“THEY ARE WORTHY”
R. Hibbert
Matthew 28: 9 (first half); Revelation 3: 4, 9
Our brother’s reference to encouragement encourages me to say a word, and I might say that during the past week or so we have been greatly encouraged by what we have observed amongst the saints, the quality of the work of God in them. The saints are great as being “in Christ”, but then also as having certain moral features that the Lord names and commends. It has really been a great stimulation to be amongst the saints and to observe these qualities. I think we might as well face the fact that there are grades of quality. It is not to exclude any true believers, but the Lord has a right to commend those He approves, and we would wish to be among them. Paul says, “For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends”, 2 Corinthians 10: 18.
What marks these beloved women in Matthew 28 is obedience. The Lord had told them through the angel, “Go quickly and say to his disciples that he is risen from the dead”. Then it says, “And as they went to bring his disciples word, behold also, Jesus met them, saying, Hail!”. How wonderful that is, that Jesus should say “Hail!” to them! We speak humbly of these things, and yet it is right that we should enjoy what belongs to us; without assuming anything, but the Lord evidently greatly values obedience. What generally marks that which professes His name publicly, alas; is not obedience. But there are some who are obedient, and we want to be among them. It is the basis of the fellowship that we are obedient in relation to the lordship of Christ.
“Jesus met them, saying, Hail!”—you can hardly take it in that He would so speak to His own and dignify them thus. I think He would say that to us as we come together in obedience and dependence on the Holy Spirit. He would greet us as we come together as being great persons spiritually, because if the Spirit has worked in us there is a quality that is going through, but shines now, and that the Lord can recognise.
So in Revelation 3 the Lord says that He has certain ones in Sardis that have not defiled their garments. He takes account of that—“Thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments”. So it is not a matter of numbers now, but of quality, and the more you insist on quality the less numbers you may have. In any product or merchandise quality certainly requires reduction in quantity—not that we want numbers reduced, for numbers in relation to the things of God are valuable too. So the Lord says, “Those thou hast given me I have guarded, and not one of them has perished, but the son of perdition”, John 17: 12. Then He repeats it when He protects His own in John 18: 9, “I have not lost one of them”. These were prophetic statements by the Lord.
Here in Revelation 3 He is speaking about His people, “Thou hast a few names in Sardis ...”—“names” is fine! They are personalities, individual personalities that the Lord would take account of, each one, as if He would say, ‘I can tell you the names if you wish’. And they have not defiled their garments. It is sometimes said that we must not be negative. I know what is meant, and agree with it too, but the Lord speaks of what they have not done; they have not defiled their garments. So He values what we do not do. There are a lot of things we do not do, and cannot do, and the Lord takes account of all that.
Then He adds, “They shall walk with me in, white, because they are worthy”. Think of the Lord saying that—“They are worthy”! It is His assessment; they are worthy persons, and they are going to have their reward. Their reward is mentioned in all these words, to the assemblies. These are the Lord’s own words; it is very impressive. They will be associated with Him, those that He approves, the overcomers. So the Lord says of these, “They shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy”. Well, we could not look for anything better than that, could we? He recognises that they had not defiled their garments, and that will then be in evidence, it will be displayed.
I think these scriptures make it all worth while. There are testings, as to the matter of separation but the Lord would attach this name “worthy” to such as accept them. In Revelation 5 the universe is searched to find someone worthy to open the book, and there was not anybody found worthy—but He was worthy, and He is saying of these few persons in Sardis, “They shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy”. That is not only sovereignty; it is a moral basis for the Lord’s approval, and what a privilege it is, beloved brethren, individually and collectively, to supply the Lord with a moral basis for that to which He can apply this wonderful adjective “worthy”.
Then to Philadelphia the Lord says, “I will cause that they shall come and shall do homage before thy feet, and shall know that I have loved thee”. So what a matter that is, beloved brethren—of this time, when we are despised and unknown, the Lord is going to say in that day, ‘While you looked down on these brethren and despised what they were going on
with in their meetings, I was loving them’. It does not say here, as in chapter 1, ‘Him who loves us’; that is present; but ‘I have loved thee’. How precious that is! What an encouragement, too, to continue maintaining His things, as He says of Philadelphia, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience”. This word “because” is very important. It is not an abstract matter; there are moral grounds for what the Lord says. How He values that! Then the promise, “I also will keep thee out of the hour of trial, which is about to come upon the whole habitable world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”. What a comforting thought that is as we can see such awful conditions arising and moving quickly towards their terrible terminus. He says, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience”; that is to be noted; we need to have patience. He is coming, and we are to be sensitive and ready for His quick movements. In the gospel of Luke there are various allusions to what is done suddenly. We need to be sensitive—not merely orthodox or to get into a rut—but to be ready for the Lord moving quickly, and to be expecting Him.
Well, dear brethren, that is what I had in mind for our encouragement. Our ministry meetings are not for correction only, but for “edification, and encouragement, and consolation”, 1 Corinthians 14: 3.
Word in meeting for ministry, Redbridge
10 October 1978