2 Walk
W
e have have soug sought ht to make make it clear clear that Chris Christia tian n expe experie rienc nce e
does does not begin begin with with walk walking ing but but
with with sittin sitting. g. Ever Every y time time we rever reverse se the divin divine e
order order the result is disas disaster ter.. The Lord Lord Jesus Jesus has done done everyevery-
thing thing for us, us, and our need need now is to rest rest confide confidently ntly in Him. Him. He is is seate seated d in the thron throne, e, so we we are are carri carried ed throu through gh in His stren strength gth.. It cann cannot ot be too strong strongly ly emph emphas asise ised d
that that all tru true e
spiritua spirituall experie experience nce begins begins from from rest. But it does does not not end end ther there. e.
Thou Though gh
the the Chris hristi tian an
life life
begin beginss with with sittin sitting, g, sittin sitting g is alway alwayss follo followe wed d by walkin walking. g. When hen once once we have been been well well and truly truly seate seated d and and have have found found our strength strength in sitting sitting down, down, then then we do in fact fact begi begin n to walk walk.. Sitti Sitting ng desc describ ribes es our our posit position ion with with Chris Christt in the heav heaven enlie lies. s.
Walkin alking g is the the prac practic tical al
out-w out-wor orki king ng
of that that
heav heaven enly ly posit position ion here here on earth. earth. As a heav heaven enly ly peop people le we are are require required d to bea bearr the stamp stamp of that that heav heaven enlin lines esss
upon upon us
in our earthly earthly conduc conduct, t, and this raises raises new problem problems. s. What What then then,, we must must now now ask, ask, has Ephes Ephesia ians ns to say to to us about about walk walking ing? ? We shall shall find find that that the the Epist Epistle le urge urgess upon upon us two things. things. We will look now at the first first of them them..
'I therefor therefore, e, the priso prisoner ner in the Lord, beseech beseech you you to walk walk worthil worthilyy of
and and offi office ces, s, our our shop shopss and and kitc kitche hens ns,,
the calling calling wherewi wherewith th ye were called, called, with all lowlines lowlinesss and meeknes meeknesss
will will be wit witho hout ut
... ' (4. 1,2). 1,2).
that that thos thosee who who are are paren parents ts and and those those who who are are child childre ren n
'This 'This I say say ...
thro throug ugh h
that ye ye no longer walk as the the Gentiles Gentiles also also walk, walk, in the
and and chil childr dren en
mind' (4. 17,23). 17,23).
ma ny ny
'Walk 'Walk as child children ren o( light, light, ... provilW provilW what what is well well-ple -pleasi asing ng unto the Lord' (5.8,10).
shou should ld
o f us us w ho ho
s ag ag es es
be? be? We may may be surp surpri rise sed, d,
for for I fea fearr
s ay ay w e a re re se at at ed ed
mean meanss
t im ime s lite litera rall lly y
i n Ep Ep he he si sia ns ns
'to 'to walk walk arou around nd', ',
tive tively ly by Pau Paull to mea mean n beha behavi viou our' r'.. Chri Christ stia ian n
t he he w or or d
f or or t he he m. m.
i s u se sed .
It
real real marri married ed
Re ad ad
ones onesel elf' f',
is so practical.
befo before re
and and the the seco second nd
'to 'to orde orderr
one' one's
us the the subjec subjectt
sect sectio ion n
of
Ep he he si si an an s
of the the lett letter er is
fort forthr hrig ight ht befo before re
of Chri Christ st,,
anot anothe her. r.''
the the fell fellow owsh ship ip
of Chri Christ stia ian n
of Ephe Ephesi sian ans. s.
view view of suc such h fell fellow owsh ship ip
ship ships, s,
both both
neig neighb hbou ours rs,,
dren dren,, empl employ oyer erss
more more.' .'
in the the ligh lightt of our our heav heaven enly ly
publ public ic,,
call call--
fiel field d of our our rela relati tion on-addr addres essi sing ng
and and wive wives, s, to par paren ents ts
hims himsel elff
to
and and chil chil--
all all in a most most real realis isti ticc way. way.
It is is ver very y pres presen entt cond conduc uctt
and and prac practi tica cal, l,
in our our rela relati tion onss
are are a heav heaven enly ly heav heaven en..
to be exp expre ress ssed ed
peop people le,,
only only in heav heaven enly ly
term terms. s.
ing. ing.'' Noth Nothin ing g
t ur ur n
to 1
to dis disco cove verr
what what a
abou aboutt a thin thing g that that rela relati tion onsh ship ips, s,
of God God in the the sect sectio ion n
how how here here
forb forbea eari ring ng
one one
spea speak k ye trut truth h
each each one
'Be 'Be ye angry angry,, and and sin sin not. not.''
'Ste 'Steal al no
'Let 'Let all all bit bitte tern rnes esss 'Pro 'Provo voke ke
And And
of paspas-
and and ever every y wife wife
with with long longsu suff ffer erin ing, g,
... ...
kind kind ... forg forgiv ivin ing g each each other. other.'' anot anothe her. r.''
t he he n
in
one one befo before re God God and and not not just just in
away away fals falseh ehoo ood, d,
with with his his neigh neighbo bour ur.' .'
and and empl employ oyed ed,,
and and unre unreal al,,
'Put 'Putti ting ng
of a holy holy
Let Let us be clear clear that that the the Body Body of Chri Christ st is not not some someth thin ing g remo remote te
... ...
that that we find find this this matt matter er
and and
to hus husba band ndss
are are the the comm comman ands ds
us. us. 'Wal 'Walk k
4, it is in
us upon upon the the whol wholee
dome domest stic ic
is anot anothe herr
spir spirit itua uall
care carefu full lly y
You You dare dare not not theor theoris isee
Now, Now, here here in chap chapte terr
walk walk aris arises es.. Paul Paul procee proceeds ds,, ing, ing, to chall challen enge ge
beli believ ever ers, s,
5 , a nd nd
Look Look now, now, in the the fiel field d of Chr Chris isti tian an
larg largel ely y take taken n up with with this this.. But But we saw earl earlie ierr that that the the Body Body grea greatt them themee
life life-a -a
theo theory ry-d -dem eman ands ds..
'to 'to depo deport rt
walk walk in our our homes. homes.
7. It It wou would ld do eve every ry husb husban and d
and and is used used here here figu figura ra--
It brin brings gs imme immedi diat atel ely y cond conduc uct, t,
' wa wa lk lk '
i n th th e h ea ea ve ve nl nl ie ies
too, too, and wives wives;; ther theree are are quite quite a numb number er
Cori Corint nthi hian anss
look look
shou should ld be
good good to rea read d the the latt latter er chap chapte terr E ig ig ht ht
this this,, dear dear frie friend nds, s,
to see see wha whatt pare parent ntss
Chri Christ st disp displa lay y a very very ques questi tion onab able le husb husban ands ds
you' (5.2, mg.).
May May I sugg sugges estt
the the New Test Testam amen entt
vanity vanity of their their mind ... But ... that ye ye be renew renewed ed in the spirit spirit of your
'Walk 'Walk in love, love, even as Christ also also loved you, you, and gave himsel( himsel( up for for
mean meanin ing. g.
and and prac practi tise se it ther there, e, it
be put put away away from from you. you.'' 'Be 'Be ye 'Sub 'Subje ject ctin ing g
not.' not.' 'Be 'Be obed obedie ient nt.' .'
your yourse selv lves es 'For 'Forbe bear ar
to one one
thre threat aten en--
coul could d be more more real realis isti ticc than than this this list of impe imperr-
atives. Let Let me remin remind d teac teachi hing ng
you you that that the the Lord Lord Jesus Jesus Hims Himsel elff begi begins ns His His
on this this very very note note.. Noti Notice ce care carefu full lly y
this this pass passag agee from from His His Sermo Sermon n
the the word wordin ing g
of
on the Moun Mount: t:
find findin ing g the the real real test test of our our
with with othe others rs..
For For while while it is true true we
it is is no no use use just just to talk talk of a dist distan antt
Unle Unless ss we bri bring ng heav heaven enli line ness ss
into into our our dwel dwelli ling ngss
'Ye have have heard heard that that it was was said, said, An eye for an eye, eye, and a tooth for a tooth: tooth: but
Isay
unto unto you, you, Resist Resist not him that is evil: evil: but but
whos whosoe oeve verr smit smitet eth h thee thee on thy righ rightt chee cheek, k, turn turn to him him the the
other also. And if any man would go to law with thee, and take
us, with the result that we too are, quite rightly, occupied
away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever
with the question
shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him twain.
Give to
that for us the starting point is a different
him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow
of thee
turn not thou away. Ye have heard
that it was said, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour,
and hate thine enemy: but I say unto you,
Love your enemies,
and pray for them that persecute
y e m ay b e s on s o f yo ur maketh
F at her
wh ich
i s i n h eav en :
you; that f or h e
his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth
rain on the just and the unjust. you, what same?
reward
have ye? do not even the publicans
And if ye salute
than others?
For if ye love them that love
your brethren
do not even the Gentiles
shall be perfect.
as your heavenly
the
mands:
you say, 'I cannot
Nothing
has done greater
(Matt. 5.
bring yourself
friend, you feel you have
terribly wronged-and
to forgive.
