DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS

Exodus 25: 20-22; 1 Chronicles 17: 3-16; 29: 1-5; Acts 10: 9-2

T.N.P. I wondered whether we could consider divine communications and how we are to be affected by them. I suggested that we read Exodus first to bring out the distinctiveness of where all communications come from. We need to apprehend first of all that all the speaking today is in Christ; He is the great Speaker. It is interesting to note in this section that it says "And there will I meet with thee, and will speak with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, everything that I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel". I suppose we sometimes forget that, when it says in the books of Leviticus and Numbers, "And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying", this is where the speaking came from. I think we need to apprehend the Speaker in order that the effect of the speaking or the communication should be taken on by us. I have suggested David and Peter by way of illustration; they would be distinctive persons of course, but I am thinking of the bearing of it on us. David had the communication through the prophetic word, and that may be something we can consider. The effect of the communication was that he went in and sat before Jehovah. Then the rest of his life, I think, he spent preparing for what he had in his mind at the beginning. Peter also is a distinctive vessel but I wondered if the features that came out in him might not help each one of us as to how we make way for communications and how we answer to them, particularly the reference to pondering - turning things over in view of the result that God has in mind being reached. I wondered if we could just enquire on these lines and get help together as to how we would answer to what God says in the assembly at the present time.

J.A.McL. Would the reference "from between the two cherubim" involve a relatively small compass and nearness? He is not speaking from the glory exactly.

T.N.P. No, I think it is within our reach; that would be the point. The mercy-seat was contained, as far as capacity was concerned, by the size of the ark; it was above the ark and in the ark was the testimony. Everything is contained in Christ. The antitype, I suppose, would be on the mountain when the great Speaker is highlighted. Moses and Elias were there, but Christ is highlighted. "Hear him" is the word.

M.G.W. When Moses was there receiving these communications from Jehovah, was he there in the presence of God's infinite delight in Jesus? The ark was there and the mercy-seat. Would that give us some idea of the character of divine speaking at the present time?

T.N.P. I think that is important because the One through whom God speaks is the One in whom He has found His delight. That comes out at the beginning of the gospel; He pronounces His delight in Christ, and I think that is set forth in what the ark and the mercy-seat above it would mean. We keep in mind that the blood was on the mercy-seat, but God speaks through the One in whom He has found His delight. I suppose Peter not knowing what to say would have had three speakers.

Rem. God speaks through the One in whom He has been revealed.

T.N.P. Yes, He has made Himself known in Jesus. That would bring out the nearness that has been referred to, the compass within which He has come; He has come within our range so that we can under stand. It is not beyond the reach of the youngest.

Rem. "This is my beloved Son: hear him", Mark 9: 7.

T.N.P. Yes, that was the word: "hear him", no one else. And then it says "they no longer saw any one, but Jesus alone". I think it is to highlight that One, the only Speaker, and that the communications come from Christ. We will see in a minute the ways which He takes to communicate with us. We have to trace everything back to Christ as the Speaker. Is that how you understand it?

J.S. Yes; Hebrews refers to many ways; formerly it came out through the prophets but we are in the days when the speaking is in the Son (see chap 1: 1,2).

T.N.P. That is what I thought. We need to trace the speaking to the source. There are so many voices in the world, and you hear so many opinions even in Christendom. We need to find that the source of the speaking is the One in whom God has found His delight.

J.S. The word on the mount is very instructive: "hear him". It is always imperative, is it not, that our hearing is to be in connection with Him?

T.N.P. I am impressed with that, because Peter would have made Elias a speaker or Moses a speaker, but true speaking is only in Christ, and we have to come round to that; the overshadowing cloud would be the way, I think, that God brings us round to see the one and only Speaker.

P.G. Do you think that is what characterises the present economy? Speaking in Son is what characterises the present time.

T.N.P. I am sure that is right; Hebrews begins with that.

Rem. Later on He speaks from heaven. The speaking continues, does it not?

