ‘all’ as the we need a stimulating call on God’s object of that life. He is ‘all and in all’ part, to get out of the persistent (Col. 3:11). And, ‘all to Him I owe.’” occupation with our weakness now, as “Having an high priest over the with our strength before.” -F.W.G. house of God, let us draw near with a “Suffering is not meant by God to be true heart in full assurance of faith” loss and deprivation. Satan says that it (Heb. 10:21, 22). is. God means suffering to result in increased spiritual capacity, which is 6-9. Victorious Vinedresser the basis of added responsibility, trust, “No chastening for the present and fruitful sharing. The branch of the seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; vine may bleed from the drastic pruning nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the and feel stripped of much glory; but peaceable fruit of righteousness unto more and better fruit is the them who are exercised by it” (Heb. vinedresser’s vindication.” 12:11). “As we have borne the image of the Vision: The Word gives us the true earthy, we shall also bear the image of picture of growth. Verification: The the heavenly” (1 Cor. 15:49). Spirit gives us a taste thereof. 6-10. Divine Layaway Vindication: The Lord Jesus, later, gives us maturity. “Not as though I had already “A great mystery surrounds the attained, either were already perfect; spiritual growth of the hungry-hearted but I follow after, if that I may believer. The Spirit gives a foretaste of apprehend that for which also I am a deeper life before the believer is led apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Phil. into the fulness of it. Many believers 3:12). mistake their foretaste for the fulness, In faith we apprehend the growth not realizing that the Lord is just truths; in fact the Lord Jesus beginning to lead them apprehends us for growth in those “The forwardness of nature is the truths. “I have been much struck by the 100 thought of the hiddenness and Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). slowness of God’s workings. It must be 6-11. Treasure Trove a matter of distinct faith. If we do not understand this it will make us “But ye are not in the flesh but in the impatient. If we understand it will teach Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God us to rest in God and to yield ourselves dwell in you” (Rom. 8:9). all the more joyfully to Him to work out The Spirit’s ministry is to make His purpose. In all creation time is the Christ all to each. great perfecter of growth. So with us, “We are the objects of the continual God will perfect that which concerns care and discipline of our heavenly us.” Father. If we walk after the flesh, “‘Abraham believed God, and it was instead of after the Spirit, this may call counted unto him for righteousness’ for His loving rebuke and chastening (Rom. 4:3), when his faith apprehended (child training); but that in no way the promise of God; yet it was nearly 40 interferes with the precious truth of our years after that this Scripture was continual acceptance and position in fulfilled, when he offered his son. The the risen Lord Jesus Christ, by whose faith had its apprehension and one offering we have been perfected enjoyment for many a year before the forever. work of faith. “Through grace, we are not in the “In proportion as the revelation is of flesh, but in Christ, yet the flesh is in us; God, in like measure must there be an but our part is to reckon it as having answer to it sooner or later. Effect must been, before God and to faith, judicially follow cause. If the light has been put to death in Christ crucified, thus received, the day will come that it must setting us free to be so constantly assert and obtain an expression of occupied with the triumphant Son of itself.” God, as to find all our resources, all our “Two glad services are strength, all our springs, in Him.” - ours, H.H.S. Both the Master loves to “If we have the Lord Jesus, we have bless. all-without Him, we have nothing. You First we serve with all our can be happy without money, without powers, liberty, without parents, and without Then with all our friends, if He is yours. If you have not helplessness.” Christ, neither money, nor liberty, nor “I press toward the mark for the parents, nor friends can make you prize of the high calling of God in Christ happy. Christ, with a chain, is liberty; liberty without Christ is a chain. Christ 101 without anything is riches-all things, to promote the true blessing of His own. without Christ, is poverty indeed.” May we have our Lord Jesus very “If children, then heirs-heirs of God, simply and constantly before our and joint heirs with Christ-if so be that hearts.” we suffer with Him, that we may be also “Nothing but an intelligent and glorified together” (Rom. 8:17). growing acquaintance with the Lord Jesus can satisfy the renewed heart. 6-12. Our One Object The very mercy that delivers a soul “The love of God is shed abroad in becomes a hindrance unless the Lord our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is Himself be the one Object.” given unto us” (Rom. 5:5). “Not that we are sufficient of Acknowledging our insufficiency and ourselves to think anything as of appropriating His all-sufficiency are the ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God” basic building blocks for our growth in (2 Cor. 3:5). the “not I but Christ” life. 6-13. Three-fold Cord “There is no child of God that has set his face to go through with Him, “For I reckon that the sufferings of who has not grieved over the weakness this present time are not worthy to be of his love for the Lord Jesus. Our compared with the glory which shall be hearts have mourned, and we have revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). suffered when we have realized our The Word of life, the Lord of life, and selfishness and mixed motives; the the exigencies of life all must combine weak, unstable love we have for Him. to give us a ministry of life. “Truly none of us can rejoice in our “There is no personal knowledge of love for Him. But when we begin to God but as we count on Him, as we are apprehend His great, eternal love for practically conscious of depending on us, our hearts are filled with joy. And we Him and of His caring for us. One praise Him for His love, His without straits, and victories, really has longsuffering and patience; and we no growing acquaintance with God; and magnify His Name for that love which where there is not this, however great never fails.” the intelligence or sincerity, there is little “When we slip out of communion or no savor.” with God, how wretched we are, and “It is the trials and difficulties of the how we contribute to the unhappiness way that are the opportunities for our of others! Whereas in communion with hearts to grow in acquaintance with our Father there is power to enable us Him; and it will be found, while there to resist the devil, to enjoy the Lord and may be a great enjoyment in ministry,

102 and in the unfolding of truth, that really would supply it at once, and get rid of there is not strength but in proportion as the constant burden. one has learned how God has been for “But that is not His way. To supply and with one in the trials and sorrows of the need is a small thing; but to supply the way; and as one has known Him in itin suchaway as tomakeus feelin them, so is one able to speak of Him.” each seasonable supply the Father’s “The one purpose which our Father heart never withdrawn from us, the has in view, in all His ways, is to Father’s heart ever employed about us- conform us to the image of His Son. that is what He means. ‘Give us our This may explain our perplexities as to daily bread’: is it not much more than to the past; it will govern our behavior in ask, ‘Give us now, that we may not the present; it is to be our guidance in have to come again?’” the future. The chief concern of our “The God-given experience of the Lord is not to instruct us about a Spirit’s working many a time passes multitude of details, not to explain to us away, and leaves the soul apparently the reason for the trials which we are dull and dead. This is only until the called to pass through. He is working double lesson has been fully learnt: (1) out everything to serve His supreme that a living faith can rejoice in the purpose in displaying the character of Living God, even when feeling and His Son in His redeemed ones.” experience appear to contradict the “For all things are for your sakes, promise (Rom. 8:28, 29); and (2) that that the abundant grace might through the divine life only predominates as the the thanksgiving of many redound to life of the flesh is held in the place of the glory of God” (2 Cor. 4:15). death, inoperative (Rom. 6:11a). The life of the Lord Jesus is revealed as His 6-14. “Thy Will Be Done” death works in us (2 Cor. 4:11, 12), and “My brethren, count it all joy when ye as in weakness and nothingness we fall into various trials” (James 1:2). look to him (2 Cor. 3:18).” -A.M. You can be sure that you are in the “Knowing this, that the testing of will of God when He keeps you your faith worketh patience” (James dependent upon Himself, walking in the 1:3). Holy Spirit, and abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ. 6-15. “Raison D’etre” “Often all we think of is, having our “These things I have spoken unto need met; but how little a thing is that you, that in Me ye might have peace” with God! It would cost Him nothing, we (John 16:33). may say, to meet the need of a lifetime Great will be the day when you in a moment; and a lesser love than His come to realize that the sole reason for 103 the existence of your Bible, your soul and your spirit is to glorify-and share- 6-16. Undivided Attention the Lord Jesus Christ. “Beware that thou forget not the “The moment we begin to rest our Lord thy God” (Deut. 8:11). peace on anything in ourselves, we lose it. And this is why so many saints Our Father would be free to favor us have not settled peace. Nothing can be with far more of His riches in Christ lasting that is not built on God alone. Jesus if we would keep more in mind How can you have settled peace? Only that grace is unmerited favor-so that by having it in God’s way. By not “He might make known the riches of His resting on anything, even the Spirit’s glory on the vessels of mercy” (Rom. work within, but on what the Lord Jesus 9:23). has done entirely outside you. Then “It seems so natural, when one is you will know peace-conscious surrounded with blessings, and thus unworthiness, but yet peace. sensible of being an object of divine “In the Lord Jesus alone, God finds favor, that the eye is turned from God to that in which He can rest concerning oneself; for when God is before one, us, and so it is with His saints. The self gets no place, though there be the more you see the extent and nature of deepest awareness of His favor. the evil that is within, as well as without, “Hence it is the saint who is the the more you will find that what the Lord object of the greatest favor who needs Jesus is and did, is the only ground at to be on his guard, that he allow not his all on which you can rest. eye to rest on himself where the favors “Alas! the freedom which the Gospel are sent, but on God from whom they brings may be used to take things easy, come. If his eye turns to himself and, more or less, retain or gain in the because of the favor, then the favor has world; but where this is the case, it is been the means of turning his heart seldom a soul possesses any large from God to a mere gift of His.” measure of spiritual enjoyment, and it is “If there be a growing up into the never accompanied by solid peace. The measure of the stature of Christ, there soul becomes thus unsettled and must be a conscious refusal of that uncertain. These oscillations may go on which would tend to revive or invigorate for a certain time, until God carries on the old nature. The saint is not only a the work more deeply in the heart.” new creature to grow into the likeness “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of the Lord Jesus, but he has to watch of maliciousness, but as the servants of God” and beware lest the things he has to do (1 Pet 2:16). with should in any way minister to another will in him, which would divert 104 him from God to himself. Self is the never come when we can satisfy God in circle and center of man’s mind in his ourselves, not even more or less.” fallen state; but when Christ is formed “How could there be any doubt in the soul, God is the center and about the believers perfect security if source of everything.” -J.B.S. his position in the Lord Jesus were “For we . . . worship God in the realized? It would be impossible. Can spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and He change? Or will God say to Him, I have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. cannot any longer accept You as 3:3). standing for this people? Or, once again if standing for them, is He on 6-17. Satisfaction Guaranteed probation? Is His work completely “And you, that were once alienated done, or still to do?” -F.W.G. and enemies in your mind by wicked “And you, being dead in your sins works, yet now hath He reconciled in and the uncircumcision of your flesh, the body of His flesh through death, to hath He made alive together with Him, present you holy and unblamable and having forgiven you all trespasses” unreprovable in His sight” (Col. 1:21, (Col. 2:13). 22). In order for our Father to be satisfied 6-18. Beloved Object with us, He placed us in His Son. In “For we are His workmanship, order for us to be satisfied with our created in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:10). Father, we “rejoice in Christ Jesus, and The Holy Spirit creates within us a have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. hatred for the old nature, and a hunger 3:3). for the new nature. Without a rejection “On what ground is our faith tested? of the old, there cannot be a projection It is on the ground of our very of the new. relationship with God and God’s “I want a testimony that delivers me attitude toward us. The concentration of from the things I am occupied about in the enemy is upon that point-to interfere myself when I am suffering from them. I with our link with God. get it from God’s gift that is perfect. I “What is our link with God? It is this- am ‘accepted in the Beloved’ (Eph. the Lord Jesus Christ, as the answer to 1:6). You say, There is something God and to Satan for us. It will never be about myself I cannot get over. what we are in ourselves. If you are Remember, the testimony of the Spirit expecting a day to come when in virtue in us is the contrary of the testimony of of what you are in yourself you can the Spirit to us. In me, He takes notice satisfy God, you are destined to an of every fault that is not righteousness; awful disillusionment. The day will but the testimony to us is, ‘Their sins 105 and their iniquities will I remember no “There are two things that have to more’ (Heb. 8:12).” be taken into account in communicating “If we make morality our standard, truth. Not merely should there be we will be sure to fall below what we certainty that it is the truth from God, purpose. Whatever we put before us as but it must also be suited truth to those our criterion, there will be always a whom you address. They might need it falling short. If we have the Lord Jesus all, but they may not be in condition to Christ risen and in heaven as our receive it; and the more precious the Object, we shall prove the power of His truth, the greater the injury, in a certain resurrection, not only in lifting us up sense, if it is presented to those who when we are conscious of our are not in a state to profit by it.” exceeding short-comings, but in “We are to serve under His direction, strengthening us to ‘press toward the and according to His pleasure; not just mark for the prize of the high calling of because opportunity or need offers. We God in Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 3:14).” require His direction, and the “The Word of God teaches me knowledge of His pleasure, however union, but the Person of Christ brings favorable the opportunity or the out all that I derive from union with Him. occasion. We see a servant in Acts 8 The Word is always my authority for my taken away from an interesting field of position, but acquaintance with the service, to meet one man in the desert. Person confirms and manifests my “It is not a question of how we succeed; position.” but have we the assurance that we are “Finally, my brethren, be strong in doing the Lord’s pleasure? Happy is the the Lord” (Eph 6:10) servant who is so led by Him that he always presents the measure of truth 6-19. Proper Presentation suited to the state of souls, and refuses “The things that thou hast heard to supply the knowledge that puffeth from me among many witnesses, the up.” same commit thou to faithful men, who “Which things also we speak, not in shall be able to teach others also” (2 the words which man’s wisdom Tim. 2:2). teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit Truth based upon law will be teacheth, comparing spiritual things presented legally-it will be legislated. with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13). Truth based upon grace will be shared 6-20. Self-abandonment graciously, in love. “Adorn the doctrine of God” by “speaking the truth in love” “Reckon ye also yourselves to be (Titus 2:10; Eph. 4:15). dead indeed unto sin” (Rom. 6:11a). All of the cults, from TM to ST to 106 SDA, are simply self-improvement to be. . . alive unto God through Jesus aberrations. The Cross alone provides Christ, our Lord” (Rom. 6:11b). death to self and life in the Lord Jesus 6-21. Personification Christ. “God forbid that I should glory, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus “God hath caused me to be fruitful in Christ, by whom the world is crucified the land of my affliction” (Gen. 41:52). unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. To share what we have may minister 6:14). temporarily to the physical; but to “What becomes us now is to have minister to the spiritual in an eternal the Lord Jesus before us, and not the way we must share what we are, and correction of the old man. The snare of that calls for growth in the Lord Jesus trying to improve oneself is very Christ. common, and it is important to see, that “We can only comfort others with the however well-meaning it may be, it is comfort wherewith we ourselves have really a denial that our old man has been comforted of God. Others can been crucified, and a revival of that only really be helped by what has been which has been judged in the death of the power of life in the would-be helper. the Cross. “Information, by itself, however “It is plain that if you are clear of the correct and orthodox, however strongly domination of the old man you can held in conviction and passed on in have no man before you but the Lord passion, will lack an essential and Jesus, and the more sensible you are indispensable quality or value for of how ready the flesh is to intrude.” spiritual constitution. “God never means me to be able, “Hence it has ever been God’s way with the Pharisee, to thank Him for the to raise up a vessel, personal or goodness that I find in myself. If I will be corporate, in which His message has at it, He leaves me to find in this been wrought by fiery ordeal. The irreparable flesh, which cannot be messenger must not only have the mended, what I may break my heart message in him, but he must be in the over, but never alter. message: not only in mind and feeling, “It is a quicksand which spoils all my but in experience and being.” -T.A-S. building-a morass impracticable to “We really can only come into the cultivation; and God uses this, in His reality of things by being ‘pressed out of sovereignty over evil, to wean me from measure’ (2 Cor. 1:8). So the Lord has self-confidence and self-complacency, to take much time to make our spiritual and to cast me upon Himself.” history. When at length our eyes are “Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves open, we cry, ‘O, why did I not see it

107 before!’ But everything else had to power we receive the divine nature, and prove insufficient before we could really who pours the love of God into our be shown, and that takes time.” hearts, is the Spirit of truth, and His “Humble yourselves, therefore, office is to glorify Christ. under the mighty hand of God, that He “Therefore it is impossible that a may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet 5:6). love which can put up with a doctrine that falsified Christ, or which is 6-22. Truth Triumphant! indifferent to anything that concerns His “To this end was I born, and for this glory, can be of the Holy Spirit-still less cause came I into the world, that I so, if such indifference be set up as a should bear witness unto the truth. proof of that love.” Everyone that is of the truth heareth My “In all things commending ourselves voice” (John 18:37). as the ministers of God. . . by the word Charismatic Arminianism’s of truth” (2 Cor. 6:4, 7) experience omits truth. Covenant Calvinism’s legality chokes truth. Cross- 6-23. Love’s Legacy centered Christianity’s Christ-life is “Be anxious for nothing, but in Truth! everything, by prayer and supplication “Greater zeal for the salvation of with thanksgiving, let your requests be sinners, and the amelioration of the made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6). condition of mankind, never was more Ignorance insures insecurity; manifested than at present (1850). This scriptural knowledge secures strength. is ground of rejoicing to all the friends of “For God hath not given us the spirit of the Gospel. But there is one unhappy fear, but of power, and of love, and of a symptom of the present times, with sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). respect to Christianity. Zeal for the “In mechanics, wobbling is purity of divine truth has not kept pace weakness. Power issues from God’s with zeal for the salvation of sinners.” - restfulness. Are we resting in the Lord? A.C. Can we wait patiently for Him to act? “The semblance of love which does Anxiety reduces spiritual energy. Lack not maintain the truth, but of rest of heart is one of the most accommodates itself to that which is not serious hindrances to Christians. the truth, is not love according to God. “Fret of soul when wronged, or fuss In the last days the test of truth is the over financial or other concerns, is a maintenance of the truth. depletion of power, a dissipation of “God would have us love one energy. From the rock basis of rest in another; but the Holy Spirit, by whose Him we can put forth the whole of our

108 energies. Perfect peace is our promised knowledge of dispensational truth, the portion.” believer will not be intelligently adjusted “Martha gets instruction; we all get to the present purpose and will of God that, for our Lord neglects none of us; in the world. Such knowledge alone will but she did not get His company; save him from assuming the hopeless company is what gives rest to the legality of the dispensation that is past heart.” or from undertaking the impossible “Nothing can separate the believer world transforming program belonging from the love of God, and under no to the dispensation which is to come.” - circumstances whatever can he come W.S.C. under the infliction of wrath from God. “The Law of Moses is interrelated He may have to correct His saints for and wholly dependent on the sacrifices their sins, and where there has been no and ritual provided for Israel in the land. failure He may chasten (child train) The laws of the kingdom (Sermon on them for their profit, that they may the Mount) are only related to the future become partakers of His holiness; but kingdom conditions which shall be in all this is in love, not in wrath. Every the earth under the power and action of God toward His saints is in presence of the King when Satan is grace and blessing; it is ever the bound, creation delivered, and all shall outcome of His love.” know the Lord from the least unto the “And the peace of God, which greatest. passeth all understanding, shall keep “All harmony of truth is shattered your hearts and minds through Christ when there is the slightest commingling Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). of the principles of law and grace. Grace alone now reigns through Christ 6-24. Gratuitous Grace to the glory of God the Father, the Son, “Sin shall not have dominion over and the Holy Spirit.” you; for ye are not under the law but “By the grace of God I am what I under grace” (Rom. 6:14). am; and His grace, which was Grace forsaken is freedom forfeited. bestowed upon me, was not in vain, but “In considering the whole testimony I labored more abundantly than they all; of the Bible, it is almost as important for yet not I, but the grace of God which the believer who would do the will of was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10). God to recognize that which does not 6-25. Plus, Or Minus? concern him as it is for him to recognize that which does concern him. “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor “It is obvious that, apart from the uncircumcision, but faith which worketh 109 by love” (Gal. 5:6). much as from ‘wicked works.’” -C.H.M. Grace + Law = Death. Grace - Law “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty = Life! with which Christ hath made us free” “Covenant theology, which has (Gal. 5:1). molded the major theological 6-26. Edifying Equilibrium conceptions for many generations, recognizes no distinctions as to ages, “That ye may be blameless and therefore can allow for no distinctions harmless, children of God, without between law and grace. This rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and dominating attitude of Covenantism perverse nation, among whom ye shine must account for the utter neglect of life as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15). truth (growth) in all their works of There should be neither theology. undergrowth, nor overgrowth, but “No more representative theological balanced growth. Spiritual equilibrium dictum from the Covenant viewpoint alone will bring forth much fruit both in has been formed than the Westminster us and in others. Confession of Faith, which valuable and “A popular notion that the first important document recognizes life obligation of the Church is to spread the truth only to the point of imposing the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the Ten Commandments on Christians as earth is false. The first obligation is to their sole obligation, and in spite of the be spiritually worthy to spread it. . . to teachings of the New Testament which spread an effete (worn out) and asserts that the Law was never given to degenerate brand of Christianity to Gentile or Christian.” -L.S.C. pagan lands is not to fulfil the Great “While freeing believers from the Commission.” bondage of Rome, the Protestant “We were created for more than our Reformation brought them back, in own spiritual development; large measure, under the bondage of reproduction, not mere development, is Sinai. The Reformation took away one the goal to mature being-reproduction set of bindings, but bound the believers in other lives. There is a tendency in with another-and this has atrophied the some characters, running parallel to the spiritual life of multitudes.” -D.G.B. high cultivation that spends its whole “Not a single cluster of living fruit energy on the production of bloom at ever was, or ever will be, culled from the expense of seed. the tree of legality. Law can only “The flowers that are bent on produce ‘dead works,’ from which we perfecting themselves, by becoming need to have conscience purged just as double, end in barrenness, and a like

110 barrenness comes to the soul whose His operation in my soul to produce the interests are all concentrated upon its image of His Son. own spiritual well-being, heedless of the “That which is the subject of needs around. The true, ideal flower, is experience is what is produced in my the one that uses its gifts as means to soul, whereas that which gives me an end; the brightness and sweetness peace is His testimony to the work and are not for its own glory; they are but to life of Christ. A Christian who doubts attract the bees and butterflies that will the Father’s love to him, and who looks fertilize and make it fruitful.” -L.T. for peace to that which passes in his “Holding forth the word of life, that I own heart, is doubting God’s truth. The may rejoice in the day of Christ that I Word is the revelation God has given of have not run in vain, neither labored in Himself; it displays the love of God vain” (Phil. 2:16). toward us, and what is in His heart. I can trust the declaration of what is in 6-27. Truth, Or Consequences God’s heart, and not what I think of “I have written unto you, young men, myself.” -J.N.D. because ye are strong, and the word of “If thou put the brethren in God abideth in you” (1 John 2:14). remembrance of these things, thou Experience may ratify, or it may shalt be a good minister of Jesus repudiate, truth. The Word alone, to Christ, nourished up in the words of faith, is truth unalterable. faith and of good doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:6). “If I allow the thought that what I am 6-28. The Tree Of Life toward God will in some way or other affect what God is toward me, I shall be “Not I, but Christ” (Gal. 2:20). filled with the spectre of bondage. But It is not a matter of what fruit, but of when I see that what God is toward me which tree! is altogether the outcome of what He is, “What salvation has done is not and that He is this though knowing merely forgiving me my sins; perfectly whatI am, itputs my heart in forgiveness, cleansing, justifying, the right direction for liberty.” -C.A.C. applies to my responsibility and guilty “God speaks to us according to His condition in the first Adam; but salvation estimate of our standing, our position: it applies to my standing in the Last may not be our heart’s experience. Adam. It is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). There is a distinctness between the “What would you do if you wanted to operation of the Spirit of God in bringing make something of a crab tree? Not me unto the Lord Jesus, bearing nurture, and prune, and dig about it. witness to me of God’s love, and of the That God has done with His fig tree efficacy of what Christ has done-and 111 (Israel). If you know anything about it, “The Lord deals with us in order that you will cut it down and graft it. Until we might be able to minister in an apt you find out that the old man is utterly way. His stewards are to be men of bad, and that there is no mending it, understanding, who can touch the you will not give it up. If you cultivate various needs, who can reach the the old crab tree you will have fair heart, so that the Lord’s children are blossoms but only bigger and more saying: That just fits me! That touches sour crab apples.” -J.N.D. my case! That person must know! That “Before we were saved, worldly one must have been through it! Yes, objects and affairs usurped the place of the Lord knows, and He would take you Christ; but after being saved, spiritual and me through experiences such as objects and affairs now tend to occupy will make us sharers in a living way-and His place. Earlier God took from us the that is what He is doing.” -T.A-S. things of this world; presently He is “It is a new day to your soul when taking away our spiritual thing or things. you realize that Christ is the Source of He removes our personal patience, everything, and that it is from Himself love, power, gentleness, humility. you must draw, and not from ministry “Indeed, He removes all, that we about Him. Many can explain Scripture may not live by these good things but and even apply it, who are not under live by a Person instead. We are patient the effect of it themselves. They have not because we have received a power not come from Him, and are not to be so, but because we have got a themselves imbued with that which they patient Person. So it is with humility and are trying to convey. the rest: not a power but a Person.” The “There is much wise counsel and fruit of the Spirit is the life of Christ. good teaching which is not applicable to “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil. the moment and to the need. It does 1:27). not effect what is the Lord’s desire as the end of the ministry, which is to lead 6-29. Applicable Application the soul to Himself, because it is not “Blessed be God, even the Father of spoken in communion with Himself. our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of You must first get to where He is, and mercies, and the God of all comfort” (2 then you are brought into harmony with Cor. 1:3). the scene where He is.” We have all cringed at the sad “Who comforteth us in all our spectacle of the “nouveau riche.” And tribulation, that we may be able to yet many of us as believers present the comfort them who are in any trouble, by same failure-flaunting and mishandling the comfort with which we ourselves our spiritual riches in Christ Jesus. are comforted of God” (2 Cor. 1:4). 112 6-30. No Cross, No Christ! organisms which spring out of life, “Whosoever doth not bear his cross, which life itself springs out of the Cross and come after Me, cannot be My of Christ wrought into the very being of disciple” (Luke 14:27). believers. Unless believers are crucified people, there can be no true expression One hears much today about “body of the Church.” -T.A-S. life,” with its emphasis upon New Testament gathering, rather than “God forbid that I should glory, Christ-centered growth. The Body is except in the Cross” (Gal. 6:14). meant to manifest the Head, and that 6-31. Manually Controlled necessitates spiritual members. “Having spoiled principalities and “Where there is no Cross there is no powers, He made a show of them life, and no ministry of life. The object of openly, triumphing over them” (Col. suffering is that there may be a full and 2:15). abundant ministry. . . . We are not to “For all things are for your sakes, invite trouble, nor by austerity to ill-treat that the abundant grace might through our bodies. The Holy Spirit Himself the thanksgiving of many redound to takes responsibility for our experience, the glory of God. For which cause we leading us in paths where we faint not; but though our outward man encounter, in body, heart, or spirit, that perish, yet the inward man is renewed measure of ‘the dying of Jesus’ that will day by day. For our light affliction, mean enrichment of our ministry.” which is but for a moment, worketh for “There are many today who seem to us a far more exceeding and eternal think that it is all or largely a matter of weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:15-17). Amen! the order, technique, and form, and if “The sovereignty of God is what we are to return to the ‘New Testament’ alone gives rest to the Christian heart in form or order of churches all would be view of a world full of evil, which is gone well. The fact is that, while certain astray from Him. To know that after all, things characterize the N.T. churches, in spite of the rebellion of the creature, the Word does not give us a complete things are as absolutely in His hand as pattern according to which churches ever they were-this brings, and alone are to be formed! brings, full relief. Still He rules over all, “There is no blueprint for churches in and where evil cannot be turned to the N.T., and to try to form such good, limits and forbids it: He maketh churches is only to create another the wrath of man to praise Him, and the system which may be as legal, remainder of wrath (what would go sectarian and dead as others. beyond this) He restrains (Ps. 76:10).” - Churches, like the Church, are F.W.G. 113 “People may quarrel with the of God. For as the sufferings of Christ sovereignty of God, but I love it, abound in us, so our consolation also because I know enough about my aboundeth by Christ” (2 Cor. 1:2-5). natural bent and will to be sure that if -Miles J. Stanford; January 1982 left to myself I should have gone straight to perdition. Some believers 7-1. Adults Only! talk about man’s free will when they are “I have learned, in whatever state I on their feet, but all are firm believers in am, in this to be content” (Phil. 4:11). God’s sovereignty when they get on All we have to do is love the Lord their knees.” -C.A.C. Jesus-that will take us through all the “Human history is not in the grip of fire necessary to conform us to His fate, but in the hands of Him Who was image. pierced for us on Calvary.” -W.G.S. “Hopes have precarious “Now thanks be unto God, who always life; causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:14). They are oft blighted, withered, snapped sheer Number 7 off Years are as months at our age! In vigorous youth, and Nevertheless, we are thankful to be turned to rottenness; able to share None But The Hungry But faithfulness can feed Heart #7, after a five-year gap in the on suffering, Series. And knows no disappointment.” We trust there will be much spiritual benefit for you as you daily peruse “Adam might defy the will of God, these verses of Scripture, and the Elijah might doubt it, but John would principles and thoughts that accompany glory in it-even on Patmos. This is the them. way of certain triumph; to accept God’s “Grace be to you, and peace, from will, however painful itmay be, and to God, our Father, and from the Lord trust Him in the certain faith that His will Jesus Christ. must triumph in the end. John stood his ground, maintaining his testimony in the “Blessed be God, even the Father of face of every foe, and as a our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of consequence has exercised a mighty mercies, and the God of all comfort, ministry of life down through the who comforteth us in all our tribulation, centuries.” -T. A-S. that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort “Much depends on the way great with which we ourselves are comforted eras of our life are entered on. The 114 germ of faith will outlive the sternest loaves and were filled; but He could winds and roughest seas. We enter on turn with touching earnestness to the them enthusiastically or stoically. little band of disciples who still Nature or disposition may have much to remained, and challenge their hearts do with our external manner, but it is with the question, ‘Will ye also go faith in our Father which stands the away?’“ wear of years, and the sorrows of life.” “Love could never be too near to its “One does not feel the pain of the object. Nearness to the Lord Jesus is Cross when his mind is on heavenly the instinct of divine life, as we see in things.” the first question of the two disciples “Thou, therefore, endure hardness, who followed Him, ‘Where dwellest as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Thou?’ Why is not this the first question Tim. 2:3). now? Because there is not simple devotedness of heart to the Lord Jesus 7-2. Personal Appreciation Christ.” “As ye have, therefore, received “There is nothing in all the world so Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk ye in precious to the Father as a heart that, Him, rooted and built up in Him” (Col. in any measure, appreciates His Son.” 2:7). “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and We appreciate His benefits toward are heavy laden, and I will give you us, but are we appreciative-do we rest” (Matt. 11:28). express to Him our appreciation? 7-3. Now And Forever Free! “Let us be very watchful that the inner life, communion with the Lord “Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus, be the true source of our Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm activities.” you unto the end, that ye may be “The Lord Jesus longs for fellowship blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus with us. He does not want patronage. It Christ” (1 Cor. 1:7, 8). does not meet the desire of His heart to We can trust Him for our be followed, or admired, or gazed at, matriculation here, and we can trust because of what He can do or give. He Him for our examination and graduation delights in a heart taught of the Spirit to in Glory! appreciate His Person, for this glorifies “That word, ‘blameless,’ may be and gratifies the Father. He retires from translated ‘unimpeachable’ or the gaze of an excited and tumultuous unaccusable.’ In other words, when we throng who would fain make Him a stand at last at the judgment seat of king, because they had eaten of the Christ, God Himself is going to see to it

115 that no charge can stand against any conquer sin and the old man. There is believer, because the Lord Jesus Christ no rest for the “wretched man” of has atoned for all our sins with His own Romans 7-that struggle must lead to precious Blood. Every failure in life will the rest of Romans 8. be dealt with there, and all the wood, “Grace is sufficient for favorable hay, and stubble will be burned in the circumstances, but they are by far the fire of that day and we shall stand most trying (spiritually) to the believer. before our Lord unimpeachable, There is an easy way of going on in unaccusable.” -H.A.I. worldliness, and there is nothing more “Instead of my sins being between sad than the quiet comfortable Christian myself and Him, as before, it is Himself going on day by day, apart from who is now between me and my sins; dependence upon the Lord. and the One who has thus interposed “It must be as with Israel and the has given me to know that in the doing manna; there must be the daily it He has brought me to Himself, and gathering and daily dependence upon tuned my heart to His own praise. God. If circumstances come between “He has borne the judgment due to our hearts and God, we are powerless. my sins, and condemned sin in the If the Lord Jesus is nearer, flesh; in the Person of my Substitute I circumstances will not hinder our joy in am clear from, and carried beyond, the God “ judgment forever; the power of death is “The heart of man naturally seeks annulled, that of Satan finally broken.” rest, and seeks it here. Now, there is no “Who shall lay any thing to the rest to be found here for the believer; charge of God’s elect? Shall God that but it is written, ‘There remaineth, justifieth? Who is he that condemneth? therefore, a rest to the people of God’ Shall Christ that died, yea rather, that is (Heb 4:9). risen again, who is even at the right “To know this is both full of blessing hand of God, who also maketh and full of sorrow: sorrow to the flesh; intercession for us?” (Rom. 8:33, 34) because it is always seeking its rest 7-4. Rest And Rejoice! here, it has always to be disappointed; blessing to the spirit, because the spirit, “Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Phil. being born of God, can only rest in 4:4) God’s rest, as it is said, ‘If they shall Exhaustive effort brings home the enter into My rest’ (Heb. 4:5). What necessity of strengthening rest. The God desires for us is to bring us into the believer will not be ready to enter into enjoyment of all that which He Himself his spiritual rest until he is utterly worn enjoys.” -J.N.D. out by his unsuccessful efforts to 116 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently the scope of God’s thought, which only for Him” (Ps. 37:7). begins with his need. 7-5. His Cross-Our Cross “Where would souls be put if they were simply and definitely instructed in “He said to them all, If any man will Christ Jesus and Him crucified and come after Me, let him. . . take up his risen; connected by faith with the living Cross daily” (Luke 9:23). One, who was crucified, and whose We go all the way to Calvary in faith death terminated man in the flesh?” - and there find ourselves identified with J.B.S. the Lord Jesus in His death and “Whosoever doth not bear his Cross, resurrection. And Calvary comes all the and come after Me, cannot be My way to us in experience as the Holy disciple” (Luke 14:27). Spirit applies that finished work to our lives. 7-6. Affliction’s Effect “In the Reformation there was, “But what things were gain to me, through grace, a great deliverance. The those I counted loss for Christ” (Phil. groundwork of Christianity was 3:7). recovered; namely, justification by faith. Our Father has many reasons for But though this was recovered, it was administering trial -all good. Trial not maintained that the old man was teaches us the futility of the old life, and crucified on the Cross, and hence they the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus-our only refused the exactions of popery, new life. but recognized the flesh as still before “The Christian suffers the same God. Refusing the exaction was right; calamities as others, perhaps even but the retention of that in which the worse; he faces difficulties and losses exaction could be made, the old man, in the things of this life; he has to be was the weakness of the Reformation.” prepared to meet death itself. In all “I do not see the Cross truly if I only these circumstances he is calm and see it as opening a way of escape for trustful; he is not only sure of ultimately me, and yet allowing that in me to going to heaven, but already abides escape which has incurred the there and enjoys something of it in his judgment of the Cross.” own heart. “In the present day (1867) the truth “God is real to him and ever near. is lowered to the measure of man’s He knows a peace which passes all need; hence if the need is met, which understanding, and he experiences a grace does, the convert makes little or joy which no man can take from him. no advance; he rests in the satisfaction This, surely, should be our testimony in of his need, instead of being directed to 117 the world, but it can only be as the Lord so would be to give up his very Jesus Himself lives out this life in us.” - existence. But the death of the Lord H.F. Jesus is-judicially, and for faith-the end “The world is divided into two things- of that man, and the Christian walking pleasures and afflictions; I am more in the Spirit owns him no more. afraid of the pleasures than the “The believer can thus, and only afflictions. In afflictions you turn to the thus, have freedom from the tyranny of Lord. The danger is of being carried sin as he reckons himself to have died away by the very favors God has given unto sin, and to be alive unto God as to man.” one ‘alive from the dead.’ He presents “Those who suffer from chastening his body a living sacrifice unto God, and ought to be before the Father, owning proves what is the good and acceptable His hand; and He who has wounded and perfect will of God. Thus walking, will heal. The Lord Jesus did not take the peace of the Lord Jesus becomes the cup which He had to drink from us, an experiential reality in the heart of the from man, nor from Satan; but from His believer. Thank God! we are no longer Father’s hand.” linked with the fallen Adam, and the “Yea doubtless, and I count all Holy Spirit has placed us in union with things but loss for the excellency of the Christ risen and glorified.” -C.A.C. knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord” “The more clearly we enter, by faith, (Phil. 3:8). into objective truth, or what is true of us in the Lord Jesus, the deeper, more 7-7. “Peace On Earth” experiential and practical will be the “Let the peace of God rule in your Spirit’s subjective work in us, and the hearts” (Col. 3:15). more complete will be the manifestation Peace does not, and cannot, exist in of the moral effect in our life and the fallen Adam life; and as long as the character.” -C.H.M. old man reigns within, there is going to “Both He that sanctifieth and they be turmoil both within and without. The who are sanctified are all of one” (Heb. path of the Cross is alone the path of 2:11). peace. 7-8. Spirit-taught And Spirit-wrought “The moment came when the Lord Jesus could say, ‘Peace I leave with “Hath made us alive together with you, My peace I give unto you’ (John Christ” (Eph. 2:5). 14:27). This could only be on the If we fail to rely upon the Holy Spirit ground of His death, for the man in for the practical day-by-day realization Adam could never give up his will: to do of the identification truths, we will fall short of Romans 8, and find ourselves 118 bound in the struggle of Romans 7. 7-9. Path Proximity “If some of you who have been the “God is able to make all grace Lord’s for a long time cast a glance abound toward you, that ye, always over your past history, you will be able having all sufficiency, may abound to to recall occasions when He spoke and every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). you obeyed instantly. But you can recall Suffering takes us in condition other occasions when He spoke and where truth has us in position. you failed to respond; yet strangely, “We will never learn any truth in after a time you just found yourself in experience excepting in the deepening the way of obedience. knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. It “Such is the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s is the lack of this which is the cause of government in our lives. Even if we are weakness among believers; bare totally unable to obey and cannot even doctrine is not personal fellowship with exercise faith, a day comes when the Him. We have that which is lovely and resistance has vanished and we are full of blessing in Him; but if we are to trusting the Lord Jesus in simplicity of know it as such; to prove its truth, to heart. It is the tireless energy of the enjoy it always, it must be in taking indwelling Spirit that has accomplished these things as connected with Him.” - this. J.N.D. “Our union with the Lord Jesus is a “The passive power of faith needs union of life. We were raised with Him, for its sustenance closer communion we are made alive in Him. True, our with the Father than its active energy. bodies are to be changed, and those Action, as it were, nerves us to the who have died in Christ are to be raised conflict; but quiet endurance of wrong, as to their bodies, but now we are or suffering of any kind, which neither raised with and are made alive in Him. friend nor foe sees, but only God, this “The trouble is that many are not indeed needs divine power, and without aware of this wonderful fact and God’s support none would bear the position; all of it seems so far away and strain. Many a saint has shown the unreal. If we will believe God’s Word courage of faith before his enemies, as and begin to thank Him for the truths Elijah when he faced Ahab, but who, that He tells us, the Holy Spirit will ere like him, quails and flees, where there long begin to make these truths living is nothing to do, but quietly trust in realities in our lives.” -L.L.L. God.” “And hath raised us up together, and “There is but one thought with our made us sit together in heavenly places Father in disciplining us, namely, to in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). make our trials an opportunity for our

