GOING INTO THE HOUSE OF GOD TOGETHERThe psalmist exclaims in Psalm 84:1,2, "How amiable are Thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of Hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God", and in v.10 he says, "For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of the wicked". This was his own personal desire. But David's heart was warm with the gladness and fellowship of kindred spirits when he said in Ps. 122, "I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord"Such heart desires are a sure sign of soul prosperity. When Moses and the children of Israel sang to the Lord together in the first joy of their redemption out of Egypt, they desired to prepare Him an habitation (Ex.15:2). This touched the Lord's heart deeply, and many centuries later, when they had left Him for other gods, He said, "I remember thee and the kindness of thy youth (Jer.2:2). They built the Tabernacle under the direction of Moses, and Solomon later built the Temple on a much grander scale. The glory of the Lord did indeed fill both of these Divine dwelling places (Ex.40:34,35, I Kings 8:10,11), and while they were both only passing shadows of the 'better things' that were to come through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, two vital principles were established relating to God's dwelling place - one in Psalm 93:5, "Holiness becometh thine house, 0 Lord, forever", and the other, Psalm 89:7, "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him". These two remain true today (2 Cor.7:1; Heb. 12:28). It is also true now that "The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands" (Acts 7:48), that is, not in a material building, but He still delights to dwell among His people. In I Pet.2:5, Peter speaks of a 'spiritual house' built of 'livings tones'. To the saints at Corinth Paul says, "Ye are the temple of the living God", (2 Cor.6:16), and h is purpose in writing to Timothy was, that one might know how to behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God (l Tim.3:15). Then we have the promise given by the Lord Himself in Matt 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them". There is a joint nearness and liberty to be enjoyed here in a measure that exceeds what was known in Israel before the Saviour came. We know that since Christ has risen, and gone to the right hand of God, each believer has direct and personal access to the throne of grace continually (Heb.4:14-16), and we can each enjoy personal fellowship with our Father and with His Son our Lord Jesus Christ as we walk in the light (I John 1:3). But when we gather in the house of God for prayer, worship, instruction or service, there is a communion to be realised that excludes self-interest and binds us closer to Him and to one another, because we are in His presence together. This is specially so when we gather together to break bread on the first day of the week. It is called 'the Lord's Supper' (I Cor 11:20), and He has promised to sup with us (Rev.3:20). We can use the language of Song of Solomon 2:4, "He brought me into the banqueting house and His banner over me was love". He takes the place of Guest of Honour. As we remember Him and meditate together on 'the things concerning Himself', the sacrifices of praise ascend to God, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name (Heb.13:15). These are acceptable spiritual sacrifices (I Pet~2:5), and they are intended to ascend with the 'Amen' of all (l Cor. 14:16). This theme of communion as we worship together in spirit and in truth should govern all that we say and do no such occasions, and we must never forget Solomon's sober exhortation in Eccles.5: 1-7. But the blessed results that flow from being together in His presence are manifold. As we consider Him in all the perfection of His character, beholding as in a mirror His glory, we are transformed into the same image progressively by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor.2:18). In this way the family likeness of the children of God becomes more evident in us, and He can say with increasing delight, "Behold I, and the children that God hath given Me". How much the disciples learned of Him, gathered around Himself in the upper room, just before His betrayal. How sympathetically and lovingly He prepared them for the time when they would be His witnesses in a hostile world in His absence. He gave them His own example of humility in the service of others. He shed abroad His love in their hearts and set it as the standard of their love one to another. He calmed their hearts with His peace and filled them with His joy. He taught them of their place in Him, and how they must abide in Him to bring forth fruit, for apart from Him they could do nothing. He led them into the thoughts of His Father concerning Himself, themselves and the world. He gave them the promise of another Comforter. He spoke of the Father's House and promised to come again for them to receive them to Himself. He would minister these things to us still as we gather together in His house. There were other times when the Lord withdrew from the multitudes into the house with His disciples and expanded His teaching in a way that others were not able to appreciate. In Matt.13: 36-52 He expounded the parable of the tares to the disciples, adding the parables of the hid treasure and the pearl of great price, in this