Lively and rich exhortation from T. Austin-Sparks of blessed Memory
Brother I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. (Ephesians 1:18 NIV)
“The eyes of yourheart enlightened…” discerning love. Love is as far removed from blindness as heaven from earth. “Love is blind”? No – not true love. The fact is that true love sees everything, but transcends everything. The love of Christ for His disciples was not blind love that did not know His men, love that was duped, deceived, misled, but eventually found out that they were not the men He thought they were. No, “He… knew what was in man” (John 2:24). His love saw everything and could tell them beforehand exactly what they would do; but love persisted in face of it all. Love is a great seeing thing.
If you are consumed with a burning love for the Lord, you will be very quick of scent as to what is doubtful and questionable. You will not need to be frequently and continuously told when a thing is not right. No, love for the Lord will bring you quickly to see and to sense there is something that needs to be adjusted. You may not know what it is at the time, but you have a sense that all is not well. Love will do it. All the instruction in the world will not bring you to it. You may have the Word of God brought to you on all such points, and you might even say, “All right, because you say so, because it is in the Bible, I will do it, I will be obedient.” Do you think that is good enough? Such a thing has never come to you through the eyes of your heart. But, mark you, if this love, this discerning love, has really filled your heart by all the intelligence of the Holy Spirit indwelling you, you will sense it without being told; or if it should be brought to you from the Word, that within you will say, “Yes, I know that is right, the Lord tells me that is right.” Do you not think that is the kind of Christian that is needed, and what the Lord needs at the end? That is what He has had in mind from the beginning and He calls that first love that is quick of scent to see what needs to be cut off or added, what adjustments are necessary, and does accordingly. You do not have to follow round and say, “Please do this; have you never taken note that you might be helpful in this way?” You do not have to do that where there is devotion, love watchful all the time, aliveness, alertness, perception, readiness to do without being all the time told to do it. Real devotion to the Lord is something that far outreaches legality. First love is discerning love.
All knowledge both temporal and spiritual has something inherent in it to catalyst pride. Despite this truth, God still gives both temporal and spiritual knowledge to man. Through His gift of temporal knowledge, man has discovered and invented a lot of temporal things that help us live well while we are on the earth. Man owes thanks to God; may He be praised in all the earth!
God has distributed temporal knowledge to all men such that, no one man has better knowledge of all the temporal things more than anyone else. A professor of aeronautic engineering or law may have less knowledge and be lectured about fishing, farming or hunting by persons skilled in such fields. All humans have areas they are illiterate. This is meant to curtail pride in man. But does it? No, not in this fallen world we live in where the fittest set the norms, ethos and structure such to benefit them.
As a result, man considers that some things are superior and more valuable than others. This factor accentuates pride in man and makes God’s intent of equality enshrined in complementation a strange and difficult concept for man to comprehend. The difficulty is not limited to temporal knowledge but is the same also with His gift of spiritual knowledge. This assertion is authenticated as we read in the scriptures, “… even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud” 2 Corinthians 12:7NLT.
For Christians, we learn from Christ’s dealings in Paul’s life that, we need to be humble and God’s ways are mysteriously active to so help us. It is important to point out that the situation was not unique to Paul. It is an ordination for all who will inherit eternal life through Christ and in Christ. Therefore, we like Paul and other saints of God, must face contradictions, perplexities, crushing etc and meet it all with patient endurance or perseverance. That is what His grace is supplied for. And, that is the only way we will glory with Him—through His grace in overcoming by faith and patience like other saints who have gone to be with Him. Faith and patience are the only evidence that God is and is becoming Lord over our spirit, soul and body. The result is ultimately a humble walk with God and men. The person(s) in whom God has worked and is walking through their spirit, soul and body has/have become a highway of God’s city.
Those who increase in God’s knowledge must be prepared to increase in His dealings unless we want to end up like Demas, Judas, the Pharisees, the widows that strayed after Satan 1 Timothy 5:15 etc.