119 heart to learn and discover more of His to Him, and recognized Him as the only love, and the resources which are in One who can make it all experiential in Him as He has revealed them to us in them.” -J.B.S. His Son.” -J.B.S. “Is the living Person now in heavenly “There is no way of learning faith glory really the Object of our hearts? except by trial. It is God’s school of For some time after I knew the Saviour faith, and it is far better for us to learn to I used to think of Him as One who had trust our Father than to enjoy life.” lived and died on earth long years ago, “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; and I well remember the day when I as poor, yet making many rich; as knelt down with a dear brother who having nothing, and yet possessing all prayed that we might know the Lord things” (2 Cor. 6:10). Jesus as a living Person in heavenly glory, and it dawned upon me that there 7-10. Behold, The Man! was a present Object for my heart in “[God] hath raised us up together, heaven. Our hearts will never be and made us sit together in heavenly satisfied until that glorified Lord Jesus places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). becomes our Object bright and fair.” - There aren’t many truly happy C.A.C. Christians simply because there aren’t “Set your affection on things above, many who really abide in the Lord not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). Jesus Christ. Our risen Lord is the 7-11. Grace And Mercy source of our happiness as we rest in Him-triumphant over circumstances; not “But my God shall supply all your hopelessly underneath them. Happy is need according to His riches in glory by the abiding believer, “hid with Christ in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). God” (Col. 3:3). If and when the trial comes, you will “I must not only see my position in find Him waiting there. the Lord Jesus, but I must come near to “We should always be prepared for the One who set me there. Many are circumstances that will arise, and for disappointed that after hearing with blessings that are to come, without delight and receiving the truth of their foreseeing what these circumstances position they are not more affected by and blessings will be. This preparation it. consists in attention to present “The reason is that they rest too responsibility, and acceptance of much in the position and have not present discipline. occupied themselves increasingly with “If day by day we first seek divine their risen Lord; have not drawn nearer direction, and then follow it, we shall be

120 ready, when new circumstances arise, which ultimately produces right for the new blessings which will be conduct. “Ye are not under the law, but offered. Today should be preparation under grace” (Rom. 6:14). for tomorrow. The only proof that we “The believer does not walk in order shall be equal to tomorrow’s test is that to reach the throne. On the contrary. we are meeting today’s test believingly His walk is determined by the fact that and courageously. The only evidence he has been placed with the Lord Jesus that we shall be willing for God’s will in a position of immeasurable tomorrow is that we are subject to His ascendancy. He has been made to sit will today.” -W.G.S. together with Christ in heavenly places “Our Lord has special reserves of in order that, having received an grace for special needs. If ever you feel abundance of grace and the gift of that you could not go through a certain righteousness, he might reign in life by trial, that if you had to face that, you just one, even the Lord Jesus. could not go through with it, you are “He walks like a king because he is taking on something that you have no a king (Rev. 1:6). He is not called upon right to take on. to walk in kingly fashion in order that he “If the Lord calls you to go through may reach the throne. God’s order is fire or water, He has a special reserve different. The Christian begins at the of grace for you in that. And that grace throne and his kingly manner is only the will be from the throne of grace. It is the inevitable outcome of his exalted throne above, mediating grace for need position. and suffering as it is required.” -T.A-S. “Our frustrations and agonies in an “Let us. . . come boldly unto the effort to attain the unattainable, our throne of grace, that we may obtain shame and our defeats such as we find mercy, and find grace to help in time of in Paul’s own experience tabulated so need” (Heb. 4:16). faithfully in Romans 7, come about naturally and inevitably when, failing to 7-12. Positional Conduct grasp all this, we put the emphasis on “They who receive abundance of our conduct rather than our position, grace and of the gift of righteousness which must come first.” -F.J.H. shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” “Unto Him that loveth us, and (Rom. 5:17). washed us from our sins in His own Law and grace are separated by the blood, and hath made us a kingdom of infinite chasm of the Cross. Law priests unto God and His Father, to Him required right conduct first, with earthly be glory and dominion for ever and position to be earned thereby. Grace ever” (Rev. 1:5, 6). gives heavenly position immediately, 121 7-13. Look And Live! He has given Himself to you, and that “But we all, with unveiled face you have a claim to all that is in Him. It beholding as in a mirror the glory of the is His purpose to work out His image in Lord, are changed into the same image you. Behold Him with the joyful and from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit certain expectation: the glory that I of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). behold in Him is destined for me!” -A.M. As the plant to the sun, we look to “For God, who commanded the light the Son for growth! to shine out of darkness, hath shone in our hearts, to give the light of the “What is the good of a man being knowledge of the glory of God in the ennobled, made a prince of, if he feels face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). he has gained no more or sensible acquisition by it? This is the 7-14. The March Of Time disappointment which souls feel without “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently being able to account for it; and they for Him” (Ps. 37:7). are subject to nights of wrestling, The difference between knowing the because they have rested in their grand Lord Jesus as Savior and knowing Him title, instead of in the means of as Life, is the better part of a lifetime; supporting their titles, which is even for the hungriest of hearts. “I dependence on, and ever deepening press toward the mark for the prize of acquaintance with, the One who has the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” conferred them.” -J.B.S. (Phil. 3:14). “I cannot conceive anything more “In receiving the Word of God by satisfying or cheering to the heart than faith, there is first, light; then exercise of the consciousness that I may not only conscience; third, prayer-you are cast draw near, but that I draw near in on God; fourth, the work of the Spirit to answer to the thought and interest that lead you into it. the Lord Jesus has about me, and that I draw nigh to enjoy myself in His “Not one of us is beyond the work of presence where there is so much the Spirit in us. Many think, because thought and interest about me. It is they have the light of a truth that they there my heart goes out in are in the power and reality of it. No! acknowledgment of Him in answer to you may have all the Bible, have much His deep, gracious, and everlasting light, but there is no growth beyond the love.” measure of the Spirit’s work in us.” “By means of the Word, look to the “Conception of a truth is one thing, Lord Jesus in faith. Exercise the and execution is quite another. Grace blessed trust that He is yours, and that may have been furnished you with a

122 true conception, but you must wait on in order to know life. Redemption must the Lord to carry it out by His Spirit. The be known first, and the ultimate effect working out of a true conception is the will be death to sin, to selfishness; and real discipline.” all this is very trying. One might be “Do not be discouraged because tempted to say, All this trial comes upon you may not carry out your purpose at me because I have not been redeemed. once; God will carry it out, but you must Not so; it is just because you are keep in the place where you will be redeemed. We may seek to avoid the preserved, in the circle of His interests. bitter waters of Marah, but our Father “Moses had to wait forty years to will bring us to them. He intends to carry out his purpose, which was a right break down what is of the old man, and one, though in the first flush the flesh then, in His own good time, He will pour sought to carry it out; but in the Lord’s in that which sweetens all. time, how fully every purpose of his “But because God has brought me heart was met-all the way to the Mount to Himself, He is putting His finger on of Transfiguration!” everything that hinders complete “Then shall we know, if we follow on dependence upon Him, or my soul’s full to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3). enjoyment of Himself. So count it not strange, though it be a fiery trial which 7-15. The Hand Of Life is to try you; for the Father will have you “That I may know Him. . . being drink of the very thing (death) that made conformable unto His death” redeemed you.” -J.N.D. (Phil. 3:10). “Let this mind be in you, which was also in The life that emerges from death is Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). administered by a loving, nail-pierced 7-16. Passive Resistance hand. “There is, therefore, now no “As with the seed that is buried once condemnation to them who are in Christ for all, but then disintegrated through a Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). gradual process that sets free the new Until the believer realizes that his life life, even so does our Father deal with is safely hid with Christ in God, he will our old nature by delivering it to death never get free from the harassment of with the Lord Jesus once for all, and the enemy. “When He giveth quietness, then bringing about its mortifying in who then can make trouble?” (Job detail through the circumstances of 34:29). daily life, until the power of the old man has lost its hold on us.” -L.T. “If the Lord Jesus is not positively before the soul, it is enough: the “We are going to have to learn death enemy’s work is done!” -F.W.G. 123 “There is a world of difference more easily corrected than inert sloth. between the nagging, corroding “It is possible, and very humiliating, condemnations of the devil, and the to be awakened to the fact, though we clear convictions of the Holy Spirit. The have had a measure of zeal for the enemy speaks in generalities, seeking Lord, that we have barely known the to smear us by a vague sense of things we should have known, nor the failure, uncleanness, confusion, behavior that is becoming to us in this heaviness of spirit. The answer to that marvelous day of grace. is there is ‘now no condemnation to “But it is the love of the Lord Jesus them who are in Christ Jesus.’ that would lead us on, through the “The Holy Spirit speaks specifically, judgment of ourselves and ways, into and His convicting, although rebuking deeper communion with Himself to be us, is sweet and clean and true and better representatives of Him here in acceptable. He points out some exact whose likeness we shall soon appear.” and immediate action by which we have “The snare with zealous, but temporarily given in to sin. Satan points unprepared and unbroken hearts, is to downward to despair, but the Spirit do the right thing in the wrong way. It is points upward to cleansing.” not enough to know the right thing, but I “The tempter’s suggestions are apt must know the right way of doing it. The to make one feverish. There is a sure latter is not easily learned; the former is test for ambitious plans. Any trace or the fruit of light; the latter is never taint of fever produced is a pretty sure acquired but as there is practical grace indication of the enemy’s influence. In and love-the activity of the Lord Jesus’ sharp contrast with this, the Holy nature in me by the Spirit.” -J.B.S. Spirit’s work always makes us quiet and “Denial of the old man is where he is clear and deliberate. Our Master’s most felt, not where he is least felt; and touch still has the same power and all the light of Scripture cannot promote effect as when He touched the hand of growth without self-denial. Here is Peter’s wife’s mother; the fever leaves.” where most fail, and in this day there is “In nothing terrified by your a great deal more zeal to acquire adversaries” (Phil. 1:28). knowledge and intelligence in the 7-17. Zeal’s Precocity wonders of revelation, than to deny the man that has no sympathy with it, nor “For I bear them witness that they part in it, but condemnation.” have a zeal for God, but not according “Not a novice, lest being lifted up to knowledge” (Rom. 10:2). with pride he fall into the condemnation It takes more to break inertia than to of the devil” (1 Tim. 3:6). ease momentum. Misdirected zeal is 124 7-18. His Way And Time own purposes meanwhile, but I must “That ye might walk worthy of the follow Him, not go before Him. If I am Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in ‘strengthened. . . unto all patience,’ I every good work, and increasing in the shall be long-suffering toward others.” knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10). “Strengthened. . . according to His When once we see and accept our glorious power, unto all patience and Father’s purpose for our lives to the longsuffering” (Col. 1:11). extent that it becomes our will also, the 7-19. Loved, To Love time and details of His process cease to “Blessed be the God and Father of matter. “Thy will be done” (Lk. 11:2). our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath “It is the knowledge of the Lord blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Jesus that matures the soul. Our Father heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). chooses His opportunities to teach us His love is mine when I know what these things, and when He has He did for me; my love is His when I accomplished this work the special know who He is to me-He who is Love, communications of His wisdom and is my Life. He loved, and died; that I love no longer continue, for He desires might live, and love. “I am my we should walk by faith, according to beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” what we know we possess in the Lord (S.S. 6:3). Jesus. Hence our path is in company with a Christ much better known, and in “My Father, in His grace, has come much closer communion with Him. in and ended my history in the flesh, by the Cross, and now by the Spirit I am “After receiving the instruction, we brought into association with His Son at have to return to the ordinary activity of His own right hand in heaven. a life of responsibility, and to those relationships with our brethren in which “The Lord Jesus wins my heart in love is developed and exercised, as it is His humiliation; He satisfies it in His put to the proof, either in the assembly glory. A won heart is not necessarily a or in individual relationships.” satisfied heart. But if a heart is truly won by the Lord Jesus it never will be “Patience is the secret of it all. We satisfied without Him. No heart that is want to hurry God sometimes, but we won is ever satisfied but in the never can. We find this at times in the company of the One who won it. desire for restoring a soul-a right thing Absence does not ‘make the heart grow to want, but God must first go to the fonder’! You only discover in absence bottom. what you have gained in presence.” “Patience requires thorough “We talk of difficulties and confidence in God. He is working His 125 perplexities. How little the heart is really 1:3). He puts us in this position in concert, in simple concert with the answering perfectly to His nature, and Lord Jesus! He has gone up to the right with a nature to enjoy it.” hand of the Father in greater power “He imparts to us of Himself in order than ever, and He is using the elevation to qualify us for Himself.” that He has gone to, to effect “Not only is my blessing in heaven, deliverance for me from all things that but I need the Lord Jesus’ power to would break fellowship between Him enable me to rise above the sense of and me. And He uses His Word to keep my infirmity down here; for this world, me from all that would interfere with instead of contributing to me, makes that blessed communion.” me feel my weakness and need, and “Thy Word have I hidden in mine that I must rise out of it to find and heart, that I might not sin against Thee” enjoy my blessing. (Ps. 119:11). “The very infirmity which this evil 7-20. Calvary’s Secret age makes me conscious of makes me draw upon the power of Christ, as the “Partakers of the divine nature, One outside it, passing into the having escaped the corruption that is in heavens, so that I take pleasure in the the world” (2 Pet. 1:4). very infirmity which is exposed here, We are to find out in Romans 6, that the power of Christ may rest upon through the gracious teaching of the me.” -J.B.S. Spirit of truth, all that happened to the “God forbid that I should glory, Lord Jesus there on the Cross. Then except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus we will know our own position and Christ” (Gal. 6:14). standing, since we were judicially in Him there. 7-21. Counter-balanced “Have you ever thought about God’s “Having therefore, brethren, thought about you, that you are ‘to be boldness to enter into the holiest by the conformed to the image of His Son’? ‘It blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19). doth not yet appear what we shall be, Personal knowledge of and but we know that, when He shall fellowship with our risen Lord Jesus is appear, we shall be like Him’ (Rom. counter-balanced by personal 8:29; 1 John 3:2). knowledge of and fellowship in the “This cannot fail. The Lord Jesus death of the Cross. The principle of presses on our hearts that He brings us balance prevents our slipping past the into association with Himself. He ‘hath Cross and pushing into His presence. blessed us with all spiritual blessings in “Where do you dwell? ‘Come and heavenly places in Christ Jesus’ (Eph. 126 see. They came. . . and abode with How difficult it is for the hungry heart Him’ (John 1:39). The highest to adjust to the Father’s pace. He is so satisfaction He can have is that we deliberate and thorough, while our need should be at home with Himself. He has is so pressing and paramount. Apart removed the distance from His own from never being behind time, our side. Father is an eternity ahead of time! We “If you believe that, you say, I will have but to see in the Word what He approach Him. That is one thing. The has accomplished on our behalf in the next thing is, His love is so great He Lord Jesus, and then quietly rely upon delights to have your company. It is not Him, “according as His divine power that you will feel yourself out of place hath given unto us all things that pertain there-you will be there in all the beauty unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). of the Lord Jesus Christ.” “God will perfect that which “Our Father delights in having us concerneth His own; and even where with Himself. Love yearns to satisfy there are mistakes and failures, as alas! itself about me. It is not only that I can there are in abundance with all of us, go in, but a much greater thing-my the Lord’s rich grace abounds over all, Father, in all His majesty and glory, can and actually takes occasion from our come out! All is equipoised. Not only very mistakes to shine out all the more have I entree, but I am shaped to the brightly-though, assuredly, the mistakes grandeur of the scene, conformed to and failures must produce their own the glory of God. Not admitted like a painful and humiliating results. stranger, but changed into the same “It is the remembrance of this which image; not to equality but similarity; alone can give calm repose in the midst transformed into moral of the most discouraging correspondence.” -J.B.S. circumstances. If we take the eye of “If we are not with Him where He is, faith off God, our souls must soon be we cannot be for Him where He is not. overwhelmed. It is our privilege to be We must be inside the veil to be outside able, in our little measure, to thank God the camp.” in view of everything, and take refuge in “Let us draw near with a true heart in His eternal counsels, which must be full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22). made good despite all the unbelief of man, and all the malice of Satan.” 7-22. Guarded And Guided “May God give us to increasingly “My God shall supply all your need know Him! If we had only to learn what according to His riches in glory by we are, we should surely be cast down, Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). and sink into despondency; but His object in giving us a knowledge of 127 ourselves and of His grace, is to give us ‘that which doth cost me nothing’ (2 an expected end.” Sam. 24:24). “Surely goodness and mercy shall “The service declares its virtue and follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. aim by the suffering which is endured in 23:6). rendering it, for what can be done at one’s ease is generally done without 7-23. Sacrificial Service much concern for the one to whom it is “I endure all things for the elect’s rendered, and thus the true quality is sake” (2 Tim. 2:10). lost.” Our Father’s mercy is all- “I will very gladly spend and be encompassing. It includes our spent for you; though the more salvation-” . . . according to His mercy abundantly I love you, the less I be He saved us” (Titus 3:5); and our loved” (2 Cor. 12:15). service-”...bythe merciesofGod, present your bodies a living sacrifice. . . 7-24. Terminal Condition-Eternal which is your reasonable service” Position (Rom. 12:1). “Ye have put off the old man with his Reasonable service is based upon deeds” (Col. 3:9). sacrifice: “I, Paul. . . rejoice in my Sometimes our Christian life and sufferings for you, and fill up that which love are divided between the two is behind of the afflictions of Christ in Adams. It may be 60-40 in favor of the my flesh for His body’s sake, which is Last Adam, still it is shared. But the the church” (Col. 1:23, 24). Lord Jesus paid it all, gave His all, “To truly minister to others is always deserves our all, requires all, because to accept new happiness and new He is our ALL. Ours is to be total distress, both of them forever separation-death to the old, life in the deepening and entering into closer and New. more inseparable union with each “Our Father has removed everything other, the more profound and spiritual to His own satisfaction, and you learn in the ministry becomes. The one who the first eleven verses of Romans 5 the gives himself to others can never be a terms He is on with you. It means much wholly sad person; but no more can he to the heart of the believer to know that be one of unclouded gladness.” -G.M. he is received on the ground of another “The fuller the service, the greater Man who perfectly glorified God. the surrender and sacrifice. It is not “We are accepted in Him, the giving what one can spare without Beloved. God has changed His man, feeling it, for I will not offer the Lord and you are never happy until you

128 believe that and are able to say, I have, “I have got away from grace if I have too. If you do not see that God has the slightest doubt about God’s love for changed His man you will never change me. I shall then be saying, I am not your man.” happy, because I am not what I should “The only way to freedom is to leave like to be. But, dear friend, this is not Adam for Christ-to change your man; the question: the real question is, then it is ‘not I, but Christ liveth in me’ whether God is what we shall like Him (Gal. 2:20). There are two sides; one, to be, whether the Lord Jesus is all we that you are cleared from the old in the could wish. eye of God in the Cross; the other, that “If the consciousness of what we are you are now new in Christ risen. ‘For in ourselves, has any other effect than, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ while it humbles us, to increase our Jesus hath made me free from the law adoration of what our Father is, we are of sin and death’ (Rom. 8:2). The old is off the ground of pure grace. The held in the place of death as you walk immediate effect of such consciousness in newness of life in the Spirit.” should be to make our hearts reach out “And have put on the new man, that to God and to His grace as abounding is renewed in knowledge after the over all.” image of Him that created him” (Col. “May our hearts get such a lesson in 3:10) the love of the Father, that, instead of being depressed by trying 7-25. Love’s Eternality circumstances, or elated by what are “The Lord direct your hearts into the called providential interpositions, we love of God” (2 Thess. 3:5). may know that we are the objects of Between the activity of the old man this wonderful love, and are being and the accusations of Satan, we often educated into it by the only One who find it very difficult to believe and knew it in all its power as He walked understand that God is lovingly and here below through this wilderness legally on our side, both now and world.” -J.B.S. forever. “To know the love of Christ, which “One of the great secrets of growth passeth knowledge” (Eph. 3:19). is the looking upon the Lord Jesus as 7-26. Rightly Dividing gracious. How strengthening it is, to know that He is at this moment feeling “If [since] ye, then, be risen with and exercising the same love and grace Christ, seek those things which are towards me as when He died upon the above, where Christ sitteth on the right Cross for me.” -J.N.D. hand of God” (Col. 3:1). The Christian cannot thrive but in his 129 environment, “hidden with Christ in not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). God” (Col. 3:3). 7-27. Treasured Trials “Let us rightly divide the Word of truth. To go back to the Psalms for “Humble yourselves, therefore, proper Christian experience is to lose under the mighty hand of God, that He the savor of grace and to breathe may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6). legalism; it is to climb down from The Blesser sends trials because heaven to earth. If the Psalms are really the trials are blessings. Most covet the understood, they yield a harvest of “blessing” of having the trial removed. blessing to the soul; but if “I find the brightest summer is when misunderstood and misapplied, as alas! the winter has been longest and most is too often done, only loss can result.” - severe. The wheat, the best grain, W.K. passes a winter in the soil. The bud, the “If we confound the Jewish spirit of blossom, or fruit, most fragrant of the Psalms with the Epistles, and take it Christ, is the one which nobody knows as the expression of our feelings, we what it cost me but Himself; and where falsify Christianity. No doubt I shall find one had hardly noticed it; like the lovely confidence in the Lord in respect beautiful wild flowers in the hedgerow, of His government of this world, the contending with bushes and briars, to comfort of forgiveness, the happy shed their fragrance on the unthankful confidence of integrity of heart, and or unthinking traveller going by.” remarkable prophecies of Christ; but “I think we are sometimes ready to where shall I find heavenly hopes, or say to the Lord-Could you not have my union with the glorified Lord Jesus, taught me without subjecting me to so or even the out-flowings of divine grace, much sorrow and humiliation? The as manifested in His person on earth, answer I have had is, You could not be or the blessed affection which flows effectually taught any other way. The from hearts acquainted with these? Lord knows the nature of the obstacle “Where is the blessed Spirit of in me which He has to overcome: a less adoption? Every saint knows the efficient hand might think that it could touching expression of piety which the be dealt with in some other way. Psalms furnish to us; but no intelligent “A weakness be it bodily or believer can turn from the writings of otherwise, is sometimes allowed to John and Paul to the Psalms without continue in order that there may be finding himself in an altogether different dependence, and when there is atmosphere.” dependence, the weakness becomes a “Set your affection on things above, gain; the grit-the trying thing-is superseded by a pearl of great price.” - 130 J.B.S. oneself to given laws or rules. Seeking “The God of all grace, who hath to urge oneself into conformity to law, called us unto His eternal glory by the old man is before the eye, and Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered satisfaction is felt according as there is awhile, make you perfect [mature], conformity to a given standard. establish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Pet. “The moment legality is sanctioned, 5:10). it must be with reference to that which needs to be made subject. This is not 7-28. Free-born Christian, because as believers we are “For I through the law died unto the not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, against law, that I might live unto God” (Gal. which there is no law.” 2:19, ASV). “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty No true believer expects the Law to with which Christ hath made us free, give life, yet many expect it to govern and be not entangled again with the life. Too few realize that their death on yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1). the Cross separated them from the entire principle of law, and that their 7-29. Hand Crafted resurrection united them to the Lord “Thou art my God. My times are in Jesus, “full of grace and truth” (John Thy hand “ (Ps. 31:14, 15). 1:14). The environment necessary for “All of the Lord’s commands to me one’s growth, and the enablement are according to the new nature I necessary for one’s service, are both in already have. He is my life, and all His the hands of one’s Creator. “So He fed words are the expression of that life. them according to the integrity of His Therefore when His words are given to heart, and guided them by the me, they only give me the authority to skillfulness of His hands” (Ps. 78:72). do what my new nature likes to do. ‘A “What we have all to do is to walk new commandment I write unto you, closely and quietly with the Lord Jesus, which thing is true in Him and in you” (1 and the blessing will come when He John 2:8). -J.N.D. has established His work. There is a “Does our Father mock us by sifting government of God as well as a bidding us do what He knows we are perfect redemption, and He is full of unable to do? No! He gives commands patience. His purpose is glory; His ways we cannot perform in our strength, that are the wilderness.” we may know what we ought to request “There are various ways in which as from Him.” saints we are tried, but through all “Legalism is an effort to shape circumstances God is threading our

131 way, occupying Himself with us, our triumphs by being defeated. He lives by particular characters, etc., to instruct dying. His crown is a crown of thorns. and develop us. What we want is to His throne is a Cross. His weapon is realize that our Father loves us so not strength but weakness. much that He has taken such pains to “His victory is not found in make us ‘partakers of His holiness’ establishing his own cause but in (Heb. 12:10). We are apt not to believe establishing that of his fellow-men; the the activity of His love. Some trouble poor, the sick, the disinherited, the comes on us; our Father has been brokenhearted, the wayward, the lost. watching us individually for weeks, This may be foolishness to men. But we months, years; watching us to bring this must not forget that ‘the foolishness of trouble which He sees is needed.” - God is stronger than men’ (1 Cor. 1:25). H.H.S. -F.J.H. “How varied are the ways in which “How blessed it is to know, and at our Father bringeth down and lifteth up! the same time how solemn to realize, We have to learn the grace of our Lord that the sin of the child of God is Jesus Christ in the bright day as well as against his Father, and that it is the love in the sorrowful day. If He is everything of relationship that is called into to me in my brightest day there is no exercise about it-love which acts fear but He will be my chief joy in the towards us ‘for our profit, that we might day of sorrow.” be partakers of His holiness’“ (Heb. “Humble yourselves, therefore, 12:10). under the mighty hand of God, that He “It is impossible that He should treat may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6). it lightly; and it will be impossible in the 7-30. The Real Enemy end for any one of His own to treat it lightly either. Grace abides towards us; “For sin shall not have dominion and because grace abides, sin cannot over you; for ye are not under the law, be permitted to have sway over the but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). objects of it.” -W.K. Hatred for others comes easy for “Let not sin, therefore, reign. . . “ some; but to fully hate one’s old man (Rom. 6:12). comes hard for all. The Lord Jesus loves us too much to allow us to go on 7-31. All Glory To God loving ourselves. “Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, “The Christian’s victory is not over or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory others, but over himself. His sword is of God “ (1 Cor. 10:31). drawn, not to slay his fellowman, but to The present and eternal ministry of slay himself. He wins by losing. He 132 the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son; the past, present, and future ministry of the Number 8 Son is to glorify the Father. Our life and ministry will bring glory to our Father to Most writing has a slant to it. The the extent that we abide in the Son, and angle of the entire Hungry Heart Series are controlled by the Holy Spirit. is upward. The purpose is to help the growing believer realize more clearly “When one’s ministry or outreach that his new life began in heaven, is flows from close communion with the now in heaven, and ever more shall be Father, one’s influence and moral in heaven. authority will be recognized. Moreover, such a workman is not carried beyond Mr. John Darby shared this same what he has received from the Lord, so Pauline perspective. that his ministry finds sanction in hearts To abide in heaven in the without any pressure.” -J.N.D. Lord Jesus is my place. My “The object of all Christian life and faith is exercised here, and ministry, of whatever kind, must surely the suffering here may be be to bring glory to God. Any lesser prolonged and continued; motive is inferior. If this were kept in the but I abide there, and while forefront of our thinking and praying, it abiding I engage myself would have two beneficial results. The with everything connected hectic strain would be taken out of our with my Father, and with lives and service, and spontaneous reference to the place He fruitfulness would follow. has set me in. “We can aim to meet the needs of In that blessed region people as a primary objective, and fret where He has placed me, because so many of our efforts prove and where He alone can abortive. We may secretly pride keep me, and where I am ourselves on our ability to minister, or simply dependent upon on our efficient service, and reap Him, it is His interests nothing but frustration. It is only when alone which engage me, our whole outlook is made radiant by and thus it is that I minister His glory, because we are hungry to do to the saints. His will and that only, that our activities “That the name of our Lord Jesus will be quickened into new life, and Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in others be truly blessed.” -J.C.M. him, according to the grace of our God “He [Abraham]. . . was strong in faith, giving and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. glory to God” (Rom. 4:20). 1:12).

133 Miles J. Stanford; January 1983 not call forth praise to the Father, when He is not prominently before the soul, 8-1. Let God Be God! as the source of everything possessed, “Being filled with the fruits of then the gifts take the place of the Giver righteousness, which are by Jesus in the heart, and must soon lose their Christ, unto the glory and praise of vigor and value like flowers cut away God” (Phil. 1:11). from their roots.” It goes without saying that “The great question is, not whether I Christianity is a vertical relationship with see a certain thing, and how it stands in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus relation to me, but do I see it as my Christ. But are your arrows pointing up, Father sees it, and as it stands in or down? “Let us offer the sacrifice of relation to Him?” praise to God continually” (Heb. 13:15). “Unto him be glory in the church by “Grace is the Father’s favor to man Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world according to His own heart, and for His without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:21). own glory. If the need of man were the 8-2. Servlceabllity sole measure of His grace, then man only would be thought of, the work of “Beloved, think it not strange the Lord Jesus would be simply for concerning the fiery trial which is to test man, and the power of God expended you, as though some strange thing merely in rescuing man and securing happened unto you” (1 Peter 4:12). his relief. Man would be the object and The joy of sowing is exceeded only end of it all, and not God.” -J.B.S. by the joy of harvesting; and yet both “When I have rest in the Lord Jesus, sowing and reaping are a matter of then I begin to find all my joy and death. strength in Him, and I occupy myself “If we follow and note the history and with Him. This is the foundation of true ways of any true servant of the Lord, devotedness. I do not become devoted we shall see, that on the one side they, in the true sense until I have found my like Moses on the Mount, or Paul in rest in Him. I am, up to this, rather Arabia, are entranced with the looking to receive from Him. Iam more brightness and most marvelous display an object to myself; but when I find how of divine glory; yet on man’s side, those fully I am an object to Him, then my who know most of the divine ways, heart is at liberty to make Him its suffer most because of the indifference object, He having made me His.” - of those who have professed to be the J.B.S. Lord’s people. “When the advantages of grace do “It is nowhere admitted in Scripture