way disclosing to His own, the preciousness of the saints to His heart, and the price He must pay to redeem them . In Mark 17:17 He expounded more fully to His disciples His earlier saying, showing them the utter corruption of the human heart and giving them a more detailed picture of the evil things that come from within and defile a man.In Mark 9:28 in response to the disciple's enquiry, He showed them the cause of their failure, and taught them that there are times of special need when other things must be set aside to make room for earnest prayer. In Mark 9:33 we have an incident that must have searched them deeply. They had been travelling together, and when they were in the house He asked them, "What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way"? But they did not answer, for it had been the recurring question, who should be the greatest? How eloquent and compelling His action was. He sat down and called the twelve, and said unto them, "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all". Are there disputes among us remaining unresolved as we come into the His House with Him? If we are truly aware of His presence we will hear Him ask, "What was it"? And we will hear His still small voice calling us to Him together and presenting the remedy. In Mark 10:10 after a discussion with the Pharisees about divorce, He withdraws to the house with His disciples, and takes the matter further in reply to their question, shedding light on the matter of remarriage as well, and giving them incentive to maintain the standards of the kingdom of God in such circumstances (Matt. 19:10-12) Finally, some days before the last Passover, Jesus was in the house with His disciples and Mary came and anointed His feet with costly ointment. This unspoken gesture of love and devotion was deeply appreciated by the Lord, and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. In a similar way our hearts can respond too, like the bride in Song of Sol. 1:12, "While the king sitteth at His table (or, in His circle), my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof". David sums it all up for us in Ps.36:7-9, "How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, 0 God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings (See 2 Chron.7: 10-13). They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house, and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. For with Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy light shall we see light". - R.M. Goatley. CHRIST, THE PERFECT MANThe Lord Jesus, when here on earth, was the only perfect Man this world has ever seen. He was all and always perfect, under the eye of God and before men - perfect in thought, word and action. In Him every moral quality met in perfect proportion and manifestation. No single feature predominated. In "the Man Christ Jesus" there were perfectly blended a majesty which overawed, and a gentleness which gave perfect ease in His presence. The Scribes and Pharisees met His withering rebukes, while the poor Samaritan, and "the woman that was a sinner", found themselves unaccountably yet irresistibly attracted to Him.No one feature of His character displaced another, for all was in fair proportion. He could say in reference to the five thousand hungry people that followed Him in the barren desert, "Give ye them to eat", and when they were all filled, He commanded, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost". The benevolence and the economy are seen to be equally perfect, and neither interferes with the other. Each shines in its own proper sphere. He could not send away a hungry people without food, nor could He suffer God's provision to be wasted. He would bountifully meet the need of men with a full and liberal hand, and when that was done, He would carefully see to that which was not required, so that nothing provided by God for human need, should be lost. There was nothing meager in His measure of supply, nor was there any extravagance in the manner of His providing for man's need. In this, as in all else in which the Lord Jesus appears, He is ever absolutely perfect in His character and ways. What a lesson there is for us in all this! How frequently with us, does benevolence resolve itself into unwarrantable waste, while on the other hand, how often is our economy marred by the exhibition of a miserly spirit. At times our selfish hearts refuse to open themselves to supply the needs that present themselves, while at other times we squander, through a wanton extravagance, that which might meet the need of many a fellow-creature. But there were none of these inequalities in our blessed Lord. He was perfect in all that He did and gave, and equally so in all that He refused to sanction. How blessed and refreshing it is to the soul, to be so occupied with Him in all the perfections of His character and ways, as these were manifested throughout His earthly course. - C.H.M. The light that from the Saviour shone Was perfect in its beam, And gave to all on whom it fell A glorious heavenly beam. AN INSTRUMENT OF TEN STRINGSDavid's ten-stringed harp had its own power of melody, and all the strings combined under the touch of his fingers to swell the strain. That skilled hand touched the trembling strings as the master willed. Some might be seldom bidden to speak, while others might bear the chief burden of the accompanying