While there is joy to enjoy as we increase in the knowledge of God, there are pains to bear, one’s weaknesses to discover and overcome, ambush to overcome, betrayals, insults, accusations and crafty and diabolical lies told against us that must be ignored—all for Christ’s sake—and for the glory that is in Him.
Therefore, our admonition is, ‘if we want to glory, boast or be proud, let it be only in the cross of Christ. Showing we have tasted bitter waters and He made it sweet in our bellies (souls). And we have His mark in our bodies’. Galatians 6:14. That is maturity!
Maturity is not assumption. It is not by popular opinion held about us that we are a loving, humble and good people and therefore, are accepted, loved, supported, given opportunities and positions. It is rather, having the signs of His mark in our bodies.
Signs of His Mark: Soul and Hand
We don’t speak when He doesn’t want us to speak though it may portray us as idiotic, senseless, unwise and lacking understanding, dumb, fearful and weak.
We speak when He wants us to though it makes us appear stupid, trouble makers, unwise and assumed arrogant.
We endure rather than act when He wants us to endure though everyone or almost everyone thinks it is time to act and vice versa
We lose when He says, “lose” though it may show us as utterly irresponsible and lazy
We fight with no restraint or care for our lives when He says, “fight” the course though it may confirm us as indeed stubborn, divisive, individualist, proud, unwise, suicidal and ungodly.
We stand up straight again after even the devil knocks us down and refuse to be consumed or discouraged by what people and devils think
We grow in leaps and bounds in spirit and truth giving us a steady lifestyle of glorifying Christ both in abounding and debasing situations though many people dream otherwise for us.
We leave “this and that opportunity” when God says so though, it may make one seem dull, not able to detect and seize opportunities.
Conclusion
All knowledge (spiritual and temporal) has the potential to puff up but, maturity humbles. Though increased knowledge is not maturity, maturity is not without increase in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ that gives increase in grace.
The five wise virgins—that is, the sons of God brought to glory by Christ, knew the difference between having knowledge and maturity. So, their actions appeared “wicked, unloving, and not humble” so to speak when they refused to share their oil with the five foolish virgins Matthew 25:7-9. Knowing when to apply knowledge is maturity. They did not allow the knowledge of, “It is written give to everyone who asks of you” to be used to confuse them from obeying the voice of the Spirit. Saleh!
Maturity reminded them that they did not have enough to spare. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” Romans 8:14.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
The devil never gives up easily in his effort to derail saints and to keep those outside Christ from ever getting to receive Him. He will use any means possible. He is desperate if we care to know—that is, if we still believe that there is a Satan at all.
While in the past, he used the usual kind of hypocrites (those who are hard on others but soft on themselves); he has long included a special kind of hypocrites.
These special kinds of hypocrites are increasing by their numbers in this generation like never before. Special kinds of hypocrites! What is that?
Now, we have those who are in Christ (especially preachers) who will not touch or go near sin under any heading— they love Jesus, fear God and rely on the Holy Spirit to live their lives. They don’t kid with praying fervently, don’t just read the bible but study it deeply, pursue love with their hearts because they fear God and understand that everyone without exception will reap what he or she sows Galatians 6:7, Revelation 14:13. So, they are quite aware that God’s justice cannot be bribed by a cover up with “born again” façade Matt 7:21, John 4:34.
But, in spite of all the wonderful virtues they have as listed above, when it comes to their work (serving the church) and reaching the world with their ministry and spiritual gifts, they become smart with God because they want followership. They want to be reckoned with in the religious world. They want to be identified with a prestigious camp (theological niche). Therefore, they teach tactically the devil’s lies about Christ’s doctrines (watered down) in such a way that they themselves don’t secretly believe and live as they prescribe for others to. They live their lives better in accordance to Christ’s true doctrine for His honor and their safety but tell others to believe and live less by the watered down doctrines of devils. No Christian is above being tempted in this matter.
Example
Is, preachers who teach others that they should worship God based on their love for God, faith, His grace etc but cleverly exclude the fearof God in the list Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 16:6. They unlike the usual hypocrites are hard on themselves and soft on others mainly for the sake of followership. Meanwhile, these are preachers who are prepared to lose everything they own including their own lives and (actually have been tested as such), and in those times of their trials and temptation, the very thing that crystallized their love and faith in God and His grace they found is their fearof God’s wrath.