T.N.P. That is what I would like to get at, the thing is continuing and we recognise this speaking from its true source. Maybe we should look at how it works. I suggested David because of the fact that he was not really a priest and in that sense had no access into the immediate area of the ark, and yet what comes out in his life gives us the impression that he was accustomed to being there. Now we as believers have access to the area of divine speaking. We receive it, may be as with David, through the prophetic word. The prophet comes; David had a right desire and he expresses it to the prophet, and the prophet says, You go on David, that is very good, I would agree with that. But that very night God says, You go and tell David something else. So the prophet comes with a word. Now I think we get communications through the prophetic word.

J.M. Does it show God's right to interrupt what might be the normal tenor of things, in a normally right way, with something quite different?

T.N.P. I think we are tested as to whether we are ready for things like that. If I have a right desire and God says, No, not just now, how would I react? What effect would God's speaking, God's communication, have on me? Would I resist? Would I object? Would I say to God, But my desire is right? David does not object, he listens to the prophetic word and it leads him to the divine presence.

H.McF. That is submission, a beautiful thing.

T.N.P. Yes, it is something we have to learn. If God says something, if you recognise that it comes from Christ you can accept it. I think David had learned in his experience to understand that things that come this way were right.

Ques. The communications in Exodus take the character of commandment: "everything that I will give thee in commandment". There is nothing optional about that, is there?

T.N.P. There is not, and there is that side of it. I just wondered if we could look at the prophetic side here; it might give some point to our prophetic meetings.

D.McG. Do you think that is the reason we are called upon to wait on a revelation to one sitting by? We would be ready in the normal course of things but waiting for some special touch coming into the prophetic meeting for our help.

T.N.P. I think that would be right; we should make way for that. Of course, do not let us wait too long; I do not know how you get on at Lochgelly but we suffer perhaps from having to wait too long. Time is precious; you wait on one another but I think we need to come more exercised about the prophetic word.

Ques. Do you regard this as the individual state that helps us to receive the word? We have the occasions but we need to go to them individually in faith.

T.N.P. That is exactly what I have in mind because, when we have a good ministry meeting, we go home and say that it was a grand time. Sometimes we say we did not get much tonight; do you not say that? We can become very critical. In prophetic speaking we recognise that it is Christ who is speaking; He has something to say to us. If I apprehend that, what does it do? I think it makes me (and that takes up the individual side) go home and work out that word; I have to reflect on it. I would say this soberly: sometimes we leave far too much to be done in the meeting.

J.S. David went and sat before Jehovah. What you are saying seems to me very important. There might be what is happening whilst we are in the meeting - "let the others judge" 1 Cor 14: 29, that is that everybody is to be active in that sense; but then the point would be how it is going to have a lasting effect.

T.N.P. What you say is very important because, if I could judge my own heart, I sometimes sit in the meeting a bit passive and things just fall off. But to be contributive, judging, - "let the others judge" - involves that I am livingly in what is being said. I am with the brother as he speaks and am following what is being said, and I go home and work the thing out with God. Now we might ask ourselves how often do we go home after the ministry meeting and get to God about it. Would not prophetic ministry normally lead us to God?

Rem. That is what happens here, is it not? I was thinking of what David says elsewhere; "The Spirit of Jehovah spoke by me, And his word was on my tongue", 2 Sam 23: 2. That follows Jehovah speaking.

T.N.P. Very good. I think that is fine because there he was conscious of God speaking that way - "on my tongue". He was given that communication.

W.D. Does the fact that this is related to the house help? In 1 Corinthians 14 there is the idea of building - edification. Here it is in view of the building of the house that this communication comes.

T.N.P. That is right. You can see that David's desire was a right one. God says, I have never asked for it. He dwelt in a tent, in a tabernacle, but David, in a certain sense, was apprehending what God would have in mind, and the collective idea is something we need to get hold of, that we get these impressions among the saints. I would like to leave that thought with us - that we are looking for communications among the saints. In the temple is the place where we get communications.

M.G.W. The thing that comes through is the wonderful way in which Jehovah loved His people, and how He had in mind that they would be settled and there would be no more disturbance. How David must have learned, as he had never learned before, how much God loved Israel; and then he gets into the secrets of the One who was coming in, how great He would be and what He would do for God.

