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Introduction Foreword: EBG Present Ministry The Voice of the Spirit Our Leaders |
In Exile "As He was Wont" Eminence in the Church is that of Love In Assembly Eternal Things |
| INTRODUCTION |
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The following eight articles have been selected from the 25 included in "Comfort and other Re-Published Papers" by Mr. Joseph Revell.
| Biography: Brief Sketches: J. Revell Other ministry by J. Revell: Doctrine: The Unequal Yoke: Association |
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G.A.R.
| FOREWORD |
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| The author of the articles was the editor of a monthly magazine of ministry from January, 1895, until his departure to be with Christ on the 10th April, 1900.
The papers composing this volume have been selected from the magazine by the writer, who felt that definite profit was derived from their perusal. They are now issued in the hope that the saints generally will find them helpful and acceptable. The brevity of the articles is a distinguishing feature, and their accord with present ministry is worthy of remark. Those who were acquainted with Mr. Revell speak in happy terms of appreciation of his gift and ministry. That he was sustained in his service until the end is evidenced by the fact that the article "Discipline and Exercise" [not included here] was penned only four days before he was "absent from the body" and "present with the Lord". With these remarks the little volume is committed to the Lord and commended to His beloved people. E. B. Griffiths Southport, June, 1935. |
Nothing changes the love of Christ to the church. We have failed, but He cannot fail. His gracious love continues to the end.
The other side of the truth connected with a present ministry is given to us in the Lord's words in Luke 12: 42,
There is, however, a further point to be considered; a present ministry will ever be the object of Satan's bitterest attacks.
The same principle remains true. It is easy to adopt as orthodoxy a past ministry which in its own time was persistently rejected, for the bitter opposition of Satan is against a present ministry.
May we have grace to discern that which is from the Lord, and to receive it humbly and thankfully!
The Spirit's voice is the expression of the present mind of God.
But now, in the close of the book, we hear the Spirit's voice in a different way.
The Lord presents Himself as the Root and Offsping of David, and the bright and Morning Star.
The darkness of the night seems most intense when in chapter 2 we read the message to Thyatira.
It is significant that in this way the Lord presents Himself at the close.
The great end of the Spirit's present work is that we may be brought to the consciousness of union with Christ.
Beloved brethren, let those who wish to do so count dates and investigate the signs of the times,
In other places of Scripture besides this the leaders are spoken of. Three times in Hebrews 13 they are named.
It may scarcely be neccessary to mention that the word "bishop" as used in Scripture, simply means one who exercises oversight; "the presbytery" simply means the elders.
A leader is one who shows us the way, because he himself knows it; and he encourages us to take it, because he himself is so perfectly convinced of its goodness.
The spring of all true intelligence and clear discernment of the way which the saints should take lies in the knowledge of God.
Again, the man of precedents is not in divine things a reliable guide.
Love is the only motive of a true leader. In this respect – though in other respects the analogy fails – he resembles Deborah of the time of the judges.
To the elders at Ephesus Paul gave himself as an example. Acts 20.
We live in days of great feebleness, but may the Lord graciously give to us true leaders of this sort; and where there are such already – however small may be the measure – may grace be given to us to discern them, and to regard them very highly in love for their work's sake.
It is probable that John, exiled for the word of God, was alone, as regards Christian fellowship, in the isle of Patmos.
More than this, he became in the Spirit on the Lord's day.
It is not my intention to speak further of the things which were seen and heard by John.
But there are others who have isolated themselves without a full knowledge of all that it involved, and now feel keenly what a mistake they have made.
And again, there are those who are isolated by no act or will of their own, and who have great longing after the privilege of the assembly, if only it were granted to them.
Now, God's common way for His people is undoubtedly to give them not only all that may be enjoyed by the individual as such, but also that which can only be known when we are gathered together in assembly.
There is first the moral state which is becoming the recognition of our brethren, and the fellowship to which God has called us.
In the Gospel of Luke our blessed Lord is presented to us as the perfectly dependent Man.
Though the circumstances were unique His place of dependence was common. The place of this deepest anguish was the one of His common intercourse with His Father.
Is there with us individually such a custom? Do we diligently seek a place where we can be alone with God?
Who has not known in deepest grief the sweetness and rest of such a place?
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Where men have held the church to be an ecclesiastical organisation, there also they have looked upon eminence as of an official nature.
When the two sons of Zebedee asked of the Lord the favour of eminence, and the other disciples showed by their displeasure that they were of the same spirit, the Lord called them to Him and said:
It is sadly evident that the church has departed from this principle and has ignored the example.
The Lord has Himself established an incontestable claim to be Head of the church by His utterly devoted love. He has loved the church and given Himself for it.
Now, those who would be truly eminent must go the same line, and as they do so, they will gladly confess that
Let Paul be taken as an example, and let his words to the Corinthians be the proof, for to them he was obliged to speak of his apostleship.
Of the opposite principle to this the Corinthians were themselves the example.
All this, alas, we can understand, for we have been so like to it ourselves
There is for us, as Christians, that which is individual in character, and that which is collective. The one does not interfere with the other.
That which is individual lies within our present path of responsibility to God;
As men here on earth we have all had our sins, and we still have our sorrows.
In assembly we enter upon that which is common to all saints. If we are not clear of our sins and our sorrows, which are individual, we can scarcely be at liberty to enter upon that which is common to us all.
Now His love desires the company of its objects; not one alone, nor two, nor a few, but the whole company, as He will have them in the end when He gathers them home to Himself.
Clearly, according to our chapter, that which first engages us is the eating of the Lord's supper – verse 20.
The meaning of the supper explains this; it is for the calling to mind of the Lord.
If He be thus called to mind, in the consciousness of His presence,we enter upon the sense of our companionship with Him.
Oh, that we may know better what belongs to our being together in assembly! The individual is robbed of nothing by our knowledge of what is collective;
Whatever may be said of the importance of that which belongs to the individual, as such, and it may be fully granted,
THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT
"The Spirit and the bride say, Come",
Revelation 22: 17.OUR LEADERS
"We beg you, brethren, to know those who labour among you, and take the lead among you in the Lord, and admonish you, and to regard them exceedingly in love on account of
their work", 1 Thessalonians 5: 12.IN EXILE
"In the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was
in the Spirit on the Lord's day", Revelation 1: 9-10.
"AS HE WAS WONT"
Luke 22: 39EMINENCE IN THE CHURCH IS THAT OF LOVE
IN ASSEMBLY
"When ye come together in assembly",
1 Corinthians 11: 18
As hireling fills his day,
Through scenes of strife and desert life
We tread in peace our way".