134 that a servant can be merely the herald belongs to spiritual maturity” (Heb. 6:1, of the light of God’s grace; that is, that Amp.). he should only have the joyful side of The birth truths of Romans 1-5 are service. For every real servant, be he not meant for our spiritual growth. The evangelist, teacher, or anything else, growth truths of Romans 6-8 are there must be the side of suffering, presented for our spiritual development burden, and humiliation.” and maturity. The Reformation brought “We must bear in mind that, while it back the birth truths, but the Cross and is the Father’s purpose, in His dealings the Life truths are necessary for our with Job, to vindicate His own estimate growth. of His servant; it is, at the same time, “So many rest content with the shown us how He educates or thought that their sins are pardoned, disciplines that servant so as to render and that they are in the path of life, but him worthy of that estimate.” know nothing of a personal attachment “In every trial, however gloomy, to the risen Lord Jesus Christ as their there are gleams of light and relief; but life, or of faith that lives in the invisible full deliverance is often delayed by our and walks with the Father. anxiety to obtain it. God Himself, and “With many this is the consequence not the deliverance, is to be the of the hopelessness that came from the satisfaction of His servant; failure of their utmost efforts to live as consequently the deliverance is often they desired. They struggled in their postponed until we are without prospect own strength; they lost heart, they went or expectation of it; and then it may be back. The profession of faith is not cast accorded in a manner so away; religious habits are kept up; but transcendently beyond our conception, there is nothing to show that they have that we must see and understand the entered or are seeking to enter the love and interest which surrounded us Holiest to dwell there. during the whole period of our trial.” “The power of the world, the spirit of “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are its literature, and temptations of partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that, business and pleasure, all unite to when his glory shall be revealed, ye make up a religion in which it is sought may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 to combine a comfortable hope for the Peter 4:3) future with the least possible amount of 8-3. No Hunger-No Growth sacrifice in the present.” -A.M. “Struggle and effort in themselves “Let us go on and get past the will never secure blessing, but by elementary stage. . . advancing steadily leading to despair and complete self- toward the completeness. . . that 135 disgust they serve a divine purpose in “‘It is God who worketh in you’ (Phil the experience of the soul. I would 2:13). Deliverance from law does not rather see a soul in honest exercise, mean that we are free from doing the however legal he was, than see the will of our Father. It certainly does not light and careless acceptance of divine mean that we are going to be lawless. truth. I do not think God gives anything Quite the opposite! What it does mean without preparing us for it by making us however is that we are free from doing feel the need and value of it. It is a that will as of ourselves. divine principle that ‘He satisfieth the “Being fully persuaded that we longing soul’ (Ps. 107:9).” -C.A.C. cannot do it, we cease trying to please “He humbled thee, and suffered thee God from the ground of the old man. to hunger” (Deut. 8:3). Having at least reached the point of utter despair in ourselves so that we 8-4. From Law To Life cease even to try, we put our trust in “Oh, wretched man that I am! Who the Lord Jesus to manifest His shall deliver me from the body of this resurrection life in and through us, ‘that death?” (Rom. 7:24). the righteousness of the law might be As sinners, the law revealed our fulfilled in us, who walk not after the need of deliverance from the penalty of flesh, but after the Spirit’ (Rom. 8:4).” sin; as believers, the law reveals our “What would be effected by the law, need of deliverance from the power of if all its commands and precepts were sin. carried out and maintained? It would “Our Father knows that we are form man in the flesh; it would make weakness incarnate; that we can do Adam what he ought to be for God in nothing. The trouble is that we do not the world. The law would form Adam in know it. He must bring us all to the us.” -C.A.C. place where we see that we are utterly “I thank God through Jesus Christ, weak and helpless. our Lord” (Rom. 7:25). “The more we try to keep the law the 8-5. Our Father, Untrustworthy? more our weakness is manifested and the deeper we get into Romans Seven, “The Lord redeemeth the soul of his until it is clearly demonstrated to us that servants; and none of them who trust in we are hopelessly weak. The Father him shall be desolate” (Ps. 34:22). knew it all the time, but we did not, and We can only trust our Father to the so He has to bring us through painful degree that we know Him. And He only experiences to a recognition of the reveals Himself to us by His means. fact.” That is by the Word, by the Spirit, and hence by the Son-in that sequence. 136 “Could it be possible that God would Father and with His Son Jesus, Christ.” so love an individual as to give His only -J.N.D. Son to die for him and still love him to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, the extent of following him with the and lean not unto thine own pleadings and drawings of His grace understanding. In all thy ways until He has won that soul into His own acknowledge him, and he shall direct family and created him anew by the thy paths” (Prov. 3:5, 6). impartation of His own divine nature, and then be careless as to what 8-6. Hidden To Reveal becomes of the one He has thus given “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, His all to procure?” -L.S.C. and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the “A life of patience intervenes flesh” (Gal. 5:16). between the day of illumination and the As we walk in the Spirit, worship in day of glorification. I am not to count on the Spirit, and pray in the Spirit, we a path of pleasure-a path of ease-a shall come to know, not the Spirit, but path of prosperity-on being more the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus distinguished tomorrow than today; but explicitly said, “He (the Comforter) shall I am to count on a path of patience. glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, And is not there glory in that? Yes, and shall show it unto you. All things there is companionship with the Lord that the Father hath are mine; therefore Jesus Christ.” -J.G.B. said I, that he shall take of mine, and “Let my circumstances be what they shall show it unto you” (John 16:14, 15) may, if I can see them ordered for me “What is it to ‘walk in the Spirit’ (Gal. unfailingly by One in whom infinite 5:16)? It is to walk in communion with wisdom, power, and goodness the Father, in dependence upon the combine, and whose love toward me I Spirit, having the Lord Jesus as my one am assured of, my restlessness is object. What held the attention of gone, my will subjected to that other will Stephen, ‘full of faith and of the Holy in which I can but acquiesce and Spirit’ (Acts 6:5)? Two things: the Word delight.” -F.W.G. of God on earth, and the Christ of God “We are called to fellowship with in heaven (Acts 7:55).” God, and fellowship means common “To walk in the Spirit is not self- happiness, common thoughts, common occupation, nor even occupation with trust. The Father’s delight is in His Son; the Spirit. Walking according to the and we have fellowship with Him in Spirit is occupation with the Lord Jesus. that. The Son’s delight is in the Father, When the believer looks to the Lord and we have fellowship with Him in Jesus, depends upon Him, draws all he that. So our fellowship is with the needs from Him-if the Lord Jesus is his 137 all, then the believer walks in the Spirit.” “If our hearts are really true to Him -A.C.G. we may be assured He will lead us on “To be Spirit-controlled does not in the knowledge of Himself just as fast mean the loss of free-agency. A free as we are able to advance. He knows agent acts as he pleases, and the how much we can take in, and He does Spirit-controlled individual pleases to not fail to minister to us the very food act in accordance with the mind and will that is suitable to our present need. We of the Spirit.” -A.McC. may sometimes feel inclined to be “‘I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye impatient with ourselves because we do shall not (in no way) fulfill the lust of the not make more rapid progress, but we flesh’ (Gal. 5:16). It might be objected, if have to learn to trust the Lord with our a Christian were not under the restraint spiritual matriculation. of the law that his life might be “If our eyes are upon the Lord careless. The ‘no way’ of our verse Jesus, and we follow with steadfast forbids such a notion.” -H.F.W. hearts as He leads us, we shall find that “For the law of the Spirit of life in He leads us by the right way and brings Christ Jesus hath made me free from us through all the exercises we need in the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2) order to form our souls in the appreciation of Himself, and of all those 8-7. On To Maturity blessed things which are brought to “That I may know him” (Phil. 3:10). pass in Him. We have to trust Him all “The one unchanging factor on this the way through, and to learn earth is the Word of God. It is upon the increasingly to distrust ourselves.” - written Word, and in the Living Word, W.N. that the Christian life is to be “The enemy will encourage you to established. Yet there are Christians do anything but carry out the throughout the world who are seeking systematic, Spirit-taught study of the to get along on the basis of Bible. He will give religious questionable blessings, and fluctuating experiences, feelings and pious self-centered experiences. thoughts-all apart from God’s Word. Do “How many rest on the initial step of not be deceived. The Scriptures are our the new birth, ‘Begotten again. . . of only sustenance-there are no incorruptible seed through the word of substitutes.” -J.B. God’ (1 Peter 1:23), and fail to press on “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know ‘Begotten. . . by the to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3). resurrection of Jesus Christ. . . unto an 8-8. Prayer Preparation inheritance’ (1 Peter 1:3). “He shall be a vessel unto honor, 138 sanctified, and fit for the master’s use, infinite grace of God, lifting us up into and prepared unto every good work” (2 His fellowship and love, and then when Tim. 2:21). He has thus brought us to Himself, “Prepared unto every good work”- bestowing upon us the blessing we especially prayer. need. In the former case, the gifts that I “It does not follow that because a can receive through prayer are the chief thing is the will of God, He will things. In the latter, God and His love, necessarily lead you to pray for it. He and fellowship with Him, and the may have other burdens for you. We surrender of the suppliant to His glory must get our prayers from God, and and His will is the supreme objective.” - pray to know His will. God was dealing A.M. with Hudson Taylor for fifteen years “Continue in prayer, and watch in before He laid upon him the burden of the same with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). definite prayer for the foundation of the 8-9. Rest Via Struggle China Inland Mission (now the Overseas Missionary Fellowship). “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you “Our Father is not in a hurry. He rest” (Matt. 11:28). cannot do things with us until we are trained and ready for them. We may be Hard as it is for the believer to finally certain He has further service, further come to rest concerning his spiritual burdens of faith and prayer to give us birth, it seems to be even more difficult when we are ready for them.” -J.O.F. for him to simply rest in the Lord Jesus for his life and service. “In the true ‘prayer of faith’ the intercessor must spend time with the “There are two stages in the Father to appropriate the promises of Christian life. The one in which, after His Word, and must permit himself to conversion, a believer seeks to work be taught by the Holy Spirit, whether what God would have him do. The the promises can be applied to this second, in which, after many a painful particular case. He remains in the failure, he ceases from his works, and presence of God, till He, by His Spirit, enters the rest of God, there to find the awakens the faith that in this particular power for work in allowing the Father to matter the prayer has been heard.” - work in him. A.M. “It is this rest from their own work “In praying there are two alternatives which many Christians cannot set before us. The one, prayer as a understand. They think of it as a state means by which we get from heaven of passive and selfish enjoyment, of still what we need. The other, prayer as contemplation which leads to the neglect of the duties of life, and unfits 139 for that watchfulness and warfare to law, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, is which Scripture calls. What an entire his beloved enemy. The Spirit’s misunderstanding of God’s call to rest! purpose is to bring the well-meaning “Truly to rest in God is to yield believer down into defeat, wretched and oneself up to the highest activity. We ready to realize, “I thank God through work, because He worketh in us both to Jesus Christ, our Lord” (Rom. 7:25). will and to do (Phil. 2:13). As Paul says “It is perhaps the most alarming of himself, ‘I labor, striving according to symptom of decay to be seen amongst his working who worketh in me with evangelical believers today, that so might’ (Col. 1:29). Entering the rest of many have accepted (at any rate God is the ceasing from self-effort, and mentally) the fact that they cannot be the yielding of oneself in the full justified before God except by the surrender of faith to God’s working.” - sacrifice for sin once made for all upon A.M. Calvary, proceed to build a new legal “Not only does the Lord Jesus live in code by which to live, and seek to be us, but He becomes the motivating sanctified by their own efforts and Object of our life as Christians. The law endeavors. is no longer our motive or rule of life. It “The more conscientious, when is entirely displaced by a Person, and faced with the failure of this scheme of that Person ‘the Son of God, who loved things, become the victims of the me and gave himself for me.’ condemnation of the ‘accuser of the Henceforth the soul has a new center brethren’; and take their place among and source-it is no longer self-centered, the great company of Christian men but Christ-centered.” -C.A.C. and women who are constantly beset “Take my yoke upon you, and learn with doubts and fears, and who, often in of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, spite of intense activity in the cause of and ye shall find rest unto your souls” the Gospel, are living in the conscious (Matt. 11:29). bitterness of defeat. “ -J.C.M. “The law cannot be broken or 8-10. Beloved Enemy divided. It stands as a unit. To “Christ hath redeemed us from the undertake any part of it is to be curse of the law, being made a curse committed to it all. Nothing can be more for us; for it is written, Cursed is unreasonable or more unscriptural than everyone that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. to borrow some portions from the law 3:13). system, either that of Moses or of the The legal Christian considers the millennial kingdom, and, at the same law to be his best friend who will enable time, reject other portions. He who will him to live righteously. But in reality the choose the law must, to be consistent, 140 do the whole law (Rom. 10:5), and if he inward crucifixion which it has also should break it at one point, he is guilty made possible, whereby they are of all (James 2:10).” -L.S.C. delivered from the power of self and “The law was our schoolmaster. . . . sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil. But after faith is come, we are no longer That they do not know: That their ‘old under a schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:24, 25). man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, so that 8-11. Church Plight they should no longer be in bondage to “For I have not shunned to declare sin’ (Rom. 6:6).” -G.M. unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts “We are not only to take by faith the 20:27). fact that the Lord Jesus died for us to In regard to the external Cross, the pay the price and penalty of our sins, obvious fact is that “Christ died for our but we are to appropriate by faith the sins.” As to the internal Cross, while not fact that He also took us to the Cross so obvious, it is still a fact that we are to with Him. In Christ, God put to death be “always delivered unto death for our old man that we might be delivered Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus from the power and dominion of sin in might be made manifest in our mortal our lives. So the story of the pathway of flesh” (2 Cor. 4:11). faith begins with Calvary and our “Popular Fundamentalist theology identification with the crucifixion of the has emphasized the utility of the Cross Lord Jesus.” -G.M. rather than the beauty of the One who “You were set free from the tyranny died on it. The saved man’s relation to of sin” (Rom. 6:18, Wey.). the Lord Jesus has been made 8-12. Sacrificial Service contractual instead of personal. The ‘work’ of Christ has been stressed until “For we who live are always it has eclipsed the Person of Christ. delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, Substitution has been allowed to that the life also of Jesus might be supersede identification. What He did made manifest in our mortal flesh” (2 for us seems to be more important than Cor. 4:11). what He did to us.” -A.W.T. The growing Christian is often “The death of the Lord Jesus was accused of passivity by the doing not only an atonement for sins, but a Christian. The Lord Jesus was not triumph over sin. By faith we see our passive; the Apostle Paul was not sins not only on His head for our passive; nor is the believer passive who pardon, but sin under His feet for our seeks to “grow in grace and in the deliverance. Multitudes who glory in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, outward Cross know nothing of that Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). 141 Compulsive activity is not necessarily “So then death worketh in us, but life fruitful, as the “works of the flesh” in you” (2 Cor 4:12). attest. 8-13. Heart To Heart “The Lord keep you in the freshness of faith in Himself, going forth in His “That I may apprehend that for work, not undertaking more than He which also I am apprehended of Christ gives you grace for. I have pressed Jesus” (Phil. 3:12). upon my brethren not to give up their Our spiritual puppy-love is soon lost, secular employment until the work of to be replaced through the years by our the Lord so increased upon them that bridal-love. The bride always gravitates they must give up one or the other.” to her Bridegroom. “My beloved spoke, “The one who knows best the and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my Father’s love will be the best exponent fair one, and come away” (S.S. 2:10). of that love-the best qualified servant “All of our Father’s arrangements for for the Father to send on a mission of us, if rightly accepted, will lead us interest to those who are ignorant of it. above, instead of binding us to what is Abide in Him. ‘The only begotten Son here below. His gifts come down to which is in the bosom of the Father, he ease us in a world like this, that our hath declared him’ (John 1:18).” hearts may rise the easier to the scene “Under the Mosaic law-system, love where He displays the fulness of His for others was to be in the degree in love for us. which one loved himself; under grace it “And if there be chastening in the is to be in the degree in which the Lord circumstances here, it is only to detach Jesus has loved the believer and given us the more effectively from all here, His life for him (1 John 3:16).” -L.S.C. and to lead us to the place where He “Perversion of truth takes its rise has given all to us. So that seeing the from having the eye turned to man, and things above ensures every good thing seeking to make the truth suit him, and for us in every condition.” not to conform man to the truth; so that “You may know the Lord Jesus as the way to resolve this difference is by your relief-for what He has done; but it the simple question, Is it God-ward I am is quite another thing to know Him as looking, or man-ward?” your resource-for what He is. It is one “If you only know the work of the thing to know Him as the One who has Lord Jesus you are prepared to make relieved you from every pressure, it is sacrifices, but if you know Him as your another thing to know Him as the One life then you are ready to suffer for attraction of your heart.” -J.B.S. Him.” “The Lord grant that you may know

142 the wonderful blessing, and portion of mean? It means living, weeping, light and joy we are brought into, suffering, loving with infinite patience, instead of going through the world infinite tenderness, unwearying love for trying to overcome this and that, and every member of the Body of Christ. It saying, ‘I must give up this thing and means the whole being bound up, not the other.’ It is not a question of giving in your own progress, but in the up at all; but I have something better, progress of the Body of Christ. It means greater, brighter, and I just let it drop.” sinking all the personal element into the “Yea doubtless, and I count all service of God, wanting neither credit, things but loss for the excellency of the nor notice, nor recognition. It means an knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord” utter dropping of yourself, and a (Phil. 3:8). handing over of yourself to God to be poured out for His Body’s sake, the 8-14. Ointment Poured Forth Church.” “Death working in me works life in “The unwearied care of our Father you” (2 Cor. 4:12, Cony.). for us, His patient grace, His At first the heart hunger for maturity gentleness, His leading us on from the in the Lord Jesus is personal, world nearer, in spirit, to Himself, subjective-and necessarily so. Later, indicate what should be the character of when the path to maturity is known and our love’s activity towards one another. entered upon, this hunger is projected Our joy in the Father’s presence, as He to His Body, and becomes sacrificially Himself and His Son, our Lord Jesus objective. Christ, are made manifest to our hearts, “The great lack in servants is not gives us the character of the joy of true having a sufficiently self-less walk, fellowship one with another.” -H.F.W. because you cannot lead anyone “I, Paul. . . rejoice in my sufferings beyond where you have been led for you, and fill up that which is behind yourself. Moses was himself many of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for years in the wilderness before he led His body’s sake, which is the church” the people. I cannot ask anyone to (Col. 1:23, 24). leave anything that I have not left 8-15. My Father’s Choice myself. It is not the man who sees defects, but the man who removes “What I do thou knowest not now; them who is being used of God.” but thou shalt know hereafter” (John “Will you choose the path of death 13:7) that others may have life? Will you When our Lord takes us down into choose to ‘fill up the afflictions of Christ an area of processing and trial it seems for His Bride’s sake’? But what does it as though He deliberately takes away 143 our understanding, and we often react in the path of blessing. It is ever as though we had never gone through through suffering to glory, through the anything before. One of His reasons for Cross to the Crown.” -O.S. this is that we may receive the full effect “In every circumstance of life be thankful; for and benefit of the child-training. this is God’s will in Christ Jesus respecting “We should give our consent to our you” (1 Thess. 5:18, Wey.). Father when He seeks to lead us through devastating processes. And we 8-16. Self-imposed Burden need have no fear, for He knows how to apportion our suffering. He exactly “Being justified by faith, we have matches the suffering to our condition. peace with God through our Lord Jesus He measures all things with unfailing Christ” (Rom. 5:1). accuracy and selects the particular trial Few see and stand upon the fact suited to our particular need. that our history in Adam ended on the “He invariably chooses the lot of Cross. Our past will plague us until we each with this in view-an increase of the acknowledge that we are now clear of divine content in our lives. If He Adam and safely hidden in the risen chastens us, it is always ‘for our profit, Lord Jesus-newly-born creations in that we may be partakers of his Him. One of the penalties of self- holiness.’ And ‘all things work together occupation is self-pity and corroding for good to them that are called remorse. according to his purpose.’ What good? “Regret for a sinful past will remain What purpose? This, ‘that we may be until we truly believe that for us in the conformed to the image of his Son.’“ Lord Jesus that sinful past no longer “Let suffering come from any cause exists. The man in Christ has only His in the universe, if we give it over past and that is perfect and acceptable entirely into the hand of our Father, and to the Father. In the Lord Jesus he sink ourselves into His blessed will, with died, and in Him he rose, and he is now the desire for Him to work His purpose seated in Him within the circle of the in us, He will make every pain, every Father’s favored ones. He is no longer tear, every particle of our suffering work angry with himself because he is no in us a death to sin and to the old man, longer self-regarding, but Christ- and to all things on earth which will be regarding: hence there is no place for for our highest development and for His regret.” glory.” -G.W. “The knowledge of our union with “If we lay claim to the blessing of our the Lord Jesus is what will deliver the Father, we must not fear what may lie believer from all that is low and feeble, and will lift him to a life of joy and 144 peace. To gaze upon our risen Lord in “If ministers and teachers of God’s the Father’s presence, to whom all Word would set saints free and things are subject, will transform us into establish them in the Gospel, let their heavenly Christians, dwelling all the preaching and teaching be based upon day in the Father’s presence.” -A.M. the sixth and seventh of Romans, the “The believer shares the Lord Jesus’ central theme of which is our union with Cross (‘knowing this, that our old man the Lord Jesus in death and burial; and was crucified with him’ Rom. 6:6); His our resurrection and ascension with death (‘ye died and your life is hid with Him into newness of life; where not the Christ in God’ Col. 3:3); His burial (‘we law, but grace, reigneth; where not the were buried with him by baptism into letter but the Spirit, moveth the heart death’ Rom. 6:4); His resurrection (‘as and life of the believer. Satan will fight Christ was raised up from the dead by most fiercely against such teaching, but the glory of the Father, even so we’ no other will establish the Lord’s Rom. 6:4); His ascension (‘made us sit people.” together in heavenly places in Christ “If God has declared that we died, Jesus’ Eph. 2:6).” -F.J.H. we did die. If God has declared us “There is, therefore, now no discharged from the law, we are condemnation to them who are in Christ discharged and are hereby God’s free Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). children, ‘new creatures,’ ‘created after God in righteousness and true 8-17. Lifeless Law holiness.’ “For if there had been a law given “Our longing for conformity to the which could have given life, verily image of God’s Son shall be confirmed righteousness should have been by the and fulfilled by the Holy Spirit who hath law” (Gal. 3:21). been given unto us. No man can Paul devoted two full chapters to believe he has a right to walk freely and establish our freedom from the fallen fully in the Spirit until he believes Adam. Romans Six sets forth our himself to be free from the law.” - freedom from the dominion of Adamic W.R.N. sin; Romans Seven explains our “Law cannot give eternal life, nor freedom from Adamic law. have, therefore, any control over it.” - Whereas our liberty was won on the L.S.C. Cross, it is worked out in our daily life “But now we have been discharged and experience by the Holy Spirit. On from the law, having died to that the Cross, by the Spirit, in the Lord wherein we were held” (Rom. 7:6, Jesus Christ. ASV.).

145 8-18. Another, Altogether is Yea and Amen.” -C.A.C. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I “The secret of being like the Lord am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. Jesus is, that we are to count ourselves 17:5). dead to the old and alive in the new. Seeing the blackness of my heart We are to give up our self-efforts after provides the perfect backdrop for the likeness to Him; we are to distrust our bright and shining glory of the Lord own strength as much as we distrust Jesus Christ, whois mylife.Iamto be our own weakness and our own sin; as well pleased with Him, and Him and instead of striving to live like the alone, as is my Father. Lord Jesus, let Him live through us, as He greatly desires to do.” “The learning of what I am and of what I have been in Adam, is truly “For God, who commanded the light humbling; but it need not be distressing to shine out of darkness, hath shone in if I see that all those conditions which our hearts, to give the light of the have been present with me have just knowledge of the glory of God in the been the occasion for my Father to face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). bring to light what is in His heart 8-19. Reign In Pain concerning me. When I see this, those “For you have had the privilege very conditions magnify before my soul granted you on behalf of Christ-not only the greatness of His salvation in the to believe in Him, but also to suffer on Lord Jesus Christ. His behalf” (Phil. 1:29, Wey.). “The weakness that is in myself, and The Father prepares His sufferers, the many things which I have to deplore by means of their sufferings. in my past, or perhaps even in my present, make me thankful to know that “I believe in perpetual favor with my Father has brought in another Man, God, but I do not believe in unbroken and has secured in Him all his own sunshine here. On the contrary, ‘we thoughts of blessing manward. which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake.’ I say this that “There is what is perfect and you may not think it strange when the absolutely for God’s satisfaction and collar which you have rightly accepted delight in the Lord Jesus, and it remains becomes trying or difficult to you; for unaffected by what I find in myself. Nay! surely if it be service it must be so; the every self-discovery makes His servant must be more or less a perfection more a necessity to my sufferer.” heart. What I learn and experience in myself makes me rejoice to believe on “The Lord grant you to be so Another in whom every promise of God assured in heart of His interest in you,

146 that daily you may more and more faith for the inexpressible fact that he answer to His pleasure; and not be in has died in Christ, and that he is now any way cast down because you hid with Him in God. apparently do so little. The fragrance of “When I look at this place, He is not His name is a crown of glory to the here; and when I look at myself greatest invalid.” naturally I am not fit for Him. How “‘Unto you is given on the behalf of happy then to know that I belong to the Christ not only to believe on him, but place where He is; and that through also to suffer for his sake’ (Phil. 1:29). grace I am made suited to Him in that Yea, ‘if we suffer, we shall also reign new place; so that I set my mind and with him’ (2 Tim. 2:12). The gracious affections there, as the place where my gift of suffering is as distinct and deepest joys are to be realized.” -J.B.S. specific a gift as any other of God’s “The truth is, we have a position in gifts. But this gift transforms the heaven and the Lord Jesus is now our blessed recipient more surely perhaps life there; and if this be not simply than all the others into resemblance to enjoyed, there will be an effort to modify Himself, and is for this fellowship, the the desolation here, and an inability to highest, greatest, noblest of them all.” interpret the various inroads which “We naturally shrink from trials and death makes on us.” sorrow, but when we find ourselves “My taste is formed in glory, and enjoying the resources that are in our there it is nurtured and strengthened, Father, to which our trials have caused and as it is, so do I find nothing here in us to have recourse, we remember no keeping with my taste. Association with more the path of affliction which led us the Son of Man, the One most perfect, thereto.” and in every way the most beautiful, “The child of God is ever in the light, develops my new nature, which is the though not always in the sunshine.” same as His. Where He is, is my home- “If we suffer, we shall also reign with there I feed and rest; but here, on earth, him” (2 Tim. 2:12). I am learning to set aside in death everything in me which hinders the 8-20. Up Here! manifestation of the life of the Lord “And hath raised us up together, and Jesus.” -J.B.S. made us sit together in heavenly places “The reason there is so little growth in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). is that there is so little occupation and The spiritual babe has faith for the fellowship with the Lord Jesus where wondrous fact that he will go to heaven He is. The glory invites now, instead of when he dies. The spiritual father has the law repelling, and the practical

147 effect is ‘changed into the same him, and the more a man tries to keep image.’“ the law the more he comes under the “For ye died, and your life is hid with power of sin. Hence there is only this Christ in God” (Col. 3:3, ASV.). left for us-to die to the law, and be joined to the risen Lord Jesus in a 8-21. Life Above All resurrection life absolutely beyond the “That the life also of Jesus might be sphere of the law.” -W.R.N. made manifest in our mortal flesh” (2 “The law is for the man who Cor. 4:11, ASV.). departed from God-that man has been The love motive is not adequate to removed from God’s sight in the Cross carry the believer through to fruitful of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I rejoice walk and service. Few seem to be able that now by the ‘law of the Spirit of life to face up to this fact, possibly because in Christ Jesus’ I am ‘free from the law they see no higher alternative. But of sin and death’ (Rom. 8:2).” there is one: the life motive. “For the “Not after the law of a carnal law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus commandment, but after the power of hath made me free from the law of sin an endless life” (Heb. 7:16). and death” (Rom. 8:2). 8-22. He Dares To Discipline! “By the body of Christ on the Cross believers were made dead to the law “My son, do not think lightly of the (Rom. 7:4), in order righteously to be Lord’s discipline, and do not faint when joined to Another, even the risen Lord he corrects you” (Heb. 12:6, Wey.). Jesus Christ. The reason why we had Most of us sought to avoid our to die to the law was, not at all because natural father’s discipline, when he the law was bad (it, on the contrary, is sought to administer it. And most of us ‘holy, just and good’), but because we seek to avoid our heavenly Father’s were bad. discipline, until we finally learn that “He “Our flesh was so powerless to do does it for our certain good, in order good and so ready to do evil, that the that we may become sharers in His application to us of God’s holy law only own holy character” (Heb. 12:10, Wey.). gave sin an occasion to involve our “There is an idea that often troubles enslaved members in open rebellion people, namely, that God always wants against the law. to bring us down when He chastens us. “So that even if a man loves God’s When He corrects a man it is not that law, as Paul did, he has no power to He may bring him down, but that He keep it; but sin only makes the law a may lift him up. He says, ‘Humble constant means of working death to yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in 148 due time’ (1 Peter 5:6). I discipline my them” (Gal. 3:10). child in order that I may exalt him None can be born again by the law, morally.” and none can live anew under the law- “Our Father purges us on the neither its precepts, nor its principle. principle of ‘we which live are always “The life I now live by faith-by delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake.’ In adherence to and reliance on and service you are sure to find some kind (complete) trust-in the Son of God” of pressure on you. (Gal. 2:20, Amp.). “It may be on your body, and often “The Gentile never was under the is; or it may be persecution; but you will law; and being set in the Lord Jesus hardly ever have a fruitful field of Christ, now that he believes, he stands service before you, unless you are on other ground, to which the law does crippled for it. ‘He purgeth it, that it may not apply. Every believer is regarded by bring forth more fruit.’“ God as alive from the dead, to bring “We come to feel our need, and forth fruit (not works) unto God. The law often attempt independently to supply it only deals with a man as long as he by our own means; the Lord must lives, never after he is dead. ‘Ye are confound us in the attempt; but having become dead to the law by the body of done so, He leads in dependence to Christ’ (Rom. 7:4). find and acquire an inconceivably “And that is not at all what is said of greater answer to our wishes than even us, after a ‘second blessing,’ or any that which we prescribed for ourselves. other step of imaginary perfection. We The prodigal only sought ‘sustenance’ begin with. . . ‘alive in Christ.’ I am from the citizen in the ‘far country,’ but identified with the Lord Jesus dead and back in his father’s house he found not risen. It is no longer the law dealing bread merely, but abounding welcome with me to try if it can get any good out and a fatted calf.” of me. I have relinquished all by “For those whom the Lord loves he receiving Christ, and I take my stand in disciplines: and he scourges every son Him dead and risen again, as one alive whom he acknowledges” (Heb. 12:6, from the dead, to yield myself as a ‘new Wey.). creation’ to God and walk in ‘newness of life.’“ -W.K. 8-23. The Fruit Of Grace “The teachings of grace are perfect “For as many as are of the works of and sufficient in themselves. They the law are under the curse: for it is provide for the instruction of the written, Cursed is everyone that believer in every situation which may continueth not in all things which are arise. There is no need that they be written in the book of the law, to do 149 supplemented, or augmented, by the that old self more and more repulsive, addition of precepts from either the Law and there is also the presentation of the of Moses or the teachings of the Lord Jesus again and again in which kingdom.” -L.S.C. the soul finds increasing delight. “What an indignity religion puts on Growth! ‘He must increase, but I must every Person of the Godhead alike, on decrease.’ the grace and truth which came by “This repulsion and attraction go on Jesus Christ, when it drags souls back together until the soul accepts with God to the dread distance of Judaism.” - the reality of the incorrigible badness of W.K. the old man. This fact prepares one to “I do not frustrate the grace of God: see that the death of the Lord Jesus for if righteousness come by the law severed us from our old man, and that then Christ is dead in vain” (Gal. 2:21). the Lord Jesus is now our Christian life. We are free, by the finished work of the 8-24. Adamic Awareness Cross, from the domination of the man “For ye have died (not changed)” who is now so repugnant to us, and we (Col. 3:3). discover with untold delight that the Realization of what the first Adam is One who so attracted our hearts is our prepares us for the realization of who very life.” -C.A.C. the Last Adam is. “Fruit is not produced by making fruit “Many a justified one might describe an object, nor by thinking of fruit; it is his experience in words like this: ‘I fully the outcome of having the Lord Jesus recognize, and rejoice in the fact, that I as one’s object, of thinking of Him. He am righteous before God according to is the one True Vine who precedes and Christ risen; and this being so, nothing produces fruit.” -H.S. but Christ can be my standard of “And your (new) life is hid with Christ holiness or rule of life. in God” (Col. 3:3). “‘If I could only walk up to it I think I 8-25. The Last Is First should be a perfectly happy man. But it is one failure after another; and when I “As is the earthy, such are they also think I have got on a bit, something that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, turns up, and I find myself as bad as such are they also that are heavenly” (1 ever, and the thought of this damps all Cor. 15:48). my spiritual joy.’ Christians have a poor self-image “In this stage of spiritual simply because they are thinking and development there are continual looking upon the condemned and discoveries of the old man which make crucified first-Adam life within, instead of being occupied with their glorified 150 Last-Adam life above. “Beholding as in Lord, and worship thou him’ (Ps. a mirror the glory of the Lord, are 45:11).” -J.C.B. changed into the same image from “And as we have borne the image of glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:18). the earthy, we shall also bear the image “‘If any man be in Christ, he is a new of the heavenly” (1 Cor. 15:49). creature; old things are passed away; 8-26. Mansion There-Mission Here behold, all things are become new’ (2 Cor. 5:17). Does this not mean a new “The Spirit himself beareth witness sort of creature, as the Word implies? with our spirit, that we are the children Do we go back to Adam, the innocent of God; and if children, then heirs” man in the garden in which God set him (Rom. 8:16, 17). to dress and keep? No, that would be It is the Holy Spirit alone who can no creature new in kind. Adam even, draw us from the flesh and its earthly pure and good before his fall, was yet environment. He does it in the practical of the earth, earthy. sense by manifesting to our hearts, via “Is the Lord Jesus but the first man the Word of God, the risen Lord Jesus set up afresh? No, He is ‘the second Christ in our heavenly environment. man, the Lord from heaven.’ He is a “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and heavenly man, the Last Adam-head of make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill a new race; beginning of a new its lusts” (Rom. 13:14). creation-and you and I who believe are “When the Lord Jesus’ love is before ‘in Him,’ seen and accepted before the you, you find this love is drawing you Father ‘in His Beloved.’ The full image from darkness to light. He begins by of Him we have not yet: true. That will showing His desire for your spiritual be ours in the day of His coming. The advancement, and not by advancing thing we are!” -F.W.G. you in earthly position. “A sinner in himself, the believer “It is beautiful to see that the work of has, by faith, taken upon him the true love is to set aside darkness, or beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is whatever would interfere with ‘in Him,’ he has been made the fellowship; and therefore it is not righteousness of God in Him. He is esteemed as it ought to be, because we ‘accepted in the Beloved’ (Eph. 1:6). are looking for something on the earth, Faith alone gives him all this and the tendency is to judge of His love comeliness. He has been recreated in by earthly gifts or favors down here.” the Lord Jesus. This is the beauty of “We have died with the Lord Jesus the believer; and he is lovely in the eye out of our old Adam position: our old of the Lord Jesus. ‘So shall the king man was crucified with Him. The flesh greatly desire thy beauty; for he is thy 151 is in us still indeed, but in us a foreign Lord is with you, however great may be thing; we are not in it before God, nor the winds and the waves; and that He is identified with it in any wise, but with with you to prove to you now the value Him in whom it was never found. We of the truth about Himself, which He are in Him, as He is and where He is. has heretofore taught you. The learning “Can we say quite confidently, each is at one time (head), the proving for himself, ‘Yes, we are identified with (heart) at another.” -J.B.S. Him who represents us there before the “Our Father must wean us. Oh, what eye of our Father-as He is,in whom no days and nights of bitter tears we shed spot was ever found nor can be, but when the soul is being weaned from perfectness after God’s own heart some long enjoyed mercy. Is it that He wholly’? who gave His Son for us would not “That is to be in Christ-a new indulge us? Is it that our Father would creature. Our rule is, to walk in Him, as deny us anything? No, but He must being what we really are-heavenly, wean us, or we shall never know what it citizens of heaven, pilgrims and is to depend on Him apart from any strangers upon earth.” -F.W.G. human or natural intervention.” “Heirs of God, and joint heirs with “The Lord Jesus before our souls in Christ-if so be that we suffer with him, the power of the Holy Spirit-the glorified that we may be also glorified together” Lord-is our Father’s means for bringing (Rom. 8:17). us into conformity with His beloved Son. But then it is through the 8-27. From Here To There chastenings of His hand, through the “But what things were gain to me, trials and sufferings of our path, that He those I counted loss for Christ” (Phil. weans the hearts of His own from other 3:7). objects, that the Lord Jesus Christ When we finally understand that the alone may fill the vision of our souls.” - Lord Jesus is our life, we, with Paul, no E.D. longer think in terms of things. “It is quite right to obtain a “Every branch that beareth fruit, he knowledge of Scripture, as to its purgeth it, that it may bring forth more general meaning. It is well to read and fruit” (John 15:2). get knowledge, but unless you are in “One may eat with an appetite and communion with the Lord Jesus, you feel revived, but the sense of life or will not grow in likeness to what you sustainment from the food in the hour of admire, as recorded in the Word.” toil, is a far greater and better thing. “And I count all things but loss for Thus, you have to learn now that the the excellency of the knowledge of