The Fear of God
While faithful and victorious Christians in every generation knew/knows that love for God is a main pillar for persevering by faith and the grace of God, none denies, none should deny the truth that their literal fearof God’s wrath was/is also, a crystallizer during the times of their severe trials and temptations Matthew 10:28.
This matter is not to be overemphasized. We just need to mediate over the subject and let the Holy Spirit converse and teach us what to believe and how to live.
To have faith and love towards God and grace is wonderful but, minus fear of God, we are prone to worship and persevere during our times of trials and temptations in our own ways and not His. This is why many times, we as Christians give blanket testimonies—we can’t state the nitty gritty of how God delivered us from our trials and temptations because we cut corners.
The words of R C Sproul hits the mark in this regards, “God absolutely requires that He be…worshipped in a way that He commands, not according to the way we prefer”.
Cajoling people into our churches with watered down doctrines and slick testimonies have hardly been helpful.
Our command is to tell of the gospel (testify of the person of Christ) to the lost, those enslaved by Satan and their own desires. If they believe as His Father draws them, they will be saved, cleansed, infused with incremental grace, and exposed increasingly to the depth, height, width and length of the visions of Christ as savior, Lord, prince of peace, provider and eternal Father. These activities of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s heart, overshadows his or her soul and bears out of their body the fruit of the Spirit not our own righteousness. This leading of His Spirit in and about the believer and the Church, is our safety against deceiving spirits in these last days as it has been from the start of the church of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
Let those who have the Treasure in their earthen vessel indeed, look closely to themselves, examining their doctrine and walk carefully with all manners of prayers and in regular fellowship with other believers 2 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Timothy 4:16NLT, Hebrews 10:25, Colossians 3:16.
Conclusion
To fear God without loving, reverencing, praising, giving thanks and proclaiming His Son Jesus Christ unashamedly amounts to nothing 2 Kings 17:33, Exodus 1:17, 21.
As we hold faith towards God, love, reverence, serve and fearHim, May His grace, peace and joy abide with us all!
Truth created the world and all that is in it. Truth has a voice, its own pathway and a destination. Truth is so powerful—it is Almighty and He has made evolution theory childish thinking. In time, Truth makes the foolishness of all that oppose Him visible 1 Corinthians 1:20.
Babylon: Spiritual and Temporal
While Babylon (kingdom of darkness) that opposes God is invisible, it has visible manifestations. It is a system—Spiritual Babylon (SB) that operates in the soul of man and gives birth to recognizable structure—temporal Babylon (TB) on earth. And, it’s supported by many waters (people) who are directed by few bosses. It’s not random; it’s coordinated with a destination. Its destination is disaster and its core leader (Satan), a rebel against the Creator Proverbs 16:25, Matthew 7:13, Genesis 11:4.
Though, God started man afresh on the earth after the flood, He knew that man had not lost his free will to make choice—little wonder that He warned man not to kill his fellow man Genesis 9:6. Soon after, man became exceedingly evil again. The phrase “one language and one speech” in Genesis 11:1, is used to indicate that man’s heart and soul was once again seized and filled with evil. So, it is not that God doesn’t want man to enjoy unity among themselves rather, He forbids that evil should accentuate by unity Genesis 11:6-7.
Even when some walk in evil in the church, He permits disunity to arise in order to bring about repentance. Church, we need to examine the exceeding disunity we’re suffering today and examine ourselves 1 Corinthians 11:17-19.
The operation of SB in the soul eventually becomes visible as it births physical structure empowered by Satan. The things we support on the earth shows the Kingdom in operation in our lives. Selah!
Though the rebel (Satan) is supported by many, he supports none. The realization of his hatred for his supporters becomes apparent with time. Before God, he flees, abandons his supporters and the false city he is using them to build in order to challenge Christ. When God visits the peoples with confusion of faces, gloom, darkness and the stoppage of their ambitions to own their city that reaches heaven, the devil will be nowhere to be found by them. He will be waiting to receive them into eternal damnation (his destined home).