You
de-
you cannot
were in the right, and your
action has been wholly unjust.
To love him may be
ideal, but it is impossible.
damage
others.
We become
preoccupied
and we think
that is not our standard. my cheek?'
As Christians
living can never be 'right or wrong', ciple of the Cross is our principle Him it is a question
life is to be governed edge, man has been engaged
your heavenly
dards of right and wrong, justice to live by them.
Of course
and injustice,
as Christians
Yes, but in what way are we different? verted a new sense of righteousness
and striven
we are different.
Since we were con-
has been developed
in
to strike is, do
our standard
of
but the Cross. The prin-
of conduct.
Praise God that
He makes His sun to shine on the evil and the good. With
perfection
out his own stan-
But
for us is one of
I reply, 'Of course not! But the question
you only want to be right?'
Since the day that Adam took the fruit of the tree of knowlwhat is good and
our actions.
The whole question
of His grace and not of right or wrong. also: 'Forgiving
even as God also in Christ forgave
in deciding
right of
Have we been justly or unjustly
You ask me, 'Is it right for someone
wrong' is the principle
man has worked
testi-
with what is and what is
thus to vindicate
But that is to be our standard
what is evil. The natural
to our Christian
mony than our trying to be right and demanding
the same? Ye therefore is perfect:
for us is one of
Life.
treated?
do it. These are impossible
Maybe, like my engineer
We do not start from that other tree.
We begin from Him; and the whole question
cross-bearing.
been wronged-perhaps enemy's
ical right and wrong.
not right. We ask ourselves,
Father
one? Christ is for
us the Tree of Life. We do not begin from the matter of eth-
only, what do ye more
38-48.)
'But,'
of good and evil. But have we realized
A brother
you'
each other,
(4. 32). 'Right or
of the Gentiles and tax gatherers. by the principle
of the Father:
My
of the Cross and of the
'Ye therefore
shall be perfect,
as
Father is perfect:
in South China had a rice field in the middle of
the hill. In time of drought by a tread-mill,
he used a water-wheel,
to lift water from the irrigation
his field. His neighbour
worked
stream into
had two fields below his, and, one
night, made a breach in the dividing bank and drained
off
all his water. pumped
When
in more
the brother
water
again, and this was repeated sulted his brethren.
the breach
and
did the same thing
three or four times. So he con-
'I have tried to be patient
and not to
he said, 'but is it rz~qht?' After they had prayed
retaliate: together
repaired
his neighbour
about it. one of them replied,
'If we only try to do
the right thing, surely we are very poor Christians. to do something
We have
more than what is right.' The brother
much impressed.
Next morning
he pumped
two fields below, and in the afternoon
water
pumped
was
for the
water for his
sons. The Sermon on the Mount teaches us that the children attain to the responsibility they manifest Father.
kinship
We are called to be 'perfect'
God, as beloved
children;
that because
don't
stand
on your right. Don't
feel
you have gone the second mile you have done
Matthew
that we may well feel is impossibly section of Ephesians
endorses
standard-to
and in course of time he too became a Christian.
high, and Paul in this
it. The trouble
is that we just
by nature the means to attain to that
walk 'as becometh
lies the answer to our problem
saints'
(5. 3). Where, then,
of God's exacting
keth in us' (3.20).
In a parallel passage
keth in me mightily.'
have nothing
to stand for, nothing
to ask or demand.
We
is the secret strength
He did not do so to defend our 'rights'; it was grace that took
power?
Him there. Now, as His children,
tian's secret is his rest in Christ. His power
ers what is their due and more.
position.
ever with
to be ready to confess and willing to go beyond what is nec-
men. Forsake
essary in doing so. The Lord wants this. Why? 'That ye may
immediately
be sons of your Father
i s m ar re d.
The question ' fo re or da in ed Christ'
is in heaven'
is one of practical us un to
a do pt io n
sonship.
True,
a s s ons
t hro ug h
(1. 5), but we make the mistake
have already
'come
of age'- that
(Matt.
of thinking
we are already
5. 45).
God has J esu s
life? Whence
derives
e ns ur es
The Chrisfrom his We sit for
Christ that we may walk continuously for a moment
B ut ab id e
desire an illustration
before
our place of rest in Him, and
we are tripped and our testimony
t he p ow er
What
has it its
All who sit can walk, for in the thought
of God the one follows the other spontaneously.
We fail, and it is always good to learn from our failures-
which
of the Christian
Let me give you the answer in a sentence:
God-given that we are often not right.
We have to remind ourselves
which wor-
We are back again in the first section of Ephesians.
have only to give. When the Lord Jesus died on the Cross, we try always to give oth-
that wor-
(Col. 1. 29) he says:
'I labour also, striving according to his working,
to Christ. We
demands?
The secret is, in the words of Paul, 'the power
the fourth.
is that of conformity
of
5 sets a standard
what isjust. The second mile is only typical of the third and The principle
forth
imitators
and walk in love, even as Christ
We are faced with a challenge.
do not find in ourselves
So, my brethren,
in love, showing
also loved you, and gave himself up for you' (5. 1,2, mg.).
bour was so amazed the reason,
in which with their
His grace. So Paul also writes: 'Be ye therefore
own field. After that the water stayed in his field. His neighat his action that he began to inquire
of sons in the measure
of spirit and of attitude
i n C hri st ,
an d ou r p os it io n
to w al k w or th y
o f Hi m h ere .
of this kind of progress,
that we
all, not of a runner
mature
still, of a cripple in a power-driven
in the world t he re I f yo u
think, first of
in a race but of a man in a car, or better invalid
carriage.
What
he also sits. And he keeps going
does he do? He goes-but because
he remains
position
in which he has been placed.
far-tram-perfect
picture
serve to remind fundamentally
sitting.
His progress
of the Christian
us that our conduct upon our inward
This explains
follows
Paul's language
from the
This, of course,
is
i1
life, but it may
and behaviour
depend
Let me take up again an earlier illustration. is a certain whom
here. He has first learned
to
whom
getting
into difficulties.
ever you meet him he says or does something arouse in you resentment. indeed
an d ou gh t
there
you find very trying and with
you are constantly
a Ch ri st ian
rest in Christ.
brother
Perhaps
This troubles
When-
calculated
to
you. You say: '1 am
t o l ov e h im . I wa nt
to l o ve hi m;
I am determined to love him!' And so you pray very
sit. He has come to a place of rest in God. As a result his
earnestly:
walking
love!' Then, taking a firm grip on yourself and summoning
is not based
inward
working.
on his efforts
but on God's mighty
There lies the secret of his strength.
has seen himself seated in Christ; therefore men takes its character wonder
that he prays for the Ephesians:
How does my wrist-watch being moved? a power which
'That Christ may
work,
first it is moved by
created
in that
(2. 10). 'Work out your own sal-
for his good pleasure.'
all your good intentions
the utmost
Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared
writes Paul to the Philippi-
ans, 'for it is God which worketh
when you get into his presence
immediately
And there are works for which we
vation with fear and trembling:
in you both to will and to
God is working
you set out with a genuine
it in; work it
something
to nought.
your old resentment
His response
to you is
the reverse,
and
flares up, and once again
but you were wrong a ki nd
love from God? No,
in seeking that love as something
o f p ac kag e- co mm od ity ,
desires is to express through
wh en
w ha t
in G od
you the love of His Son.
God has given us Christ. There is nothing
now for us to
receive outside of Him. The Holy Spirit has been sent to produce what is of Christ in us; not to produce apart
from or outside through
anything
that is
of Him. We are 'strengthened
power
work it in, it is useless for us to try to work it out. Often we
the love of Christ'
try to be meek and gentle without
knowing
wardly is what God has first put within.
to let God work in us the meekness
and gentleness
of Christ.
to bring
you can do is to be polite to him. Why is this?
You were surely not wrong in seeking i ts elf ,
But alas,
happens
but rather
out! That is the secret. But until we are willing for God to what it means
desire to dis-
play to him that love for which you have prayed.
first, or by
go? By moving
'We are his workmanship,
we should walk in them'
all your will-power,
my love for him. 0 God, give me
not in the least encouraging
itself. Then only will it do the work for
it was designed.
too are designed.
in him. Small
faith' (3. 17).
Of course it goes because
outside
his walk before
from Christ dwelling
dwell in your hearts through
Paul
'Lord, increase
his Spirit in the inward
man; ...
with
to know
(3. 16, 19). What we show forth
Recall once again the great words of 1 Corinthians
out1. 30.
We try to show love, and, finding we have none, we ask the
Not only did God set us 'in Christ'. By Him also 'Christ Jesus
Lord for love. Then we are surprised
... was made unto us wisdom
to give it to us.
that He does not seem
and
sanctification,
and
from God, and righteousness
redemption:
This is one
of the
grandest
statements
in Scripture.