152 Christ Jesus, my Lord” (Phil. 3:8). immensely this place; this world through which we are passing, and all 8-28. Personally Delivered things in it, appear in another color “Having therefore, brethren, altogether.” -J.B.S. boldness to enter into the holiest by the “If I only think of my position in Him blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19). above and do not study Him and His After years of reckoning with little or ways while here, then, though there no deliverance from the dominion of may be a sense of power, there is no sin, when you are just about to sink direction given to it. It is only in the under the futility of it all, the Holy Spirit combination of both that there can be a will turn your attention to the One who true study of the Lord Jesus, and is your Deliverer. And by the Word, He conformity to Him. The eye of the soul will also begin to call your attention to must be open and receptive to learn of the fact that where the Deliverer is, you His ways and walk here.” are. “Hath raised us up together, and “But now in Christ Jesus ye who made us sit together in heavenly places once were far off are made near by the in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). “‘. . . our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us that, whether we wake or sleep, 8-29. “Rise Up, My Love” we should live together with him’ (1 “Set your affection on things above, Thess. 5:10). Can anything affect your not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). heart so much as the way the man in It is sad to have to say that the Christ is received in the new position? present-day Church is so earthy that it What I press now is the right that we is of little earthly good. “Sir, we would have to be in the place, and that it is not see Jesus”! (John 12:21). only that I delight to be there, but the “The great failure of the Church was ineffable thought is that the God and in giving up Paul. ‘All. . . in Asia’ did not Father of our Lord Jesus Christ delights give up evangelical truth but they gave to have me in His place, sharing His up Paul; anything popular you may joys.” -J.B.S. have, but not Paul. Why? Because Paul “We are not according to our is heavenly.” -J.B.S. Father’s pleasure, nor are we in simple “It is essential that a believer have a restfulness as to our acceptance, if we clear understanding of his position do not enter by faith into the new before the Father-his place in the risen position to which He in His grace has Lord Jesus Christ. This alone will give placed us. A further fact is, that we true peace of mind, joy and comfort of have no place but that; and when we heart, strength for conflict and power for get even a glimpse of it, it alters 153 service. We will never be able to lesser longings. Fleshly yearnings are properly understand or fill our place for never fulfilled, and every attempt at God on earth if we do not realize our such satisfaction soon cloys. God-given standing before Him in “Do we think of, and rejoice in, our heaven. blessings more than in the Person in “And never forget that our place whom we have them? As to even our before the Father is His gift, and a gift doctrinal blessings, there is a wonderful worthy of the Giver; not a gift according charm about them when they are new to the measure of our worth but a gift to us, and they sustain the soul for a intended to display the exceeding certain time; but when the first joy of riches of the grace of the Giver. The them passes away, a settling-down greatness of the Giver then is the process commences. Every new bit of measure of the blessings that are mine blessing may seem to put a new bit of in the Lord Jesus Christ, not what I am life into us, but it gradually loses its or what I deserve.” lustre and power, and we become just “When you see and stand on your ordinary Christians-we make very little heavenly ground, you come to rest, just progress. as the Father rests. You need not “It is as we take the Lord Jesus by worry-only keep on that ground by your faith into the affections of our hearts attitude of heart. If you are going to that we make spiritual progress. It is as worry-if you must worry-worry lest you He occupies an enlarged place in our get down on earthly ground, for that is affections that we go on. The head may the ground of worry. Abide above! be filled with general theological Heavenly things are in safe keeping-in information without producing one the keeping of One who is ‘far above spark of heart-affection for the Lord all.’“ -T.A-S. Jesus, and the soul remains in a state “For ye have died, and your life is of spiritual emaciation. hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3, ASV.). “Many have been misled by thinking that by reading the Bible you become 8-30. Heart Affection like Christ-transformed; but you will find “If ye, then, be risen with Christ, diligent students of the Word, who may seek those things which are above, never say anything incorrect in doctrine, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of yet who never seem to grow in grace God” (Col. 3:1). and walk in spiritual reality. Spiritual hunger and thirst are “All blessings of this dispensation of fulfilled in the Lord Jesus, while at the grace are wrapped up in a Person, and, same time they are enlarged for more by means of the Word of God, we make of Him. This satisfaction overwhelms all 154 spiritual progress as our hearts learn to sustained above the consideration of find everything in Him-the Son of God ourselves.” who loved us and gave Himself for us.” “There is an infinite difference -C.A.C. between self-improvement and growing “He satisfieth the longing soul, and in the Lord Jesus, nourished and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” cherished by Him. Instead of being (Ps. 107:9). elated by our own improvement, or depressed because we cannot effect it, 8-31. Accessibility we are to be occupied with the grace “For we. . . worship God in the spirit, and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ, in and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have which we are thus made to share.” no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3) “We cannot be in the presence of Failure to live the Christian life is the Father in innocence, for we are due to one’s utter inability, but it is all guilty; so that we must be there in His governed by the Father. He teaches us righteousness, and that place which to become proficient in failure, in order used to repel us, now forms me into a to bring us to total reliance upon His likeness of itself. I am not tolerated Son, who is our Christian life. “For to there, I am at home; and where the me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). distance was, there is now nearness “It is a wonderful moment for the and attraction.” -J.B.S. believer when we by faith occupy our “Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers standing in the favor of the Father-when and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the we know that we are received by Him in saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. all the acceptance of the Lord Jesus 2:19) Christ. “We do not then think of ourselves, Number 9 of our worthiness or unworthiness, at all. We think of the Lord Jesus-His In Spirit-led sharing there is always perfections, His suitability to divine a principle involved. “Give, and it shall favor, His infinite acceptance with the be given unto you; good measure, Father-and by faith, we have access pressed down, and shaken together, into the favor of which He is so worthy.” and running over, shall men give into -C.A.C. your bosom” (Luke. 6:38). “To find that we are objects of Dig channels for the consideration to the Lord Jesus is an streams of love, infinite solace, and it brings Him before That they may broadly run; our hearts in such a way that we are For love has overflowing streams, 155 To fill them every one. resources, we are no more than But if at any time thou beginners in the school of faith. Only as cease everything fails us and we fail These channels to ourselves, do we draw upon abiding provide, strength. ‘Blessed is the man whose The very fount of love for strength is in Thee’; not partly in Thee thee and partly in himself. The devil often Will soon be parched and makes men strong, strong in dried; themselves to do evil-great conquerors, For thou must give, if thou great acquirers of wealth and power. would’st keep The Lord on the contrary makes His That good thing from servant weak, puts him in above: circumstances that will show him his Ceasing to give, we cease nothingness, that he may lean upon the to have- strength that is unfailing. It is a long This is the law of love. lesson for most of us, but it cannot be “The Lord make you to increase and passed over until deeply learned. And abound in love one toward another, and God Himself thinks no trouble too great, toward all men, even as we do toward no care too costly to teach us this.” you, to the end He may establish your “Faith counts on the Word of God hearts unblamable in holiness before outside and apart from everything and God, even our Father” (I Thess. 3:12, everyone here. When you are in faith 13). your life is centered in the Lord Jesus. The moment the heart is detained by -Miles J. Stanford; April 1985 anything here, faith is obstructed. The 9-1. Wonder Of Weakness visible is antagonistic to the invisible. If you walk in the Spirit you will be “He said to me, My strength is sensible of this in a moment; the effects sufficient, for it is only by means of and influences of the visible are counter conscious weakness that perfect power to the invisible. Eve had lost faith when is developed” (2 Cor. 12:9, Wms.). she saw that the tree was good for Our Father does not test our faith so food, and pleasant to the eyes. If she much as He exercises and develops it. had kept faith-dependence upon God- In time, He makes us aware of our utter she would not have looked, but she had weakness; and, in time, we trust and parted with the faith which overcometh rest in His all-sufficient strength. the world when she ‘saw.’ The moment “Until we are carried quite out of our one becomes occupied with the visible depth, beyond all our own wisdom and one has parted company with faith.” - 156 J.B.S. rejoice in the Living God, even when all “Since His power is so glorious, may feeling and experience appear to you be strengthened with strength of contradict the truth (Rom. 8:28, 29); every kind, and be prepared for and (2) that the Divine life only cheerfully enduring all things with predominates as the life of the old man patience and longsuffering” (Col. 1:11, is held in the place of death, inoperative Wey.). (Rom. 6:11a). The life of the Lord Jesus is revealed as His death works in us (2 9-2. Cross Purposes Cor. 4:11, 12), and as in weakness and “The Lord is faithful, who shall nothingness we look to Him (2 Cor. establish you, and guard you from evil” 3:18).” -A.M. (2 Thess. 3:3, R.V.). “While our Father is dealing with When once we see and accept His someone in discipline, when He is purpose for our lives to the extent that it applying the Cross in a life, be careful becomes our will also, the details of His how you sympathize with him. You may process cease to matter. “Though He be taking sides with him against God. slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job. By such sympathy, you may, indeed, 13:15). draw him away from the work of the “The one purpose our Father has in Cross.” view, in all His ways, is to conform us to “For we who live are always the image of His Son. This may explain delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, our perplexities as to the past; it will that the life also of Jesus might be govern our behaviour in the present; it made manifest in our mortal flesh” (2 is to be our guide in the future. The Cor. 4:11) chief concern of our Lord is not to 9-3. Stand Your Ground! instruct us about a multitude of details, not to explain to us the reason for the “The law is not of faith” (Gal. 3:12). trials which we are called to pass The law will break you; grace will through. He is working out everything to make you. serve His one supreme aim in “Nothing can be more sure than the manifesting the character of His Son in steps of one guided by the Spirit of God His saints.” -H.F. and the Word of God, and yet nothing “The God-given experiences of the more complicated than to have to walk Spirit’s working within many a time in ‘separation’ from all that exists passes away, and leaves the believer around. It is indeed difficult to have to apparently dull and dead. This is only wind one’s way through things so until the double lesson has been fully perplexing and so complex as the learned: (1) that a living faith can religious systems of our own day. We 157 have to avoid on the one hand 2:19). organizations formed in imitation of 9-4. My Father Reigns! things past (Israel-law), and on the other systems more characterized by “Put on the whole armor of God “ anticipation of things future (Kingdom- (Eph. 6:11a). law). We have to allow that such things My sovereign Father gives me a were once given by God, and that they subservient Satan. will yet again be introduced by Him; “Our Father has better thoughts for while invariably contending that they us than a portion here. He is educating are positively opposed to His present us for a blessed and eternal rest, free working by the Holy Spirit sent down from evil and all that could cause it, and from heaven.” -J.L.H. He is bent on the blessing of His “With many Christians, it may be children; and moreover He is bound by almost thought that the Lord Jesus was His holiness to purge us suitably but the introduction to Moses. That His (though most graciously) for the place death procured the payment of sin’s He has called us to. How often He lets debt, so that the debt being paid, the Satan do this painful work, and try to believer might be in a position to keep sift us as Job! But the Father’s hand the law, and that, accordingly, the law, and will are behind it all. He gives His and not the ‘Spirit of life in Christ saints up to Satan’s hand to a certain Jesus,’ might be the believer’s rule of point, but only so far as to bring the life.” -H.F.W. heart fully to a bearing before Himself.” “The walk of the believer should -J.N.D. ever be the natural result of realized “It is a wonderful thing to see the privilege, and not the constrained result way in which through the overruling of legal vows and resolutions-the power of the Father, the efforts of Satan proper fruit of a position known and against His people only bring them out enjoyed by faith, and not the result of the more distinctly in their own place of one’s own efforts to reach a position ‘by blessing.” works of law.’ All true believers are a “We cannot judge God’s ways part of the Bride of Christ; hence, they without judging God: we may love Him owe Him those affections which in His ways, but the moment we judge become that relation. The relationship or question that which He has revealed, is not obtained because of the we get above God, we make ourselves affections, but the affections flow out of gods, and we put Him in the place of the relationship.” -C.H.M. the creature as subject to us. This “For I, through the law, am dead to brings our souls under the power of the law, that I might live unto God” (Gal. everyone that is more clever than 158 ourselves: we are in their hands, and justified-made righteous; and this is not they can do what they please with us. merely by that which He has done, or “Now the devil is more clever than by what He has procured or bestows- we are. Therefore we ought to keep butin whatHe is.‘As He is,so are we God ever in His place of God in our in this world’ (1 John 4:17). The souls, lest Satan should make gods of believer must never lose sight of this us, and set us judging God Himself. If fundamental truth: that the basis of his God be displaced, we get into the place fellowship with the Father is not his own of those who are irresponsible, and as personal holiness, or what the Lord creatures the prey of any more cunning Jesus is in him, but his judicial position than ourselves.” -J.N.D. before the Father, or what the Lord “That ye may be able to stand Jesus is for him. He, ‘the Lord our against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. righteousness,’ is the foundation and 6:11b). source of everything-of walk as well as of position.” -E.H. 9-5. Christ Our Position “Most look to get victory in order to “In [this] freedom Christ has made get peace, but it is peace already made us free-completely liberated us; stand by the Lord Jesus’ work and risen life fast then” (Gal. 5:1, Amp.). that is ours. Conflict we shall find, but We are never going to be able to we know that the Father is for us, and stand before our Father in prayer and that makes all the difference.” -J.N.D. fellowship because we are fit in “Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who ourselves. We finally come to see that ofGodis madeunto us.. . we are in His presence because of our righteousness” (1 Cor. 1:30). position in His Son. 9-6. Solitary Source “The ground upon which our Father deals with us is grace. Every blessing “That l may know Him” (Phil. 3:10). we receive of Him as His children is It takes us years of trial and error to undeserved. In all of our spiritual finally realize that nothing outside the existence we are debtors to the rich, Lord Jesus Christ can fully satisfy and free, sovereign grace of our Father. rejoice our hearts. Joy in Him includes And what is it we are privileged to enjoy ‘the fellowship of His sufferings.’ So, on that ground, when we enter ‘into this ‘rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers grace wherein we stand’? We then of Christ’s sufferings’ (1 Pet. 4:13). have a new position, and that position “We sometimes have the idea that if is the glorified Lord Jesus Christ. we were going on rightly, things would “We are not only pardoned, but be much smoother here for us. Hardly. There is a discipline to correct us and a 159 discipline to develop us. If you are in a 9-7. Heaven, Or Earth wrong path, as you seek the Lord, you “Having. . . boldness to enter into will be corrected; but on the other hand, the Holiest” (Heb. 10:19). the more you are set for Him here, the We are to draw nigh in faith where more you will find that there is nothing we already are in position. for you here, though at the same time you are daily finding more in Him. ‘We “Instead of the priest coming out to which live are alway delivered unto bless, as in Judaism, we are to go in for death.’ The more you enjoy the Lord blessing. There are no barriers now. Jesus who has been refused here, the The Father has removed every more you are practically severed from hindrance and now it is for me to go in all here.” -J.B.S. and abide. The teachers of Christendom have practically stitched “It is a solemn moment when one up the veil which He rent. The rent veil who has been going on for years with a in the Gospels is the Father’s coming flourishing profession wakes up to the out, but the rent veil in Hebrews is the fact that his heart is entirely unsatisfied. believer’s going in.” -J.B.S. I believe we have very little idea how natural feelings may be mixed up with “Judaism has all the sanction of a what we think is our spiritual joy. Many divine origin and the splendor of an go on happily because their imposing ritual; yet, for the early surroundings are happy, and they have Christians, all this was a weight to be no opposition to speak of-perhaps in a laid aside, a useless encumbrance, a Christian family, or in a happy Christian positive hindrance. And we have the fellowship. They are carried along by same hindrance to lay aside today, for the stream of compatible things around Christianity has been perverted into a them. modified kind of Judaism, in which people are occupied with religious “But anything that outwardly things on earth, and thus hindered from contributes to our joy will sooner or later running the race to heaven.” -C.A.C. fail us. Our Father loves us too well to allow us to rest in anything or anyone “Typical of the past, there is a great short of Himself-not even Christian deal of Judaising in Christianity today. fellowship, or what people call ‘the The Ten Commandments have a place means of grace.’ He wants to be so assigned to them as the sine qua non, known by us that He becomes the deep the recognition of which was necessary eternal spring of satisfaction and joy for for true religion while man was in the our hearts.” -C.A.C. flesh and under law. To insist on their having that place now tends to bring “Give your mind to the things above” men into fearful bondage, and to hinder (Col. 3:2). 160 them getting into the full liberty of the “The effortless life is not the will-less children of the Father.” -G.V.W. life. We use our will to believe, or “Judaism, in its full results, is the receive, but not to exert effort in trying manifestation that God is come down to to accomplish what only the Father has man upon the earth; and this will again done. Our hope for freedom from the be displayed in the millennial days of power of sin is not ‘Christ plus my Israel’s blessing. But Christianity is efforts,’ but ‘Christ plus my receiving.’ based upon the wondrous fact that To receive victory from Him is to man, in the person of the Lord Jesus believe His Word that solely by grace Christ, is gone up to the Father into the He is, this moment, freeing us from the heavens.” dominion of sin. And to believe on Him “Let us draw near with a true heart in in this way is to recognize that He is full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22). doing for us what we can never do for ourselves.” -C.G.T. 9-8. Sans Effort “The Father has left us as much “To him that worketh not, but dependent on the Lord Jesus’ work for believeth on Him that justifieth the our deliverance as for our forgiveness. ungodly, his faith is counted for It is wholly because we died with Him righteousness” (Rom. 4:5). on the Cross, but unto sin and unto the There is no work involved in our whole legal principle, that sin’s power receiving the Lord Jesus for life, and for those in Him is broken.” there should certainly be no self-effort “Now to him that worketh is the involved in the manifestation of His life reward not reckoned of grace, but of in and through us. The principle is the debt” (Rom. 4:4). same, from re-birth to maturity. 9-9. Unobjectionable Object “‘Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus “That. . . the Father of glory, may Christ’ (1 Cor. 15:57). That is grace. give unto you the spirit of wisdom and That is the test of the real or the revelation in the knowledge of Him counterfeit. Just remember this: any (Christ)” (Eph. 1:17). victory over the power of any sin The object of the Christian life is that whatsoever that you have to get by we may center in the Object of the working for it is counterfeit. Any victory Father-His Beloved Son. that you have to get by trying for it is “If we go on with the Father, sweet false. If you have to work for your as is the assurance that we belong to freedom, it is not the real thing, it is not Him, yet the uppermost thought will in that which the Father offers you in His the long run be Himself. We shall come Son.” back to His Person. We shall in our 161 praises weave with them what the Lord “For it pleased the Father that in Him Jesus has done, suffered, and won for (Christ) should all fullness dwell” (Col. us; but the primary thought in our 1:19). hearts is, not what we have gained, 9-10. Birth: Saviour; Growth: Spirit however true, but what He has been for us and what He is for us, yes, what He “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not is in Himself.” -J.B.S. fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). “There is usually only occupation We receive life by reliance upon the with the Lord Jesus for the relief of the Saviour; we grow in that life by reliance conscience, and if so, where does it upon the Spirit. stop? It stops when the relief is gained. “Many think that because of faith But if He is the object of the heart, you they are cleared of everything before will never be satisfied but in fellowship God through the Cross, and therefore with Him where He is.” by faith they are clear of everything in “I know of no arguments, and I am themselves. But that is the error of acquainted with no power, that will ‘holiness by faith.’ The objective move the heart to devotedness except (position) is that we are clear before the the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Father; the subjective (condition) is that Himself and His love. It is possible to we are cleared from ourselves by the read books by the score, and to listen growth ministry of the Holy Spirit.” to the most faithful and blessed ministry “As you by faith in the positional for years on end, and yet never know facts realize that you are in the Father’s the Lord Jesus as a present loving presence, you will not try to depend Object in heavenly glory. It is nigh upon any sense of His presence. You impossible to see and know Him there know His presence because you know by faith without a resulting intense that your position in the Christian life is desire to be wholly devoted to Him a life of faith in the facts-nothing else. here.” -C.A.C. That the Father forces you to live by “We have a new Person before us faith so as to draw you into His as the Object of our faith and affections; presence-not you, by sense, trying to and as we drop ourselves and have the draw Him into yours.” -M.J.S. Lord Jesus as our Object, He is formed “We are, naturally, suspicious of any in us. What has been judicially offer to make us happy in God. accomplished at the Cross has its Because our moral sense, our natural fruition by the Spirit in our souls, and it conscience, tells us of our having lost is by that principle that we grow.” - all right even to His ordinary blessings. C.A.C. But in the Word of our Father, faith reads our abundant title to be near to 162 Him and happy with Him, though “Let it be remembered we are to natural conscience and our sense of fight ‘the good fight of faith,’ which the fitness of things would have it consists of resting in our position of otherwise. Faith feeds where the moral freedom, and not in obtaining that sensibilities of the natural mind would position. We are to fight not for it, but count it presuming even to tread.” - from it. He alone has obtained it. It is J.G.B. our Father’s free gift. Let us be fully “The moment we walk by sight we abiding in the One who is Life, and sin are outside of faith. The Father would when it acts, will find us dead to it.” - never have us outside of faith; hence, E.H. even in answering faith, He so answers “Calvary is the secret of it all. It is it that we need it again the next what the Lord Jesus did there that moment, even while we are enjoying counts, and what He did becomes a the results of it.” -J.B.S. growing force in the life of the believer “Faith is. . . the evidence of things when it is seen, and rested in by faith. not seen” (Heb. 11:1). This is the starting point from which all godly living must take rise. We shall 9-11. Reception And Resistance never know the fact of the Lord Jesus’ “For he that is entered into his rest, victory in our lives until we are prepared he also hath ceased from his own to count upon His work on the Cross as works” (Heb. 4:10). the source of our personal freedom Besides the rest of reception, there from the dominion of sin and the old is also the rest of resistance. Any time man within. There is no liberty for us there is effort involved in the matter of that was not first His. The beginning of resisting sin, we can be sure that we spiritual growth is faith in that fact.” are depending to some extent upon the “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty flesh, instead of resting in the finished with which Christ hath made us free” work of the Cross. (Gal. 5:1). “The question is ‘How are we to 9-12. From Expounder To Exponent meet sin?’ ‘Reckon yourselves dead unto sin.’ The moment that you begin to “Now we have received. . . the Spirit fight with it-no matter how resolutely who is of God; that we might know the you may struggle against it-that things that are freely given to us of God moment you begin to experience sin as “(1 Cor. 2:12). your master. For it is then that we The Holy Spirit ministers the truth of forsake our true position, which is one the Word via the mind, that we may of freedom from sin as a master. share the One who is Truth via the heart. 163 “If you do not know the Bible as the the Lord. “ (2 Cor. 3.18). very Word of God, all is lost! Where 9-13. Liberated From Law have you learned anything from the Lord distinctly, but where every counter “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision influence was inadmissible-in the availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, sacred enclosure of His own Word and but a new creature” (Gal. 6:15). Presence, where nothing to qualify It required nothing less than the what He says can exist?” Cross to liberate us from the law. “I must not only be an expounder of “The law is not our ‘rule of life’ for the truth, but an exponent of it. There the simple reason that it was the should be the sense, I have learned Israelite’s. The Christian not being a that word for myself. It is not just being Jew, the law is not for him. ‘Holy, just able to describe it, or to put it in correct and good’ it is, but the Christian’s rule dispensational order; but having that of life is ‘in Christ. . . a new creature’ word for myself from the Spirit.” (Gal. 6:15). The believer’s place and “The mistake with many saints in the rule is to walk as a ‘pilgrim and present day is that they think because stranger’ upon the earth. The law has they can describe a truth, that therefore nothing of this. Had it been fulfilled, it they have learned it. When a truth is would have made earth morally a really accepted, the conscience paradise; and will, when written upon demands that there should be Israel’s heart in millennial days. But accordance with it.” strangership on earth and a heavenly “The Scriptures tell me what the walk, it never taught.” -F.W.G. Father gives me, but they do not give it “The Christian is on larger, higher, to me. The Spirit applies the Word to firmer ground than that on which Israel me in its divine meaning, and then I after the flesh stood. The law is good if possess what Scripture tells me is mine a man use it lawfully; and its lawful through God’s grace. For instance, the application is expressly not to form, Word tells me that if I behold the Lord’s guide, and govern the walk of the glory I shall be transformed. It doesn’t righteous, but to deal with the lawless transform me, however clearly I may and disobedient, ungodly and sinful, see what it states. It communicates to unholy and profane, and, in short, with me a very great thing, but it is the Spirit whatever is contrary to sound doctrine who makes it experiential to me.” - (1 Tim. 1:9, 10).” -F.W.G. J.B.S. “Any aspect of life or conduct which “Changed into the same image from is undertaken in dependence on the glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of energy and ability of the flesh is, to that extent, purely legal in character, 164 whether it be the whole revealed will of Israel on the millennial earth.” -H.S. God, the actual written commandments, “Non-dispensational teachers have or the exhortations of grace. endeavored to bring over the many Dependence on the arm of flesh is promises of the physical and material consistent with pure law; dependence aspects of kingdom salvation into the on the power of God is demanded present dispensation, giving hope of under pure grace.” -L.S.C. material prosperity and physical health, “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty as well as political peace. Failure to with which Christ hath made us free, realize these promised goals has and be not entangled again with the caused many to lose faith and to yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1). become bitter toward God Himself. The failure, of course, is not of God, but of 9-14. Devastating Deviation teachers who have refused to rightly “Study to show thyself approved divide the Word of Truth.” unto God” (2 Tim. 2:15a). “Calvin attempted by discipline of There is as much error produced in Church and State to make everyone failing to divide the Word at all, as there live like a Christian-as did the Puritans is in wrongly dividing it. as a result. This effort resulted in the “Covenant Theology, at the utmost, need to use the Old Testament rather is forgiveness of sins and divine favor than the New as an ethical guide.” enjoyed; and all that concerns their “A workman that needeth not to be position in the Lord Jesus is ignored, or ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of alas! guarded against as dangerous. truth” (2 Tim. 2:15b) Men are placed under the New Covenant which does not go beyond 9-15. The Heart Of The Matter remission of sins and the law written in “You. . . hath He reconciled” (Col. the heart. But being in Christ, and 1:21). knowing it by the Holy Spirit, and what it Our Father’s Cross-love was involves now has dropped out of their personal; we were there in the Son. Our creed altogether.” Father’s heart-love is personal; we are “We are come ‘to Jesus the hidden there in the Son. Mediator of the new covenant’ (Heb. “Have you ever thought of the 12:24). We are not come to the new Father dealing with you not as to what covenant, but to Jesus the Mediator of you are in yourself, but as to where He it. I am associated with Him who is the has positioned you in His Son? Have Mediator; that is a much higher position you ever thought that it is the affections than if we merely come to the covenant. of the Father’s heart which flow down to He will make this new covenant with 165 us where we are, seeing us in the Son, chosen you to salvation through not in our poor wretched selves? What sanctification of the Spirit and belief of we are in the old man is not the thing to the truth” (2 Thess. 2:13). scan, but what we are, and where we To be Christ-centered, we must be are, in the Son; and what there is in the Spirit-dependent. living affections of the Father, who has “It is basically the belief of the truth; raised us up together with His Son, and it is not belief of the fruits. The Holy has given us all heavenly blessings in Spirit cannot present to me the fruit He Him.” -G.V.W. has produced in me, as the object of “Nothing can make up for a lack of my faith. He speaks to me of my faults, personal acquaintance with the Lord of my sins, but not of the good works Jesus. Intimacy with Himself is certainly that may be in me. He produces them the secret of true devotedness. in me, but He hides them from me; for if Occupation with Him, the heart readily we think of them, it is but a more subtle detects, and rejects the voice of the self-righteousness. It is like the manna stranger, and cannot but own the Lord’s which, being kept, produced worms. All claims to be paramount. Nothing so is spoilt-it is no more faith in action. The thoroughly tests the state of our hearts, Holy Spirit must always present to me as whether or not we have intimacy the Lord Jesus Christ, that I may grow with the Lord Jesus Himself.” -H.H.S. and have peace.” -J.N.D. “A great deal of our time is spent in “An understanding of the ministry of learning that there is nothing here to the Holy Spirit is basic to Christian meet the requirements of our new growth. Spirituality is Christ-likeness, affections. There is a wandering in the and Christ-likeness is the fruit of the wilderness in a solitary way, and yet no Spirit. Spiritual power is not the city is found to dwell in. But our Father miraculous or the spectacular, but allows this in order that His children rather the consistent manifestation of may find that their desires can only be the characteristics of the Lord Jesus in satisfied by and in Him. We must learn the believer’s life. All this is the work of that their desires can only be satisfied the Spirit, of whom the Lord Jesus said, by and in Him. We must learn that we ‘He shall glorify Me’ (John 16:14). are not of this world.” -J.B.S “What are the ingredients of “To present you holy and unblamable and spirituality? First, a spirit of unreprovable in His sight” (Col. 1:22). dependence, whatever may be the state of faith and the blessings we may 9-16. Spirit-dependent have realized. Secondly, an entire confidence in the goodness of the “God hath from the beginning 166 Father; for He is love. Thirdly, the Lord often seems that the life of a Christian Jesus as the constant object of the is more difficult than any other life, and affections of the heart, for the work of more troubles come to us than to the Holy Spirit in the heart is to fill it with anyone else. Whether we recognize it contemplation of and fellowship with the or not, these difficulties and troubles Lord Jesus in glory.” which come to us are to train us for “Changed into the same image from something and to develop in us the glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of spirit of sonship; that is, to develop the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). spiritual intelligence and spiritual ability in us.” -T.A-S. 9-17. Chastening = Child-training “One of the main purposes of all the “Now no chastening for the present Father’s dealings with us is to bring us seemeth to be joyous” (Heb. 12:11a). into a greater knowledge of His Son. Our Father chastens us “for our own We never know anything about profit, that we might be partakers of His greatness unless we have a great need holiness” (Heb. 12:10). We are not to know it. Therefore we are brought chastened because we deserve it, but into situations where we must know because we need it. And there is no something much greater than we wrath in His child-training. already know. This is why our Father “Many have the wrong idea of that brings His children into difficult word ‘chastening.’ We think, perhaps, circumstances-that they may learn how that it represents God as having a big great their Lord Jesus is.” -T.A-S. stick in His hand and knocking us about “Nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth all the time. You have only to make a the peaceable fruit of righteousness mistake and down comes the big stick! unto them who are exercised by it” That, of course, is a totally wrong (Heb. 12:11b). conception of the Father, and is not at 9-18. Recalcitrant Reformation all what the word means. The word ‘chastening’ simply means child- “Everyone that useth milk is training, which has to do with sonship. unskillful in the word of righteousness” Sonship in our Father’s mind is to have (Heb. 5:13). people who are reliable and The Reformation, for all of its rise responsible, who know in their own from Rome, to this day has never really hearts what is right and what is wrong, gotten off the ground. and do not have to be constantly told “Almost all the theology of the and admonished. various ‘creeds of Christendom’ dates “We should always look at our back to the Reformation, which went difficulties in the light of this training. It triumphantly to the end of Romans 167 Five, and, so far as theological “But solid food belongeth to them development or presentation of the that are of full age” (Heb. 5:14). truth was concerned, stopped there. 9-19. The Spirit’s Object Therefore, you must not regard yourself as bound to accept all that legal “He that is joined unto the Lord is doctrine of sanctification, which has one spirit (with Him)” (1 Cor. 6:17). been and still is predominantly, the sine We are one spirit with the Lord qua non of orthodox belief.” -W.R.N. Jesus by the one and only Holy Spirit. “The contrast is painful in the “I can always know when the Holy extreme between the uniform language Spirit is leading me, because He ever of the New Testament about Christians occupies me with the Lord Jesus. True, as thus called to worship in liberty and He may have to call attention to my joy and nearness to the Father, and own condition, but if He does, He turns that of liturgies ancient and modern; me to the Lord Jesus, not merely to and this because the results of convict me, but to relieve me.” -J.B.S. redemption soon became merged and “Spiritual growth is the Holy Spirit hidden in Jewish forms, and the law engraving the Lord Jesus on a man’s was recalled to the place of the Holy heart, putting Him into his thoughts, his Spirit, and man in the flesh intruded words, and his ways, just as the Law wholesale into realms which belong was engraved upon stones. It is not that only to those solemnly accredited as there is no failure. A man who is God’s Church, the Body of Christ.” - seeking to make money does not W.K. always succeed; but everybody knows “The liturgies of ritualism merely fall what his object is. Just so, the Lord back upon the feelings of man, with a Jesus Christ is the object of the slight tincture of Gospel and a large believer’s life.” -J.N.D. infusion of law. There may be sublime “The believer is not to clamor for the language and glowing ideas, chiefly solution of perplexities or for intellectual borrowed from the Old Testament; but mastery of divine mysteries. What in substance they are utterly beneath knowledge he has in this realm is his spiritual or even intelligent Christian because the Holy Spirit has declared it use.” -W.K. to him; and for the Spirit’s declaration “The only thing that God ever he must wait.” acknowledged in religion and ritualism “None of us is ever beyond the work was Jewish. It all had to do with the of the Spirit in us. Many think that flesh. That is repudiated in the Cross; because they have the light of a truth, all is crucified: your life is now ‘hid with they are in all the practical reality of it. Christ in God’ (Col. 3:3).” 168 No! You may know and reckon on all and at once, recognize the Father’s the Bible, but there is no growth beyond hand in it. Say at once, I welcome it the measure of the Holy Spirit’s work in from Him; my first care is to glorify my you.” -J.B.S. Father-He will use it all for my good.” “The Holy Spirit is only truly yielded “Do not be afraid of the Father’s to as the Cross, with its crucifixion of training school. He both knows His the flesh and the world, has become scholars, as to what they are, and He the attitude of our heart and mind.” knows for what service they are to be “He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify Me” fitted. A jeweler will take more pains (John 16:14). over a gem than over a piece of glass; but the one he takes most pains over is 9-20. Hand-hewn longest under discipline and most “Now no chastening for the present severely dealt with. Once finished, seemeth to be joyous, but grievous” however, the burnish never tarnishes, (Heb. 10:11a). the brightness never dims. So with us. You will be prepared, but never If we are placed, at times, as in a pierced, by the nail-pierced Hand. furnace, it is not merely for earthly “Sufferings are for chastening (child- service, but for eternity. May you so training). And chastening is from love, a appreciate the plans of your Father that token of our Father’s care. We live in a you can triumphantly glory in the love world full of trial and suffering. Many of that subjects you to such discipline, the Lord’s people have complained that though the trial itself be sharp and to their circumstances were too the flesh hard to bear.” -J.H.T. unfavorable for a life of full devotion, of “Nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth close fellowship with Him, or pressing the peaceable fruit of righteousness on to maturity. The duties and unto them who are exercised by it” difficulties, the cares and troubles of (Heb. 12:11b). life, render it practically impossible, they 9-21. Freely Come; Freely Abide say, to live a fully consecrated life. “That our God may make you worthy “Would God that they might learn of His call, and by His power fully the lesson of His Word! Every trial satisfy your every desire for goodness” comes from the Father as a call to (2 Thess. 1:11a, Wms.). come away from the world to Him, to trust Him, to believe in His love. In If we are born into the Lord Jesus by every trial He will give strength and sheer grace, surely He can manifest blessing. Let but this truth be accepted, Himself in us on the same principle. in each trial, small or great; first of all “It is this quiet expectation and confidence, resting on the Word of the 169 Lord Jesus that in Him there is an J.N.D. abiding place prepared, which is so “And complete every activity of your sadly wanting among Christians. The faith, so that the Name of our Lord idea many have of grace is that their Jesus might be glorified in you” (2 conversion and pardon are God’s work, Thess. 1:11b, Wms.). but that now, in gratitude to Him, it is their work to live as Christians. There is 9-22. Unfeigned Humility always the thought of work (law) that “God resisteth the proud, and giveth has to be done, and even though they grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5). pray for help, still the work is theirs. Humility is the hallmark of the They fail continually, and become servant resting in, and sent from, the helpless; and the despondency only Father’s presence. increases the helplessness. “There is a sense in which God’s “Abiding in the Lord Jesus is not a true servant is always a defeated man. work that we have to do as the The one who drives on with a sense of condition for enjoying His salvation, but his own importance, who is unwilling to a consenting to let Him do all for us and appreciate the worthlessness of his in us, and through us. It is a work He own best efforts and is always seeking does for us-the fruit and power of His to justify himself-that one will not be redeeming love. Our part is simply to meek, and so will lack the essential yield, to trust, to abide, and to wait for enablement by which God’s work must what He has engaged to perform. As it be accomplished. Our brokenness must was the Lord Jesus who drew thee not be feigned; we must not be content when He said ‘Come,’ so it is the Lord with the mere language and Jesus who keeps thee when He says appearance of humility. We, too, must ‘Abide.’“ -A.M. be as conscious of Divine mercy in our “The heart is constantly looking to being recovered for God’s service as God to give a testimony about itself; but we are of the original mercy which drew the Father is giving a testimony us from the dark waters of death.” -H.F. concerning His Son, and not about “Humility is quietness of heart. It is what we are; if He were to give a to have no trouble. It is never to be testimony about us, it must be about fretted or irritated or disappointed. It is our sin and unbelief of heart. But no; to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing and it is of great importance in this day thatis done to me. It is to be at rest of infidelity to see that if the Father when nobody praises me and when I gives a testimony, it is about His Son, am blamed or despised. It is to have my and what He is to the sinner. If you blessed home in the Lord Jesus, where believe that, you will have peace.” - I can go in and shut the door and be 170 with my Father in secret, and be at is so simply upon the ground of what peace when all outside is trouble.” - His sacrifice has effected. Our dwelling A.M. place is in the light, not by reason of our “The Father may allow His servant subjective condition, but because the to succeed when He has disciplined Lord Jesus has made the position ours him to a point where he does not need by the putting away of our sins, and by to succeed to be happy. The man who bringing us to the Father.” -H.F.W. is elated by success and cast down by “The heart must enter into failure is still a carnal man. At best his something more than the look behind fruit will have a worm in it.” into those waters of judgment, out of “Humble yourselves, therefore, which the Lord Jesus rose, having left under the mighty hand of God, that He our sins, and death, and judgment may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6). forever! Such a joy would never carry us through the desert where faith and 9-23. New Birth Place patience are tried and tested every day. “(God) hath raised us up together, It needs that the heart be carried into and made us sit together in heavenly the glory of Canaan beyond; in the places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6) present sense of peace with the Father, We are to settle down to live and and the consciousness of standing in grow precisely where we have been re- His present favor-the favor that is better born: in Christ Jesus above. than life.” -F.G.P. “Do we not often harbor the thought “Having therefore, brethren, that something yet remains to be done- boldness to enter into the Holiest by the either by ourselves or by Him-in order Blood of Jesus, by a new and living to our drawing near? Do we not often way, which He hath consecrated for us, thus become occupied with the through the veil” (Heb. 10:19, 20). circumstantials of worship rather than 9-24. Filial Faith with the Lord Jesus-the substance? Are we not often false to Him in questioning “He (the Spirit) maketh intercession our title to draw near, because we find for the saints according to the will of distance in our own hearts, as if it was God” (Rom. 8:27). the warmth of our affections, instead of Neither the Lord Jesus nor the Holy the Blood of the Lord Jesus, which Spirit ever thought of willing or praying brought us nigh?” -W.K. outside the will of God the Father. “Our being perfectly cleansed by the Neither will we, while we walk in the Blood of the Lord Jesus, the Holiest of Spirit, and abide in the Lord Jesus. All is our place before the Father, and it “Faith is not a power that one possesses, by which he can move the 171 arm of God and work miracles. ‘Faith 9-25. The Living Truth accepts quiet guidance; only unbelief “I press toward the mark for the demands a miracle.’ There is nothing in prize of the high calling of God in Christ true faith that the flesh can glory in. The Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). power is God’s. It is the Father who We must be truth-centered if we are works and does it according to His own to be Christ-centered. wisdom and will. Faith is simply absolute confidence in the Father which “With an increase of knowledge and gives the certainty that He will fulfill His apprehension of the truth, there is a Word.” -A.H. constant sense that we are not practically up to what we have received; “Faith must be based upon certainty. and hence the measure of our strength There must be the definite knowledge is not the enjoyment of a truth, but the of and confidence in the Father’s extent to which we maintain what we purpose and will. Without that there can believe in spite of every obstacle. It is be no true faith. For faith is not a force the way in which we surmount the that we can exercise or a striving to difficulties in our path, and not the believe that something shall be, enjoyment of the truth, which defines thinking that if we believe hard enough our position.” -J.B.S. it will come to pass.” -A.H. “We will not learn truth aright “Let us not be discouraged if the excepting in the deepening knowledge transformation we long for does not of the Lord Jesus. It is the lack of this take place immediately. Let us feel the which is the cause of weakness among need and lay it to heart. Let us stand in us: bare doctrine is not connected with faith, and we shall never be put to Him. When the flower is separated from shame. Cleaving to the Lord Jesus and that which is its source, its sustenance His Word with purpose of heart can and support, it is henceforth doomed to never be in vain. The hour will surely decay. We have that which is lovely come when out of our hearts, too, will and full of blessing in the Lord Jesus; flow rivers of living water.” but if we are to know it as such, to “Whatever sends us to the Lord prove its truth, to enjoy it practically, it Jesus-be it grief, disappointment or must be in taking these things as burden-is to that degree a blessing. No connected with Him.” -W.K. price is too great to pay in gaining this “The Lord Jesus Himself, and not fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.” even truth about Him, must be filling our “That ye might be filled with the hearts if we are to grow. This is no knowledge of His will in all wisdom and unnecessary admonition in a day when spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9). knowledge of the most sacred truths