No one can escape Babylon and her awful end by any means other than through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:11-12). No matter the degree all who are in the kingdom of darkness are at, whoever listens to the prompting of God (their Creator and a loving Father) in their heart John 6:44, and turn to believe in Christ and abide in Him will be rescued (John 3:16, Colossians 1:13, John 16:16). Through His love and grace—and by faith (believe), He rescues or regenerates the spirit or heart of man.
Kingdom of Truth
God is spirit, His Kingdom is spiritual and it also has visible manifestations. All whose hearts are regenerated are the visible channels by which God’s system and pattern are being birthed visibly on earth in preparation for the new earth and new heaven John 4:24, Matthew 6:10, 2 Peter 3:13.
The new thing God is doing in and with the soul of His new creation (church) in Christ is not an ideology. It is the birthing of truth within the new creations (believers) which lives forever 1 John 2:17, Galatians 4:19. It is a being and living that is glorious! Glorious to the new creation though perplexing!
To the old creation man, it is annoying and a pain. It fuels rebellion against Christ because He is overthrowing the things the devil uses to enslave man. Things man wants to live his life for; physical pleasure (a craving for everything we see), power and pride in our achievements and possessions.… 1 John 2:16NLT.
In the light of all these, are you a new creation man in the Kingdom of light? Are you walking in the light of eternity? John 8:12, Ephesians 5:8, 1 John 1:6, 2:11. How lovely that your answers should be yes. I rejoice with you! Are you exploding in righteousness, joy and peace which are an inheritance of all true believers in the Truth (Light or Christ)?
Among those walking in the light of eternity, bosses do not exist. Christ says to them, “You all are brothers”! The Holy Spirit is exhorting and admonishing, “I plead with you by the mercies of God, don’t be bosses among God’s people (Church) who gather to worship Him and serve (bless) one another”.
Bosses set up themselves for a snare. Babylon (spiritual and temporal) is always seeking to bring believers who have escaped her back to bondage. Therefore, she craftily solicits for help from those who will be bosses among those who escaped. Her aim is to bring them back to her slavery 2 Peter 2:20.
Babylon suffers from the disease of a double mind. She acts as if she likes God but hates Him. She talks about God but never submits to Him 2 Timothy 3:5, James 1:8. This is how complex she is. Babylon is religious but hates the truth.
She neither accepts the truth nor lives by it. Or, allow others to. She is unrepentant and feigns innocence while fast pursuing her clearly defined goal to make a name for herself, encage many and if possible, derail the faith of some saints Proverbs 2:16-19 NLT.
Committed, deliberate and active devil worshipers know their fate. They are wise, so to speak. They devote their lives totally to Satan and this present world. They don’t deceive themselves—they are aware that they can’t eat their cake and still have it. But sadly, according to the scriptures, the children of God’s kingdom in thinking they can eat their cake and have it become less wise than the children of the kingdom of darkness Luke 16:13, 8.
Verse 13 of Luke 16 hits its mark as we see in our generation, “fine preachers” telling us that we can talk about love, forgiving, repentance but never love, forgive or repent. We can kill, steal, be immoral, slanderous, occultist etc and still be God’s friend because we have once received Jesus. But, if those who have not received Jesus indulge in the same things, they go to hell. It doesn’t add up! 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, 11-12, 13.
God’s intention for his children is to be as wise as the serpent but, innocent Matthew 10:16. How? Psalm 119:98NLT shows how, “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide”. Proverbs 2:20-22.
Therefore, being made wise by God’s word, we are admonished in 1 Peter 3:16, Titus 2:7 and Matthew 5:16.
If God is helping you escape from Babylon (spiritual and temporal), then keep setting your eyes on Christ as He’s daily taking you on an exciting, glorious and straight journey. Don’t now listen to old prophets! 1 Kings 13:1-32.