harmonies, but had one string been broken, or out of tune, how it would have troubled the musician's ear, for in a well-tuned harp there is an unbroken sympathy of sound.Likewise, when the Word of Christ dwells richly in His saints, they speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and sing with grace in their hearts to Him. Would that it were more so with us. But too often the harp strings are out of tune, too often mute in the praises of our Lord Jesus. - Anon THE BOOK OF GODA DIVINE REVELATION AND A PERFECT GUIDEWe believe that the Bible, as written in the original Hebrew and Greek languages, is the very Word of the only wise and the only true God. With Him, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. He sees the end from the beginning, and not only the end, but every stage of the way. We therefore hold it to be nothing short of blasphemy to assert that we have arrived at a time when the Bible is not sufficient, or that we are compelled to travel outside its covers to find ample guidance and instruction for the whole of our earthly pilgrimage.The Bible is a perfect chart in which every contingency of the Christian mariner has been anticipated. Every rock, every sandbank, every shoal, every strand, every island has been carefully noted down. All the need of the Church of God, its members and its ministers has been most fully provided for. How could it be otherwise since the Bible is the Word of God? Could the mind of God have devised, or His finger sketched an imperfect chart? Impossible! We must either deny the Divinity or admit the sufficiency of the Book. We are absolutely shut up to these alternatives. There is not so much as a single point between those two positions. If the Book is incomplete, it cannot be of God; if it be of God, it must be perfect. But if we are compelled to turn to other sources for guidance and instruction, as to the path of the Church of God, its members or its ministers, then the Bible is incomplete. What then are we to do? If the Bible is not a Divine and therefore all-sufficient guide book, what remains? Some would turn to tradition. But once we have launched into that wide field, our ears are assailed by many strange and conflicting sounds. We may meet with a tradition which seems authentic, venerable, well worthy of respect and confidence, but directly we have done so, another tradition crosses our path, presenting equally strong claims on our confidence, yet leading us in quite an opposite direction. Thus it is with tradition. The mind is bewildered, and one is reminded of the assembly at Ephesus concerning which we read, "Some cried one thing, and some another; for the assembly was confused" (Acts 19:32). The fact is, we need a perfect guide and standard, and this we have by Divine revelation within the covers of our most precious Bible. We can rest with complete confidence on the Divine declaration of 2 Tim.3:16,17, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work". How we should bless God for this. How we should praise His Name for His mercy, in that He has not left His Church dependent on the conflicting shadows of human tradition, but on the steady light of Divine revelation. We do not want tradition to assist Revelation, but we use Revelation as the test of tradition. What Revelation does not sanction, we reject. - Slightly Abridged FAMILY AFFECTIONTHE ATMOSPHERE OF THE HEAVENLY LAND No atmosphere seems to suit the neighbourhood of heaven better than that of family affection. We have the witness of the Word for this. Jacob was dying. Joseph brings his two sons to the bedside. The patriarch has an important business to fulfil under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He has to adopt these two children of a strange woman into the family, and give them the highest privileges of descent from Abraham. He has to utter the counsels of God concerning them - that the elder shall serve the younger. He has to give to Joseph, one portion above his brethren - the earnest of the right and inheritance of the firstborn. But before he sets himself to finish all this weighty matter, which concerned the order of the people of God on the earth, he indulges his heart in company with his son, going over some family recollections, and retouching in his soul, some of the tenderest personal sensibilities. He speaks to Joseph about his mother's grave, when she died, and where she was buried. And this is surely not in vain. It is not without its purpose. He was on the skirts of the heavenly land where family affection is to bloom in all its full loveliness; where the many-mansioned house of the Father is to witness the family dwelling of brethren, and the marriage of the Lamb. The heart of the patriarch, thus in the glow of family happiness, was in spirit very near to heaven. It is similar in 2 Timothy chapter 1. Paul was ready to be "offered", and the time of his departure was at hand. He was on the borders of the homeland, where his hopes and possessions were. He had weighty business to do with Timothy, his true child in the faith. He must advise, encourage and instruct him by the Holy Spirit, touching the churches here, their condition, and the character of his service in the midst of them. But before he enters on this, like the dying patriarch, he indulges his heart in company with his dear son, over some family recollections. He tells Timothy