172 may be intellectually attained by so H.F.W. small an effort. It is a happy and “Being led by the Holy Spirit is the necessary thing to understand the principle by which the Father deals in Word of God, but, with that Word grace with believers. Outside the circle treasured, the aim of the believer’s of the Spirit, men are led by the flesh; affections should be, ‘That I may know under the law His people were in Him.’ Desires after the Lord Jesus, bondage and under the schoolmaster. desires to live with Him in heaven now, Now, in Christian privilege, the Spirit and to manifest Him on earth, make the leads: ‘if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are growing believer separate from the not under the law’ (Gal. 5:18). -H.F.W. world, and separate him unto the “The Lord Jesus in glory is the glorified Lord.” -H.F.W. standard of perfection, and the Saviour “That I may know Him” (Phil 3:10). on earth is the pattern for our walk. No 9-26. Spirit Spirituality one’s walk is perfect, but the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us is perfect, and “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, as the believer yields to the Father as there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17). one alive from the dead, the desires of Concerning the Holy Spirit, hidden the flesh are not fulfilled, and the Spirit as He is, faith is required above all else. brings forth His fruit in him.” -H.F.W. “Certainly the Holy Spirit directs in “Walk in (dependence upon) the the countless details of daily life. Those Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of who have faith, and are dependent the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). upon His direction, will not be disappointed. But the Spirit leads 9-27. Support, Not Relief according to Scriptural directions; “In everything give thanks; for this is hence that which is called the leading of the will of God in Christ Jesus the Spirit, and which has not the truth of concerning you” (1 Thess. 5:18). the Word for its line of thought and Relief from pressure may seem action, is necessarily false.” -H.F.W. merciful, but support in the pressure “The principle of walking in produces growth and maturity. dependence upon the Holy Spirit must “There is a greater blessing for us never be abandoned, however we may than relief; there is the Father’s support, fail to carry it out. We must steer by for it imparts to you an acquaintance divinely given principles, even if winds with Himself which relief does not. and waves at times do throw us off Relief makes one more satisfied with course. To give up the Father’s things here. I have known some who principles because of opposing could tell you of a long list of mercies, elements is to court shipwreck.” - 173 most touching, truly proof of the we have peace with God through our tenderness of God. Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). “Thank God, we all know something There will be no standing against the of His tenderness. But then there is a enemy’s accusations until we are firmly greater blessing, namely, that He does assured of, and settled on, the fact that not remove the pressure, but raises you our Father is at peace with us because above it, so that, though you are not of our living union with His Beloved relieved, you are better off than if you Son. And this alone will give us peace were merely relieved, because you with our Father. know His heart who supports you in the “We thought we were being more pressure. You have made a deep Christian by striving more, praying acquaintance with your Father, and more, reading our Bible more, and your heart is more attached to Him.” - confessing our sins more. But all that J.B.S. brought no relief. The awful gnawing in “It is not getting away from our our vitals continues. The sense of guilt circumstances, our environment, our increases. We need not a Nathan to associations, that we need, but the Lord say, ‘Thou art the man!’ A thousand Jesus’ likeness where we are. The voices are forever ringing in our ears Father placed us there, permitted the giving the lie to what we long with trials for a purpose, and He stands infinite yearning might be an altogether ready to bring us out into a life of convincing testimony of a truly Christian liberty, if we will stand with Him in trust walk. and endurance while He works it out.” “Now the way out is to be found in a “Have you asked to be made like clear-cut recognition of the fact that, as your Lord; that it might be ‘not I, but Paul says in Romans 8:1, ‘There is, Christ’? Have you longed for the fruit of therefore, now no condemnation to the Spirit, and have you prayed for them that are in Christ Jesus.’ Let patience and love? Then fear not the appearances, voices and feelings to the stormy tempest that is at this moment contrary be what they may, still this is a sweeping through your life. A blessing fact. The reason, of course, is found not is in the storm, and there will be a rich in ourselves, but in Another.” -F.J.H. fruitage in the ‘afterward.’“ “It is a wonderful thing to have the “The eternal God is thy refuge, and consciousness that we are in living underneath are the everlasting arms” union with the Lord Jesus in heavenly (Deut. 33:27). glory, knowing our position in that risen sphere, participating in all that 9-28. Accusation constitutes His life in the blessed circle “Therefore, being justified by faith, 174 of love and rest where He lives unto the hast a little power, and hast kept My Father. If we apprehend this we shall Word, and hast not denied My Name.’“ not be deceived by what goes on upon -J.B.S. the earth.” -C.A.C. “In creation God planted a man in “Stand fast, then, in the freedom the garden in innocence; in redemption which Christ has given us” (Gal. 5:1, He has planted a Man in heaven, in Wey.). glory. There is a glory that excelleth. The glory in redemption leaves the 9-29. The Excellent Glory glory that was once in creation as “We all, with unveiled face beholding nothing.” -J.G.B. as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. .. “ “For every believer who actually (2 Cor. 3:18a). crosses over into the Promised Land During the first half of your Christian there are far too many who stand for life you are concerned about your awhile and look longingly across the doing; in the second half you will be river, and then turn sadly back to the burdened about your being. comparative safety of the sandy wastes “The more simply devoted you are to of the self-life.” the Lord Jesus, who is worthy of all “. . . are changed into the same devotion, the more fragrance there will image from glory to glory, even as by be in all your ways; for it will be the Spirit of the Lord “ (2 Cor. 3:18b). manifested that you are not seeking yourself, not wincing because your 9-30. Groundwork rights are invaded, or that you are not “Ye have died, and your life is hid as much cared for as you are entitled to with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). be. Rather, there is only one governing When we rely upon and cater to the thought of your life about everything, old man, that ground produces “the and that is, how you may distinguish works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21). But Him who fills every need in your heart, as we abide in the risen Lord Jesus, and lights it up with unfading joy.” - that new ground of our position, His life J.B.S. will be manifested in “the fruit of the “Nothing can be so divinely beautiful Spirit” (Gal. 5:22, 23). on earth as a believer so transformed “God’s Word declares that we are by the Spirit of God, that he is in ‘dead indeed unto sin,’ but nowhere heavenly manners here on earth; so does it say that we are dead in that he does not in any of his ways ourselves. We shall look in vain within deny the Lord Jesus Christ; but in the to find death there. We have died to sin; most trying hour of his history upon not in ourselves, but ‘in Christ,’ and our earth the Lord can say of him, ‘thou 175 death with Him is as sure as His death, Christ, seek those things which are and since we died with Him it is above” (Col. 3:1). impossible for His death to be certain Our Father may cripple our earthly and ours uncertain. standing in order to strengthen our “We were crucified with Him spiritual state, but He will never detract because we were in Him (Gal. 2:20). from our spiritual state in order to We are raised in Him (Eph. 2:6); we are enhance our worldly standing. Never. complete in Him (Col. 2:10); we are “The world is crucified unto me, and I blessed with all spiritual blessings in unto the world” (Gal. 6:14). Him (Eph. 1:3); the entire work “It is not only that the Lord Jesus is regarding us is not done in us but in the the object of my heart, but I find that the Lord Jesus-the Father has done all in One I love has made me the object of His Son. If you stand on the ground of His heart! A great day for the soul. what the Lord Jesus is (abide), you will People are ready to say how they love find in your growth that all that is true of Him, but how far can they say that they Him is becoming true of you; but if you are conscious of His love for them; that remain on the ground of what you are in they so prize it, that it is the greatest yourself, you will find that all that is true secret of their heart? of the old man is true of you in life and “When the Lord Jesus’ love is before walk.” you, you find this love is drawing you “The purpose of Paul, in Romans from darkness to light. He begins by Six, is to show how completely the showing His desire for your spiritual believer is identified with the Lord Jesus advancement, and not by advancing when ‘He died unto sin.’ To enter fully you in earthly position. It is beautiful to into the meaning of that death is to see see that the work of true love is to set that He has emancipated us from any aside darkness, or whatever would further dealings with our old master, interfere with association; and therefore sin. The believer is privileged thus to it is not esteemed as it ought to be, take his position in the risen Lord because we are looking for something Jesus, who is now ‘alive unto God.’ on earth, and the tendency is to judge From that ground he is henceforth to of His love by earthly gifts and favors regard sin.” -E.H. down here.” -J.B.S. “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty “Most growing believers rightly with which Christ hath made us free” maintain that all must come from the (Gal. 5:1). Lord; but instead of taking their actual 9-31. True Love position of being dwellers in heaven, and coming from there to earth, they “If (since) ye, then, be risen with 176 only look up to heaven for help as to truth revealed by Paul in their walk on earth; and their thoughts his proclamation of the and labors are always influenced and Cross. dictated by the state and order of things How readily we take for granted on earth, and instead of seeking the what the Father has given us, to give. mind of the Lord as learned in heaven, “Wherefore, also, we pray always for they are occupied with the blessings of you, that our God would count you man on earth.” -J.B.S. worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the “Set your affection on things above, not on good pleasure of His goodness, and the things on the earth. For ye have died, and work of faith with power, that the name your life is hidden with Christ in God “ (Col. of our Lord Jesus Christ may be 3:2, 3). glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and Number 10 the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:11, In the overall development of the 12). Church, it would seem that we are at Miles J. Stanford; May 1985 the dawn of the Father’s spreading of the Growth truths before His own. We 10-1. Perfect Provision are not only to share the Gospel truths “For when for a time ye ought to be with the lost, but also the Growth truths teachers, ye have need that one teach with the saved. you again the first principles of the The Psalms was the only oracles of God, and are become such book of Scripture fully as have need of milk, and not of solid translated into Anglo- food” (Heb. 5:12). Saxon, Anglo-Norman, and It is a great comfort, during our Old English, with the growing up in the Lord Jesus, to know exception of Bede, who, that He is our perfect provision, and with his dying breath, that He provides the perfect processing. completed his translation of “When the queen bee lays an egg, John. there is deposited in the cell with it the Our fathers had to wait food on which the larva is to feed during eight and a half centuries, its development. Similarly, when the from Caedmon to Tyndale, Father placed us ‘in Christ,’ He also before the Epistles of Paul made provision in Him for our whole were translated into the life. Christ is made unto us wisdom to common tongue, and thus enable us to walk aright in a perplexing they could have the full world, righteousness to replace our 177 sinfulness, sanctification to impart the understanding of what others may be growth we so greatly need, and called upon to go through. redemption of the body to consummate “Many saints have been happy to the whole.” assert that they would not have missed “As with the seed that is buried once for anything the exercises of prolonged for all, but then disintegrates through a illness and suffering! They have thereby gradual process that sets free the new learned the grace and sympathy of the life, even so does the Father deal with Lord Jesus, and they have been the our old man by delivering it to death subjects of so much tender interest and with the Lord Jesus once for all, and consideration flowing from the spiritual then bringing about its mortification in affections of His saints, that they have detail through the circumstances of life, been conscious of infinite gain and until the power of the flesh has lost its enrichment. hold.” -L.T. “And surely the development and “Our Father is faithful and wise as exercise of such affections as these, well as a gracious and patient Teacher. eternal in their nature, though called He will not permit us to pass cursorily into activity by circumstances over our lessons. Sometimes, perhaps, connected with conditions of weakness we think we have mastered a lesson, and trial, is a greater triumph of divine and we attempt to move on to another; love and power than restoring the sick but our wise Teacher knows better, and ones to health. It is a real loss for the He sees the need of deeper ploughing. attention of believers to be turned from He will not have us mere theorists or the spiritual dealings of the Lord Jesus smatterers: He will keep us, if need be, with His own, and from all that is the year after year at our scales until we moral result of those dealings, to be learn to sing.” -C.H.M. concentrated upon the thought of bodily “Solid food belongeth to them that healing and self-centered experiences.” are of full age, even those who by -C.A.C. reason of use have their senses “There is a great difference between exercised to discern both good and evil” going to the Lord Jesus in our troubles, (Heb. 5:14). as to the best Physician and Friend, and knowing Him as the One who loves 10-2. Afflicted And Comforted me best, the Bridegroom. In the former “The Father of mercies, and the God we turn to Him when anything is the of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). matter; but in the latter, if we are true to Affliction provides opportunity for us it, we could never leave Him.” -J.B.S. to learn more of our Father in His “Who comforteth us in all our mercy, as well as providing a deeper 178 tribulation, that we may be able to but the position of the true believer comfort them who are in any trouble, by remains intact and unalterable. The the comfort with which we ourselves feeblest member of the family of God are comforted of God” (2 Cor. 1:4). has this place of security, and is perfect in Christ. To deny this is to remove the 10-3. Permanent Position true basis of self-judgment and practical “Alive unto God in Jesus Christ, our growth.” -C.H.M. Lord” (Rom. 6:11) “We are spiritually both in the Until the believer’s faith is firmly wilderness and in Canaan; we are established in the fact of his position in partakers on earth of the heavenly the risen Lord Jesus, he will not be able calling, and we are seated in Christ in to rest in Him during the process of his the heavenly places. The enjoyment of position becoming his condition. One the favors of the Father to us, in the must be sure of the Source before he heavenly places in Christ, enhances the can trust for the growth. sense of His favors to us in the “The standing of the believer is wilderness.” -H.F.W. settled, perfect, eternal. His state is “We are identified in union with Him imperfect and fluctuating. He is partaker who stands as really for us in the glory of the new life which cannot sin; but he of the heavens as once for us He hung bears about within him the old man upon the Cross.” which can do nothing else but sin. Now “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil. his standing is in the new and not the 1:21). old. He is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit (Rom. 8:9). He is not under law, 10-4. Bold Belief but under grace. This is his perfect and “Having therefore, brethren, unalterable position; his sins are gone boldness to enter into the Holiest by the before God; his person is accepted by Blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19). God-all complete in the Lord Jesus We enter our Father’s presence Christ. when we believe He has already “His practical condition can never positioned us there in His Son. touch his position. It can very seriously “The Lord Jesus’ work on the Cross affect his fellowship, his worship, his gave us present entrance into the testimony, his usefulness, his spiritual Holiest of All. What removed our sins enjoyment, the glory of the Lord Jesus rent the veil; and those who believe are as involved in his practical career. positioned in the innermost sanctuary These are great consequences in the even now. Boldness to enter there on estimation of every sensitive any pretension of our love or holiness, conscience and well-regulated mind; 179 of nature or even divine ordinance, hath consecrated for us” (Heb. 10:20). would be shameless presumption. In 10-5. Dethronement Hebrews Ten it is calmly claimed for believers, who are exhorted in the “For, brethren, ye have been called strongest terms to approach by faith the unto liberty” (Gal. 5:13). Father’s presence without a doubt or a Our “No” to the old will be absolutely cloud, now. ineffective unless we are standing upon “Boldness to enter the Father’s the facts of the new. presence is due to the shed Blood of “At the Cross the old man was the Saviour. Only unbelief hinders. It is crucified and buried. When I plant my a new and living way which He feet on that fact and say, ‘No, as for dedicated for us through the veil, that me, I stand in the Lord Jesus as my is, His flesh; we honor Him by abiding life,’ its governing power is broken. It is there in the fullest confidence that not annihilated or eradicated, but it has pleases the Father. Being born of the lost its throne. It is a greater testimony Father we are abidingly His children. As to the power of the Father to let that such we have the right to take our place thing be in us and give us dominion before Him. It is our privilege to think of over it, than to eradicate it to begin with. ourselves according to what we are as We want to get clear in our minds that being one spirit with the Lord Jesus; the Father does not mean to improve and this is ever maintained by Him. the old man on the one hand, nor to “What we are by grace, as in Him remove it on the other. The fact that it before the Father, is unchangeable, does not go away or get better does not and our interests are in His hands. mean that we are not growing.” -N.D. Beloved, do our failures, our sins, in “Our having been crucified with the anywise alter what He is there before Lord Jesus was to make the body of sin the face of our Father? What He is of none effect while we live by faith, but there is what we are, not of course in the old man can become active and ourselves, but as being in the Lord dominant in the walk of the believer Jesus who is our Life.” -C.A.C. when faith becomes dormant and “There are two basic things that the inactive. It is not the Father’s will that believer has to learn. One is, you are sin should have dominion over any not to have the man here and the place child of His; all died with the Lord where he is, the other is, you do have Jesus, all were united with Him in another Man, and the place where He crucifixion, but few enter into the joy of is.” the freedom of the sons of God, “By a new and living way, which He because they do not believe His Word. “Will you not now bow before your 180 Father and thank Him regardless of new convert speak of the blessings he feeling? It may take a day or a month, I has received, and of his new-found joy do not know how long, but I do know in those blessings; but we can often that when any child of God will believe see very distinctly that he is wrapping and begin to express that faith in all these benefits of grace round thanksgiving, day by day thanking Him himself, and we feel pretty sure that he for the fact which one may not yet have will have to learn some lessons experienced, the Holy Spirit will lead presently that will take the shine out of that one into a glorious personal him. He will have to learn what a poor realization of his identification with the wretched thing he is, as in the flesh, Lord Jesus in His death, burial, that his heart may be transferred to a resurrection and ascension.” -L.L.L. new center altogether. “They who receive abundance of “Nothing can be more distasteful to grace and of the gift of righteousness a spiritual mind than to hear people shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” professedly giving a Christian testimony (Rom. 5:17). which begins and ends with themselves. It is for the effectual 10-6. Merciful Death displacement of all this, and to transfer “Set your affection on things above. . the heart to an entirely new center, that . for ye died and your life is hidden with the revelation of the old man is divinely Christ in God” (Col 3:2, 3) necessary for our souls. The Father has The spiritual recession that occurs to come in and detach us from that after the early joys of the new birth is which is our natural center, that He may not necessarily backsliding at all. The link our affections with another Person- discovery of the sinful old man is the even with the glorified Lord Jesus first and foremost step in the discovery Christ-and make Him everything to our of the righteous Christ-life. hearts, so that our association with Him “We are more disposed to be may be known, and may become the occupied in telling the Father what we deep, abiding joy of our souls.” -C.A.C. are in ourselves, than to allow Him to “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain tell us what we are in the Lord Jesus to receive power and riches, and Christ. So often the believer is more wisdom, and strength, and honor and taken up with his own self- glory, and blessing” (Rev. 5:12). consciousness than with the Father’s 10-7. Me, Myself, And I scriptural revelation of Himself. His revelation is one thing; my self- “Oh, wretched man that I am! Who consciousness is quite another “ shall deliver me from the body of this “It gladdens the heart to hear the death?” (Rom. 7:24). 181 While both are essential, it is far the Lord Jesus in His death and more difficult to get to know the old man resurrection.” than it is to know the Lord Jesus. Many “There is no joy like that of realizing who know something of Him, know little our nothingness, while at the same time or nothing of themselves. reposing upon the Father’s all- “There is not a more difficult lesson sufficiency.” in the Christian life than to come to a “I thank God through Jesus Christ, true knowledge of what the flesh is. Its our Lord” (Rom. 7:25). terrible power, its secret and universal rule, and the blinding it exerts in 10-8. Service Of Suffering keeping us from the knowledge of what “For I reckon that the sufferings of it is, are the cause of all our sin and this present time are not worthy to be evil. Hence it comes that so few really compared with the glory which shall be believe in their absolute inability to obey revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). God or to believe in His love. And there Physical, mental, and spiritual is nothing that can deliver us from it but suffering are all involved to some that entire willingness to die to the old degree in our matriculation. man, which comes when by faith we “The idea is very common amongst understand that we have died in Christ Christians that it is a great and Jesus.” -A.M. wonderful thing to be ‘mightily used of “It seems that God’s Spirit has to God.’ ‘Oh, to be a great evangelist! Oh, take every growing believer through a to be a great teacher!’ That is an drastic process of self-exposure. That entirely false conception. The truth is fleshly principle lurking within has to be that those who serve the Lord most, looked in the face. Its presumptuous truly go through the deepest suffering. claim to be a sufficient source of You may have a more or less easy wisdom and ability has to be exposed in time. I do not want to dishearten you by its big lie. Its save-yourself attitude has saying it may not always be so but if to be recognized and rejected. And you really want to be greatly used of the such knowledge can only come through Lord remember it may be by a deeper failure, humiliation and despair.” -N.G. discipline of the Lord.” -T.A-S. “If you come to feel, through ever- “Many have lived under blue skies recurring misery and defeat, that unless from birth. To such I have a word. It is Another shall lead you into the land of this: Fear not; no lover of our Lord will fruitful obedience your whole Christian be overlooked. He knows where to find career will be a spiritual and moral His willing hearts. Just give Him time. chaos, then perhaps you are ready to He will not refuse to His dearest the joy venture your all upon your union with 182 that is bathed in the dews of there-to show its exceeding riches Gethsemane.” -A.C. throughout time and eternity. What “He shall not cry nor strive, nor let could effort of mine have done in this His voice be heard in the street.’ There matter? What can failure of mine are very few servants of the Lord Jesus undo?” -F.W.G. who, Samson-like, could kill a lion “The first action of the Spirit in the without letting everybody know of it. soul for growth is to assure you of the They would like a little notice of some Father’s love for you, and then you are kind. But the Lord Jesus made no not thinking about yourself or your own parade; He would not have His good state, but of Him; though no doubt you deeds blazed abroad. His doctrine will be greatly exercised as to how you dropped as the rain from heaven, and are answering to that love. Now you His speech as the gentle dew. He know you have a living bond with the charged them that they should tell no Lord Jesus, you are linked with Him in man of His service. ‘Verily, Thou art a spirit, and a new interest altogether is God that hidest Thyself.’ May we be awakened in your heart; it is with Him willing to be hid, and to have our work you are occupied.” -J.B.S. known only by its effects, doing it not “If I have lost the world and its unto men, but unto our Father in things, what have I gained? I have a heaven, Who sees in secret and shall Person, and the love of that Person for reward us openly.” -E.W.M. my heart. And when I think of who that “Wherefore let them that suffer Person is, and how He has brought according to the will of God commit the divine love to me, and how He draws keeping of their souls to Him in well my heart to Himself in an ineffable doing, as unto a faithful Creator (1 Pet. scene of divine affections, I begin to 4:19). taste divine satisfaction.” 10-9. Home Free! “The Lord Jesus by His death has undertaken to remove all my “Hath made us alive together with unsuitability. And by that death I am Christ” (Eph. 2:5). entitled to be with the Father and the The Father has placed us in His very Son as one set free from all that heart, and He intends for our heart to attached to me as a child of fallen find its place there. Adam. It is a love which has removed “Think of the fast embrace with for its own satisfaction everything that I which I find myself held, right to the am morally as of the race of Adam, so heart of my Father, when I discern my that I might be free in the presence of position in His Beloved Son. Grace, that love.” -C.A.C. absolute sovereign grace, has set me 183 “Hath raised us up together, and J.B.S. made us sit together in heavenly places “As the result of the work of His in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). Cross and resurrection, eternal life is 10-10. Position And Possession received complete by those who believe. But while that life is itself “I follow after, if that I may victorious incorruptible, and apprehend that for which also I am indestructible, the believer has to come apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Phil. by faith to prove it, to live by it, to learn 3:12). its principles, to be conformed to it. The To know our position in the Lord life in itself in the believer needs no Jesus is necessary so that we may addition, so far as its quality and understand His ways and rest in His quantity are concerned. So far as its means. Then, by processing through power, its glory, its potentialities are the years He slowly narrows the concerned nothing can be added to it. discrepancy between our heavenly But the course of spiritual experience, position and our personal condition. of spiritual life, is to discover, to Truth is received in the mind, appropriate, and to grow in all that the assimilated in the heart, and manifested life represents and means.” -T.A-S. in the walk. “Rooted and built up in Him, and “First, the believer, like a bird, flies at established” (Col. 2:7). once to the top and sees everything accomplished on his behalf, and then 10-11. Personal Christianity he, as it were, comes back and creeps “That I may know Him, and the up every inch of the way. It is like power of His resurrection” (Phil. 3:10a). ascending a ladder of grace. Fellowship with the written Word is “The first step is, we believe that the the foundation, and fellowship with the Lord Jesus was sent of the Father; living Word is the superstructure, for second, that in the fulness of His work spiritual growth. we are justified; third, we make His “While Martha was cumbered about acquaintance, fourth, we come to see much serving, and her love, most true Him in heaven-we know our association in its way, went forth in actively with Him there, and His rest here, fifth, providing for the Lord’s outward need, we learn the mystery, the great things Mary, unconsciously perhaps, proved we are entitled to because of being in her stronger faith and deeper love by His Body, His Bride; sixth, that we are sitting at His feet and drinking in His seated in heavenly places in Him; words. The thought of Martha’s heart seventh, we rejoice in wonder and in was, What a feast I must give the praise in the knowledge of Himself.” - Messiah, when I receive Him at my 184 home! the wilderness, and speak tenderly unto “Mary, on the contrary, felt that the her” (Hosea 2:14). best feast for Him, and for herself, was As we begin to grow, we are to receive and treasure up all she could governed; as we begin to mature, we from Him-to see, and hear, and be with are allured. Him. If we are learning thus from the “By trial our Father reveals whether Lord Jesus, we honor and please Him we can suffer His will as well as do it. incomparably more than by anything we By trial He weans us from the world, think to confer upon Him. In the long draws us to His Son, drives us to the run, too, it is the listening at His feet Word and to prayer, and shows us our which best fits for the most acceptable hearts, and makes us humble. We are worship and service.” -J.N.D. to learn to be patient in the days of “We should ever remember that darkness. Our trials are not meant to do Christianity is not a set of opinions, a us harm, but good. Our Father system of dogmas, or a number of chastens us ‘for our profit, that we may views; it is pre-eminently a living reality- become partakers of His holiness’ a personal, practical, powerful thing, (Heb. 12:10).” -J.C.R. telling itself out in all the scenes and “The great teaching of the circumstances of daily life, shedding its wilderness is dependence upon the hallowed influence over the entire Father. The really heavenly man must character and course, and imparting its be in a scene like this the most heavenly tone to every relationship dependent man; and whenever anyone which one may be called of God to fill. learns his heavenly calling truly, and “In a word, it is that which flows from walks according to it conscientiously, being associated and occupied with the he ever finds that new circumstances or Lord Jesus. This is Christianity. There trials occur, to keep him dependent; so may be clear views, correct notions, that the truly heavenly man is the best sound principles, without any fellowship wilderness man.” with the Lord Jesus in glory; but an “If our affections are true to the orthodox creed without communion with glorified Lord Jesus, they will make this Him will prove to be a cold and barren world a wilderness to us but if our thing.” -C.H.M. affections do not make it a wilderness “And the fellowship of His sufferings, His government will. The Father loves being made conformable unto His us too well to allow our hearts to nestle death” (Phil. 3:10b). here; and He makes us conscious that it is a wilderness that He may have 10-12. Love Trials opportunity in our loneliness and our “I will allure her, and bring her into 185 sorrow to speak to our hearts. The weaknesses, to express and illustrate Voice that could not be heard in the din His tender care and loving-kindness, in and bustle, and amid the laughter of the a thousand ways.” -C.H.M. city, can be heard in the silence and “Our Father is ‘a very present help in solitude of the wilderness.” -C.A.C. trouble.’ We may be sure that He who “Why has the Father brought you to permits the suffering is with us in it. He despair? In order to stop you looking for was even in Christ, reconciling the any ground of hope in yourself; that you world unto Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). It may should not trust in yourself, but in God be that we shall see Him only when the Who raiseth the dead.” trial is past; but we must dare to believe “For the Father Himself loveth you” that He never leaves the crucible.” (John 16:27). “What a melancholy reflection it is upon our old man that we have to be 10-13. Mercifully Mastered ‘shut up’ to all the mercies of our “But though He cause grief, yet will Father! If we could evade them and He have compassion according to the cheat ourselves of them, multitude of His mercies” (Lam. 3:32). notwithstanding their gracious freedom, We are going to discover that our we would. The Father is still shutting Father’s grace and mercy shine men up to faith. It should be natural for brightest against the darkness of the us to trust Him, but it is not. Our Father daily Cross. must employ severe measures to “We make a most serious mistake, reduce us to despair and root us out of when, in any time of need or pressure, our self-confidence and self- we turn to the creature for help or righteousness. All of heaven’s wisdom sympathy. We are sure to be is brought to bear upon us to confess disappointed. Our Father will allow us that our ‘help cometh from the Lord.’“ - to prove the vanity and folly of all L.E.M. creature-confidences, human hopes, “That He might make known the and earthly expectations. And on the riches of His glory on the vessels of other hand, He will prove to us, in the mercy” (Rom. 9:23). most touching and personal manner, 10-14. Baptized Into-Filled With the truth and blessedness of His own Word, ‘They shall not be ashamed that “For as many of you as have been wait for Me’ (Isa. 49:23). No, never! He, baptized into Christ have put on Christ” blessed be His name, never fails a (Gal. 3:27). trusting heart. He cannot, nor would He, The Holy Spirit baptizes us into the deny Himself. He delights to take Lord Jesus, and fills us with Him. occasion from our needs, our woes and 186 “The one spiritual baptism positions words, love, petition, listening to the the believer ‘in Christ’ (Rom. 6:3, 4; Father’s voice, receiving the love and Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12), and into His Body peace of the Lord Jesus, fellowship, are (1 Cor. 12:13). Since this position in the invoked in this knowledge.” -A.S. Lord Jesus is unchangeable, and “The communion of the Holy Spirit eternal, the baptizing work of the Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14). is not repeatable. One ‘in Christ’ positionally, can never again through all 10-15. Life-giving Crucifixion eternity be ‘out of Christ’ positionally, as “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty that position depends wholly upon the with which Christ hath made us free” efficacy of the finished redemptive work (Gal. 5:1). of the Son, and does not hinge upon First, the believer understands that human merit or faithfulness. he has a right to be free in the Lord “The filling with the Spirit, on the Jesus because of the finished work of other hand, is repeatable (Acts 2:4; 4:8, the Cross; then he sees that same work 31; 9:17), and is, in fact, a continuous of the Cross as his means to be free. process, as it conditions mutable “When we truly hate ourselves, we experience, and has nothing whatever are prepared to rejoice in the blessed to do with immutable position. Christian fact that we have been crucified with position is effected by the baptism of the Lord Jesus-that sin in the flesh was the Spirit at the moment of the new condemned (not forgiven) when He birth. Christian experience is affected died unto sin, that our whole history as by the filling with the Holy Spirit. One in the flesh closed before the Father in effects our position, the other affects His Son’s death-and that this is our title our condition.” -M.U. to be free. I have now a righteous title “The Holy Spirit gives a living to have done with myself because I knowledge; His light is the light of life; have died unto sin in the Lord Jesus’ He is the ‘Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.’ death. We see the Father and the Son as “To prepare me for this I learn the seeing us. When we behold them by necessity for death in my own the ministry of the Spirit it is as experience, but the death of the Lord beholding us with infinite love, and Jesus is my title to be free. It is by the bestowing upon us the blessings of appropriation of His death that I reach grace. We know because we are liberty and newness of life; that death known. ‘Thou Father, Thou Son, seest has severed me from all that I was as in me’ is the immediate consciousness of fallen Adam. ‘I have been crucified with the soul, when there is spiritual Christ.’ I am free from myself, and free perception of the Father. In other to have the One who is my Christian life 187 before me.” -C.A.C. gifts, to the Lord Jesus for Him to use. “The Lord Jesus will make it His This will be clear at once from the little business to keep us alive and fruitful, if clause ‘as alive from the dead’ (Rom. we will make it our business to rely 6:13). upon Him. There must be no carnal “For what is to be consecrated is not straining, no natural effort; we do not what belongs to the old creation. The have to keep ourselves alive. Every ‘presenting’ spoken of is the outcome of fear to go down into daily death, every my knowing my old man to have been clinging to that which belongs to us, crucified (Rom. 6:6), and my reckoning every grasp on our own personal myself alive unto God in Christ Jesus position or ministry, will only hinder the (Rom. 6:11). Knowing, reckoning, manifestation of His life. It is to be life presenting ourselves to Him: that is the out of death. Even when our trust in divine order.” Him brings us into the most helpless “It is one thing to renounce or to and impossible situations, we may rest drop off certain old things, and quite assured that all will be well, for He is another to be occupied with new things. indeed the God of resurrection.” -H.F. Nuns renounce the world, but they are “For ye died, and your life is hidden with not engrossed with the risen Lord Jesus Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). Christ. It must be not only forgetting the 10-16. Acceptable Consecration things that are behind, but also reaching out unto the things that are “Present yourself unto God, as those before. that are alive from the dead” (Rom. “It is what I give myself to that colors 6:13). me and imparts character to me, not The growth and consolidation of the fact of having abandoned other one’s spiritual life is predicated upon things. People often dwell unduly on clear knowledge of the dual facts of what they have renounced, and are too Romans 6:11-dead unto sin; alive unto indifferent to that which they should God. This must come first: Know! press toward, forgetting that it is the “Consider what I say, and the Lord give latter that will form them (2 Cor. 3:18).” thee understanding in all things” (2 Tim. “Set your affection on things above, 2:7). not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). “Many have taken the word ‘present’ to imply consecration (which it does), 10-17. Subdued Servant without looking carefully into its content. “For the weapons of our warfare are It is not the consecration of our ‘old not carnal, but mighty through God to man’ with its instincts and resources, the pulling down of strongholds” (2 Cor. his natural wisdom, strength and other 10:4). 188 The true servant is finally subdued, appear. The greater the difficulties the but not stultified; prepared but not greater must be the evidence that our deprived of individuality. All that is resources are of a different order and rendered inoperative is the old man-and character from those arrayed against thank God for that! us, and this will be found true in very “When we are finally prepared, our small matters as well as in great ones.” Lord says: ‘When I died, you died. “Casting down imaginations, and When I went to the Cross I not only every high thing that exalteth itself took your sins, but I took you. I not only against the knowledge of God, and took you as a sinner, but I took you as bringing into captivity every thought to being all that you are by nature; your the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). good as well as your bad; your abilities 10-18. Remember To Forget as well as your disabilities; yes, every resource of yours. I took you as a “God resisteth the proud, and giveth worker, a preacher, and organizer. My grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5). Cross means that not even for Me can Resting in His glory there will you be or do anything out from yourself; manifest His humility in us here. but if there is to be anything at all it “Our hearts have such a tendency to must be out from Me, and that means a turn back to legalism, and to think it life of absolute dependence and faith.’“ humility. The only real humbleness and -T.A-S. strength and blessing is to forget “How little does one know of the ourselves in the presence and antagonism of our nature to the will of blessedness of the Father. We may be the Father, who thinks that service can brought thither by a humbling process be undertaken without that self- but it is not in merely thinking evil of the renunciation which can only be learned old man that we are truly humble; we by experiential knowledge of the have the privilege of forgetting superiority of His ways and counsels! ourselves in the love of our Father.” - We never surrender what we value until J.N.D. we find a better, and man is so full of “It is as knowing the Lord Jesus to himself and his own will that until he be precious to our souls, with our eyes finds out the sovereignty of his Father’s and hearts being occupied with Him, will he can be neither an obedient nor a that we will be effectually kept from suitable servant. being taken up with the vanity and sin “And this is usually learned through around. And this too will be our strength varied and painful processes. The against the sin and corruption within. disciplined servant always finds a way Whatever I see in myself that is not in to do his work however difficult it may Him, is sin. It is not in thinking upon my 189 own sins that will humble me, but and permit them to speak His words thinking of the Lord Jesus and dwelling years before they fully understand their upon the excellencies in Him. import; but He does not wish any of us “It is well to be done with ourselves to stop there. We may go on that way and to be taken up with the Lord Jesus. for awhile, but is it not true that from the We are entitled to forget ourselves-we time when He begins in us His work of are entitled to confess and forget our formation through discipline and sins-we are entitled to forget all but the chastening, it growingly dawns on us Lord Jesus. It is by looking unto Him how little in fact we know of the true that we can give up anything, and can meaning of what we had been saying? walk as obedient children.” -J.N.D. “Our Lord intends that we should “Many think that talking badly of reach the place where we can speak, ourselves is the ideal of humility; with or without manifest gifts, because whereas the simplest and more real we are that which we share. For in humility is to feel unaffectedly that we Christian experience the spiritual things are too bad to be worth talking about. of God are less and less outward, that Only One is worthy of all our thoughts is, of gift, and more and more inward, of and words and ways, even the Lord life. In the long run it is the depth and Jesus Christ.” -W.K. inwardness of a work that counts. As “Humble yourselves, therefore, the Lord Jesus Himself becomes more under the mighty hand of God, that He and more to us, other things-and this may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6). must include even gifts-matter less and less. Then, though we teach the same 10-19. Ministry Of Life doctrine, speak the same words, the “Holding forth the word of life; that I impact on others is very different, may rejoice in the day of Christ that I manifesting itself in an increasing depth have not run in vain, neither labored in of the Spirit’s work within them also.” vain” (Phil. 2:16). “Our Father’s hand is on the helm. Many Christians are bogged down We are being guided, even when we between the nursery and the feel it least. The closed door is as much schoolroom; between the playpen and His Providence as the open, and the workshop. These resist the weaning equally for our good and the period; but the hungry-hearted are accomplishment of His own great ends. eager to have their feelings replaced by And one learns at last it is not what we faith. set ourselves to do that really tells in “It is true that the Father does take blessing so much as what He is doing up those who are spiritually immature in and through us.” “Thou wilt show me the path of life” 190 (Ps. 16:11). alone can give calm repose in the midst of the most discouraging 10-20. Dependable Dependence circumstances. If we take the eye of “For we walk by faith, not by sight” faith off the Father, our souls must soon (2 Cor. 5:7). be overwhelmed. It is our privilege to be Our Father often uses our failure to able, in our little measure, to thank our foster and fortify our faith. Father in view of everything, and take “Faith is dependence upon the refuge in His eternal counsels, which Father. And this God-dependence only must be made good despite all the begins when self-dependence ends. unbelief of the Christian, and all the And self-dependence only comes to its malice of Satan.” -C.H.M. end, with most of us, when sorrow, “We are bound to thank God always suffering, affliction, broken plans and for you, brethren, as it is fitting, hopes bring us to that place of self- because your faith groweth helplessness where we throw ourselves exceedingly” (2 Thess. 1:3). upon our Father in seeming utter 10-21. Busily Barren helplessness and defeat. And only then do we find that we have learned the “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the lesson of faith; to find our tiny craft of branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except life rushing onward to a blessed life of it abide in the vine, no more can ye, fruitfulness and service undreamt of in except ye abide in Me” (John 15:4). the days of our fleshly strength and A barren life means barren service, self-reliance.” and no amount of self-effort will ever “The divine counsel shall stand, and make up for that! the divine good pleasure shall be “‘Not I, but Christ.’ The Lord Jesus accomplished. What relief for the heart does not ask that we should work for amid rebuffs and disappointments! The Him, but He intends to work through us. Father will perfect that which concerns There is all the difference in the world His own; and even where there are between the two. In the one I plan and mistakes and failures, as alas! there are then ask His blessing upon it; in the in abundance with all of us, His rich other He plans and lets me into the grace abounds over all, and actually secret of His glorious purpose. The one takes occasion from our very mistakes ends in futility and disappointment; the to shine out all the more brightly- other in life, progress, and joy. though, assuredly, the mistakes must “In the one I slave and work worthily produce their own painful and for Him, and constantly feel the humiliating consequences. barrenness of a busy life; in the other I “It is the remembrance of this which let His life flow through me in all His 191 glorious effortlessness, and rest in the Quaker, or Pearsall-Smith scheme of assurance that the Lord Jesus at work sanctification-all of which is cannot fail. The one is a life of substantially the same. The true endeavor, always being keyed up to do scriptural means of sanctification is that something greater; the other a life of you are set apart to God. It is not at all faith always looking to the Lord Jesus a question of whether there is evil in to reveal the next step and then give your flesh, for there is a great deal. the enablement to carry it out.” -H.G. Why, that is all the old man is made of! “The great question is not what you “But yet you are sanctified. are doing, how successful you are, how Sanctification has nothing whatever to great are your crowds, how impressive do with the extinction of evil in the flesh. your work-but the question is, by what That idea, begun with Pelagius, revived power are you doing it? It is difficult to by Thomas a’Kempis, handed down attend any large religious gathering through Jeremy Taylor, the French and without perceiving the governing Dutch mystics, Wm. Law and John influence, consciously or Wesley, has passed into other unconsciously, of the psychological- communions where they have no notion which is of the human. Many apparently whatever whence it came.” -W.K. successful ‘revival’ meetings have “The Christian life is nothing short of much more in them of psychology than the life of the Lord Jesus (Col. 3:4). It is Spirit. Large numbers of seekers are His life reproduced in us. ‘That the life brought to the altar by human soul- also of Jesus might be made manifest power rather than by the power of the in our mortal flesh’ (2 Cor. 4:11). The Holy Spirit. And this accounts for the common conception of sanctification is large number of so-called backsliders that every area of the life should be and ‘repeaters’ at the altar.” holy; but that is not holiness, it is the “Without Me ye can do nothing” fruit of holiness: holiness is the Lord (John 15:5). Jesus Christ. 10-22. True Sanctification “When we are conscious of pride we fancy that humility will meet our need, “Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who but the answer to pride is not humility, it ofGodis madeunto us.. . is the Lord Jesus, and He is the answer sanctification” (1 Cor. 1:30). to every need. The Father will not give If we keep in mind that the Lord you humility or patience or love as Jesus is our Sanctification, the separate gifts of grace; He has given seemingly difficult subject will clearly you the Lord Jesus, and if you simply unfold for us day by day. trust Him to live out His life in you, He “Many fall into the Methodistic, or will be humble, patient, loving and 192 everything else you need.” cost them to secure us, it cannot fail to “God hath from the beginning give us the most blessed assurance. chosen you to salvation through Much yet may have to be done for us. sanctification of the Spirit and belief of We shall need support, preservation, the truth” (2 Thess. 2:13). discipline. If we are left here a little longer we shall need the grace, mercy, 10-23. Hidden Within, Manifested and forbearance of the Father in a Without thousand ways, but all that will be “Those who are planted in the house needed in the future to keep us from of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of ourselves is small compared with the our God” (Ps. 92:13). stupendous cost at which divine love Defeat reveals the flesh; testing forever secured us.” -C.A.C. reveals the Father. “There is more in the Lord Jesus, in “The inward exercise of Romans the Father, in the Spirit, in heaven to Seven and the testing of the wilderness give us rest and peace and joy, than in serve the purpose of teaching us what the whole universe to disquiet, trouble, sin in the flesh is, and what is in our or grieve us.” -G.V.W. hearts; while such special discipline of “Heirs of God, and joint heirs with the Father as Paul’s thorn in the flesh is Christ” (Rom. 8:17). rather to protect us from the unalterable 10-24. Personal Influence tendencies of the flesh. The latter is always needed, and goes on in one “I proclaim not myself, but Christ form or other to the end of our course Jesus as Lord and Master, and myself here.” your bondsman for the sake of Jesus “ “We belong to another sphere (2 Cor. 4:5, Cony.). altogether. We have died, and our life is All Christians are fit for heaven, but hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). We all too few are fit for earth. One of the are like a tree that has its roots in true tests of one’s spiritual growth is in heaven, and its branches down here. one’s influence: affecting others that No doubt our branches are fretted and they not only begin the Christian life but ripped by the atmosphere here, but “grow in grace and in the knowledge of nothing can touch the roots up there. our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Planted inside, they flourish outside.” - Peter 3:18). J.B.S. “We may be separated and yet not “No one can question the right of the Christ-like; we may be orthodox and yet Father and the Son to have and to hold not spiritual; we may be ‘dead unto sin’ the sheep; and ifwe see whatithas and yet not ‘alive unto God.’ We may have cut ourselves loose from every 193 form of worldliness but in so doing we The Father tolerates our side of have become critical and self-righteous. things until we learn to value His side of We may be loyal defenders of the faith, things. yea, ready even to lay down our lives “Make your Father’s side of things for it and in so doing become bitter and your interest and concern, and your unloving.” side will be fully ensured; but turn your “We may often have a measure of eye to your own side, and, with much the power of the Spirit, but if there is not apparent effort and work, you will look a large measure of the Spirit as the for much and bring in little. This Spirit of grace and love, the defect will explains the small progress in many be manifest in our work. We may be souls in this day, notwithstanding the made the means of conversion, but we amount of truth and light they have will never help people on to a higher received. May the Lord Jesus in His standard of spiritual life, and when we Word be more simply the Object of our pass away a great deal of our work will hearts in this evil day.” -J.B.S. pass away too.” -A.M. “Love really does not think of “One may have a great zeal in God’s anyone but its Object until it is quite service, and may be used to influence sure of its place with Him, and then many for good, and yet, when weighed when at rest about itself it studies the in the balance of love, be found sadly mind and heart of the Object. I find that wanting. In the heat of controversy or the Lord Jesus loved me and gave under unjust criticism, haste of temper, Himself for me when I was in a most slowness to forgive and forget, quick unattractive state; but He makes me words and sharp judgments, often suitable to Himself, and I am so reveal an easily wounded assured of the permanency of His love sensitiveness, which proves how little and of my association with Him that my the Spirit of the Lord Jesus has full heart is free to study Him. The more I possession or real mastery of the life.” - am in His company, the more I grow in A.M. the characteristics which answer to His “We have this treasure in earthen mind and nature.” -J.B.S. vessels, that the excellency of the “All here comes to me from one power may be of God, and not of us” (2 spring, and that source is the heart of Cor. 4:7). my Father. You must connect your heart with the love and not with the 10-25. Side Effects benefit otherwise you are not yet “God, who commanded the light to established. I am not only clear of shine out of darkness, hath shone in everything that was against me, but I our hearts” (2 Cor. 4:6a). am brought into a new kind of love-the 194 love of the Father. It is not merely His the high mountain! When the devil gifts, His power, His greatness, but it is takes you into the heights, he always the knowledge of what He is in Himself shows you the kingdoms of this world, to me.” and the glory of them; when the Lord “The law demands, love God; grace Jesus takes you up, He is always declares, God so loved!” transformed before you.” “To give the light of the knowledge “It is because our life is hid with of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ in God that it is beyond the reach Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6b). of Satan. The Enemy cannot touch our life in its source, for the Father is its 10-26. Quietness And Confidence Source and he cannot touch Him. He “In quietness and in confidence shall cannot touch our life in its channel, for be your strength” (Isa. 30:15). the risen Lord Jesus is its channel, and Time is a prime factor in one’s he cannot touch Him. He cannot touch assurance of the Father’s leading. Rush our life in its power, for the Holy Spirit is and agitation are the prime factors in its power, and he cannot touch the the Enemy’s leading. God will give us Spirit. He cannot touch our life in its time to watch and make sure; Satan duration, for eternity is its duration, and demands action, right now! he cannot touch eternity. The child of “There is a way to distinguish God is eternally safe.” -J.E.C. between the Father’s leading and “The work of righteousness shall be Satan’s ‘angel of light’ leadings. The peace; and the effect of righteousness, Father’s promptings never nag, or quietness and assurance forever” (Isa. worry, or harass. Satan’s do just that. If 32:17). one has a seeming ‘leading’ to do 10-27. Branch Life something that in itself is good, yet with the impulse there is a sense of nagging “As the branch cannot bear fruit of disquiet, and being driven in a certain itself, except it abide in the vine, no direction, that is the Enemy’s more can ye, except ye abide in Me” trademark; and his false leading is to be (John 15.4). immediately recognized and rejected. The old life is a dead branch, and The Holy Spirit’s leadings come with a cannot abide in the Lord Jesus. Our sense of peace and quiet, even if they new life is one spirit with Him: a living point in a really difficult direction which branch abiding in the True Vine. As we only the grace of the Father can enable learn to rest upon this fact of our one to follow.” -C.G.T. position in Him, abiding becomes our “Be careful who takes you up into restful attitude. “The path through the desert must 195 be rough, and it is well that it is so; for -J.H.T. there is no right-minded person who “I am the Vine, ye are the branches. would not rather be set in a rough than He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the a ‘slippery’ way. The Lord sees our same bringeth forth much fruit; for need of being exercised by roughness without Me ye can do nothing” (John and hardness, not only that we may find 15:5). the rest at the end sweeter, but also that we may be the more effectually 10-28. Mind And Heart trained and fitted for the place we are “The life-giving power of the Spirit. . . yet to occupy.” has set us free from the power of sin “We are constantly ensnared by and death” (Rom. 8:2, Wms.). looking at secondary causes; we do not The Holy Spirit ministers to our mind realize God in everything. Were we via the Word, and He conditions our more alive to the fact that there is not heart via our daily experiences. an event which happens to us, from “A believer may know that he is morning to night, in which the voice of positionally free, and yet have to mourn our Father may not be heard, His hand the fact that his experience is that of a seen, with what a blessed atmosphere wretched captive. The freedom is so would it surround us! Man and entirely in Christ Jesus, and the circumstances would then be received maintenance of the living union with as so many agents and instruments in Him is so distinctly and entirely the our Father’s hand; so many ingredients work of divine power, that it is only as in His cup for us. Thus would our minds we see that the Spirit dwells within us be solemnized, our spirits calmed, our for this very purpose, and know how to hearts subdued.” -C.A.C. accept and yield to His working it, that “As a branch each believer is we can really stand in the liberty with directly united to the True Vine, which which Christ has made us free.” -A.M. receives all things needful through the “There is no strength or power in care of the great Husbandman Himself. ourselves against the law of sin which He will train and sustain every is in our members. The Father has left individual branch, the needs of each us as much dependent upon the Lord are upon His heart. The branch of the Jesus’ work for our deliverance from vine does not worry, and toil, and rush the power of sin as for our forgiveness! here to seek sunshine, and there to find It is wholly because we died with Him rain. No, it rests in union and on the Cross, both to sin and to the communion with the vine; and at the whole legal principle, that sin’s power right time, and in the right way, is fruit for those in the Lord Jesus, is broken.” - found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord.” W.R.N. 196 “Have we not often sought, by and man. earnest thought, to enter more deeply “It does not matter what the means into the significance of the Cross? Have or forms may be, whether the negative we not, as we got a glimpse of some process of Rationalism, or the more aspect of its glory, gone from book to positive claim of Ritualism: if man book to discover what it really means? comes in-whether it be his rites or his Have not some given up hope that reasonings-so as to exclude God’s words like ‘I have been crucified with Word, or step between its authority and Christ,’ ‘the world is crucified to me,’ the soul of man, it becomes pretty ‘baptized into His death,’ ‘dead unto sin much the same result in the end. and alive unto God in Christ Jesus’ “Rationalism is the deification of should have become truly intelligible human powers, in which man presumes and helpful? Is not the reason of all this by his own mind to judge the Word of that we want to grasp the hidden God, and is therefore the infidelity of wisdom of the Father with our mind the intellect when either carried out to alone, forgetting that the Holy Spirit its results or judged in its principle. intends to work it into the heart and “On the other hand Ritualism is the inner life also?” -A.M. infidelity of the imagination, very often “The wisdom that is from above is with piety underneath it, with a love for first pure, then peaceable. . . free from the Saviour that may preserve from the doubts and insincerity” (James 3:17, full consequences of the system, but in Wms.). itself always savoring of and tending to 10-29. No Word, No Truth idolatry. “Without faith it is impossible to “We cannot know the value of Christ please Him” (Heb. 11:6). the Truth unless we have the Spirit of Truth. Nevertheless, the test of having Rationalism defies God; Ritualism the Spirit of Truth, and of not being a degrades God. prey to fanaticism, is that the soul is “With Rationalism’s intellectual attracted and subject to the Lord Jesus audacity on the one hand, which dares Christ-and this cannot be without faith to speak against the Word of God; and produced and nourished by the Word of on the other hand, the outward piety of Truth.” -W.K. Ritualism-there is really the same root “Faith cometh by hearing, and of infidelity at bottom. There is the hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. supplanting of the plain truth of the 10:1). inspired Word. Both get rid of it, depriving the soul of that which is the 10-30. Personal Poverty only means of a living link between God 197 “For ye were as sheep going astray, was called at the first, but to something but are now returned unto the even higher. ‘Feed My lambs-shepherd Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 My sheep’-is the new commission given Pet. 2:25). to the man who had denied his Lord It is during the time of our being with an oath. ‘When thou art restored, broken that we learn that His promises strengthen thy brethren.’ There is concerning us cannot be broken. nothing in all this world nearer and “It is more than comforting to realize dearer to the heart of the Lord Jesus that it is those who have plumbed the than His sheep, His lambs: and hence depths of failure to whom the Father He could not have given Peter a more invariably gives the call to shepherd affecting proof of His confidence than others. This is not a call to the gifted, by committing to his care the dearest the highly trained, or the polished as objects of His deep and tender love.” - such. Without a bitter realization of their C.H.M. own inadequacy and poverty they are “Depart from me; for I am a sinful quite unfitted to bear the burdens of man, O Lord. . . And Jesus said unto spiritual ministry. Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou “It takes a man who has discovered shalt catch men” (Lk. 5:8, 10). something of the measure of his own 10-31. Life Given And Maintained weakness to be patient with the foibles “He who hath begun a good work in of others. Such a man also has a you will perform it until the day of Jesus firsthand knowledge of the loving care Christ” (Phil. 1:6). of the Chief Shepherd, and His ability to heal one who has come humbly to trust When one begins to realize the Him and Him alone. Therefore he does complexity of simple spiritual growth, he not easily despair of others, but looks learns to keep his hands off, and his beyond sinfulness, willfulness, and faith on. stupidity, to the might of unchanging “Regeneration is a birth: the center love. The Lord Jesus does not give the and root of the personality, the spirit, charge, ‘Be a shepherd to My lambs. . . has been re-created and taken to My sheep,’ on hearing Peter’s self- possession of by the Holy Spirit. But confident affirmation of undying loyalty, time is required for that center to extend but He gives it after he has utterly failed through all the circumference of our to keep his vows, and has wept bitterly being. It is akin to a seed: the life of the in the streets of Jerusalem.” -J.C.M. Lord Jesus within must grow; and it “As to Simon Peter, we not only see would be against the laws of nature and him restored to the work to which he grace alike if we expected from the babe in Christ the strength that can only 198 be found in the young man, or the rich But The Hungry Heart series has ever experience and stability of the fathers. been to help center you in the Person Even where in the new convert there is of the Lord Jesus, where He is. great singleness of heart and faith, with The work of the Saviour is true love and devotion to the Saviour, for the sinner; the Person time is needed for a deeper knowledge of the Saviour is for the of the old man and sin, for a spiritual saint: what He has done is insight into what the Father’s will and for the former; what He is, grace are.” -A.M. is for the latter. “The process of conformity to the He had eternal life to give, Lord Jesus’ image is going on day by and He is the Son of the day in the growing believer’s life. It is a living God; by the former, progression from obedience to the sinner is drawn to Him; obedience, from dependence to by the latter, the saint is dependence, from righteousness to bound to Him. He not only righteousness, and from love to love. meets all our necessities As the maturing one gets a larger vision as sinners by His work, but of his perfect Pattern through the daily also satisfies our affection study of God’s Word, he takes higher and desires as saints by ground along the line of that blessed His Person. -C.H.M revelation, so that his life is a progressive growing up into the Lord “Having predestinated us unto the Jesus in all things.” -R.P. adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure “The more the believer abounds in of His will, to the praise of the glory of the riches of the Father’s grace, the His grace, through which He hath made more unsearchable and inexhaustible us accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:5, he finds them to be. The spiritual man 6). never stops growing, because he is always reaching upward to that still Miles J. Stanford; July 1986 higher height that is just beyond.” -R.P. 11-1. Born To Be Borne “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. “Walk in (dependence upon) the 3:14). Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). That which we most dread- weakness and failure-are the very Number 11 means by which our Father turns us The ongoing purpose of the None from self-reliance to full dependence 199 upon the Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus, but to keep us abiding in “Walking in dependence upon the Him where He is.” -A.M. Holy Spirit, He leads up our hearts to “Kept by the power of God through where we are in the Lord Jesus. The faith” (1 Peter 1:5). new man finds delight in Him, and 11-2. Resting In His Rest nowhere else. The Spirit is the living link between us and the Son in glory. “Now the just shall live by faith” He causes us to gaze upon Him, and (Heb. 10:38). we become changed into the same Until we grow beyond the childish image, from glory to glory. This is true realm of sight and feelings we cannot Christianity-the heart drawn off things go forward; up and down, and here, and lovingly occupied with the sideways, but not forward. One who is our Christian life.” “Our Father wants us in the place “As the believer grows, and his path where we do not depend upon feelings; becomes more involved, he is taught where, though we do not behold Him, more about the Holy Spirit’s ministry, though we do not sense Him, we shall for he needs this doctrine increasingly ‘endure as beholding Him who is for his comfort and rest in trial. His faith invisible.’ He wants us where we can is not so strong and unwavering as he trust Him through darkness and imagined; the ardor of his love soon apparent separation, as unflinchingly as vanishes; the power of sin, which at first in light and fellowship; where we know he fancied was utterly broken, makes that His banner, Love, is always floating itself felt again, prayer becomes over us, though it is so dark that we languid, and joy seems to have taken cannot see it. flight. “There is no grace in delighting in “In other words, the Father leads the presence and favor of the Father him into the valley, and lest he should when they are resting consciously and make an idol of his faith, and a well- continuously upon us; for this rejoicing spring of a cistern, he is taught comes from sight and feelings. But something of himself. Who does not there is precious grace in that delight know of this second stage of the which is not dependent upon His Christian life, at first so painful, so favors, nor upon our enjoyment of humiliating, and filling the soul with them; but which is wholly dependent perplexity? It is thus that we learn that and has its source in the Father’s the Spirit who has renewed our spirit explicit Word, and His eternal must also sustain our new life; that we faithfulness.” -C.H.M. depend entirely on divine grace and “When circumstances seem strength, not merely to bring us to the 200 impossible, when all signs of grace in because whatever goes wrong he you seem at their lowest ebb, when stands unruffled. temptation is fiercest, when love and “To empty him, the Father puts him joy and hope seem well nigh in circumstances where his natural extinguished in your heart, then rest, ‘patience’ fails. After repeated failures without feeling and without emotion, in of his natural virtue of patience, he the Father’s faithfulness; abide in the realizes that it is not enough to meet all fact that He loves you infinitely, and trials, and carry him triumphantly even now is working in you faithfully; through them all. Then he turns to the and honor Him, and put the enemy to Father to give him His own unfailing flight by taking to yourself the words of patience.” -E.R. Job: ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust “Spiritual growth is from stage to in Him.’ ‘I have prayed for thee’ (says stage. There are great days, days of the One who ever lives to make decisive battles, days of crisis in intercession for us) ‘that thy faith fail spiritual history, days of triumph in not.’“ -D.T. Christian service, days of the right hand “Cast not away, therefore, your of the Father upon us. But there are confidence, which hath great also idle days, days of apparent recompense of reward” (Heb. 10:35) uselessness, when even prayer and 11-3. His Patience service seem a burden. Are we, in any sense, renewed in these days? Yes, for “Tribulation worketh patience” (Rom. any experience which makes us more 5:3). aware of our need of the Father must The source of our Christian life is a contribute to spiritual progress, unless Person, and the growth of that life in us we deny the Lord who bought us.” - is a gradual process-comparable to a W.G.S. grain of wheat, or a branch in the vine. “It is not a man’s thanksgiving that “A person whose ancestors for three he has been set free from suffering; it is or four generations have all been to be thanksgiving that he has been set Christians, may inherit their virtues; but free through suffering. ‘Thou hast although affecting his life for good, they enlarged me when I was in distress’ do not count before God as (Ps. 4:1).” righteousness, for they are not the fruit “For you surely know that what is of the directly imparted divine life. A genuine in your faith produces the believer may thus inherit patience, and patient mind that endures” (James 1:3, although he may be but a babe in Wms.). Christ, he is seen to be more stable than a more advanced believer, 11-4. The Way Up Is Down 201 “But what things were gain to me, Father visits us with trials in order to those I counted loss for Christ” (Phil. teach us to carry the burdens of others. 3:7). We ourselves must first go to school “Whosoever will lose his life for My before we can be teachers of others.” sake, the same shall save it” (Lk. 9:24). “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have Once we learn this great paradox of the chosen you” (John 15:16). Lord, all will be gain, our good, and His 11-5. Sonship glory. “‘Unto me, who am less than the “You really need some one to teach least of all saints, is this grace given, you over again the very rudiments of that I should preach among the the truths of God. . . Such persons are Gentiles the unsearchable riches of mere babes” (Heb. 5:12, 13, Wey.). Christ’ (Eph. 3:8). ‘Unto me, who am When it comes to spiritual growth, less than the least.’ In spiritual learning sooner or later the thought arises, we take degrees downward, not “Surely the work of the Cross produced upward, as in ordinary universities. It is more than this!” It surely did! Now you a great temptation to those who serve are on the march for the Father’s very to be arriving at something above the best as it is in Christ Jesus. common standard, but God gives out “Sonship represents growth unto His best work to ‘less than the least.’ fullness and maturity. It is quite a good His service wants depth, not height.” - thing to be a babe while babyhood C.A.C. lasts, but it is a very bad thing to be a “The test of genuine revelation is as babe when that period is past. This is to whether the one concerned is the condition of many Christians. While manifestly well crucified to a desire for sonship is inherent in birth, in the New power, position, influence. Can that one Testament sense sonship is growth to be resisted, assailed, thwarted, maturity. With this growth comes the rejected, without in some form seeking greater fullness of the Lord Jesus and to come out even or on top? An the abundant spiritual wealth unto element of personal domination or self- which we were saved. It is a matter not vindication will spoil the outreach and so much of that from which we were discredit the servant. Oh, the peril of saved, as of that unto which we were getting hold of Divine Truth in order to saved. The grand climax of the new use it!” -T.A-S. creation is ‘the revealing of the sons of “We are wounded in order that we God (Rom. 8:19).” -T.A-S. may learn from the great Physician how “It is one thing to drop off or to bind up wounds and give aid. The renounce certain things, and quite another to be engrossed with the right 202 thing. Monks renounce much, but they Faith, hope, and love are its are not occupied with the glorified Lord characteristics. All these require, not Jesus Christ. It must be not only self-occupation, but occupation with the ‘forgetting those things which are Lord Jesus Christ. If you take up the behind,’ but also reaching out unto the law to help you, it tells you just what things that are before. It is that which you must be and do, but it gives no you give yourself to, not what you have power for it. Power is in the Spirit; thus abandoned, that colors you and which grace, not law, is the way of growth. imparts character to you.” -J.B.S. That the law cannot justify is “Old things are passed away; comparatively simple; but that it hinders behold, all things are become new” (2 fruit-bearing is hard to realize. ‘Sin shall Cor 5:17). not have dominion over you, because ye are not under law, but under grace.’“ 11-6. Legally Dead -F.W.G. “Seeing that we have died to that “Those who put the believer under which once held us in bondage, the law destroy the authority of the law, or Law has now no hold over us” (Rom. put the Christian under the curse, for in 7:6a, Wey.). many things we offend all. They fancy For the believer, the dominion of they establish the law, but they destroy Law is just as devastating as the its authority. They only establish the dominion of Sin. At Calvary, death freed full, immutable authority of the law, who us from both. declare that the believer is under grace, “Theological teaching since the and therefore cannot be cursed by its Reformation has not set forth clearly just and holy curse.” -J.N.D. our utter end in death with the Lord “So that we render a service which, Jesus on the Cross. The fatal result of instead of being old and formal, is new this error is to leave the law claimant and spiritual” (Rom. 7:6b, Wey.). over those in the Lord Jesus, for ‘the 11-7. From Tears To Joy law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth’ (Rom. 7:1). Unless you are “They that sow in tears shall reap in able to believe in your very heart that joy” (Ps. 126:5). you died with Him, and that you were Our Father is never our debtor. buried, and that your history before the Whatever price He asks of us He will Father in Adam the first came to an repay with infinite and eternal utter end at Calvary you will never get compound interest. free from the claims of the law upon “There is a universal your conscience.” -W.R.N. misapprehension that godliness means “The principle of the new life is faith. immunity from suffering. It is so often 203 expected by believers that they will not “The uncrucified life has no go through suffering as other men. This reproductive power. Without is far from the truth. It is a part of the association with the Lord Jesus in His calling of saints to show men how to death, the believer must abide barren, suffer: how, even in the midst of the sterile, and unfruitful.” -F.J.H. hard and bitter experiences of life, the “Ye shall be sorrowful, but your Lord Jesus is sufficient to give joy and sorrow shall be turned into joy” (John comfort.” -H.F. 16:20). “There is no human being alive 11-8. Conditioned, Not Conditions whose existence is not the outcome of vicarious agonies. The child inherits the “We have received. . . the Spirit boons of life, love, and light from the which is of God; that we might know the suffering of the mother. And in every things that are freely given us of God” direction this strange principle operates; (1 Cor. 2:12). for it may be doubted whether there be The Spirit’s ministry is to present a a possession that we have worth Person, rather than to produce an holding-material, political, or religious- experience. which is not the result of the toil, tears, “Where man calls for conditions, and blood of sages, prophets, and God calls for the Cross. As the finished martyrs, most of whom have died in work of the Cross is applied to the life shame and apparent failure, by the Holy Spirit, thereby progressively bequeathing gifts in exchange for holding the old man in the position of blows, and benedictions for death, the believer is conditioned for imprecations.” -J.C.B. the Spirit’s fulness. It is not a “Our Father lets folks walk all over surrendered self, but a crucified self us until the grime of our carnality comes that gives the Spirit freedom in the life. out. Our suffering is cruel. Our “The sixth of Romans comes before sensibilities are outraged. But this is the twelfth. In the latter we have the just the beginning of that deep work of surrender, but it is not to get, or to the Cross which is to deal with the attain; it is because he has entered into carnality of our cherished affections, what is his; he has accepted the our spiritual comforts, our dearest wondrous fact of his death with the Lord friendships, our creeds, and our Jesus, and of the Spirit’s presence and denominations, our devotion to which ministry. A crucified man relies upon no prevents the dying of the old man that experience. To him the Lord Jesus is makes impossible whole-hearted his very life.” -S.R. devotion to the Person of the Lord “Whether it be for the initial Jesus Christ.” -J.M. 204 revelation to our hearts of divine things, there in all the sweet savor and or amid the discipline that must follow perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is ere those divine truths become a part of as we are identified with His perfections us, we shall find it necessary to turn and acceptance that we can approach again and again to this gracious for fellowship and worship.” -C.A.C. comforter of our infirmities. “It is not a question of correcting this “It is by His revelation through the or that, but of heavenly things in the Word that we behold spiritual realities; it Lord Jesus separating our hearts from is by His loving discipline that we enter things on earth. When we look from into those realities. By the former, He heaven, and work from heaven opens the gateway to progress; by the downwards, earthly things soon latter, He leads us on in the pathway of dwindle, and the praise of their growth. The former is foundation, the disappearance returns not to ourselves latter is the temple. Without His in any way, but to the Lord Jesus. Thus scriptural revelation we cannot He Himself has all the glory, whatever commence the course, but without the good thing there may be wrought in us discipline of His ministry we cannot by the Holy Spirit.” -W.J.H. complete it. Both these aspects of the “The Lord Jesus is at the Father’s Spirit’s work are equally essential, and right hand, and He is there as our Life. for both we can assuredly count upon By Him, therefore, we have access into Him.” our Father’s presence and favor. To “The spirit of truth... will lead you into understand this grace we need to have all truth” (John 16:13). very distinctly before our soul the One Man by whom it has come to us. We 11-9. Living Access never can learn the grace of our Father “In Him dwelleth all the fullness of by thinking of those to whom it comes; the Godhead” (Col. 2:9). we must think of the One by whom it Our personal fellowship with the comes.” Father is predicated upon our “The believer is placed before the realization that we are already in His Father according to the beauty of the presence, in His Son. Lord Jesus Christ, and is, according to “Most do not care to go beyond the the Father’s eye and heart, as His thought of forgiveness and a godly walk Beloved-nothing less.” -J.B.S. in the world; but it is our Father’s “And ye are complete in Him, who is pleasure and purpose to bring us as the Head” (Col. 2:10). priests into His presence. If we approach Him it is entirely apart from all 11-10. The Doctrinal Walk the imperfections of the flesh. We stand “Ye have obeyed from the heart that 205 form of doctrine which was delivered theology and morality, knowledge and you” (Rom 6:17). action are inseparably connected, being The purpose of doctrine is to related to one another as foundation to produce the personification of truth. superstructure, as center to “The sublimest truths are still circumference, as cause to effect. needed to enforce the simplest Some expound without applying, and responsibilities. As the laws which some endeavor to apply what has not mould the stars and move the gigantic been expounded, but the Apostles orbs of Saturn and Uranus in their always do both. When revealed truth is tremendous circuits, shape the divorced from Christian living it dewdrop that glistens at the end of a becomes an impotent abstraction.” - blade of grass, so should everything in W.G.S. the Christian’s life be regulated by the “Being, then, made free from sin, ye principles which lie in the Person and became the servants of righteousness” Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. To (Rom. 6:18). isolate Christian morality from Christian 11-11. Nature, Not Law theology is to rend asunder the teachings of the New Testament, as to “But now we are delivered from the its deepest and most vital elements.” - law” (Rom. 7:6a). W.G.S. The Christian life is not regulated by “The knowledge of doctrine, Moses and the Law, but lived by “the essential as it is, gives no power. One Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” Not rules, might be very well up on the doctrine of but nature. deliverance, and know absolutely “God gave His people Israel, a nothing of its practical reality. It is as nation living in the world, the law; one our hearts are under the sway of that of its purposes being to act as a curb or grace which is ministered to us through restraint, a kind of bit and bridle on their our Lord Jesus Christ, and as we are rebellious flesh. It had to be checked on knit to Him in affection, that we touch the one hand; it had to be pushed on and taste a new life, and are severed in the other, so to speak. Thus it was that heart from all that constituted the life of the law dealt with man’s flesh. But to go our old man. Thus the body of sin is back to the law now is just the denial of annulled for our hearts, and we do not Christianity. henceforth serve sin.” -C.A.C. “Some good men who in grievous “In the New Testament literature of error would impose the law as a rule of the Church, creed and conduct are life for the believer mean very well by it always related. Doctrine and practice, (for they strive to be pious); but the whole principle is false. The law, 206 instead of being a rule of life, is Master’s use, and prepared unto every necessarily a rule of death to one who good work” (2 Tim. 2:21). has a sin nature. Far from being a “It is a universal law that everything delivering power, it can only condemn possessing productive power brings such; far from being a means of forth ‘after its kind.’ This is no less true holiness, it is, in fact, and according to in sharing. ‘Religious ministry may be Paul, the ‘strength of sin’ (1 Cor. psychic, orthodox, heretical, social, 15:56).” -W.K. humanitarian, educational, political, or “In man the law and the flesh always spiritual. In each case it produces go together. The Cross was the end of results ‘after its kind.’ But are outward both in the sight of God. The flesh was ‘results’ (as such) the main objective of judged and condemned there; it was evangelism? God forbid! By those treated as a dead thing before God- initiated in the art, ‘results’ of a kind can dead and buried. And the law which be easily and cheaply produced. But deals with the flesh we are dead to. the true end of evangelism is the “We have passed out of both: we establishment of the Lord Jesus’ are not in the flesh, and are no longer sovereignty in hearts. This is the work under the law. The flesh being that in of the Holy Spirit, and it cannot be us with which the law grapples, and the measured by statistics.” -R.W. flesh being now by faith reckoned a “How much there is that is called dead thing, there is no more for the law spiritual that is but flesh! How many of to lay hold of. We pass out of its the Lord’s people are seeking to touch province into another country and the living God and fail to find Him and atmosphere-’hid with Christ in God’ to satisfy their heart-hunger for true (Col. 3:3).” fellowship with Him. Theoretically we “That we should serve in newness of believe in His presence, but we find spirit and not in the oldness of the only a mere stirring of emotions. We letter” (Rom. 7:6b). are told of the Spirit’s power, but we see results produced by showmanship, 11-12. Cross-less Church oratory, and emotionalism. We are “I determine not to know anything counseled to depend upon the Spirit, among you save Jesus Christ and Him but in practice dependence is really on crucified “ (1 Cor. 2:2). human wisdom, ability, personality and The harvest can be no better than programs. We do not get through, the sowing and cultivating. The burden behind all that is of man, to touch the over the need of others develops our living God.” -A.H. hunger of heart to be a “vessel unto “‘Ten thousand tutors! Not many honor, sanctified, and meet for the fathers!’ How true it is today! Many 207 teachers, but not many willing to suffer, “The Lord Jesus Christ, as Man, has and to bear others on their hearts, until glorified the Father on the earth. The they are borne through their babyhood Father rests in that; as Man having stage to maturity.” accomplished redemption, He ‘has “Preach the Gospel: not with words passed into the heavens, now to of wisdom, lest the Cross of Christ be appear in the presence of God for us.’ It made of none effect” (1 Cor. 1:17). is the glorified Lord Jesus who gives abiding rest to our souls, and not what 11-13. Personal Repose our thoughts about ourselves may be. “Come unto Me. . . and I will give “Faith never thinks about that which you rest” (Matt. 11:28). is in ourselves as its ground of rest; it We rest in the One upon whom the receives, loves, and apprehends what universe rests. the Father has revealed in His Word, “I find when I sit down with people and what are His thoughts about the quietly to have a talk that they begin at Lord Jesus, in whom is His rest.” - once to speak of the trials of the way. J.N.D. And after that, if I say, Suppose we “Take My yoke upon you. . . and ye change the subject and talk of the shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. things of God-then I find that they can 11:29). talk of nothing but His mercies to 11-14. Response To Revelation themselves, but it is all His temporal benefits they talk of. And they go no “You were set free from the tyranny higher than this. How few can say, The of sin” (Rom. 6:18, Wey.). Father has shown me wonderful things There is no use in forcing any lately about the Lord Jesus Christ.” - spiritual issue in our lives, nor in J.B.S. anyone else’s. When our Father has us “‘In everything ye are enriched by prepared for progress through the Him’ (1 Cor. 1:5). The favor of the knowledge of His facts, we will believe; Father is given to us in His Beloved we will reckon upon and rest in the Son, and in everything we are enriched required truth. in Him. If we are not happy it is “What is the secret of reckoning? because we have lost sight of the favor We need revelation from the Word of given us in the Lord Jesus. In our God (Matt. 16:17; Eph. 1:17, 18). We foolishness we turn to the world or look need to have our eyes opened to the into our own hearts, instead of keeping fact of our union with the Lord Jesus. our eyes upon the Lord Jesus, the risen Most of us can remember the day when and exalted Man in whom the Father we saw clearly that He died for us, and has given us His favor.” -C.A.C. we ought to be equally clear as to the 208 time when we saw that we died with There are two hearts that we learn in Him. It is not that I reckon myself to be the process of suffering: our own sinful dead, and therefore I will be dead. It is heart, and our Father’s loving heart. that, because I died-therefore I reckon “There is a Divine mystery in myself to have died. It is not reckoning suffering, a strange and supernatural toward death, but from death. power in it, which has never been “There is no need talking about fathomed by human reason. There victorious Christian living unless we are never has been known great saintliness willing to face the fact that as believers of soul which did not pass through great we are out of our element here in this suffering. When the suffering soul world. We are living in enemy territory. reaches a calm sweet carelessness, Believers may be in bondage because when it can inwardly smile at its own of deception or ignorance of the full suffering, and does not even ask the scope of their inheritance in the Lord Father to deliver it from suffering, then it Jesus, or because they have not, has wrought its blessed ministry; then according to Romans 6:11, reckoned patience has its perfect work; then the themselves dead to sin and alive unto crucifixion begins to weave itself into a God in Jesus Christ our Lord.” -F.J.H. crown.” -T.W. “Through grace ‘the old man’ was “There is no place for learning the nailed to the Cross and buried in the tender sympathy of the Lord Jesus, and tomb; through faith the old man will be the blessings of the Father’s love and kept there. Continuously reckon patience and care, as in the trials of the yourself to be totally severed from all wilderness journey. True, we must first that belongs to the old man and all that have reached by faith the Canaan to pertains to the old sphere, and faith will which we have already come in the eventuate into experience.” -R.P. Lord Jesus. Then we find that this world “The Sixth of Romans is not an is not the sphere in which the Father aspect of truth, but the foundation truth can bless us fully; but that there is no upon which every believer must stand if place where our own heart is more he is to grow and mature in the ‘not I, thoroughly learned, and the heart of the but Christ’ life.” Lord Jesus, as in the wilderness “Let us hold fast the profession of journey.” -F.G.P. our faith without wavering” (Heb. “‘Ye have forgotten the exhortation 10:23). which speaketh unto you as unto children; My son, despise not thou the 11-15. Contrasting Hearts chastening of the Lord, nor faint when “The Lord is very pitiful, and of thou art rebuked of Him’ (Heb. 12:5). I tender mercy” (James 5:11). am not to despise the child-training, like 209 a duck in the rain, indifferent to it, “For the discovery of our sinful braving as it were everything; neither condition and getting deliverance from am I to ‘faint when. . . rebuked of Him,’ the reign of sin, there is an experiential like a hen in the rain, which is a process in us. The doctrine is that we miserable object. I am neither to be died unto sin with Christ: that is miserable nor indifferent, but thoughtful Romans Six. But the resting on the and exercised.” -J.B.S. truth found there as a doctrine, is “The Father of mercies, and the God of all connected with the experience found in comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). Romans Seven; the result being in Romans Eight. 11-16. Our Weakness-His Strength “Now this experience is the painful learning that we have no strength to “He said to me, My spiritual strength make good what we would and what is is sufficient, for it is only by means of right. There is a point in the experience conscious weakness that power is which often helped, but it is not developed” (2 Cor. 12:9, Wms.). deliverance; that is, hating the evil Early in our Christian life the general which yet works in me. But after this I conception is that God is a wonderful find what I hate too strong for me, and I Helper. Later, as we experience failure, am brought to the consciousness of my we come to know full well that if being without strength-the point to anything is going to be accomplished in which the Father was leading me all and through us, He must do it all. along.” -J.N.D. “Everything you need in the “For when I am weak (in myself), Christian life, no matter what it may be, then I am strong (in Him)” (2 Cor. comes from the Father alone. You will 12:10, Wey.). see more and more the utter futility of trying to make yourself a keen 11-17. Broken Bread Christian; that your best efforts are as “Jesus took bread, and blessed it, futile as your worst failures; that your and broke it, and gave it” (Matt. 26:26). Christian life is to be a continual miracle The Lord Jesus is not going to that the Father must work every minute; ‘break’ anything in our lives that does that the only thing you have to do is to not require breaking. But that of the old depend utterly, and altogether, and all which remains unbroken, which we the time on Him. You will see that what seek to hold back from the processing you need is not more effort or of His nail-pierced hands, will determination, but more of the Father; a continually leaven and spoil our deeper, more continual trust and attempts to feed others. dependence upon Him.” -D.T. “How often we have murmured 210 under trial only to see later the Father, and accept from His hand all preparation of the Lord Jesus of our that He pleases to permit to come upon hearts that we might be His ministers of thee.” comfort in an hour of need in the life of “Come and let us return unto the another (2 Cor. 1:4). Afflictions, Lord; for He hath torn, and He will heal therefore, many times are the advance us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us token of the Father that we are being up” (Hosea 6:1). prepared for a special ministry of comfort to others. This is a principle 11-18. Height Advantage seen throughout the Word. All that “But now in Christ Jesus ye who would be used of the Father in the once were far off are made near by the hands of the Lord Jesus to meet the Blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). needs of the hungry-hearted must first To know the Lord Jesus is to love be made a blessing by Him. This Him; and to love Him is to insist on involves being broken in His hands. being with Him; to “press toward the This process is necessary because of mark for the prize of the high calling of our tendency to think more of working God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). for the Lord Jesus than becoming a “Our growth is wrought out in our channel for the outflowing of heavenly lives down here; but it is formed up bread to broken hearts on every side.” - there in fellowship with the Lord Jesus, H.R. where our affections and minds get into “Others come to us in their deep the condition to be manifested down need, and, with our hearts breaking, we here.” -J.N.D. are called upon to give out of our “Every blessing is now connected emptiness and loss what we seem to with the Lord Jesus at the right hand of need ourselves. We are asked to ‘claim the Father. ‘Hath blessed us with all victory’ for others in distress, when it spiritual blessings in heavenly places in seems that we are in greater distress Christ’ (Eph. 1:3). It is a great thing to than they. Thus it was at Calvary! He have the consciousness that we are who had loosed others from bondage bound up with Him there in heavenly was given up, as it appeared, to the full glory, and to know that we are with Him rage of the murderous enemy. He who in that sphere of ascension to had done the mighty works of God for participate in all that constitutes His life others, lay in impotence and weakness in that blessed circle of love and glory in the hands of men. Yes, this is the where He lives unto the Father. If we Cross. Life, power, blessing, apprehend this we shall not be deliverance for others-and nothing for deceived and intoxicated by what goes thyself, but to lie in the will of the on upon the earth.” -C.A.C. 211 “Most do not go beyond His agencies. It is because God knows resurrection; they do not extend to His what the reactions of such ‘free ascension. They do not know the Lord agencies’ will be under any given set of Jesus in glory. They are occupied with circumstances, that He encompasses Him in relation to their own side. He the inner circle of ‘freedom’ with His was at my side and glorified the Father outer circle of sovereignty.” -K.G. perfectly in His walk here, and in death; “The will of man is guided by what but He is now at His own side, and it is he knows and what he desires. The there I intelligently realize the vastness divine method of reaching the will is by of my life in Him, for He is my life. graciously increasing man’s knowledge “His death, resurrection and and by stimulating his desires, while on ascension translated the believer from the divine side of this method there his own side to His side, so that as He remains not the shadow of possible is so are we in this world; and failure. The end is as certain as any according as we are at full rest about eternal reality in God. On the human ourselves, we are occupied with Him side, man is conscious of doing only who has set us free for fellowship.” - what he actually does: he chooses as J.B.S. an act of his own volition to receive the “Having therefore, brethren, grace God offers in Christ Jesus. By boldness to enter into the Holiest by the persuasion and enlightenment God Blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19) realizes His purpose to the point of infinite completeness; yet no human will 11-19. Blessed Sovereignty has ever been coerced, nor will one “He (the Father) hath chosen us in ever be.” -L.S.C. Him (the Son) before the foundation of “God’s elective purposes are carried the world” (Eph. 1:4). out in such an incomprehensible way By His grace and mercy, our will through the internal and external becomes the Father’s will when we influences of infinite love and wisdom choose the Saviour. May it ever that man is at no time conscious of any continue! external compulsion, but only of “As the master musician knows choices and decisions in the exercise of exactly how the symphonic rendition his own free will. Knowledge of what will sound before its notes vibrate upon God has accomplished by His own free the air, anticipating with accuracy every will comes later by the channel of the tone, cadence, and change of tempo, Word.” -K.G. so God knows precisely what will occur “Being predestined according to the and keeps it under control, though purpose of Him who worketh all things enacted by independent moral after the counsel of His own will “ (Eph. 212 1:11). springs in the Lord Jesus.” 11-20. Heavenly Object “It is having the Lord Jesus as our Object which alone gives us the power “Now are ye light in the Lord” (Eph. of truth. When we have anything of our 5:8a). own as an object, so far we slip aside, It takes us a long time to realize that for the Lord Jesus alone is the full truth. all is darkness outside the Light of It is only in proportion as we are filled heaven and earth. with Him, and have Him to the “The moment we begin to rest our exclusion of our own evil, that we peace on anything in ourselves, we ourselves walk in the truth. Let us have lose it. And this is why so many saints our hearts fixed on any one thing or have not settled peace. How can you person save the One who is our life, have settled peace? Only by having it in and evil results.” -W.K. the Father’s way. By not resting on “Walk as children of light” (Eph. anything, even the Spirit’s work within, 5:8b). but on what the Lord Jesus has done entirely outside you. 11-21. Association-Transformation “Then you will know peace- “Looking away (from all that will conscious unworthiness, but yet peace. distract) to Jesus” (Heb. 12:2, Amp.). In the Lord Jesus alone, the Father Since we are morally colored by the finds that in which He rests; and so it is human company we keep, whether high with His saints. The more you see the or low, think of the importance of extent and nature of the evil that is continually associating with the Lord within, as well as that without and Jesus on high, and having Him as the around, the more you will find that what center of our love and interest (2 Cor. the Lord Jesus is and did, is the only 3:18). ground at all on which you can rest.” “As babes in Christ we are left for a “When the eye is turned away from season in the old surroundings, the Lord Jesus, darkness must set in. It because the time is not yet ripe for us is only as the eye is single that the body to know our high calling, and the is full of light. And what is a single eye discipline needed for the heirs of God. but having Him for our Object? It is thus The Father waits for His babes until that light divine pours in upon us, until they are weaned, and able to bear the every chamber of our moral being detaching from things necessary at first. becomes lighted up, and we become “Many chafe over the long years of light for others. In this way the believer training, they know not for what cause. is kept happily free from obscurity, The souls who are yet under ‘tutors and perplexity, and anxiety. He finds all his 213 governors’ need sorely to learn how to our faith is earthly, carnal. wait for the Father and rest in His will. “Is it the mind of the Father which Let us remember that circumstances influences my faith and controls my are planned by Him to fit us for the actions, or is it the order of things calling He has in view for each of us, in around me here? The latter is the the economy of His purpose. Let us world. Faith overcomes the world. The wait until we know His pattern for our world, in its influence on me, is the rival life lest, in our impatience, we seek to of God’s Word, and many a one who throw aside the very things permitted of knows what faith is for the safety of his Him to fit us for some special service in soul, is nevertheless not safe from the His vineyard.” world.” -J.B.S. “Multitudes of believers are sick and “It is imperative that the believer tired of trying to be good. Paul rests our knows his position in grace, because feet on the right path to goodness. He grace is the source of all spiritual had learned from experience that supply. ‘A man can take unto himself goodness is not caught by pursuit but nothing except it be given him from by association; not by struggling to heaven’ (John 3:27). Everything from obey laws and rules, but by living in the beginning to end of the Christian life Lord Jesus’ presence. By steadily depends upon a proper faith- looking at Him, we are changed into His apprehension of that which the Father likeness.” has bestowed upon him with and in His “Our Father will not deliver us from own Son in glory.” -J.C.M. bondage unless we want Him to; “Most growing believers rightly therefore He must permit pressure to maintain that all must come from the come upon us in one way or another, risen Lord; but instead of taking their so as to bring us to the point of asking actual position of being dwellers in Him to do for us what He has been heaven, and coming from there to ready and able to do all the time.” earth, they only look up to heaven for “All things are yours. . . and ye are help as to their walk on earth; and their Christ’s and Christ is God’s” (1 Cor. faith and labors are always influenced 3:21, 23). and dictated by the condition and order of things on earth; and instead of 11-22. Heaven-fostered Faith seeking the mind of the Lord as learned “Faith cometh by hearing, and in heaven, they are occupied with the hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. blessing of man on earth.” -J.B.S. 10:17). “Very little abiding growth and fruit Walking in the Spirit, our faith is can be known by the believer until he heavenly, spiritual; walking in the flesh, 214 accepts the fact of identification (Rom. sends its roots down into the rich soil of 6:6), and to it responds by an attitude of our Father’s great eternal Facts.” -R.P. faith (Rom. 6:11), thus yielding himself “May you retire into the secret of to the Holy Spirit for the life of the Lord your heart and wait on the Father, and Jesus to be manifested in and through think that His heart is so relieved of him (Rom. 6:13).” -G.W. everything about you, that He sees you “For we walk by faith, not by sight” according to the Son at His right hand. (2 Cor. 5:7). Amidst all the confusion and contrariety of this scene I know how my Father 11-23. Triumphant Trials feels about me.” -J.B.S. “Humble yourselves. . . under the “If I am abiding in my risen Lord, it mighty hand of God, that He may exalt will show itself. I shall not be afraid of you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6). changes around me. I shall live not in Face it! Trials and suffering are the apathy and listlessness, but in the heart of growth. exercise of lively affections and “It is the Cross of the Lord Jesus energies toward my Lord. Another great that makes what is naturally bitter evidence of my abiding in Him, is sweet to us. It is the ‘fellowship of His quietness. I have my portion in Him sufferings’; and the knowledge of above, and I walk on.” -J.N.D. suffering with Him, what can it not “Casting all your care upon Him; for sweeten? We are sharing His He careth for you” (1 Pet 5:7). experience who gives us therein to realize that wonderful path in which 11-24. Progress Via Process divine love led Him for our sakes. We “As the hart panteth after the water have the reality of His sympathy with brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, us. We have fellowship with Himself in O God” (Ps. 42:1). such a way as we could not else enjoy, The believer in the midst of for nothing brings hearts together like processing, is progressing. sharing a common lot of toil and “If spiritual thirst is the language of sorrow.” -F.W.G. your heart, there is great blessing in “Faith is rooted in the Father’s great store for you. When believers are being Facts. Affliction, adversities, sufferings, turned upside-down and inside-out they sorrows, temptations, trials, doubts, are apt to be much discouraged, and to disappointments roll in upon us. How have their souls ‘disquieted’ within can we go on in peace and patience them. But even amid the exercise the with such things in our life? Are they not Father would give us the enough to overwhelm us? No, not if encouragement of knowing that He has faith spreads itself out over them and 215 taken us up to bring us into There is human, soulish power and inconceivable blessing. persuasion that can produce “We must travel through these “decisions,” and “commitments”; but processings, for the simple reason that only the Holy Spirit has the life and if the Lord Jesus is to be everything, the power to bring a lost sinner to healthy old man must be nothing, and it is often re-birth in the Saviour. times a long journey to reach this point “That which is produced by the in the history of the soul. Hence the preaching of the Gospel in man’s long, dreary, and painful years of ‘self- strength is unsound. Men may be occupation’ through which most saved through hearing the Word of God believers drag their slow steps of that it contains but, unless they get spiritual progress.” -C.A.C. purer light later, their dependence for “The old man may not always life and service will be primarily upon appear deceitful and hateful; on the human strength, and not upon ‘the contrary, it may be cultured, refined, power and demonstration of the Spirit.’ and religious. Whatever its behaviour, it Paul (in spite of the Corinthians’ is still changeless flesh, unimprovable, demand for it) refused to permit any incorrigible, and incurable. There human wisdom to enter into his ministry remains, then, no remedy but that for that reason-because he wanted which the Father has provided- purely spiritual fruit: converts who have condemnation, crucifixion, death with seen the power of the Spirit and expect the Lord Jesus.” -G.M. to know it in their lives and service. He “He remaineth; and He leads us into rejected the popular reasoning: ‘It is experiences of desolation here in order legitimate to use any means that will that we may not only see how little we bring souls to Christ.’ He very definitely know Him as the source of all joy, but in considered it was not legitimate to do order that we may turn to Him and find so.” -A.H. not only relief, but full resources in “When Joseph of Arimathea put a Himself. It is only in solitude that we grave into his garden in which He who come to realize this.” -J.B.S. went to the Cross was to be buried, he Right down to Romans 7:24 - “Oh, very soon had a resurrection there. wretched man that I am! Who shall When the old man is buried in the grave deliver me from the body of this death?” of our hearts, we will also share the resurrection life and fruitful activity of 11-25. Verdant Vineyard our risen Lord.” -J.E.C. “My speech and my preaching were “You may be fruitful wherever you not with enticing words of man’s are. All of us can be fruitful. Do not wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:4). grieve the Spirit, and the first thing He 216 will do will be to fill your heart with love, had offended against God has been joy, and peace; and when the inner judicially removed to His infinite condition is right, then the outer satisfaction, and that He who saved us condition will be right. ‘Herein is My from death is now our Life-there would Father glorified’-that ‘ye are the means be a wonderful testimony to the grace of converting souls’? No; but that ‘ye of God.” bear much fruit.’ Leave the birth of the “The Reformers failed because they souls to the Father, and if you are did not see that as faith alone could fruitful He will do it through you.” -A.M. save, and place man outside himself in “That your faith should not stand in the Lord Jesus, he must not return to the wisdom of men, but in the power of that which through grace has been God” (1 Cor. 2:5). crucified. In not seeing this, the Reformers left the door open for the 11-26. No Recycling! system and ritualism which have grown “If any man be in Christ, he is a new up since in the church; and hence the creation; old things are passed away; simple and only effectual way of dealing behold, all things are become new” (2 with either is, at the start, to refuse any Cor. 5:17). place to the old man except crucifixion.” The old life is neither to be recycled -J.B.S. nor reformed. We are all-new creations “The Lord Jesus is the answer, but in the all-new Man, Christ Jesus. the Cross is needed to clear the way for “The illustration of a man drafted for Him.” the army, and finding a substitute to “For the law of the Spirit of life in stand in his stead is not the Gospel. Christ Jesus hath made me free from The Gospel is that you were under the the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). judgment of death, and that the Lord Jesus has borne that judgment. It is not 11-27. Personalization that you should keep the man who was “He that glorieth, let him glory in the under judgment, but that you should be Lord” (1 Cor. 1:31). completely severed from him in your There should be a progression in death on the Cross.” -J.B.S. one’s faith from objective facts about “We could not be saved by Him, and the Lord Jesus to personal fellowship keep the life on account of which He with Him. died. Here there is great confusion “It is sad to see the Lord’s people, among believers. If there were true even many who pass for spiritual, who apprehension of the work of the Lord have very little concern about the Lord Jesus on the Cross-that He so bore the Jesus Himself. They can talk much judgment on man that all the man who 217 about His work, but show very clearly 11-28. Travail that the Person of the Lord Jesus has “Feed the flock of God which is never really won their hearts. They among you. . . being examples to the could not truly say, ‘Yes, He is flock” (1 Pet. 5:2, 3). altogether lovely.’ They are interested It is one thing to teach, but quite in His work because that is for them- another to cultivate, nurture, and bring there is the selfish element in it. But to to maturity. “There are ten thousand find in the Lord Jesus Christ what the tutors,” but “not many fathers.” Not Father saw in Him when He said, ‘This many who are willing to know the is My Beloved Son in whom is all my conformity to death which brings the delight,’ this place in the purposes of travail for souls, in fellowship with Him the Father all too few seem to have who travailed on the Cross for us. found.” “We must not expect to win healthy “It is a proof of immense favor from souls or lead them on into spiritual the Father if in our heart’s estimation maturity without long travail. If it the Lord Jesus is ‘fairer than the becomes Him for whom are all things children of men.’ It is easy to sing and by whom are all things, in bringing hymns, and to use the most precious many sons to glory, to make the expressions in Scripture in a Captain of their salvation perfect sentimental way, but it is another thing through sufferings, who are we that we for our hearts really to find rest and should expect easily to bring many satisfaction in the moral perfections of sons to glory? ‘My little children, of the Lord Jesus.” -C.A.C. whom I travail in birth again until Christ “The Lord Jesus Christ is the only be formed in you,’ that is what we must object for faith, the only One that expect. And when this travail comes we satisfies us, as indeed He is the must go through with it, not try to Father’s object; and if we have got but escape it.” -C.A.C. one mind with the Father about Him, “Probably friendship is second only our fellowship is with the Father and to prayer in its importance in soul- with His Son Jesus Christ.” -W.K. winning. With sincerity to offer one’s “If you are walking in the Spirit, the friendship to another is an almost Lord Jesus is the Object before you; certain way to gain an opportunity to when you are walking in the flesh, speak an effective word for the Lord. yourself is your object.” -W.K. But can one introduce two people to “Truly our fellowship is with the each other if one is a friend of only Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ” one? How can we introduce someone (1 John 1:3). to the Lord Jesus if we know only Him,