... '. If we believe
He ' was
ma de
this, we can put in there
u nto
us
anything
we
consciousness speaking
need, and can know that God has made it good; for, through
l ov e h im ;
the Holy Spirit within
brother.
unto us whatever look upon
us, the Lord Jesus is Himself made
we lack. We have been accustomed
holiness
as a virtue,
upon humility
to
as a grace,
upon love as a gift to be sought from God. But the Christ of God is Himself everything Manya
and failed to identify
with the 'things'
Him in this practical
way
I felt so strongly the lack o!. For two whole
I was groping
in that
kind of darkness,
qu it e
u nc on sci ou sly
You converse
seeking
to
The operation eous,
me, and I saw Christ ordained in His fulness. 'things'!
What
broke from heaven
Held by us out of relation
Oh the emptiness
wi11be spelled thereafter
love with a capital
1. He
Him se lfis
of
to Christ they arc dead.
Once we sec this it will be the beginning Our holiness
for
of God to be made over to me
a difference!
of a new life for us. with a capital H, our
revealed
as the answer
in
us to all God's demands. Go back
now
difficult
brother,
is a life within
me, the life of Thy Son, and that
is no need to exert yourself.
but love him.' There
Repose in Him. Count upon His
life. Dare thus to go and see that brother here is the amazing
(and I would
emphasise
this time,
love him at all; but I know now
the law of that life is to love. It cannot
him-and
but
God th us: 'Lord, it is clear to me at
last that in myself I cannot that there
a s y our
saying
with
in the least bit irri-
way the Lord was with me
of His life in us is in a true sense spontan-
important
rule is not to 'try' but to 'trust',
reveals
Fountain
effort of ours. The a11not to depend
but upon His. For it is the flow of life
what wc truly are 'in Christ'.
It is from the
of life that the sweet water issues.
Too many
of us are caught
of many Christians
acting as Christians.
today is largely a pretence.
They live a
'spiritual'
life, talk a 'spiritual'
attitudes,
but they are doing the whole thing themselves.
is the effort involved
language,
The life
adopt
'spiritual' It
that should reveal to them that some-
thing is wrong. They force themselves
to refrain from doing
this, from saying that, from eating the other, and how hard
to that
before you go, address
you find yourself
that is to say, it is without
upon our own strength
was in the year I933-light
h im
and His love triumphed.'
which
in the effort. And then one
k no w
you
'Why, I did not exercise the least bit of anxious
tian life, and getting day-it
y ou
care just now, and yet I did not become
amass the virtues that I felt sure should make up the Chrisnowhere
you find yourself
with him freely and in true fellow-
ship, and on your return amazement:
afterwards)
to him; quite unconsciously
table! In some unaccountable
time in my need I used to think of Christ as a Per-
son apart, years
that we shall ever need.
only comes
most pleasantly
and to speak to
thing! Quite unconsciously
the word 'unconsciously',
for the
they find it all! It is just the same as when we Chinese try to talk a language
that is not our own. No matter
try, it does not come spontaneously;
how hard we
we have to force our-
selves to talk that way. But when it comes to speaking own language,
nothing
our
could be easier. Even when we for-
get all about what we are doing, we still speak it. It flows. It comes
to us perfectly
reveals to everyone Our
life is t he
naturally,
and its very spontaneity
what we are.
l if e of C hr is t,
m edi at ed
i n u s b y t he
Holy Spirit Himself, and the law of that life is
indwelling spontaneous.
The moment we see that fact we shall end our
confident
He is that the resources He has put within us are
fully enough to meet them. God does not command
what
struggling and cast away our pretence. Nothing is so hurtful
He will not perform; but we must throw ourselves back on
to the life of a Christian
Him for the performance.
when our outward natural-when
as acting; nothing
so blessed as
efforts cease and our attitudes
our words,
become a spontaneous
our prayers,
and unforced
become
our very life, all
expression
of the life
Does some difficult situation confront us? Is it a problem of right or wrong, good or evil? We do not need to look for wisdom. We need no longer apply to the tree of knowledge.
within. Have we discovered how good the Lord is? Then in
We have Christ, and He is made unto us wisdom from God.
us He is as good as that! Is His power great? Then in us it is
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus continually
no less great! Praise God, His life is as mighty as ever, and in
municates to us His standards of right and wrong, and, with
com-
the lives of those who dare to believe the Word of God the
them, the attitude of spirit with which the difficult situation
divine life will be manifest
should be met.
in a power
not one whit less
More and more things will turn up to hurt our Christian
mighty than was manifest of old. What does our Lord mean when He says: 'Except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness
of the scribes
sense of righteousness
and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of
that our standard
heaven'?
'which
(Matt. 5. 20). We have seen above how He goes
on to set the contrast between of Moses repeated
and
His own
the requirements
tremendous
of the Law
demands,
by His
use of the words: 'Ye have heard that it was said
and to test what
our reactions
are
going to be. We need to learn the principle of the Crossis not now the old but the new man
after God hath been created in righteousness
holiness
of truth'
and
(4. 22-24). 'Lord, I've got no rights to
defend. Everything
I have is through Thy grace, and every-
thing
I knew
is in Thee!'
of an old Japanese
Christian
but I say unto you ... '. But since already, over many
woman who was disturbed by a thief who had broken into
centuries, men had sought to attain to the first standard and
her house. In her simple but practical faith in the Lord, she
had failed, how could the Lord dare to raise the standard
cooked the man a meal-then
higher still? He could do so only because He believed in His
shamed by her action and God spoke to him. Through
own life. He is not afraid of making
testimony
...
the most
exacting
demands upon Himself. Indeed we may well find comfort in reading the laws of the kingdom
as set forth in Matthew
offered him her keys. He was her
that man is a brother in Christ today.
Too many Christians have all the doctrine but live lives that are a contradiction
of it. They know all about chapters
the
I to 3 of Ephesians but they do not put chapters 4 to 6 into
Lord has in His own life made available to His children. These
practice. It were better to have no doctrine than to be a con-
three chapters set forth the divine taxation of the divine life.
tradiction.
The greatness
yourself back on God for the means to do what He has com-
chapters
5 to 7, for they show what utter confidence
of His demands
upon us only shows how
Has God commanded
something?
Then throw
manded.
May the Lord teach us that the whole principle
the Christian that which
life is that we go beyond
is well-pleasing
of
what is right to do
to Him.
feast: and the door was shut. Afterward come also the other virgins ... ' (see Matt. 25. 1-13). 'And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads ....
But there
remains
something
further
above on the subject of our Christian has, as must already be obvious, gests first conduct idea of progress.
or behaviour,
to be added
walk. The word 'walk'
a further
progress towards
meaning.
It sug-
but it also contains
To 'walk' is to 'proceed',
we want to consider
to the
in it the
These are virgins. These arc they which follow the
Lamb whithersoever
among men, to be the first-fruits unto God and unto the Lamb. ish' (see Rev. 14. 1-5).
to 'follow on', and
brielly now this further
matter
of our
There are many passages of Scripture
redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye notfoolish, but understand what the wiff o f the !'ord is' (5. 15-17).
You will notice that in the above verses there b et we en redeeming
w is dom
t he a nd
the time ....
that assure us that
what God has begun He will finish. Our Saviour is a Saviour
a goal.
'Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, hut as wise;
b et we en
from
And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blem-
to the uttermost.
c ia ti on
he goeth. These were purchased
i de a
o f Ti me
fo ol is hn es s.
a nd 'W al k
Be ye not foolish.'
tant. I want now to remind
t he . ..
believer
will be 'half-saved'
at the end, even if now that might be said of us in any sense. God will perfect
every man who has faith in Him. That is
what we believe,
and we must keep it in mind as a back-
is an asso-
ground for what we are going to say next. With Paul, we are
d if fe re nc e
'confident
a s w is e;
This is impor-
you of two other
which these things are similarly brought
No Christian
passages
in
together:
of this very thing, that he which began
work in you will perfect
a good
it until the day of Jesus Christ'
(Phil. 1. 6). There are no limits to God's power. He 'is able ... to set you before the presence
of his glory without
blem-
ish' (Jude 24; and see: 2 Tim. 1. 12; Eph. 3.20).
'Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins.
It is, however,
... Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For the fool-
this-to
ish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them ....
on the earth-that
But
when we turn to the subjective
its practical
outworking
in our lives here and now
we encounter
14 there
Revelation
forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed
hiilrvest (verse 15). What is the difference and firstfruits?
... And while they went away 10 buy, the bridegroom came;
whole
and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage
are firstfruits
the question
at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye their lamps. And the foolish said, ... Our lamps are going out.
It is certainly
aspect of
of Time. In
(verse 4) and there between
not one of quality,
crop is one. Their difference
is a
harvest for the
lies only in the time of
their ripeness.
Some fruits reach maturity
thus they become M y h om e oranges. there
'firstfruits'.
t ow n
I would
before others and
p rov in ce
i s fa mo us
f or i ts
say (and no doubt I am prejudiced!)
are none like them anywhere
look out on the hills at the beginning
in the world.
that
As you
of the orange season,
all the groves are green. But if you look more carefully here and
ora nges already showing
It says that the five came to the door and said:
'Lord, Lord, open to us.' What door? Certainly
i n Fuk ie n
will see, sprinkled
unprepared.
there
on the trees,
you
golden
up. It is a bea utiful sight to see the
flecks of gold dotted among
the dark green trees. Later the
of salvation. heaven
If you are lost, you cannot
and knock. When therefore
sense as in the following illustration. In Shanghai taken
the son of a police-court
found
his father
procedure
sitting
address?
fully hand-picked,
and it is they that fetch the top market-
three times the price of the harvest.