T.N.P. That is very attractive because, when David went in and sat before Jehovah, he does not say, I am disappointed; what he gets is an impression of Christ: "is this the manner of man...?", 2 Sam 7: 19. Divine communications magnify Christ. Now I am tested as to whether I can get into the divine presence and just go over things with God in order that Christ is magnified in my heart.

Ques. Is there some help in Simeon? The Holy Spirit was upon him, and it was divinely communicated to him by the Holy Spirit, and he came in the Spirit into the temple (see Luke 2: 25-27).

T.N.P. He was. Simeon would represent a man who was making room for Christ and the Spirit is free in a person like that. We need to think a bit more about that; we talk about making room for the Spirit, but the way to make room for the Spirit is to make room for Christ. If Christ has first place in my heart the Spirit will be perfectly free.

W.D. The primary communication is what we get when the Lord comes in and manifests Himself at the Supper; then the Spirit links on with that in the prophetic meeting.

T.N.P. Yes, that is how I understand it. Do you find this works in experience?

W.D. Well, it seems to be the divinely ordered way, that the Lord communicates His mind and His thoughts as He comes amongst us on the first day of the week, and then the Spirit comes in in our gatherings in the ministry meeting and the city readings and other occasions, and if we are subject we always find some connection with the Lord's manifestation of Himself at the beginning of the week.

T.N.P. It is very encouraging to see that and I would encourage the brethren to look for it, because I think that is what sets things in motion with us. Then you get to God and you find that something is working out and He has given you an enhanced impression of Christ.

H.McF. The Lord Jesus is the great Speaker, is He not, and also the great Singer? He can base things sometimes in song, can He not?

T.N.P. That is another line and an interesting one; there was instruction in music in one section in Chronicles. It is fine if the truth can be got over in singing.

H.McF. There are principles connected with singing that you do not exactly get with speaking; for instance the principle of harmony and melody and other things connected with singing which are very attractive and edifying.

T.N.P. They are, because Christ is magnified and that is the point.

Rem. I was thinking of Peter in the doxology in his epistle: "If any one speak - as oracles of God; if any one minister - as of strength which God supplies; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the might for the ages of ages. Amen", 1 Pet 4: 11.

T.N.P. I think that is a good connection because what we are looking for when we come together is that kind of speaking; that is the communication we look for. It is God speaking; it may come through one brother or through another; in a meeting like this it may come through a remark. The Lord may come in oracularly like that and that is the kind of thing you look for, and you say that is the communication for me.

W.D. Could you explain to us what an oracular communication involves?

T.N.P. I think it would be the directness of divine speaking, it is God speaking. You are conscious, though you maybe said the words, that it is God who spoke, it is right. How would you understand it?

W.D. Exodus 25 is the oracle, is it not? It is the cherubim, the ark and the mercy-seat. The same thing in the house that Solomon built was the oracle, was it not?

T.N.P. Yes, where all speaking came from.

D.McG. Is what has been raised interesting in the light of the fact that Elihu is one who reproached Job's companions and said "Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night... ?", Job 35: 10? It would seem that the young man, though unable to help Job, must have been communicating or having communications with God Himself during the night.

T.N.P. I think that is a good exercise because in the night, maybe sleepless, wakeful nights, God will speak. God can speak, He can give me some communication from Himself it may be, as has been said, adding to what you had at the assembly time.

Rem. On that line Mr Darby said it was better for us to be awake.

T.N.P. Well, I do not know that we can all say that.

M.G.W. Do you think that in principle David was recognising the cherubim in this chapter?

T.N.P. Exactly, the rights of God. I think that is a good touch because it is testing, when it is not going the way I thought it should go, to learn the rights of God. Cherubim would give that; the speaking was from between the cherubim. The rights of God are maintained. God's righteousness is known at the mercy-seat, is it not?

M.G.W. Was David so thinking about that that he gets past his own thoughts and the good things he wanted to do, and in going in to sit before Jehovah he just wanted the company of God?

T.N.P. That is right, just to speak to Him, and to learn about this Man. Do we go into God to learn about Christ? Do we? I say that soberly because we are tested in our experience as to whether we spend time just to go in to learn this manner of Man.