218 but not the poor lost sinner? faithful people who are feeling that they “The life with the most favorable are under the plow; furrows are being beginning will come to maturity the cut deep into their souls; they are being soonest. Let us aim at well-born souls. turned up and turned over, laid bare, Let us seek to do more careful sowing, exposed, broken, harrowed. The Father so as to send babes in Christ into the says, even to faithful people, ‘This is world handicapped as little as possible necessary, we are looking ahead to a at the beginning. Moreover, let us harvest, to real values; this is an remember that our own level oft-times essential aspect of the work. But. . . determines the level of those we lead to take comfort-this is not going on the Saviour.” forever.’“ “Nourished up in the words of faith “No matter what we may encounter and of good doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:6). in this life, we who belong to the Lord Jesus have this definite knowledge-our 11-29. Harvest Conditions Father will use it all in love as an “The God of all grace, who hath instrument in the carrying out of the called us unto His eternal glory by glorious purpose to which He has Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered destined us. If that purpose is to be awhile, make you mature, establish, wrought by delivering us from a trial, He strengthen, settle you” (1 Pet. 5:10). will do so. But if it is to be accomplished The type of plow employed has by means of the trial, He, in His perfect much to do with the resultant harvest. love, will not free us from it but The primitive stick-plow places quite a strengthen us to go through it and be limitation upon what will be harvested-if victorious over it.” -A.M. anything. But if the Husbandman’s plow “Humble yourselves, therefore, is cutting deep into our lives, we can under the mighty hand of God, that He expect a rich harvest. As Samuel may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6). Rutherford said, “Why should I start at 11-30. Light Living the plow of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul? He purposeth a “Ye were once darkness, but now crop!” are ye light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8). “‘Doth he that ploweth to sow plow It takes a long time for us to realize continually? Doth he continually open that we have been in the light above and harrow his ground?’ (Isa. 28:24). since we first saw the Light below. No, of course not! It is a job that has got “Let the realization of the soul be to be done-the breaking up, the turning compared to the condition of men over, the exposing to the elements, the groping about in the dense, dark fog; harrowing. The Lord is speaking to His still we know that it is clear daylight 219 above the fog, and all we want is to get responsibilities below.” high enough. Now, the fact is, we are “Giving thanks unto the Father, who risen with Him. Then may we set our hath made us fit to be partakers of the affection on the things above where the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. Lord Jesus sits at the right hand of the 1:12). Father; and though the secret power is unseen, faith in Him will lift our spirit 11-31. Personal Preparation into the clear light where He is.” - “I count all things but loss for the H.F.W. excellency of the knowledge of Christ “The first question is, where the Jesus, my Lord” (Phil. 3:8). believer walks; the next, how he walks. Truth is acquired in fellowship with Is he in the golden palace, the Holiest His Word; truth is shared in fellowship of All, where the full blaze of the divine with His heart. light shines, or is he still outside the “It is feared that when we speak of palace and walking in the darkness of being here for Christ it is often the the world? The believer’s walk may thought of our service or conduct that is often be faulty as he grows, but he is in prominent, and therefore it is well to be the light.” -H.F.W. reminded that there is something over “Here it is that the child of God is to which the Lord Jesus is more walk: ‘If we walk in the light as He is in concerned than He is over our conduct the light.’ How he walks is a question to or our service. It is that ‘garden closed,’ be settled after it is determined where that ‘spring shut up,’ that ‘fountain he walks. And walking in the light, sealed,’ from which all others but fellowship follows, not as an attainment, Himself are excluded-the hidden spring but as a consequence.” of those affections which alone satisfy “We are never called outside the His heart, or render conduct and camp till we are inside the veil. We service acceptable to Him.” -C.A.C. have title to our home in the Father’s “All our trials in service only serve to presence; we are to come forth from lead us to know the Father, as we could that abiding place and let the world not know Him otherwise, as ‘the Father know that we are strangers to it.” - of mercies, and the God of all J.G.B. consolation’ (2 Cor. 1:3). It is in this “As a Christian I am now in Him school that we acquire the ability to before the Father, as He is in me before comfort others; so that our personal men; and the Holy Spirit has been affliction or personal comfort work unto given as enablement to enjoy the the same end, even the profit of others- privileges above and to make good the for we are their servants for Jesus’ sake.” -J.L.H. 220 “A preparedness is necessary for Jesus and His rest in glory! the Christian soldier who hears his Whereas you had cried Lord’s words. We have to learn that from your heart, “Oh that I human energy cannot cross rivers of had wings like a dove! for death, or break down walls of this then would fly away, and world’s strongholds; and if we be be at rest,” you now find aroused to follow the Lord, it must be in your rest is near at hand, His own way. Impulse is not faith. nearer than breathing, Going forward in the mere strength of closer than hands and feet. humanity-acquired knowledge of God’s truth-is not being led of the Spirit. The You find your all in the Lord Father would not have His people act in Jesus Christ, and there you the excitement of freshly-gained are. The boat of your life knowledge, and well would it often be, if which, with all your toiling instead of pushing on in the impulse of and rowing, had been newly-acquired truth, there were first a brought no nearer its tarrying, as it were, three days, to haven of rest, has digest it, to make it, by the power of immediately arrived at the God’s Spirit, thoroughly part of the new land. In His glorious man.” -H.F.W. presence with its fulness of joy there is no absence, no “Seek those things which are above, where distance, no departure, no Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. separation.” -L.E.M. 3:1). “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because, when ye Number 12 received the Word of God which ye We trust that, by the Father’s grace, heard of us, ye received it, not as the and the Spirit’s ministry, the None But word of men but as it is in truth, the the Hungry Heart devotionals have Word of God, which effectually worketh enabled you to rest in the Son. Number also in you that believe” (1 Thess. 12 completes the first series, and is 2:13). being followed by the None But the Miles J. Stanford; November 1987 Hungry Heart-Advanced. What a wonderful day of 12-1. From First To Last Adam emancipation when you “For it is a good thing that the heart come to the end of your be established with grace” (Heb. 13:9). own deadly doings and find Thorough and intelligent yourself shut up to the Lord establishment in the principle of grace 221 concerning one’s justification (re-birth) Jesus. God be praised that the Holy is the necessary footing for reliance Spirit ever dwells in us to keep the old upon the same principle for one’s man in the place of crucifixion and sanctification (growth). Unless the condemnation, and to give us former is well settled, the latter will be progressive liberty from all the old.” - badly unsettled. A.M. “When the Lord Jesus has once died “As we have borne the image of the and risen, He is through with sin earthy, we shall also bear the image of forever. He is now living in the eternal the heavenly” (1 Cor. 15:49). light of His Father’s face. He is our 12-2. All-essential Spirit Adam, our life. We died in Him. We were raised in Him. Through our death “Ye are not in the flesh but in the with Him at Calvary we have escaped Spirit” (Rom. 8:9). forever from the old Adam life. Our It requires more faith concerning the feelings have nothing to do with it. It Spirit than concerning the Son. was all accomplished at the Cross. “The believer, having received ‘the “We dare not deny God’s Word. He Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,’ comes says we died with Christ. We can cry under the influence of the ‘law’ of that triumphantly, when we know: ‘I died Spirit (Rom. 8:2). The operating unto sin with the Lord Jesus on the principle of ‘the Spirit of life in Christ Cross, two thousand years ago! I Jesus’ ever works in the direction of reckon myself what the Father says I profound self-judgment, and of the am in His Son-dead unto sin and alive consciousness that we have in the Lord unto God. Sin has no claim on me in Jesus not only righteousness, but a the Lord Jesus, and cannot have divine Source of satisfaction and dominion over me, as I yield myself to strength. my Father in this wonderful new “This ‘law’ operates not to give a revelation of yielding myself to God, as sense of claim (law), but of divine gift one who is alive from the dead’ (Rom. (grace) and resource and support. And 6:13). Thus will we begin to find how thus it makes the one in whom it true and how tremendous is the operates free from ‘the law of sin and deliverance that is in the Lord Jesus for death.’ It gives the consciousness that us. And thus alone will we really honor divine goodness is an unfailing the grace of God.” -W.R.N. resource for our hearts, and that all the “There is no way to a full abiding treasures of that goodness are stored fellowship with our Father, but through up in Christ Jesus, that we may learn the rent veil of the flesh; through a life them there, and find the life of our with the old man crucified in the Lord spirits in the growing knowledge of 222 Him.” -C.A.C. “There are some Christians who “‘The law of the Spirit of life in Christ seem to be afraid of enjoying all the Jesus’ made me ‘free from the law of rays of the Son of Righteousness. They sin and death’-not ‘the life,’ but ‘the are afraid of being too happy. Perhaps Spirit of life,’-not our effort, but divine some of us have not really considered strength; not self-occupation, but that ‘joy’ is itself a part of that fruit by occupation with Him in whom we are which the Father is glorified. There is before the Father, and in whom the nothing to be gained by despondency. divine favor rests upon us full and Doubts are not marks of humility; constant, because on Him it rests.” - unbelief is really evidence of pride. And F.W.G. there is no cloud that so effectively “‘The law of the Spirit of life in Christ shuts out the glad sunshine of our Jesus hath made me free from the law gracious Father’s face as the thick of sin and death’ (Rom. 8:2). There is cloud of unbelief.” -E.H. the substitution of the power of the “Although as to His circumstances Spirit for the power of a right will and the Lord Jesus was the Man of Sorrows human effort, the substitution therefore and acquainted with grief, yet He had a of occupation with the glorified Lord joy always before His eyes. But we Jesus Christ for occupation with never find Him rejoicing in anything but spiritual growth; for then and thus alone the will of His Father. ‘I delight to do is growth obtained.” -F.W.G. Thy will’ was His true testimony. So “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not may we ‘rejoice in the Lord’ though all fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). is dark around, with the joy of faith that sees the unseen and looks beyond the 12-3. The Joy Of Faith present and temporal to the eternal.” - “Whom having not seen, ye love; in G.G. whom, though now ye see Him not, yet “The Old Testament believer had joy believing, ye rejoice with joy for God’s gifts to him. God’s power unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. made things here contribute to him. But 1:8). the Christian’s joy is in heaven and Although both faith and joy are springs from what the Father is to him included in ‘the fruit of the Spirit,’ joy there. He demands nothing from this can only flourish upon the foundation of world, but in the life of the Lord Jesus faith. When faith is present and active, he contributes to it, of the grace that favorable circumstances are not nourishes and comforts him outside it.” necessary for joy; trials and tribulations -J.B.S. cannot daunt it. “Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O 223 Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In harbor feelings of resentment even thy Name shall they rejoice all the day” against the Father Himself; and what (Ps. 89:15, 16). inner turmoil results from such an attitude. Until we deliberately enter the 12-4. Quiet! stillness of the acceptance of His will, “The work of righteousness shall be we live in chaos. Once we lay aside our peace; and the effect of righteousness, rebellion in the tomb, and place our quietness and assurance forever” (Isa. confidence in our Father, and in His 32:17). love for us in the Son, we are obeying The triune God is in His element the command, ‘Be still,’ and we gain an within a quiet, resting assured spirit. understanding of the God of “Just as a sinner is taught to rest in deliverance we could gain in no other the Lord Jesus’ shed Blood for his way. Then we shall be in position to forgiveness, so must the saint rest in help others.” the Lord Jesus for his deliverance from “Their strength is to sit still” (Isa. the power of sin and the grip of the law- 30:7). yes, and from himself, also. Therefore 12-5. Pioneering we should not be in bondage to sin, ‘for he that hath died (and that is everyone “An instrument for honorable uses, who is in the Lord Jesus) is justified (or consecrated, useful for the Master, and released) from (the power of) sin’ (Rom. ready for any good service” (2 Tim. 6:7); and we are now under grace, 2:21, Wms.). which does not demand righteousness To be a leaderone mustbe a of us, for the Lord Jesus was made dependent one, a led one; one who is unto us righteousness and “looking away (from all that would sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. distract) to Jesus, who is the Leader 1:30). and the Source of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). “The believer truly walking in the “One of the greatest needs in the liberty wherewith Christ hath set him Church today is for authoritative, free (Gal. 5:1), has Him ever before his spiritual, and sacrificial leadership. eye of faith; delighting that because of Authoritative, because people love to Him he is in the Father’s favor. He be led by one who knows where he is evermore learns to abhor himself as he going and who inspires their sees the sinfulness of the old man confidence. Spiritual, because a within, only to delight himself the more leadership which is carnal and in the Lord Jesus who is his life.” - explainable in terms of the natural, be it W.R.N. ever so competent, can result in sterility “It is only too possible for us to and spiritual bankruptcy. Sacrificial, 224 because its source is the life of One order to cut us off from every other who gave Himself a sacrifice, and supply, and teach us to draw from His stated that the path of leadership was ever-flowing water of life. by the lonely road of sacrificial service.” “The Father passes us through all -O.S. the seasons here; and the winter, the “The standard and measure of most trying one, is the most helpful, if spiritual leaders has to be ahead of we are really cast on Him in it. Then the others, and as human nature generally real measure of our dependence on likes not to be disturbed, but would Him is ascertained, and also the extent seek the easy way, the pioneer is often of our resources in Him; and we make a bit too much for people. His is not the acquisitions in Him which we never easy way, and because the whole make at any other time. All our growth nature of man is either downward or to and fruit depend on our winters, or a quiet and happy snugness, the leader rather on how we pass through them. is not always popular. The pioneer is “The more we can rest in Him the therefore not always appreciated, but more we are independent of everything often very much otherwise. He is quite outside of Him at such a time, the more contrary to this mediocre gravitation. A vigor we really possess; and the better part of the price of leadership is we get over the winter, be it ever so loneliness.” -T.A-S. severe. If I am independent of the “Paul could say, ‘I am glad to spend winter, it is evident that I have mastered and to be spent for your sakes, it, and not it me; and if I have done so, notwithstanding the more earnestly I through the strength of the Lord Jesus, love you the less I be loved’; not, I will I am relieved though in no human way. help you as long as you love me. Peter is delivered from prison in a People hurt you; you are not superhuman way; but first he, though appreciated? Well, so be it! Spend and enduring a very trying winter, could lay be spent the more!” him down and sleep-take his rest, The servant of the Lord must not because the Lord sustained him.” - strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to J.B.S. teach, patient” (2 Tim. 2:24) “It is a wonderful thing to be so satisfied with the Lord Jesus’ company, 12-6. Sustained that we can be tranquil about “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and everything. I remember when I used to He shall sustain thee” (Ps. 55:22). think that I should be happy beyond Our Father’s living waters flow both conception if I were able to say, ‘I will in summer and winter (Zech. 14:8). He fear no evil; my heart is fixed, trusting in provides the barrenness of winter in the Lord.’ In order to reach this, you 225 must find Him enough, without anything entrance into the Holiest is the end; it is else. You can never prove the worth of only the beginning. It brings us into the anyone, until you are absolutely right position, in which the Father in His dependent upon him.” -J.B.S. divine power can work out His will and “I laid down and slept; I awaked; for purpose in us-conforming us to the the Lord sustained me” (Ps. 3:5). image of His Son.” -A.M. “The Lord Jesus stood where I was, 12-7. Safely In and now I stand where He is, and that “You are made partakers of His is the only place I have before my resurrection, through the faith wrought Father. We may fail and grieve the Holy in you by God, who raised Him from the Spirit, but that is where we are set.” - dead” (Col 2:12, Cony.). J.N.D. All true believers are gratefully “If there be progress upward there aware that they are not going to hell, must be progress in life and ways down but few realize that they are already in here; you cannot see the need for a heaven. change in your ways here until you are “There is no question about there transformed by the influence of being a beautiful new position for the nearness to Him there. You thus believer, but people limit it to its being gradually find things here are not theirs when they die. Scripture shows suitable for the order and nature of the that it is ours now! People say, ‘You get things which are so attractive to the to heaven when you die.’ No such renewed heart up there.” -J.B.S. thing. You have it now. It is not your “Your life is hidden with Christ in death that entitles you to it, but the Lord God” (Col. 3:3). Jesus’ death. There is not a single shade that was between us and the 12-8. Avoid Ambush Father, but the Lord Jesus has “I find therefore the law of my nature removed in His death.” -J.B.S. to be that when I desire to do what is “The great work of the Lord Jesus right, evil is lying in ambush for me” was wrought on the Cross to bring us to (Rom. 7.21, Wey.). the Father; His death and His Blood, Struggle in yourself, and be trapped; His ascension and sitting on the rest in Him, and be free! Throne; all mean one thing-our being “Many Christians keep themselves brought nigh to dwell in the Father’s in a perpetual foment through hoping presence. And with what object? That they will get into a situation where they the Father may have us, to mature us, can enjoy a better (and easier) to work in us that which is well-pleasing Christian life. They feel enclosed in a in His sight. Let no one think that the 226 net of circumstances from which they “For to me to live is Christ “ (Phil cannot escape. They are so wearied 1:21). and baffled and beaten by the 12-9. Reliant Rest continous pressure about them that they wish and itch for things to be “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently different, quite sure that if they were for Him” (Ps. 37:7). only different Christ would be more real. Those who rest in Him are often It has not dawned upon them that at the accused of passivity. But the Lord heart of these very circumstances they Jesus, who is our life, never was, nor are to find the Lord Jesus, find His ever is, passive. grace sufficient, find the life more “Do you suppose that the Father abundant.” -L.E.M. ever doubts the victory that has been “You might be secretly attempting to won by His beloved Son? Do you correct and improve yourself, and believe that He has a single cloud as to suffering a good deal of private the result? And faith looks at things as vexation and disappointment on the Father looks at them. That is the account of the futility of your struggles. secret of all strength and courage. It was at a moment when I was utterly “Why has the Father given us His discouraged, and ready to give up the revealed Word? That we may think the whole thing in complete despair, that same thoughts, have the same feelings, the Father showed me how I was in our measure, as Himself. There is attempting to work upon the old not a thought or feeling that arises from material which He could only condemn, the old man that is not false. But we and had, and that my disgust and have new life capable of receiving and despair as to myself were only a feeble delighting in the very thoughts of our echo of His. Father.” -J.C.B. “My Father was not looking for any “How am I to know what is the good in me, and had the Lord Jesus Father’s mind towards me? Is it by Christ before Him, the perfect and judging of it from what I find in myself? infinitely acceptable Object of His heart. Surely not! Supposing that I even found And I, in my nothingness, had ceased good in myself, if I expected the Father to look for good in myself, and began to look at me on that account, would it tasting the deep joy of being in Christ, be grace? There may be a measure of and free to have Him as my Object; truth in this kind of reasoning; for, if while as to life, I entered in some there be life in my soul, fruit will be degree into the blessedness of knowing apparent; but this is not to give me that it was ‘not I, but Christ liveth in peace any more than the evil that is in me.’“ -C.A.C. me is to hinder my having peace.” - 227 J.N.D. “Very often new believers who have “The Lord Jesus ‘has passed into not even peace with God are the heavens, now to appear in the encouraged to take up service, and presence of the Father for us.’ It is the they become so occupied with what Lord Jesus who gives abiding rest to they are doing that they are not at our souls, and not what our thoughts leisure to learn or to take their place in about ourselves may be. Faith never the favor of the Father. Hence, so long thinks about that which is in ourselves as the service prospers, and they get as its ground of rest; it receives, loves, on pretty well with it, they are happy. and apprehends what the Father has The service is their life! But when there revealed, and what are His thoughts is no success, and the whole thing about the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is seems to be a failure, their joy His rest.” -J.N.D. collapses. They have to discover how “Let us labor, therefore, to enter into little they have really got, and in many that rest” (Heb. 4:11). cases to find that they are perfect strangers to the liberty and joy of 12-10. Spiritual Prosperity acceptance.” -C.A.C. “That you may be filled with a clear “There must be a profound and knowledge of His will accompanied by genuine experience of Divine things; a thorough wisdom and discernment in cultivation of the highest possibilities of spiritual things” (Col. 1:9, Wey.). godliness if the witness is to be really Service does not come first; neither effective and fruitful. There must be a does life! The proper sequence for the man behind the message-a saint believer is death to the old, from which behind the service. There must be the emerges newness of life and fruitful nameless effectiveness that comes service. from true fellowship with the Father.” - “It is a sad thing when service A.T.P. interferes with soul-prosperity. It is “So that your lives may be worthy of possible to be so engrossed with the Lord and perfectly pleasing to Him service that one’s meditations are while you manifest the results of right colored by it, one’s prayers are full of it, action of every sort and grow into a and the Word of God becomes simply a fuller knowledge of God” (Col 1:10, quarry out of which material for Wey.). sermons can be dug up. This is a 12-11. High-born serious loss to the soul and many are thereby hindered from making spiritual “Let us draw near with a true heart in progress. full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22). The darkness of this place will in 228 time turn us to the light of His face-”the acceptance with the Father according light of the knowledge of the glory of to all His moral greatness, is new to us God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. and magnificent. And according as we 4:6). know Him there we become not only “When the believer has a real superior to, but distanced from, our own understanding that he belongs to that state with which we are associated.” - new place in glory, the Holy Spirit J.B.S. delights his heart with the things of that “For. . . your life is hidden with Christ place. ‘Set your affection on things in God” (Col. 3:3). above.’ I used to pity those who are 12-12. Law-Grace-Kingdom alone in the world. I pity no one now who has a room where he can find “Study to show thyself approved himself isolated from everyone, to be unto God, a workman that needeth not with the Lord Jesus where He is; where to be ashamed” (2 Tim. 2:15a). he can have his feathers oiled, to come “There is an entirely baseless out and face all the roughness here.” - sentiment abroad which assumes that J.B.S. every teaching of the Lord Jesus must “May the Lord lead us into the be binding upon the believer during this shelter of His holy presence, that we age simply because He said it. The fact may daily grow in the elevation to which is forgotton that He, while living under, He has raised us, and consequently keeping, and applying the Law of into moral distance from the old man Moses, also taught the principles of His which is so entirely estranged from the future earthly kingdom, and, at the end light and perfection of the Father’s of His ministry and in relation to His presence.” Cross, He also anticipated the “If I am risen with the Lord Jesus, I teachings of grace. If this threefold must occupy myself with Him where He division of His teachings is not is, or I shall fall back to the things out of recognized and maintained, there can which He has risen; and the very fact be nothing but confusion of mind and that I am in the scene where He is not consequent contradiction of truth.” - makes it the more necessary that I L.S.C. should be fellowshipping with Him “Because the thing is in the Bible where He is.” does not warrant the conclusion that it “We are conversant with man in is God’s will for the Christian. We must death and sin and distance from the seek rightly to divide the Word of truth. Father, for that is our state by nature; What was formerly right for the Jews is but to know the Man in glory, One in for us nothing but the elements of the world. These forms pointed to a reality 229 that is now come; the Body is of Christ. in hand, I was an unweaned child, not a The blessed position of a Christian is, grown man. It was my combats with sin that he has died even to the best things and with Satan that made me a true of the world, religious and otherwise, minister of the New Testament. It is and he is alive to the highest things in always a great grace to me, and to my the presence of the Father; for the Lord people,forme tobe abletosayto Jesus Christ is his life, in whom he is them: “I know this text is true! I know it hidden (Col. 3:3).” -W.K. for certain to be true!” Without “The Gospels are complex almost incessant combat, and pain, and sweat, beyond any other portion of Scripture, and blood, no ignorant stripling of a since they are a composite of the student ever yet became an effective teachings of the law, of grace, and of preacher.’“ the coming kingdom.” -L.S.C. “Every bit of truth we receive, if we “We realize our privileges and receive it in faith, will take us into possessions in the Lord Jesus by faith; conflict and will be established through we enjoy them by the Spirit.” conflict. It will be worthless until there “Rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 has been this process. Take any Tim. 2:15b) position the Lord calls you to take, and, if you are taking it with Him, you are 12-13. Combat Soldiers going through things in it, and there will “Thou, therefore, endure hardness, be an element added by reason of the as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 pressure. You have taken a position, Tim. 2:3). yes; but you have not really received as What if there were conscientious yet, the true value of it has not yet been objectors in the Lord’s army? Actually, established. You have not come into our Lord does not have any the real significance of the truth until noncombatant soldiers whatsoever in there has been some sore conflict in His service, since the battle line relation to it.” -T.A-S. extends from the front all the way to the “I bear willing witness that I owe rear; to say nothing of the fact that we more to the fire, and the hammer, and are all camped in enemy territory. the file, than to anything else in my “Luther, speaking to the young Lord’s workshop. When my schoolroom preachers of his day, said: ‘I did not is darkened, I see most.” -C.H.S. learn to preach Christ all at once. The “We also exult in our sufferings, devil has been my best professor of knowing as we do, that suffering exegetical and experiential theology. produces fortitude; fortitude, ripeness of Before that great schoolmaster took me character” (Rom. 5:3, Wey.).