All will reach ripeness, ing firstfruits.
somehow.
' Wha t
are not those who
sternly:
i s y our
What is your occupation?' to his father:
'Father,
don't know me?' Rapping
But the Lamb is seek-
The 'wise' in the parable
he turned
on the magistrate's
was
to court and bench.
Court
is more or less the same the world over, and so
t he bo y wa s a sk ed :
prices-often
magistrate
up for careless driving. He was brought
now it is these firstfruits
They are care-
the Lord says: 'I know
you not,' He surely uses these words in some such limited
whole crop will ripen and the groves will turn to gold, but that are gathered.
not the door
come to the door of
'Young
man,
n am e?
Wh at
is yo ur
and so on. Astonished, do you mean
to say you
on his desk the father answered
1 do not know
name? What is your address?'
you. What
is your
He did not of course mean by
have done better, but those who have done well at an earl-
this that he did not know him at all. In the family and in the
ier hour. The others, be it noted, were also virgins-'f oolish',
home he knew him, but in that place and at that time he did
no doubt, but not false. Along with the wise, they had gone
not know him. Though still his father's
o ut t o m ee t
right through
lamps,
t he B ri de gro om .
and their
reckoned
lamps
T hey
t oo h ad
were burning.
on His tarrying,
oi l in t he ir
But they
had not
and now that their lamps burned
the court procedure
Yes, all ten virgins guished
the foolish
was that they had no reserve
vessels. As true Christians,
others enough
have a testimony
to spare them. at this point by the Lord's words to the
foolish ones: 'I know you not.' How, they feel, could He say this of them ...
if they represent
as a pure virgin to Christ'?
recognize which i n t he
the whole
point
His true children,
of the teaching
is surely that there is some privilege f ut ur e
w hi ch
'espoused
(2 Cor. 11. 2). But we must
H is c hi ld re n
m ay
and pay his fine.
had oil in their lamps. What distin-
low they had no reserve of oil in their vessels, nor had the Some are troubled
son, the boy must go
in their
they have life in Christ, and they
before men. But theirs is a fitful testimony
for they live a hand-ta-mouth
existence.
They have
the
Spirit, but they are not, we may say, 'filled with the Spirit'. When the crisis comes they must go out to buy more oil. In the end, of course, all the ten had enough.
But the differ-
of this parable,
ence lay in the fact that the wise had sufficient
of serving Him
while the foolish, when
m is s b y b ei ng
had missed the purpose
at length
oil in time,
they did have sufficient,
for which it was intended.
It is all a
question
of time, and this is the point which the Lord seeks
to drive home when,
at the end of the parable,
he urges his
disciples not just to be disciples but to be watchful 'Be not drunken
with wine, wherein
with the Spirit' (5. 18). In Matthew of the initial reception
disciples.
is riot, but be filled
25 it is not a question
of Jesus Christ, nor yet of the com-
ing of the Holy Spirit upon His servants
for spiritual
gifts. It
I ,:
heart to the Lord' but 'speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs'. Some of us may well find it easy
11
to sing solos, but much harder to sing in time and harmony as a quartet
or even as a duet. Yet this message
in the Spirit lies at the heart of our second section esians (see 4.3,
I
of oneness
'1 1 :
I
of Eph-
"1
IS, 16). The fulness of the Spirit is given to
:
1 ,
'
1
1,1
us that we should sing together a new song before the throne
'1
111'::1 1
is a question s us ta in ed , means within
of the extra oil in the vessel-of t hr oug h
h owe ve r
of the continual (for whereas
the light being
l on g a ti me
miraculous
o f w ai tin g,
supply
by
of the Spirit
in the parable there is both a lamp and
(Rev. 14.3).
1111'1
But, to keep to our main e mphasis, folly or wisdom
let me repeat
that
hinges on this one point alone, that if you
are wise you will seek this fulness
sooner,
but if you are
a vessel, in reality we are the lamp and we are the vessel).
foolish you will put it off till later. Some of us are parents
What
and have children. How greatly those children can differ in temperament! One will obey at once; another will think
Christian
without
could
knowing
possibly
live in eternity
this inner fulness?
in heaven
Surely not one virgin
can escape this? And so the Lord is taking all possible steps
that by procrastination
to bring us to the knowledge
that is indeed the case, and you are weak enough
therefore,
of that fulness
now. 'Watch
nTI a h
for ye know not the day nor the hour.'
(plerousthe)
'Be being filled'
is the unusual
.
expression
oop
I
10
eor
I I t'
' I , ' , , !,I ,
!III '1
:1
'1
"I,III! , I!, ill
h
h
10
,
'I'
,11""
to allow
I1
procrastmates
, ' 'I
is in fact the wise one, for he succeeds in doing nothing.
1
1 1"
he can avoid the need to do so. If
escape, t en t e one w
1 ., 1 1 , 1 , . ,'
' l ,i l!' I I' , I " ,'
"I
1
' ,'
But 1
used here in relation be continually
to the Holy Spirit. 'Allow yourselves
to
made full.' It is not a crisis, as at Pentecost,
if your word holds, if your command ultimately
must be obeyed,
cannot be evaded and
then he is certainly
1'1"'1
:
the wiser 1 1 1' " , 1 , , '1 ',' 1 : 1 "
but a state we are to be in all the time. And it is not something external,
but internal;
and manifestations
not a question
outwardly
of spiritual
but of the personal
gifts
presence
who faces the issue squarely
at once.
l\il,,'I I,I,
Get clear about the will of God. If God's words can be dis-
and activity of the Holy Spirit within our spirits, guarantee-
thcn yon might not bc foolish to try 10 escape their implications; but if God is an unchanging God with an
ing that the light in the vessel will burn undimmed,
un ch an gi ng
after midnight
long
it is not wholly a personal
next verse (5. 19) surely indicates, share with other
Christians
be 'filled with the Spirit' verse, not merely
'singing
counted,
wi ll , t he n
b e wi se;
r ed ee m
th e t im e.
•'
S ee k
in mutual means,
thing. As the
it is something
which we
dependence.
in the language
and making
melody
For to of that
with your
sel, 'that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God' ( 3. 19). The parable does not answer all our questions. How do the foolish buy? We are not told. We are nowhere further
I
to maturity.
That is not our concern.
I
We are
'
' I ' i l ;l 1 ,1 1
:':
,
told what
steps God may have to take to bring all His children
eventually
I
',1'1'1,1,::
above all things to have that extra supply of oil in the ves-
if need be.
And moreover,
II
I I
"I
I1 '
I
, •
~ !I "",1','1'1",1"' ,1.,1
1
,'
concerned
here with firstfruits.
on; not to speculate You cannot, rity-or
We are being urged to prcs',
on what may happen
by dodging the issue, avoid reaching
paying
the price of it. But wisdom
God may have to do something
mat
11
is connected
of our heart be enlightened calling',
'understand
fountain
Lord always loved desperate
vi de
pen is now filled and ready to my hand for imme
Go d w it h
wh at
with the Lord, the wise pro
H e wa nt s:
h an dy
to ol s,
i ns ta nt ly
available to Him. Look at the apostle Paul. He is consumed passion.
He has seen that God's purpose
with the 'fulness
of the times'
who have 'before
hoped
with a burning
for us is bound
up
(1. 10). He is onc of those
in Christ' by resting in a salvation
that is yet to be fully revealed 'in the ages to come'
(1. 12; 2.
7). And in view of all this, what does he do? He walks. And he not only walks; he runs. '1 therefore tainly'
so run, as not uncer-
(1 Cor. 9. 26). 'I press on toward
the goal unto the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus' (Phil. 3. 14). Often when
souls come into an understanding
of spiri-
tual things and begin to go on with the Lord, the feeling in my heart is: 'Oh, if only they had come to see this five years earlier!'
The time is so short, even if we are going on. There
is such need for urgency.
For remember,
of what we get out of it. It is a question have now. The Lord's need today
Why? 'Because
it is not a question of what the Lord must
is for ready instruments.
the days are evil.' The situation
among the Christian
The Lord may have to deal drastically tremendous was-and
is desperate
public. Oh that we might see it!
to say '1 am an abortive
child'.
with us. Paul had
He had passed
it
through
crises to bring him to the point where
he then
still he pressed on. It is always a question
of time.
to know what is 'the hope of his
and then may we walk-nay,
with time. Those who are wise redeem the time. Just as JJly diate use, so, by co-operating
in us swiftly, compressing
into a short space; but He has to do that much. May the eyes
if we don't.
run-as
those who
what the will of the Lord is' (1. 18; 5. 17). The souls.
warfare
of the ages without
learning
first to rest in Christ
and in what He has done, and then, through the Holy Spirit within,
here on earth. If he is deficient
for he does not count for anything.
Stand
he strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able tostand against the wiles of the devil ....
his might' by knowing
the values first of His exaltation (compare
That ye may
now summed
the third principle
with evil and to exclude
and the sword ... praying ... and watching' (Eph. 6. 10-11,
13-18).