In chapter 29 David's reaction to the communication was that he accepts it and he goes in to God. He comes out from God and the rest of David's life is taken up with preparing for the house that he had proposed to build. He was not going to be allowed to build it but he says, I will get everything that is required to build this house and let others have it. Now I think that would be a good effect, if we see God's objective and work towards His end. God says, I am going to do it in Christ. You say, Well, I am going to support that line.

J.S. Paul says in Corinthians, "knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord", 1 Cor 15: 58. Do you think it is a good thing to get a sense of direction in regard to what we are occupied with?

T.N.P. I do think it is good. So it says that David had the pattern by the Spirit. I think that would be the direction. Moses did not get a pattern, did he? He saw it.

J.M. What is in your mind in making the distinction?

T.N.P. A pattern or as we might say the drawings are only two dimensional, I think Stephen touches it when he speaks about "the model" shown to him on the mountain, Acts 7: 44. I think the thing was there; what Moses saw on the mountain was real, was substantial; he saw Christ in type. I think that that is why afterwards he says "Let me... see thy glory", Exod 33: 18.

J.C.W. In John 16 the Lord Jesus says "I have yet many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now. But when he is come, the Spirit of truth... whatsoever he shall hear he shall speak; and he will announce to you what is coming" (vv 12, 13). "Ye cannot bear them now": it seems to put a special premium on the present time.

T.N.P. I think that is to bring out that communications continue. The Lord says that the communications Thou hast given Me I have given them (see John 17: 8); the communications, that is the words that had been given Him, He had given to them. Communication is still going on; would that be the point of what you are saying?

J.C.W. That is what I was thinking; it emphasises the continuance of the speaking through the Spirit; and the Spirit does not speak from Himself, He speaks what He has heard. The Spirit is subject to what the Lord has to say to His people.

T.N.P. That is interesting; and what the Spirit does is to magnify Christ. If Christ has His right place in our affections the Spirit will magnify Him more.

J.S. Do you think this suggestion of "gold for things of gold, and silver for things of silver" is interesting in that way? It would be a question of what the Spirit is bringing forward, a touch of the gold or a touch of the silver, but we want to be in line in preparing what is suitable.

T.N.P. I think that. It is amazing the things that David saw necessary to collect. If you look at the historical reference you find that, after he sat before Jehovah, he came out and smote the Philistines and he goes on a line of tremendous conquest. The Moabites are smitten next and they become contributory. I think this is preparing for the house; he is bringing everything in to be contributive to this wonderful system, that there should be a dwelling place for God.

Rem. You made a reference to John 17; is it interesting that He says "and they have kept thy word" (v 6)? It is the first thing mentioned after the reference to the glory.

T.N.P. You mean that the answer was in the persons. What the Lord found! You might say that there was not much, but He found something in these persons in response to what He had given. I think the Lord is looking for a response in us to the communications He has given. Think of all these years of ministry that we have had, wonderful communications, and yet the Lord has never given up, and He keeps on giving us more; are we ready to take it on?

J.R.C. Why is the emphasis in relation to sonship? Is this the way things are to continue? The thought of sonship is very elevated, is it not?

T.N.P. It certainly is.

Rem. Does it bear on what has been said, that David is thoroughly displaced, but the person who has displaced him (Solomon) is the supreme object of his affections. So there is no question of feeling upset or uncooperative, he could not be more co-operative because of the person that God has put in his place.

T.N.P. Yes, that is a wonderful thing to come to. He speaks about Solomon being young and tender; he would not have been much more than twenty when he got this job to do. I say that by the way just to encourage our young people to commit themselves to things early, but he was young and tender and David had no misgivings. I think it brings out the glory of the son. It is the glory of Christ; sonship involves the glory of Christ, and here He is shining in all His supremacy and David is working to the end that Christ is going to be magnified.

W.D. What do you make of the preponderance of metals as over against everything else?

T.N.P. You have some impression.

W.D. I am thinking of the durability of metals. What God passed David through brought out something in him that was dependable and reliable.