230 12-14. Faith’s Fortitude the pressure from off you until you are “Therefore will the Lord wait, that He asleep in it, until you are able to take it may be gracious unto you” (Isa. 30:18). quietly. You learn His grace first, and then His mercy.” Waiting upon the Father is not a matter of longsuffering, but of expectant “Faith possesses all things, and faith-quiet, restful, confident hope stretches on to the fulness of the dependence upon One who is fully possession, yet in no restless mood, for trusted. Often the God of circumstances patience sits by the side of hope in the must teach this waiting by placing us in believer’s soul, and teaches him to wait situations that offer no other alternative. for the glory of his Father. ‘If we hope for that we see not, then do we with “When the testing comes, does our patience wait for it.’ (Rom. 8:25).” - faith prove true? Does our confidence H.F.W. in the Father become shaken and our hope prove uncertain? When the clouds “I waited patiently for the Lord, and have gathered and the thunder rolls He inclined unto me” (Ps. 40:11) and the lightning stabs the darkness 12-15. Personal Attention and the roar of the storm is in our ears, “Blessed be the God and Father of can we keep our eyes and thoughts off our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:3a). the tempest and continue in the quiet and peace of the Father’s presence? One’s growth is gauged by one’s gaze. “When the enemy of right and wrong has thrown down the gauntlet and is “The first impression on my heart trampling ruthlessly upon that which when converted was, ‘Enoch walked affects the honor of our Lord, and when with God.’ That was my start. Now then, he seems about to bring ruin upon that I said, I will walk with God. Beautiful as which our Father has purposed, can we far as it went; but I very soon found, as refrain from rushing in to strive with Luther said to Philip Melancthon, You him, and wait for Him ‘in quietness and will find old Melancthon stronger than confidence,’ with a true sense both of young Philip! our weakness and of His faithfulness “I came to my wit’s end, for I wanted and strength? When we have no word to find whence to draw so as to live it from the Lord except to wait and out. You are unable to live out of everything seems to be at a standstill, resources in yourself-you must not act does the certainty of hope remain as though your life is separate; the Lord undimmed?” -A.H. Jesus must be the fountain. It is all very “When you are in faith you will find well to get the heavenly side of truth; that the Lord Jesus does not remove but let me remind you that this alone