Christian
experience
begins
must learn also to stand. for the conflict. heavenly
with
sitting
but it does not end with these. We must
and
Every
leads
Each one of us must be prepared know how to sit with Christ in
places and we must know how to walk worthy
Hi m d own
h er e,
b ut w e m us t
before the foe. This matter
al so k now
(6. 10-20). It is what Paul
But let us first remind
ourselves
presents
...
For no Christian
stand'.
once again of the order
us with these things.
us-that
the powers,
This
of things takranged
system of hostile kings
and evil men. No, says Paul, our wrestthese,
'but
against
ness, against the spiritual enly places' -in
the world
us. We see only 'flesh and blood'
ling is not against
dominion,
his power are count-
God from His own kingdom.
is to say, a world
and rulers, sinners
Two thrones
and under
of verse 12. It is an explanation
ing place around
against
life
against
the principalities,
the world-rulers
hosts of wickedness
of this darkin the heav-
short against the wiles of the devil himself.
are at war. God is claiming and Satan is seeking
the earth
to usurp
for His
the authority
of
God. The Church is called to displace Satan from his present realm and to make Christ Head over all. What are we doing
with wicked spirits'.
in which Ephesians walk ...
of
ho w t o st and
of conflict now comes before us
in the third section of Ephesians calls 'our wrestling
to
Christian
that he
of the Christian
and fallen angels seeking to overrun
is the meaning against
and
up in the word 'Stand'.
God has an arch-enemy, less demons
having shod y our/eet ... taking up the shield ... and the hel-
of
6.10 with 1. 19 and 3. 16).
two lessons well and truly learned
comes to appreciate
Stand therefore, having girded you r loins ... having put on the breast-
walking,
Yet the very same Chris-
then of His indwelling
be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
met
only talk; he
tian can be made strong 'in the Lord, and in the strength
It is with these
plate
remains
will never know its reality. Satan can afford to ignore him
3
Fnally,
of
holy life
in either of these he will find
that all the talk about spiritual warfare
,
the strength
to follow Him in a practical,
It is: 'sit
can hope to enter the
about it? I want now to deal with this matter of our warfare general
terms in relation
to our personal
Christian
first in
lives
zllld
then in a more special sense in relation to the work of the
have got the ground and only seek to keep it, whereas
Lord entrusted
the latter 1have not got the ground and am fighting in order
to us. There
are many
direct assaults
of
in
Satan upon God's children. Of course we must not attribute
to get it. And that is precisely the difference between
to the devil those troubles that are the result of our own
warfare waged by the Lord Jesus and the warfare waged by
breach of divine laws. We should, by now, know how to put
us. His was offensive;
these right. But there are physical attacks upon the saints,
warred against Satan in order to gain the victory. Through
attacks
the Cross He carried that warfare to the very threshold
of the evil one upon their bodies and minds,
which we must take serious account.
of
Surely, too, there are
few of us who do not know something
of the enemy's
ours is, in essence,
defensive.
the
He
of
Hell itself, to lead forth thence his captivity captive (4.8,9). Today we war against Satan only to maintain
and consoli-
assaults upon our spiritual life. Are we going to let these
date the victory which He has already gained. By the resur-
pass unchallenged?
rection
We have our position with the Lord in the heavenIies, and we are learning
how to walk with Him before the
world; but how are we to acquit ourselves in the presence of the adversary-His 'Stand!'
adversary
and ours? God's word is:
'Put on the whole armour
of God that you may be
God proclaimed
His Son Victor over the whole
realm of darkness, and the ground Christ won He has given to us. We do not need to fight to obtain it. We only need to hold it against all challengers. Our task is one of holding, not of attacking.
It is a matter
not of advance but of sphere, the sphere of Christ. In the
able to stand against the wiles of the devil.' The Greek verb
person of Jesus Christ, God has already conquered.
'stand'
given us His victory to hold. Within the sphere of Christ the
with its following preposition
really means 'hold your ground'. hidden in that command
11
There is a precious truth
Warfare,
imply a command
other countries
in verse
of God. It is not a command
invade a foreign territory. would
'against'
to 'march'.
in modern
Armies march
to occupy and to subdue.
to
parlance, into
God has not told
enemy's
He has
defeat is already a fact, and the Church has been
put there to keep him defeated. Satan is the one who must do the counter-attacking
in his efforts to dislodge us from
that sphere. For our part we need not struggle to occupy ground that is already ours. In Christ we are conquerors-
us to do this. We are not to march but to stand. The word
nay, 'more than conquerors'
'stand'
disputed by the enemy is
fore, we stand. Thus today we do not fight for victory; we
ours. We need not struggle to gain
fight from victory. We do not fight in order to win but be-
implies that the ground
really His, and therefore
cause in Christ we have already won. Overcomers are those
a foothold on it. Nearly all the weapons
of our warfare described in Eph-
esians are purely defensive. well for defence
(Rom. 8. 37). In Him, there-
Even the sword can be used as
as for offence.
The difference
between
defensive and offensive warfare is this, that in the former I
who rest in the victory already given to them by their God. When you fight to get the victory, then you have lost the battle at the very outset. Suppose Satan sets out to assault you in your home or in your business. Difficulties mount
up, misunderstandings
arise, a situation
ther deal with nor escape threatens
that you can nei-
to overwhelm
you. You
Because
victory is His, therefore
pray, you fast, you struggle and resist for days, but nothing
shall see the enemy
happens.
Lord to enable
Why? You are trying to fight into victory, and in
doing so are relinquishing
to the enemy
that is yours.
is still for you a distant
somewhere
For victory
thing,
ahead of you, cmd you cannot reach it. I was in
just such a situation
once myself, and God brought
mind the word in 2 Thessalonians sin, whom mouth'.
the very ground
concerning
to my
the man of
the Lord Jesus 'shall slay with the breath
The thought
of his
came: Ttwill need but a breath
from
utterly
Him to overcome,
but praise Him because
shall praise Him more. The simpler
f or w al ki ng, together
l ie s i n o ur
h avi ng
f ir st
with Christ. The Christian's
derive their strength primary
b een
ma de
as
t o si t
walk and warfare alike
from his position there. If he is not sit-
ting beJore God he cannot Satan's
for standing,
hope to stand beJore the enemy.
object is not to get us to sin, but simply
He has already
faith in Him. If we we
and clearer our Jaith in and the more
we shall praise. Let me say again: In Christ we are already conquerors.
praise-must
Only those who sit can stand. Our power
0
Him, the less we shall pray in such situations
pray for victory-unless
won.
not ask the
believe the Lord, we shall not pray so much but rather
it not obvious
victory too is already
We must
it, then we
the enemy, nor even look to
done so; He is Victor. It is all a matter
hurricane!
Then this
routed.
us to overcome
my Lord to finish him oH, and here am I trying to raise a Was not Satan once for all deJeated?
it is ours. If only we will
not try to gain the victory but simply to maintain
damental
then that,
since this is so, for us merely that prayer
is shot through
be 10 court defeat by throwing position?
experience?
sian readers.
to
with
away our fun-
Let me ask you: Has deJeat been your
Have you found
you will be strong enough can go no further
Is
yourself
hoping that one day
to win? Then my prayer for you
than that of the apostle Paul to his Ephe-
It is that God may open your eyes anew to see
yourself seated with Him who has Himself been made to sit
to make it easy for us to do so by getting us oH the ground
'far above all rule, and authority,
and power, and dominion,
of perfect
and every name that is named'
(1. 20, 21). The difficulties
Through
triumph
on to which
the avenue
our intellect
of the head or of the heart,
us.
through
or our feelings, he assaults our rest in Christ or
our walk in the Spirit. defensive
the Lord has brought
armour
But for every
is provided,
point
the helmet
of his attack
around
you may not alter; the lion may roar as loudly as
ever; but you need no longer
hope to overcome.
In Christ
Jesus you are victor in the field.
and the breast-
plate, the girdle and the shoes, while over all is the shield of f ai th
t o t ur n
exalted.
a si de
h is f ie ry
d art s.
F ait h
s ay s:
C hr is t
is
Faith says: We are saved by His grace. Faith says:
We have access through
Him. Faith says: He indwells
His Spirit (see 1.20; 2. 8; 3. 12, 17).
us by
But this is not all. Ephesians the personal
6 is concerned
side of our warfare.
work of God entrusted
to us-the
with more than
It has to do too with the utterance
of the mystery
of the Gospel of which Paul has already had much to say
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you,
(see 3.1-13). For this it arms us now with the sword of the
that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching
Word and its companion
that they shall ask, it shall be done for them ... For where two
'Take ...
weapon, prayer.
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all
prayer and supplication
praying
at all seasons in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and on my behalf that utterance may begiven unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak' (6. 17-20).
I want to say something
or three are gathered
together
in my name, there
anything
am 1.
(Matt. 18. 18-20). 'In that day ye shall ask me nothing. you, If ye shall ask anything my name.
