| Article | Vessels of Ministry
"Moreover the tabernacle and all THE VESSELS OF THE MINISTRY he sprinkled in like manner with the blood" (Hebrews 9:21).
In thinking about that phrase, "the vessels of the ministry", I am impressed with the largeness of the number of vessels that there were connected with the tabernacle. Here there is an inclusive reference - "all the vessels of ...read |
| Article | Vision and Vocation
The Importance and Value of God-given Vision
"Come hither, I will shew thee..." Rev. 21:9.
Once again in the course of its history the Church of God is found in a time of serious crisis as to its life and world-testimony. Not once, nor twice, has this occurred, but many times have conditions arisen which have raised the major questions as to ...read |
| Article | Waiting God's Time
"When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son...."
When the fullness of time came! It is not difficult for us to see in the case of Abraham how his faith was brought into relation to God's time. The time factor with Abraham was a very real one and was perhaps one of the keenest and most acute factors for his faith.
Again and again ...read |
| Article | Watchman, What of the Night?
Everyone who has read history, and especially Church history, knows how true it is that people have very often thought of their own time as being the most significant or even critical of all times. The language of crisis has characterized many periods and phases of human life and the course of the world. Many such times while they lasted were regar ...read |
| Article | What is the Church?
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, ...read |
| Article | What is True Unity of the Spirit?
This unity is that which is resultant from the indwelling and dominating control of the Holy Spirit. The illustration is that of the head and the body. Every limb or member or faculty of the body is controlled by the nerve system, and this nerve system works from and to the head, where it has its base.
In the Body of Christ, the Holy Spirit is the ...read |
| Article | What We See
"I beheld the Lord always before my face" (Acts 2:25).
The last part of that quotation could rightly define the nature and object of the ministry of this little paper.
Not to propagate a teaching as such; not to constitute a new community; not to support a particular 'movement'; but truly and solely to bring and keep the Lord Jesus in view in e ...read |
| Article | What Will God Do Next?
This is an inquiry, not a prophecy. That a new thing needs to be done by the Lord is a growing conviction of many of His servants and people. But is there any reason why we should expect a new movement or further step on the part of the Lord? The answer could be given in various ways. From time to time in the world's history there have been definit ...read |
| Article | When the Books Are Opened
Reading: Romans 16.
An outstanding feature of this chapter is that people are appreciated as people. The Letter itself is a masterpiece of spiritual instruction, Paul's supreme exposition of the infinite range of redemption. The more striking, then, that place should be given for the names of these simple people. Doctrines can be considered and ...read |
| Article | When We Cannot See the Way
"Thy way was in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters" (Psalm 77:19).
You will notice that the above words are taken from one of the eleven Psalms bearing the name of Asaph. You will also know that "Asaph the seer" (2 Chron. 29:30) was one of David's leaders of music; he was both choir-master and composer of words and music as well. But in ...read |
| Article | Where Are You Looking?
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Make level the paths of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left. (Proverbs 4:25-27)
"Looking unto Jesus..." (Hebrews 12:2)
For the man in Christ life has a clear and definite objective. The Spirit has seen good to fil ...read |
| Article | Where Do You Stand?
"And the Lord God called unto the man, and said unto him, Where art thou?" (Genesis 3:9)
"Behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:9)
"I John, ...was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus." (Revelation 1:9)
There are times when we are ...read |
| Article | Wherefore... Let Us Press On
Hebrews 6:1.
The Tremendous Importance of Spiritual Maturity
The Apostle is distressed. As he writes this letter it is as though from time to time he meets something that almost pulls him up dead. Three times at least he suspends his main theme and puts in a parenthesis. The section from verse eleven of chapter five to verse three of chapter ...read |
| Article | Whither the Tribes Go Up
(Psalm 122:4)
"Gather my saints together" (Psalm 1:5).
It was a beautiful thought in the mind of God when, in His Divine economy, He prescribed for the periodic convocations of His people. Away back in the time of Moses He commanded that all the males in Israel should journey three times in every year to some place of His appointment (Deuterono ...read |
| Article | Why the Strange Ways of God?
"But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee" (Acts 26:16).
"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and ...read |
| Article | Wings
"As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, So the Lord alone led him " (Deut. 32:11,12)
The Lord' s mind for His people is that they shall have wings, wings that can cope with the elements and master them. He is altogether averse to their remaining unduly in soft li ...read |
| Article | Worship
The beginning of everything in relation to God is worship; that is, God having the central and supreme place of recognition, of acknowledgment, of government... God having supreme right in our complete obedience and surrender - in every part and phase of our being. Worship begins there. It is a relationship, not only an exercise. It is not somethin ...read |
| Sermon | Ye Are Come
Notes of a Conference at Honor Oak
Reading: Rev. 21 "The holy city, new Jerusalem." Heb. 12:22 "Ye are come... unto the heavenly Jerusalem."
1. The City - Its Essentially Spiritual Character
The City, as set forth in Rev. 21, is a whole system of Divine thoughts set forth in symbols - the presentation in consummate form of all the working of ...read |
| Article | Ye Are My Friends
Among the various titles by which Christians were called in the New Testament surely the most wonderful is that given by the Lord Jesus - "Ye are my friends":
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends if ye do the things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servan ...read |
| Article | Ye Are... A Holy Nation
Reading: Matthew 21:42-44; 1 Peter 2:7-10.
These passages refer, as you see, to that very solemn and, in some respects, tragic thing: the truth that all that could and should have been the inheritance and the vocation of Israel was lost by them and to them because of their unbelief, and was transferred to the Church. The Church is here designate ...read |
T. Austin-Sparks