No regenerated person has walked all the length of God’s street—no, not one! Christ does not have a wife yet. His bride is yet being adorned! Even those who have joined the cloud of witnesses above are still waiting for the cloud of witnesses below. Those who keep their eyes on Christ will overcome like Him and the cloud of witnesses above (brothers who have gone ahead to be with Him). Saleh!
Until the marriage supper, the Holy Spirit warns Christ’s bride (not house, institution, mega or emerging church, but just the Church) don’t be arrogant, remember your first love, abide and submit to Him. Resist the devil, resist him again, and resist him steadfastly! For us to remain in this “good success”, we are daily empowered to submit to God and resist the devil.
He is no match for the grace (power) that is in and with you. But, don’t be arrogant and unwise because the devil is a strong wooer who wants to feast on your soul. Therefore, look to Christ Jesus the High Priest who is the stronger man and the lover of your soul. He wants to save your soul to the utmost.
Let us look up His eternal promises which helps you participate daily in his divine activities happening in heaven that are happening also on the earth.
On one hand, Christ’s bride is using the scriptures to teach, reproof, correct, and trains herself in righteousness that she may be complete and equipped for every good work. On the other hand, Babylon is using the same scriptures both to bring people to herself and to help them rebel against Christ and live in and to their flesh! Matthew 23:15, Hosea 5:4. Babylon (the ignorant and unstable) is twisting scriptures to create room for the flesh 2 Peter 3:16.
We ought to be History students all our lives—read history! Babylon entraps and enslaves through allurement of momentary things. Let’s always take this truth to heart. Even the saints who God blessed with momentary things eventually left them behind to go and rest with Him. Therefore, we don’t let the blessings to be left behind blind us and prevent us from wholeheartedly taking hold of the blessing that will be with us for all eternity 1 Corinthians 13:13. Having loved this present world, Demas, a fellow worker in the gospel of Christ with Paul loosened His grip on destiny and took a walk on the opposite direction of eternal life Ephesians 5:15-21.
God is giving eternal life to man on earth—men and women are walking in eternal life today that is God’s will. A day comes and He will permit them to enter into its fuller reality through sleep. Though, some will be awake to see (enter) it like Simeon Luke 2:25-32.
The Holy Spirit bids the bride of Christ on earth, “Sow not to the flesh! Don’t build Babylon; cast her down by the power of God’s word in your heart and mouth”. You that fear and reverence the Lord stop to consider God’s plea!
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sow, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption (things that last temporally), but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8).
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6). This is the kingdom of God: righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). This is the Truth! God’s word is Truth and true.
Strong insight for humble walk with God is inevitable for us all. The exhortation below by T. Austine-Sparks is most timely for the season the Church is at. The excerpt is taken from “The shool of Christ”.
To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. (Revelation 2:17)
God always keeps the revelation of Himself in Christ bound up with practical situations. You and I can never get revelation other than in connection with some necessity. We cannot get it simply as a matter of information. That is information, that is not revelation. We cannot get it by studying. When the Lord gave the manna in the wilderness (a type of Christ as the Bread from heaven), He stipulated very strongly that not one fragment more than the day’s need was to be gathered, and that if they went beyond the measure of immediate need, disease and death would break out and overtake them. The principle, the law, of the manna, is that God keeps revelation of Himself in Christ bound up with practical situations of necessity, and we are not going to have revelation as mere teaching, doctrine, interpretation, theory, or anything as a thing, which means that God is going to put you and me into situations where only the revelation of Christ can help us and save us….
Now then, that is why the Lord would keep us in situations which are acute, real. The Lord is against our getting out on theoretical lines with truth, out on technical lines. Oh, let us shun technique as a thing in itself and recognize this, that, although the New Testament has in it a technique, we cannot merely extract the technique and apply it. We have to come into New Testament situations to get a revelation of Christ to meet that situation. So that the Holy Spirit’s way with us is to bring us into living, actual conditions and situations, and needs, in which only some fresh knowledge of the Lord Jesus can be our deliverance, our salvation, our life, and then to give us, not a revelation of truth, but a revelation of the Person, new knowledge of the Person, that we come to see Christ in some way that just meets our need. We are not drawing upon an “it,” but upon a “Him.”