Hitherto
Verily, verily, I say unto
of the Father, he will give it you in
have ye asked nothing
in my name: ask,
and ye shall receive, that your joy may be fulfilled .... day ye shall ask in my name'
In that
(John 16.23,24,26).
more about this warfare in its
relation to our work for God, for here we may encounter
a
None can be saved without
knowing
the name of Jesus,
difficulty. It is true, on the one hand, that our Lord Jesus is
and none can be effectively used of God without
seated 'far above all rule, and authority',
the authority
have been put 'in subjection
under
and that all things
knowing
of that name. The apostle Paul makes it clear
his feet' (1. 21, 22).
that the 'name' to which Jesus alludes in the above passages
Clearly it is in the light of this completed victory that we are
is not simply the name by which He was known while here
to 'give thanks always for all things in the name afJesus Christ'
among men. Tobe sure, it is that very self-same name of His
(5.20).
humanity,
Yet on the other hand we have to admit that we do
but it is that name invested now with the title
not yet see all things subject to Him. There are still, as Paul
and authority
says, hosts of wicked spirits in the heavenly
obedient
places, dark,
evil powers behind this world's rulers, occupying
territory
given to Him by God after He had become
to death (Phil. 2. 6-10). It is the outcome
sufferings, the name of His exaltation
that is rightly His. How far are we correct in calling this a
it is in that 'name
defensive warfare? We do not want to be falsely presump-
gather and that we ask of God.
tive. When, justified
therefore,
in occupying
and under what conditions territory
that
are we
is outwardly
the
enemy's and holding it in the name of the Lord Jesus? Let us 'take ...
Con-
sider first the following two passages: 'Verily I say unto you, What
things soever ye shall bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven: and what things soever ye shall
and glory; and today every name'
that we
is made not by Paul alone but already by
Jesus Himself in the second passage quoted above: 'Hitherto ye have asked nothing
the word of God' to help us here. What
does it tell us about prayer and action 'in the name'?
This distinction
which is above
of His
...
In that day ye shall ask' (verses
24, 26). For the disciples 'that day' will differ greatly from the 'now'
of verse 22. Something
they will receive
then,
use it. That something name.
they do not have now
and having received is the authority
it they will
that goes with His
O ur
e yes mu st
wrought
b e o pen ed
by the ascension.
establishes
the identity
Carpenter
of Nazareth,
represents
now the power
God, a power heaven
The name
kind of significance of the disciples
of Jesus
but it goes further and dominion
ch ang e certainly
the earth
recognized
that
with the that.
It
must bow. Even could
when
they inquired
the healing
be this
01 the lame man:
'By what power, or in what name, have ye done this?' (Acts 4.7).
14; 15. 16; 16. 23). Faced
t he n ame
authority
te ll s us t hat
G od h as c om mi tt ed
a ll
to His Son, so that in the very name itself there is
power. But 1urther, we must note in Scripture expression
'in the name'-that
the recurring
is to say, the use to which
the apostles in fact put that name. It is not only that He has such a name, but that we are to us e it. In three passages in His last discourse my name'
the Lord Jesus repeats
(see John
placed that authority
14.13,14;
the words
15. 16; 16.23-26).
For God thus to commit HimselI to His servants a tremendous
thing. Glance now with me at three incidents
in the Acts which serve to illustrate ...
our preaching 10-12)
through
cleansing,
it is effective to the salvation the remission
of their
justification,
and
into subjection
directions.
In
of men (Acts 4.
sins, and through
sanctification
to God it is
to bind and bring them
(Mark 16. 17; Luke 10. 17-19; Acts 16. 18).
And as we have already
this further:
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
6). 'Pa ul ...
turned
'Peter said,
walk'
(Acts 3.
and said to the spirit, 1 charge thee in
the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came (Acts 16. 18). 'Certain
...
exorcists,
took upon them to name over them which had the eviI spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, 1adjlue whom Paul preacheth
....
you by Jesus
And the eviI spirit answered
and
said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?' (Acts 19. 13, 15). Observe first the action of Peter in dealing with the cripthe mind of the Lord first. At once he says: 'Walk.'
(Luke 24. 47; Acts 10.43; 1 Cor. 6. 11). In our warfare mighty against the Satanic powers,
is indeed
the name as if it were his to use, not something heaven.
seen, in our asking it is effective
He uses
far away in
With Paul at Philippi it is the same. He senses in his
spirit that the Satanic activity has gone far enough.
in three
is very
pled man at the gate. He does not kneel and pray and ask
know our part in it we sufIer great loss. operates
words,
say: 'Lord, Your courage
He has
in our hands for us to use. Not only is
of His name
challenging
14. 13,
'ask in
it His, but it is 'given among men' (Acts 4. 12). If we do not The power
with these
ye shall ask
... ' (John
great!'
out that very hour'
To day
their
God, for twice we are told: 'Whatsoever
well might we reverently
every knee in
there
in a mere name,
concerning
than
towards
... ', and twice: 'If ye shall ask anything
given to Him by
before which
and beneath
leaders
m ig ht y
of the One in the throne
and a dominion
and earth
the Jewish
t o s ee t he
not told that thereupon
walk before God, and because dian of the name,
We are
he pauses to pray. No, his is a true this is so he can, as a custo-
take action almost as though
were in himself. He commands,
the power
and the evil spirit fIees 'that
very hour'. What is this? It is an example 'committal'
of what I shall call God's
of Himself to man. God has committed
to His servants
to act through
them,
Himself
as they take action 'in
the name'.
And they, what do they do? It is clear that they
do nothing
of themselves.
clearly
no other
another
apostle,
name,
They use the name. whether
their
own
Equally
or that
of
will have the same effect. All that takes
place results from the impact of the name of the Lord Jesus on the situation, and they are authorized to use that name.
The name of Jesus is in fact God's greatest legacy to her, for where such a self-committal Himself takes responsibility
of God is really operative,
He
for what is done in that name.
And God desires so to commit Himself, for He has allowed Himself no other means for completing
His task.
No work is worthy to be called a work of God if God is
God looks at His Son in the glory, not at us here on the
not, in this sense, committing
Himself to it. It is the autho-
earth. It is because He sees us seated with Him there that His
risation to use His name that counts.
name and His authority
stand up and speak in His name. If not, our work lack spirit-
ple illustration
can be entrusted
to us here. A sim-
will help to make this clear. Some time ago
my fellow-worker
We must be able to
ual impact. But let me tell you, this is not something
that
sent to me for a sum of money. I read his
can be 'worked up' at a time of crisis. It is a fruit of obedi-
letter, prepared what he had asked, and gave the sum to the
ence to God and of a resulting spiritual position known and
messenger.
maintained.
Was I right? Yes, certainly. The letter bore my
friend's signature,
and to me that was sufficient.
instead have asked the messenger employment
Should I
his name and age and
and native place, and then perhaps
It is something
we must have already if it is to
be available in a time of need. 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know.' Praise God for the sec-
sent him
ond! The evil powers recognize the Son; the Gospels give us
away because I objected to what he was? No, by no means;
plenty of evidence of this. But there are those also who are
for he had come in my friend's name, and I honoured
in union with the Son, and they too count in Hades. The
that
question is, Can God commit Himself thus to you? Let me illustrate again. If something
is to be done in my
name, it means that, subject to certain conditions, name to another
I give my
to use, and that I am then prepared to take
It is a mighty thing that God has done in thus committing
responsibility
Himself to His Church.
example, that I give him my cheque book and my signature.
servants dominion
the greatest
In so doing He has entrusted possible power;
to His
that of One whose
is 'above every name that is named, not only in
for what he does with it. It may mean, for
Of course, if I am poor, with no personal bank account, my name is of little moment.
this world, but also in that which is to come' (1. 21). Jesus
ber how, as a student,
is now exalted in heaven,
name
and all His work of saving men,
everywhere,
speaking to their hearts, and working for them miracles of
came to hand. Butwhen bank
the medium
of His servants as
they act in His name. Thus the Church's work is His work.
account-fourteen
I well remem-
I used to be fond of stamping my
on books,
His grace, is done through
standing and no
papers,
and anything
that
I first had a cheque book and a pounds
in the
Post Office-I
became very careful over the use of my personal
seal, for
fear someone
else should
name had become How powerful precious
to me.
for everything
I must
see the plan or I cannot
Today evangelism
and how wealthy
to Him is His name!
sponsibility
it and use it. * My
counterfeit
important
is our Lord Jesus! How
If, therefore, that happens
is assumed
be an intelligent
by most Christians
work of God. But evangelism
can never
thing. It must be integrated
in consequence,
in fact but a means to an end. That end is the pre-eminence
with God's whole plan, for it is
of the Son of God, and evangelism
you again: Can God commit
arnong whom
book',
Himself-His
His 'signature'-to
to be the
be an unrelated
He is to take re-
how careful must He be as to how that name is used! I ask His 'cheque
worker.
'bank
balance',
you? That question
is bringing
in the sons
He shall stand pre-eminent.
In Paul's generation
every believer had a specific relation
mmt be settled first. Then only can you use His name freely.
to the eterna
Then only 'what
16). That should be no less true of us today. The eyes of God
things soever ye shall bind on earth shall
be bound
in heaven'.