231 will not do, for nothing will compensate “Self-disappointment is a very for lack of walking in fellowship with the different thing from self-judgment. Father and the Son.” -G.V.W. Indeed, if there were true self-judgment “It is one thing to drop off or there would never have to be self- renounce certain things, and quite disappointment. If in honesty and another to be engrossed with the right sobriety of heart I have judged ‘that in thing. Monks renounce much, but they me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no are not engrossed with the Lord Jesus good thing,’ I shall certainly not expect Christ. It must be not only ‘forgetting anything from myself, and it has been those things which are behind,’ but also well said that where there is no reaching out unto the things that are expectation there can be no above. It is that which you give yourself disappointment. to, not what you have abandoned, that “But I feel sure that many young colors you and which imparts character believers, and I dare say some old ones to you.” -J.B.S. too, are very familiar with the wretched “Look at the Lord Jesus firmly and and depressing experience of self- fixedly, never letting your gaze wander disappointment. They have made many elsewhere; and whatever temporal fresh starts; they have often been objects come between you and your stirred up, and have made up their Lord, look right through them, as minds to be more for Christ; they have through a mist, and fix your eyes and thought, ‘I shall do better now; I am heart upon Him and Him alone. more earnest about it than I was Whatever condition you find yourself in, before’; but it has all ended in do not let either earth or heaven hide disappointment. Him.” -J.H. “They have no idea that they are “Who hath blessed us with all spiritual trying to improve themselves; they blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. would repudiate such a thought; they 1:3b). suppose that they know better than to look for good in themselves. And yet their disappointment is the plain proof 12-16. Unwarranted Disappointment that, in spite of all their knowledge of “Oh, wretched man that I am!” (Rom. Scripture, they have expected to make 7:24). themselves different, for they are The result of, and penalty for, disappointed because they have not reliance upon the flesh, is Romans succeeded in doing so.” -C.A.C. Seven. The result of, and reward for, “The soul that turns back upon itself dependence upon the Holy Spirit, is to learn God’s judgment about it, and Romans Eight. what His dealings with it are likely to be, 232 is not leaning upon what the Father is-is “It is a mistake to measure spiritual not standing in grace. Neither our joy maturity merely by the presence of nor our peace is dependent on what we gifts. They may be present and they are to Him,but on whatHe is to us-and may be valuable, but the Spirit’s object this is grace.” -J.N.D. is something far greater-to form the “My soul wait thou only upon God; Lord Jesus Christ in us through the for my expectation is from Him” (Ps. work of the Cross. It is not merely that a 62:5). man does certain things or speaks certain words, but that he is a certain 12-17. Be, To Do kind of man. In the long run it is what “The Spirit of truth takes of what is we are, and not simply what we say or Mine and will make it known to you” do-and the difference lies in the (John 16:15, Wey.). formation of the Lord Jesus within.” Fruitful service results from growth, “The Father first uses the active not works. All sharing must be talents of His servants; then He motivated and governed by life: “the polishes the other side of the stone, Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:2). making the passive graces shine- “The Holy Spirit came to reproduce patience, meekness, etc.” the Lord Jesus in the lives of men and “My little children, of whom I travail women. The Church is that or it is in birth again until Christ be formed in nothing; the teaching relates to that, or you” (Gal. 4:19). it has no meaning. Any movement of 12-18. Attitude the Spirit is in that direction, or we have entirely misunderstood. He came to “I heard, as it were, the voice of a conform us to the image of the Son; great multitude. . . saying, Hallelujah! everything has to be tested by that. For the Lord God omnipotent “All our activities and efforts and RElGNETH” (Rev. 19:6). energies and expenditures; all our Once we become aware that our sacrifices, our movements and our sovereign Father is reigning and is in teaching: everything that has become a full control, our faith becomes a set part of ‘Christianity’ has to be measured attitude and we are able to honor Him by the one rule-is it resulting in the by resting in His faithfulness under all reproduction of the Lord Jesus Christ in circumstances. the lives of men and women, so that it “Joseph gives a wonderful example is demonstrated from heaven that He is of a man who does not know what God as truly here in this world now as ever is doing and yet who by faith He was in history?” -T.A-S. cooperates with Him at every step of the way. At each phase of his 233 experience, even when perhaps he was law” (Gal. 2:19). most bewildered, Joseph gave God the The law will not touch us if we do not cooperation which He requires for the touch it. fulfilment of His purpose. This “We were born in the first Adam. He relationship can only come by faith. It was responsible before God to stand in does not necessarily entail an righteousness. He failed. We were understanding of the procedure of responsible in him and we failed. We things, but it certainly cannot be given sinned in Adam (Rom. 5:12, 19). What unless we are absolutely convinced of did God do about it? He gathered us up the Father’s supreme control over all. into the Last Adam, and we died in Him. “The man who imagines that things God allowed His holy law to condemn have got out of the Father’s hands, that us utterly and the law, seeking to slay they are not working out as He us, found us in Christ on the Cross and intended, or that Satan or his agents set upon us and slew us.” -W.R.N. are really in control, is the man who is “‘Law hath dominion over a man as not in a position to give the Father the long as he liveth’ (Rom. 7:1), but when required cooperation in it all. This is it has cursed him and killed him the law unbelief. And unbelief is the greatest has no more to say to him; and we ‘are hindrance we can offer to the Father’s become dead to the law by the body of working. This cooperation is a matter of Christ’ (Rom. 7:4), for we have died heart-attitude, of spirit, and means that judicially with Christ on the Cross. The we go quietly on, cheerfully and new life which we have in Him comes to faithfully glorifying the Father where we us from Him in heaven, the risen and are, not fretting or praying to be moved glorified Man before the Father.” - somewhere else.” -T.A-S. H.F.W. “The strength of the vessel can be “There prevails a notion that the demonstrated only by the hurricane, Lord Jesus was keeping the law for us and the power of the Gospel can be and establishing our righteousness fully shown only when the believer is when He was here below. Now His life subjected to some fiery trial. If the was necessary to vidicate the Father Father would make manifest the fact and His holy law, as well as to manifest that ‘He giveth songs in the night,’ He Himself and His love; but the must first make it night.” -W.T. righteousness that we are made in “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give Christ is another thought altogether-not honor to Him” (Rev. 19:7). the law fulfilled by Him, but the 12-19. Touch Not! justifying righteousness of the Father founded on the Lord Jesus’ death, “I, through the law, am dead to the 234 displayed in His resurrection, and your own, because you are ‘in Him.’“ - crowned by His glory in heaven.” -W.K. J.B.S. “The Ten Commandments require “Many are looking to find some good no life of prayer, no Christian service, in themselves, and in most cases no evangelism, no missionary outreach, without being conscious that they are no Gospel preaching, no life and walk doing so. Effort, disappointment, self- in the Spirit, no union with the Lord reproaches, and self-occupation, make Jesus, no fellowship of saints, no hope up the weary round of their lives, with of salvation, and no hope of heaven.” - now and then, perhaps, a gleam of L.S.C. spiritual happiness. No man’s heart will “Now we are delivered from the law” ever be gladdened by the joy of divine (Rom. 7:6). acceptance until he has learned that there is not a single bit about him, as a 12-20. Ex-prodigals man in the flesh, that does not deserve “Father, I have sinned against the judgment of God.” -C.A.C. heaven, and in thy sight, and am no “It is a wonderful moment when by more worthy” (Lk. 15:21a). faith we appropriate and occupy our From prodigals, our Father has position in the favor of the Father-when made us possessors. “Giving thanks we know that we are received by Him in unto the Father, which hath made us all the acceptance of His Son. We do meet to be partakers of the inheritance not then think of ourselves, or our of the saints in light” (Col. 1:12). unworthiness, at all. We think of the “If I, once a lost prodigal, want to Lord Jesus-His perfections, His know the measure of my acceptance suitability to divine favor, His infinite with the Father, He alone defines it for acceptance with the Father-and by faith me. It is only as I know what the Lord we have access into the favor of which Jesus is to the Father in glory that I can He is so worthy.” -C.A.C. in any degree truly estimate my own “But the Father said to his servants, acceptance in Him: Had He my sins laid Bring forth the best robe” (Lk. 15:22a). on Him? How is He now accepted? For 12-21. Dual Gift as He is now accepted, so am l; and therefore it is the Gospel of the glory of “To him that worketh not, but the Lord Jesus Christ. Try for your own believeth on Him that justifieth the acceptance, and it will always be a ungodly, his faith is counted for dubious and imperfect thing. Get to righteousness” (Rom. 4:5). understand His acceptance, and your When our testimony concerning His soul will be enlarged into all the fulness gift of freedom from the power of sin is and blessedness not only of His, but of as valid as our testimony to His gift of 235 freedom from the penalty of sin, we will as my Head, my Life. Only an inner life have matured. So long as there is only essentially like His, can lead us to a the first half, we are but babes, albeit visible walk like His.” -A.M. full-grown. “As ye have, therefore, received “The Lord Jesus, you know, makes Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in two offers to everyone. He offers to set Him” (Col. 2:6). us free from the penalty of our sin. And 12-22. Peaceful Knowledge He offers to set us free from the power of our sin. Both of these offers are “I have been crucified with Christ” made on exactly the same terms: we (Gal. 2:20). can accept them only by letting Him do The difference between stultifying it all. Every believer has accepted the carnality and growing spirituality is the first offer. Many have not accepted the believer’s realization that he the sinner, second offer. They mistakenly think that as well as his sin, were taken down into they must have some part in death. Seeing one’s identification in the overcoming the power of their sin; that Lord Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection their efforts, their will, their and ascension is the necessary determination, strengthened and helped foundation for spiritual growth to by the Holy Spirit, is the way of victory.” maturity. -C.T. “How often do we find believers “All the powers of Deity which plunged into the very depths of distress already wrought together in the and darkness as to their spiritual accomplishment of the first part of the condition and prospects! So many do eternal purpose, the revealing of the not as yet see the application of the Father’s likeness in the man Christ death of the Lord Jesus to their old Jesus, are equally engaged to man. They do not realize the glorious acomplish the second part, and work truth that in that death they were that likeness in each of the Father’s delivered from this present evil world, children.” -A.M. from the dominion of sin and the law, “Like Christ: the longer we meditate and from the power of the enemy. on that word, the more we realize how “All believers see that the Blood of impossible it is without the other: In the Lord Jesus screens them from the Christ. The outward likeness can only judgment of God; but most do not as be the manifestation of a living, inward yet see that they are ‘dead unto sin’ in union. To do the same work as the Lord the Lord Jesus; that their ‘old man was Jesus, I must have the same life. The crucified with Christ’; that not only have more earnestly I take Him for my their sins been put upon Him at the example, the more I am driven to Him Cross, but they themselves, as sinful 236 children of Adam, have been personally with Himself. That He should interest identified with Him in His death unto Himself in the concerns of our daily sin; that God pronounces them dead lives, is wonderful indeed; that He and risen with Him. But if this should give us glory in heaven above foundational truth is not apprehended the angels is a wonder deeper still; but by faith, there is no bright, happy, that He should call us to like thoughts, emancipating sense of full and feelings, and to common objects with everlasting salvation.” -C.H.M. Himself is beyond conception.” -H.F.W. “We are to hold by faith the position “It is by occupation with, and which the Father has given us in the contemplating the Lord Jesus Christ, risen Lord Jesus, and abide therein, that we are brought, by the enablement occupied with the interests of our of the Holy Spirit, into fellowship with Father and not our own. Taking thought our Father; enabled to enter into His of ourselves is a divergence from the own thoughts concerning, and even to place of faith.” share His own affections for, that “We enter the heavens in order to be blessed One who is now seated at His qualified for earth; we do not begin on own right hand.” -E.D. earth, to reach the heavens. Our “There is a marked distinction simplest earthly responsibilities require between the Father’s actings in old us to be conversant with the ‘things times and since the day of Pentecost. above.’“ He had revealed Himself to man in “If any man be in Christ, he is a new man’s circumstances till that day; since creation; old things are passed away; then He has been requiring man to behold, all things are become new” (2 come into His circumstances. The Cor. 5:17). whole testimony of the Father now is to what the Lord Jesus is in heaven.” - 12-23. Personal Privilege G.V.W. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I “We only touch the positive am well pleased” (Matt. 17:5). blessings of Christianity as we reach All the Father accomplished on our the Lord Jesus Christ in glory. One may behalf is that we might have all He has have a measure of relief and the in His beloved Son. “For in Him assurance of eternal security because dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead we trust the shed Blood and His bodily” (Col. 2:9). finished work on the Cross, but when “Of all the marvels of the Father’s we come to divine favor and the reality grace, none is more marvelous than the of the Christian life, that is all connected fact of His bringing men into fellowship with a Person, and inseparable from that Person.” -C.A.C. 237 “When they had lifted up their eyes, and forcible manner, the truth and they saw no man, except Jesus only” blessedness of His own Word: ‘They (Matt. 17:8). shall not be ashamed that wait for Me.’“ -C.H.M. 12-24. Only Jesus “You will never be transformed by “Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the continually looking at your own man that trusteth in man, and maketh shortcomings, never! Nor will you ever flesh his arm” (Jer. 17:5). be transformed by looking at the Sooner or later the believer goes weaknesses of your fellow Christians. through a period of disillusionment and You will only be conformed by bitterness because of what he continually looking upon the glory of the encounters in the lives of other Lord Jesus; for they who live looking Christians-leaders included. The Holy and beholding, though they know it not, Spirit uses this revelation, along with are ‘being changed from glory to glory what He exposes in his own heart, to by the Spirit of the Lord.’“ -E.I. teach him to abide in the Lord Jesus; “To give the light of the knowledge safe from the sin of others, as well as of the glory of God in the face of Jesus his own. Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). “It is a part of our spiritual education to discover the fallibility of those in 12-25. Tranquil Trust whom we trust. The experience can be “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, a very painful one, but it is most and lean not unto thine own necessary for us to find out that understanding” (Prov. 3:5). everyone else but the Lord Jesus is a Restful trust is developed not so failure. Sometimes He seems to take much by what the Lord Jesus does for pains to bring them to notice. He never us, but by who He is to us-and that hid the failures of his disciples from the necessitates fellowship. people, for he wants it clearly “It is a wonderful thing to be so understood that we must place our trust satisfied with the Lord Jesus’ company, in Him alone. Some Christians get that we can be tranquil about offended with Him when they find that everything. You will often find that it is others on whom they relied are not, the one of the most anxious after all, perfect.” -H.F. temperament who finds most in Him, “Our Father will allow us to prove the when such an one begins to know Him. vanity and folly of all creature- I remember when I used to think that I confidences, human hopes, and earthly should be happy beyond conception if I expectations. And on the other hand, were able to say, ‘I will fear no evil,’ ‘my He will prove to us, in the most touching heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.’ In 238 order to reach this, you must find Him The wondrous depths of the finished enough, without anything else. We all work of the Cross will always be say that He is enough, but it is quite a adequate to deal with the terrible different thing to know it practically. You depths of the unfinished work of the old can never prove the worth of anyone, man. As we glory in the Cross, the flesh until you are absolutely dependent on is denied. him.” -J.B.S. “When we have apprehended our “What do you need? Ask your death-position with the Lord Jesus Father about it. Instead of harassing (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20, etc.), we may your mind about it, present it to Him; have failedtoseetheon-going and it is not said that He will necessarily conformity to His death (2 Cor. 4:11; give you what you ask, but He gives Phil 3:10, etc.). The absence of this you His peace. You put your cares into brings the anomaly of the Cross being His heart, and He will put His peace preached with little or no marks of the into yours.” Calvary spirit. “Our Father’s purpose is an ‘eternal “This is the problem of teaching the purpose,’ from eternity, embracing an ‘identification’ truths without the eternity to come. He does not shape consequent conformity of death which His thoughts according as brings forth life. We may rely upon the circumstances arise, but the fact that we ‘died’ with the Lord Jesus, circumstances are controlled by His and assume that it is entirely wrought in thoughts and plans. How blessed to us at once, not realizing that ‘the know that He is absolute Master in all fellowship of His sufferings’ follows the things; that even ‘He maketh the wrath apprehension of identification. That of man to praise Him, and the ‘delivery unto death’ must become remainder of wrath He restrains.’ It is deeper and deeper, until the ‘conformity the only thing that can give the smallest to His death’ in the path of the Cross comfort in the midst of such a scene of becomes a very real characteristic of confusion all around us.” -F.W.G. the life.” “Be anxious for nothing, but in “We are not to think that our exalted everything, by prayer and supplication position in the Lord Jesus, seated with with thanksgiving, let your requests be Him in heavenly places, frees us from made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6). the need of further application of the Cross. We never reach a point where 12-26. Cross Continuity we can leave the Cross. We are “That I may know Him. . . being invincible, more than conquerors made conformable unto His death” through Him who loved us, only as we (Phil. 3:10). are brought into ever deeper conformity 239 to the Lord Jesus’ death unto sin. and that lovely tendency to rise above Otherwise the flesh reinstates itself and those petty, selfish considerations, we once more fall prey to the old man’s which so sadly hinder the work of God. reign. There are always remaining, “All of His servants in the Word however much we have advanced, stand before us as vivid illustrations of hidden strongholds of the old man the value and necessity of broken which must be rendered inoperative by material. All had to be broken in order the finished work of the Cross.” -F.J.H. to be made whole-to be emptied in “Let him deny himself, and take up order to be filled-to learn that, of his Cross daily” (Lk. 9:23). themselves, they could do nothing, in order to be ready, in the Lord Jesus’ 12-27. Conditional Strength strength, for anything and everything.” - “My grace is sufficient for thee: for C.H.M. My strength is made perfect in “Our Father’s spiritual goal for his weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9a). own is neither continuous straitness nor Whereas most feel that personal continuous poverty. For these are never weakness is the great hindrance to a the end; they are only the means to His sound Christian life, the real tragedy is end. Straitness is the pathway to the astonishing strength of the old man. expansion; poverty is the pathway to The Cross for our cursed strength; the abundance.” Lord Jesus for our blessed weakness. “Most gladly, therefore, will I rather “Let no one imagine that he can be glory in my infirmities, that the power of effectively used in the Lord’s service, or Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. even make progress in the Christian 12:9b). life, without some measure of real entrance into the valuable principle: 12-28. Unique Identity ‘When I am weak, then am I strong’ (2 “If any man be in Chrisl, he is a new Cor. 12:10). It is absolutely essential in creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). forming the character of the true All the “religions” of Christendom are servant of the Lord Jesus. Where it is mainly Judaistic, and the present-day not known and felt, there is sure to be Church is not far behind. unsubduedness, unbrokenness, and “The teachings of the kingdom (as self-occupation in some form or other. illustrated in the Sermon on the Mount) On the other hand, where one has been have not yet been applied to any man. brought into this principle, there will Since they anticipate the binding of always be a measure of brokenness, Satan, a purified earth, the restoration softness, and tenderness of spirit; and of Israel, and the personal reign of the not only so, but also largeness of heart, 240 King, they cannot be applied until God’s 12-29. Blessed Lameness appointed time when these “My grace is sufficient for thee; for accompanying conditions on the earth My strength is made perfect in (your) have been brought to pass. weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). “The kingdom laws will be Our greatest liability: self- addressed to Israel and beyond them to confidence. Our greatest asset: Christ- all nations which will enter the kingdom. confidence. It usually takes years to It will be the first and only universal discover one’s misplaced confidence. reign of righteousness and peace in the The flesh will fail us every time, and history of the world. One nation was in under all conditions. The Lord Jesus view when the Law of Moses was in never fails us under any conditions. force on the earth; the individual is in “When the Lord Jesus was on the view during this age of grace; and the Cross there were no mighty deeds to whole social structure of mankind will be seen, yet Calvary did more for the be in view when the kingdom is world than all the great deeds in established on earth. Galilee. We think too much of the “Christianity is totally opposed to greatness, and too little of the death- Judaism, and any mixture of the two fellowship with our Lord. The ‘mighty must result in the loss of all that is vital deeds’ may mean the ‘greater works,’ in the present plan of salvation. One but death-fellowship means ‘much fruit.’ made its appeal to the limited resources You might toil all your life, and only do of the natural man and conditioned his so much, even with the wonderful life on the earth; the other sets aside deeds; but if you are willing to die with the natural man, secures a whole new Him there will be effortless creation in Christ Jesus, and counsels multiplication. There is no limit to the that new being in his pilgrim journey to fruit that comes out of death.” his heavenly home. “An increasing number of the Lord’s “The Jewish nation is the center of people are seeking to enjoy the power all things related to the earth. The of the Lord Jesus’ life by accepting the Church is foreign to the earth and fact of their union in His death as related to it only as a witnessing expressed by Paul, ‘That I may know people. They are strangers and Him, and the power of his resurrection, pilgrims, ambassadors whose and the fellowship of His sufferings, citizenship is in heaven.” -L.S.C. becoming conformed unto His death’ “There is neither Jew nor Greek (Phil. 3:10). We died with Him, but most (Gentile). . . for ye are all one (new of us are not being conformed to His creation) in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). death and hence are not like Him in

241 life.” -L.L.L. mislead us. We would say, The work of “There is no escape from the Cross, the Spirit is to save souls. Yes, but why- if believers would know the ‘power of just to save them? No; in order that the His resurrection.’ This crafty, defiant, Lord Jesus may have His place. Those defensive ‘I’ must be held in the place souls are to be ‘residences’ of the Lord of death by the Spirit if there is to be Jesus. The Spirit may instruct believers true fruitfulness. In the measure that and build them up-for what purpose? one dies to the old, in the same Just that they should be mature measure does one experience life in Christians? Not at all; but so that the the New.” Lord Jesus shall have a larger place. “Then shall the lame man leap as an “No matter what the Spirit does, He hart. . . for in the wilderness shall has one all-inclusive object and end-the waters break out, and streams in the glorifying of the Lord Jesus Christ: that desert” (Isa 35:6). is, the giving of Him His place, and then filling all things with Him. Do not think of 12-30. Christ-filled the ‘being filled with the Spirit,’ or the “He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify Me ‘fulness of the Spirit,’ in any other way (the Lord Jesus)” (John 16:14). than this. The Holy Spirit’s filling is The Spirit’s ministry within is the intended to be a filling of all things with displacement of the old man, and the the Lord Jesus Christ.” -T.A-S. emplacement of the New Man. “How we have degraded the Holy “The Father works to will, and He is Spirit into a mere power by which we ready to work to do, but, alas! many have to do our work! Oh, that the Spirit Christians misunderstand this. They might be held in honor as the One to fill think because they have the will it is us with the very life of our Lord Jesus enough, and that now they are able to Christ!” -A.M. do. This is not so. The new will is a “Unto the measure of the stature of permanent gift, an attribute of the new the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). life in Christ. The power to carry out this 12-31. There’s More! will is not a permanent gift, but must be each moment received from the Holy “Let us go on past the elementary Spirit. It is the one who is conscious of stage in the teachings and doctrine of his own utter powerlessness, as a Christ” (Heb. 6:1a, Amp.). believer, who will learn that by the Spirit The milk of the Word is necessary alone he can live the Christian life.” - for the immature years. But in order to A.M. carry out His purpose in our lives, our “Our manner of speaking may often Father brings in needs that call for more than milk-we become hungry for the 242 meat of the word, and are thereby in the power of that endless life, leads strengthened and matured. us to find our home in the Holiest of our “‘When I see the Blood, I will pass Father’s presence.” -A.M. over you’ (Ex. 12:13). The Blood “. . . advancing steadily toward the shelters from the Judge, but there is no completeness and perfection that belong to rest there. In this state, the believer is spiritual maturity” (Heb. 6:1b, Amp.). like a man in a lifeboat: he is rescued, but still in the place where the danger is; he would like to get to shore. He is safe, but not clear of the power of the enemy, not clear of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. That is really where most Christians are today.” -J.B.S. “There are vast numbers who profess to believe in the atoning virtue of the death of the Lord Jesus, but who do not see aught therein beyond the forgiveness of their sins. They do not as yet see the crucifixion, death, and burial of the sinner-the entire displacement of the old system of things belonging to their first-Adam position; in a word, their perfect identification with their risen and ascended Lord.” -C.H.M. “With Israel, after its deliverance from Egypt, there were two stages. The one, this life in the wilderness, with its wanderings and its wants, its unbelief and its murmurings. The other, the land of promise, with rest instead of desert wanderings, and with abundance instead of want-symbols of the two stages of the Christian life. The one in which we only know the Lord Jesus as Saviour from Egypt, in His work on the Cross for atonement and pardon. The other, where He is known and welcomed as our Life in heaven; Who, 243