of his own forefathers, and reminds him of his mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5). He calls up the remembrance of Timothy's personal affection for him, and thus he gratifies his own heart by such glances at past days, when the flow of fervent love and desire went from heart to heart between them. This was the atmosphere in which the spirit of Paul moved and had its being, now that he had come to the very borders of the heavenly country. It suited none better than these purer regions, and happy it surely is, to have such a witness of this truth. The Spirit thus conducts the redeemed, whether in earlier or latest days, to the neighbourhood of the Holy Jerusalem, their eternal home. He gives them to breathe the element of simple, family affection, and to indulge their hearts in the joy of well known personal attachments. Surely heaven will have its atmosphere as well as its scenery. The place will be instinct and alive with a moral and family element, as well as furnished with heavenly glories. There will be in our home above, a home for every sense and faculty; a heaven for the eye, for the ear and the heart; a heaven for the ardour of love that is pure, and for affections that are undefiled. But we can enjoy foretastes of the joys and felicities of the homeland, even as we travel through this world where envy and malice give character to so much that is around us. In the economy of redemption, the Holy Spirit is the "earnest" of our inheritance. He comes from that land of glory with the pledge and firstfruits of it, for the first unfoldings of the fruit of the Spirit are love, joy and peace (Gal.5: 22). If we are wearied with the spirit that animates the scenes around us, we may well long for such a change of 'air' as these Scriptures promise us. What will the refreshment and repose of heart be, in the atmosphere of such regions and dwellings of love? - Extract J.G. Bellett. LIE NOT ONE TO ANOTHER - Col. 3:9.It is true that the sin of lying is not included in the lists of sins for which one that is "called a brother" is to be separated from the fellowship. We believe that the reason for this is not that the sin of lying is in itself any less heinous than the other sins mentioned, but that it is generally the plague-spot that betrays some deeper sin. For example, the lie of Sarah (Gen.18:15) covered unbelief; that of Gehazi (2Kings 5:25) covered covetousness, and that of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) also, no doubt, was intended as a cloak for covetousness and pride of position among believers.It is necessary in judging the moral character of a lie, to look deeper than the lie itself. There are lies uttered under pressure of fear, such as Rahab's when she hid the spies, and Sarah's denial that she laughed, which, though evil, are very different in moral character from those lies against the character of God, and concerning the nature of sin and coming judgment, which are deceiving the souls of men unto utter destruction. "No lie is of the truth" (I John 2:21). "Satan is the father of lies" (John 8:44). The entrance of sin was through the belief of a lie, and the forgiveness of sins is through the belief of the truth. "Whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" entereth not into the Holy City; and "all liars" shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. (See Rev.21: 8,17; 22:15). With such Scriptures before us it is evident that no lie can be regarded lightly, and yet how deeply this cuts. Are there not innumerable deceptions practiced even among Christians, which, if tested by the standard of Scripture, are nothing more than lies? A mere surmise is retailed as a fact by one, and again added to by another, and so passed on until it becomes an established lie in the midst of many - a root of bitterness causing endless sorrow and trouble. - J.R. Caldwell THE HEALING OF RESTORATIONI have seen his ways and will heal him - Isaiah 62:18. Healing, in a spiritual sense, is often referred to in connection with the backslidings of God's people when He forgives them. "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings" (Jer.3: 22).The soul that truly seeks God's pardon is not content with forgiveness only, it desires cleansing and healing as well. When we are in earnest about our soul's salvation, it is not deliverance from the guilt of sin alone that we seek, but from its defilement and power also. And these are all included in the promises of God. The Cross of Christ is the source of our healing as well as our pardon - "With His stripes we are healed" (lsa.53:5). As we received pardon, so we receive healing. Both are the fruit of Christ's death, and both are accepted by faith. "Thy faith hath made thee whole" (Mark 5:34). It is only the soul that is living in the wholeness of this spiritual healing that is ready to meet temptation. We fall before the allurements of sin, because temptation too often finds us enfeebled through want of this. Let us seek and claim that which God has given us in Christ. - Selected. THE MODEL CHURCHHow beautiful that church must beWhere Watchful is the Porter; Whilst Prudence has the Oversight, With Patience as Exhorter. Where Harmony conducts the Praise, Humility pervades the place, Simplicity adorns the walls, Here Mercy wears her diadem, - T. Blair Please address Wholesome Words correspondence to: R.M. Goatley, |