Then,
because
of the reality
of His
committal
to you, you can move as a true representative
of
Him in this world. That is the fruit of union with Him. Arc we in such a union commit
Himself to what
we shall be running
with only the promises point is, will God-can
into a situation
of God to back up our stand. The
Briefly Jet me outline which
we are doing? It seems often that
God-back
us up?
four essential
features
of a work to
to our hearts of the eternal
God. We cannot do without ing, even as an unskilled the objective
this. If I am working labourer,
pllrpose
of
on a build-
I must know
is a garage or an aeroplane
spiritual seeking
whether
hangar or a palace.
The Chinese custom is for everyone
chenH, a seal or die bearing
the characters
stone or ivory in an individual with an opaque written signature, signing cheques
to have his own personal
tu-
of his name carved in wood,
design. The impression
is usually
made
red ink. This is felt to be less easily forged than a handand the seal is kept under lock and key and used for and other personal
documents.-ED.
sovereign
of Solomon,
warfare
chapter
4.
11-
What we know
have to make way for
rulc of Christ.
But as with
so now, there is first a period of
represented
by the reign of David. God is with Him today in that
warfare. of the identification
the eternal purpose identified
will shortly
those who will co-operate
preparatory
tion to our hearts
of my purpose
of God. All Christian
is fragmentary
mately get anywhere.
and unrelated,
with
work that is not so and it does not ulti-
We have to seek from God a revela-
by His Holy Spirit of 't he counsel
will' (see 1.9-12) and then to ask ourselves
concerning
work to which
we are going back after reading
directly related
to that?'
questions *
His coming kingdom.
else-the
the kingdom
of God (sec especially
Christianity
It is a question
God can fully commit Himself. The first vital need is
of a true revelation
towards
as organized something
with the Lord that He will thus
a big risk in stepping
are turning
I purpose
of his the
this: 'Is it
When that is settled, all the small
of daily guidance
will solve themselves.
Secondly, all work that is going to be effective in the divine purpose
must be conceived
by God. If we plan work and
then ask God to bless it, we need not expect God to commit Himself to it. God's name can never be a 'rubber-stamp' authorize
work that is ours in conception.
to
True, there may
be blessing upon such work, but it will be partial and not full.
he is naturally a good organizer. But if that is so, how hard
There can be no 'in His name' there; only, alas, our name!
will he pray? If he is accustomed
'The Son can do nothing
of himself.'
How often in the
book of the Acts we find the Holy Spirit's prohibitions!
We
to depend on his natural
gifts, he may feel no need to cry to God. The trouble with us all is that there are so many things we can do without rely-
read in chapter 16 how Paul and those with him were 'for-
ing upon God. We must be brought
bidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia'. And
naturally gifted though we may be, we dare not act, we dare
again: 'The Spirit of Jesus suffered them not.' Yet this book
not speak, except in conscious
is the book of the acts of the Holy Spirit, not of His 'inactiv-
on Him.
ities'. Too often we think that the actual doing is what matters. We have to learn the lesson of not doing-of
keeping
Stephen
to the place where,
and continual
dependence
described Moses, after his Egyptian education,
as a man 'mighty
in his words and works'. Yet, after God
quiet for Him. We have to learn that if God does not move
had dealt with him, Moses had to say: 'Oh Lord, I am not
we dare not move. When we have learned
eloquent,
this, then it is
that He can safely send us forth to speak for Him. 1 must have, therefore, particular
sphere
a knowledge
of work.
should the work be initiated.
of God's will in my
Out of that knowledge
only
The abiding principle
of all
true Christian work is: 'In the beginning
God ... '
nor since thou hast spoken to
When a born orator comes to the place of saying 'I can't speak', then he has learned a fundamental
lesson and is on
the road to real usefulness for God. That discovery involves a crisis and then a lifelong process, both of them implied,
Thirdly, all work to be effective must depend for its continuance
neither heretofore
thy servant: for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.'
upon the power of God alone. What is power? We
surely, in Luke's expression 8. 16; 19.5).
'baptised
That expression
often use the word loosely. We say of a man, 'He is a very
the necessity for a fundamental
powerful
resurrection
speaker', but we have to ask ourselves the ques-
into the name'
(Acts
points every new believer to knowledge
of Christ in its relation
of the death and
to his entire natural
tion: What power is he using? Is it spiritual power or is it
man. Somehow, in our history with God, we must experi-
natural power? There is today all too much place given to
ence that initial crippling touch of His hand to weaken our
the power of nature
natural
in the service of God. We have got to
strength,
so that we stand forth on the ground of
learn that, even where God has initiated a work, if we are
resurrection
trying to accomplish
any claim. After that the circle goes on widening,
it in our own power
God will never
commit Himself to it. You ask me what
life in Christ alone, where death has no longer
areas of our own self-energy I mean
by natural
simply, it is what we can do without
power.
Put very
the help of God. We
give a man the task of organizing something-of
planning a
Gospel campaign or some other Christian activity-because
are brought
as fresh
under the work-
ing of the Cross. The way is a costly one, but it is God's sure way to fruitfulness
of life and ministry, for it provides Him
with the ground He requires in order that He may give His backing to what we do in the name of His Son.
In the work of God today things are often so constituted
precious
joy in any service
that brings Him pleasure
that we have no need to rely upon God. But the Lord's ver-
that opens the door to His working,
dict upon all such work is uncompromising:
joy is His glory and not man's. Everything
ye can do nothing.' God is wood,
hay, stubble,
so. For divine and that power made available
and the test of fire will prove it
work can only be done with divine power, is to be found in the Lord Jesus alone. It is to us in Him on the resurrection
Cross. That is to say, it is when where
in all honesty
works,
speak,'
and
of that
is 'to the praise of
the glory of his grace' (I. 6,12,14). It is when
these
an d G od t ha t believe
questions
are truly settled
G od w ill c om mi t
between
Hi ms el f-a nd
us
i nd ee d
I
He will allow us to say that then He has to do so.
Ex pe ri en ce
i n Ch in a
h as t au gh t
the point
ground
for doubt whether
that we dis-
enough
we find God is reluctant
u s thi s,
th at
i f t he re
our work is of God, then to answer
prayer
is
sure
in rela-
w e c om e t o an e nd o f ou r
tion to it. But when
it is wholly
His work begins. Thus the fire in the days to come
Himself in wonderful
ways. Then it is that, in utter obedi-
and the Cross today stand
side of the
we have reached
wc cry: 'I cannot
God is sp ea ki ng .
cover
'Apart from me
Such work as man can do apart from
but the ground
W he n
effect the same thing.
the Cross today will not survive
work, which is done in my power
the fire later. If my
is brought
much comes out of the grave? Nothing!
What cannot to death,
Nothing
how
ever sur-
of Him, He will commit
ence to Him, you can use His name, to recognise Himself
your authority
to a thing,
and all Hell will have
to do so. When
then He comes
God commits
out in power
to prove
that He is in it and is Himself its Author.
vives the Cross but what is wholly of God in Christ. God never asks us to do anything t o l iv e a l if e w hi ch which
we can never
we can do. He asks us
we ca n n eve r l iv e a n d t o d o a w or k do. Yet, by His grace, we are living it
Let me give you in closing an experience
of my own. A few
and doing it. The life we live is the life of Christ lived in the
years after the beginning
power of God, and the work we do is the work of Christ car-
period of severe testing. They were days of disappointment
ried on through
us by His Spirit whom
and near-despair.
We had come in for a great deal of criti-
only obstruction
to that life and to that work. May wc each
cism and discredit
on account
one pray from our hearts:
we obey. Self is the
Finally, the end and object of all work to which commit
Himself must be His glory. This means
nothing
out of it for ourselves.
the less we get of personal the greater
is its true value
g lo ry t o m an
i n t he w or k
resulting
'0 Lord, deal with me!' God can
that we get
It is a divine principle
gratification
that
out of such a work
to God. There is no room for o f God . Tr ue , t her e
is a d ee p,
of our work we entered
of the stand we were taking,
in coolness and estrangement,
the Lord's true people. ined the charges
even on the part of
We had honestly
made against
to take criticism seriously
upon a
faced and exam-
us, for it is essential
and examine
always
it, and not to pass it
off with 'Oh! he's just criticizing me!' Yet we had reason to believe
that the Lord was with us, for, as a particularly
difficult year drew to its close, we were able to reckon
that
within that period He had given us several hundreds
of real
Then, at the year's end, it seemed that a climax
until eventually
for several years it had been our custom at the
his attic.
conversions.
the village for somewhere
New Year public holiday to hold a convention believers
of different
connections
province.
This year the sponsors
of the convention
the asked
on planks and straw in
It was not long before the herbalist became our first con-
in the city for
from throughout
to lodge,
a Chinese herbalist had pity on us and took
us in, making us quite comfortable
was reached. Annually
So we sought through
vert. But though we laboured systematically
and hard, and
though we found the people of the village most courteous,
me not to attend. The request came as a shock to us. It was,
we had very little fruit from the island, and we began to
I now realize, an attempt by the Evil One to draw me and
wonder why this was.
my brethren
On January
off our ground of rest in Christ. The question
9th we were outside preaching.
Brother Wu
with some others was in one part of the village and sud-
was, how would we react? The New Year holiday is a long one, lasting fully fifteen
denly
asked
publicly:
'Why will none
of you believe?'
days, and besides being a suitable period for a convention,
Someone in the crowd replied at once: 'We have a god-one
it is also the best time for Gospel preaching.
god-Ta-wang,*
After seeking
and he has never failed us. He is an effec-
the Lord's will we became clear that He would have us use
tive god.' 'How do you know that you can trust him?' asked
it for the latter purpose,
Wu. 'We have held his festival procession every January
so I planned
to take with me five
brothers for a fifteen-day preaching visit to an island off the
286 years. The chosen day is revealed by divination
South
hand, and every year without
brother
China
coast. At the last moment
whom I shall call 'brother
another
young
Wu' joined the party. He
withollt rain or cloud,' was the reply. 'When is the procession this year?' 'It is fixed for January
school, but he had just lately been born again and there was
morning.'
a marked change in his life. Moreover
you that it will certainly
he was very eager to
I agreed to take him. This
The island was a fairly large one with a big main village of 'six thousand as headmaster
stoves'. An old school-mate
was an outburst
said brother
advance asking for a room in which we might lodge during 1st to 15th. When however
Wu impetuously,
'I promise
rain on the 11th.' At once there
of cries from the crowd: 'That is enough! If there is rain
I was elsewhere
in the village when this occurred.
As
soon as I heard of it I saw that it was most serious. The news had
spread
like wildfire,
and before
long over twenty
we ar-
rived, late and in darkness, and when he discovered we had come for Gospel preaching,
at eight in the
on the 11th, then your God is God!'
of mine was there
of the village school, and I wrote to him in
our stay from January
'Then,'
11 th
We don't want to hear any more preaching.
made us seven in all.
before-
fail his Day is a perfect one
was only sixteen years of age and had been expelled from
come, so after some hesitation
for
he refused us accommodation.
*
Pronounced
sounded.
with a long a as in 'car' and with the final mg very lightly
The name means 'Great King'.-ED.
thousand
people would know about it. What were we to
do? We stopped our preaching
at once, and gave ourselves
I tell you, we were in deadly earnest.
What had we done? Had we made a terrible mistake,
or
dare we ask God for a miracle? to prayer from God, the
more you desire to be clear with Him. There must be no
were in coincidence with
Him, but
shadow between.
We did not
thrown out if we had done something can't
drag
rcllccted,
If your faith
you could afford to have a controversy
not otherwise.
God into a thing
be out again. They, of all people, when it would not rain for
two or three days ahead. This disturbed us. As we went to our evening prayer, we all began once more to pray for rain-now!
Then it was that
there came to us a stern rebuke from the Lord: 'Where is the
The more you want an answer
doubt about fellowship-no
15th they would
should know by long experience
to prayer. We asked the Lord to forgive us if we had overstepped ourselves.
the
mind
being
His will! But, we
this would mean an end to the Gospel testimony
in the island, and Ta-wang would reign supreme
battle, or were we going to rest in the finished victory of Christ? What had Elisha done when he spoke those words? He had laid claim in his own personal
wrong. After all, you
against
God of Elijah?' Were we going to fight our way through this
experience
to the
very miracle that his lord Elijah, now in the glory, had himself performed.
In
New Testament
terms, he had taken his
stand by faith on the ground of a finished work. We confessed our sins again. 'Lord,' we said, 'we don't
for ever.
What should we do? Should we leave now?
need rain until the 11th morning.' next morning
Up to this point we had feared to pray for rain. Then, like
We went to bed, and
(the 10th) we set off for a neighbouring
island for a day's preaching.
The Lord was very gracious,
a flash, there came the word to me: 'Where is the God of
and that day three families turned to Him, confessing Him
Elijah?' It came with such clarity and power that I knew it
publicly and burning their idols. We returned
was from God. Confidently
but rejoicing. We could afford to sleep late tomorrow.
have the answer.
I announced
to the brothers:
'I
The Lord will send rain on the I Ith.'
late, tired out
I was awakened by the direct rays of the sun through
the
Together we thanked Him, and then, full of praise, we went
single window of our attic. 'This isn't rain!' I said. It was
out-all
already past seven
seven of us-and
told everyone.
We could accept
clock. I got up, knelt down and prayed.
0 '
the devil's challenge in the name of the Lord, and we would
'Lord,' I said, 'please send the rain!' But once again, ringing
broadcast our acceptance.
in my ears came the word: 'Where
That evening the herbalist made two very pointed observations.
Undoubtedly,
he said, Ta-wang
was an effective
Humbled, I walked downstairs down
to breakfast-eight
god. The devil was with that image. Their faith in him was
host-all
not groundless.
Alternatively,
knew God was committed.
tic explanation,
here was a whole village of fishermen.
two or three months
if you preferred
a rationalisFor
on end the men were at sea, and on
is the God of Elijah?'
before God in silence. We sat
of us together,
including
our
very quiet. There was no cloud in the sky, but we As we bowed to say grace before
the food I said, 'I think the time is up. Rain must come now. We can bring it to the Lord's remembrance:
Quietly we did
so, and this time the answer came with no hint whatever
of
prayer: 'Lord, send rain on the 14th at 6-00 p.m. and give us four good days until
rebuke in it. 'Where is the God of Elzjah?' Even before our Amen we heard a few drops on the tiles. There was a steady shower
then.'
That afternoon
the sky
cleared, and now we had a good hearing for the Gospel. The Lord gave us over thirty converts-real
ones-in
the village
as we ate our rice and were served with a second bowl. 'Let
and in the island during those three short days. The 14th
us give thanks again:
broke, another
heavier
I said, and now we asked God for
rain. As we began on that second bowl of rice the
rain was coming down in buckets-full.
By the time we had
the
evening
perfect day, and we had good meetings. approached
we
remembrance.
the three steps at the door of the house were covered.
rential rain and floods as before.
we heard
what
had happened
in the
village.
Already, at the first drop of rain, a few of the younger
gen-
and
again,
at the
appointed hour, we quietly brought the matter to the Lord's
finished, the street outside was already deep in water and
Soon
met,
As
Not a minute late, His answer came with tor-
The next day our time was up and we had to leave. We have not been back. Other workers asked for those islands
eration had begun to say openly: 'There is God; there is no
and we never question anyone's
claim to a field. But for us
more Ta-wang! He is kept in by the rain.' But he wasn't.
the essential point was that Satan's power in that idol had
They carried him out on a sedan chair. Surely he would stop
been broken,
the shower! Then came the downpour.
more 'an effective god'. The salvation
or twelve
yards, three
After only some ten
of the coolies stumbled
and fell.
Down went the chair and Ta-wang with it, fracturing jaw and his left arm. emergency
they carried out
repairs and put him back in the chair. Somehow,
slipping and stumbling, way round
Still determined,
his
they dragged or carried him half-
the village. Then the floods defeated
them.
and that is an eternal thing. Ta-wang was no of souls would fol-
low, but was in itself secondary to this vital and unchanging fact. The impression on us all was a lasting one. God had committed Himself. We had tasted the authority that is above every name-the heaven
and earth
name
and hell. In those
of the name
that has power
in
few days we had
Some of the village elders, old men of 60 to 80 years, bare-
known what it is to be, as we say, 'in the very centre of the
headed
will of God'. Those words were no longer something
weather
and without required,
ties. The procession house. Divination
umbrellas
as their faith in Ta-wang's
had fallen and were in serious difficulwas stopped and the idol taken into a was made. 'Today was the wrong day:
came the answer. 'The festival is to be on the 14th with the procession
at six in the evening.'
Immediately our hearts:
we heard this there came the assurance in
'God will send rain on the 14th.' We went to
or visionary ourselves
to us. They described an experience
been through.
vague we had
Together we had been granted
a
brief glimpse of 'the mystery of his will' (I. 9; 3. 10). We would go softly all our days. Years later I met 'brother I had lost touch
with
him,
and in the interval
Wu'.
he had
become a pilot in the Airways. When I asked him whether he still followed the Lord, 'Mr Nee!' he said, 'do you mean
to say that after all we went through
I could ever forsake
Him?' Do you see what gain ground; Lord Jesus moved
it means to 'stand'?
we merely
has gained
stand
for us, and resolutely
from it. When
our eyes are really
Christ as our victorious freely and without
Lord, then
restraint.
(5.
19-20).
P ra is e
t hat
and discordant
taneously
from hearts
i s t he
which
the
refuse to be opened
to see
our praise flows forth
Singing
hearts to the Lord, we give thanks laboured
We do not try to
on the ground
with melody
in our
for all things in His name o ut co me
o f ef for t
h as
a
note, but praise that wells up sponat rest in Him has always
a pure,
sweet tone. The Christian
life consists of sitting with Christ, walking
by Him and standing resting
in Him. We begin our spiritual
in the finished
work of the Lord Jesus. That rest is
the source of our strength walk in the world.
for a consistent
and unfaltering
And at the end of a gruelling
with the hosts of darkness at last in triumphant
life by
we are found standing
possession
'Unto him ...
of the field.
be the glory ...
for ever.'
warfare with Him