T.N.P. I like that idea of durability. I think what David produced, and what we are asked to produce, is what is durable, what is going to last. You get a fine touch as to the gold of Ophir in the section we read; that would bring out something of the refinement in durability. The metals would involve that there is a process to be gone through.

W.D. Paul speaks in the beginning of Corinthians of what withstands the test of the fire; certain things - wood, grass, straw - would not stand the test of the fire, but the metals would (see 1 Cor 3: 12,13). There is refined silver here as well as gold; it is like an ornamental setting of things in the assembly.

T.N.P. It is; and it is striking that silver comes in for things of silver when you think of the fact that Solomon did not make much of silver; it was of no account. David was not overlooking anything. You go into the presence of God and as you come out you are not overlooking anything, any divine principle, anything that is to contribute to God's service and praise; it is all augmented and brought in and finds its rightful place.

What was read in Acts would be a distinctive setting because it involves the testimony going out to the west, the Gentile coming in. But in suggesting it what was in mind was just to follow the features that marked Peter. It says "Peter went up on the house to pray, about the sixth hour" - that would be to speak to God - and it says "And he became hungry and desired to eat. But as they were making ready an ecstasy came upon him", and it would appear that God communicated something to him.

D.McG. Would that be the metal? A Christian is not put in a mould. He is hammered, so that he can stand the pressure and the tension that comes in in his after life. I think you see that here in Peter hungering and yet ready to make room for divine communications first.

T.N.P. I think that is a good connection because there are no two of us alike. That may seem a strong statement in the light of the vast myriads that there are, but there are no two alike; moulds produce any amount the same, but things wrought upon bring out the distinctiveness of each vessel.

Rem. We are all different.

T.N.P. Yes. Here is one person and he is being formed; and we are being formed, dear brethren, by the communications in the assembly. What comes out collectively amongst us is something that we need to give a bit more heed to. I feel that for myself. The danger is that the communication comes and we just ignore it. Peter did not ignore this; he could not ignore this sheet; it says "a certain vessel descending, as a great sheet, bound by the four corners and let down to the earth". This is not prophetic now, it is ecstasy in a vision. What would you say about ecstasy?

W.D. Well, it requires nearness to God, apart from ourselves and altogether in touch with another Person in another realm. Would you say more as to the distinction. You said the first one was prophetic, but what do you have in mind here?

T.N.P. All I was thinking was that God can approach us in demonstration of the truth. I think that is what He has done in recent years; He has demonstrated the truth among us in persons. They are not always the most prominent, but you go round your local company and I think you will find persons who have demonstrated the truth.

Rem. Have you in mind what Paul said in regard to Timothy, that he will shew you my ways as they are in Christ (see 1 Cor 4: 17), and that in that way there is a communication to the Corinthians in a man?

T.N.P. That is right. Now I think that is what we experience a good deal at the present time, that there are persons who are exemplifications of the truth. I am not saying that any should be idolised - I do not mean that - but what do I demonstrate of the truth? Can t he. brethren look at me and say, Well, there is something there that I take account of.

A.T. Is that God's mind for this moment? Lydia gave heed to divine speaking. It says that "Saul increased the more in power" (Acts 9: 22), that was the great divine voice, was it not? It has often been said, the more we go in for the more we get.

T.N.P. That is true, and I do not think we go in for enough; I would agree with that. He increased in power, and as you go in for things you get increase.

J.C.W. I have been struck with that last question that David asks: "And who is willing to offer to Jehovah this day?". He just leaves it that way. You are thinking of our going in in that way.

T.N.P. Yes, and I think we are tested as to what am I contributing?

J.A.McL. Have you some impression as to why it is here recorded that Peter became hungry and desired to eat?

T.N.P. I think that Paul might exemplify it in what he says: “if I am beside myself it is to God” (see 2 Cor 5: 13). To get beyond self is one of my biggest problems. Do you find that? Peter was hungry but he gets beyond that. Now what can I say about an experience like that where I get beyond what is natural and am just occupied with divine things? Then God shows him something.

M.G.W. When it goes on to say "as Peter continued pondering over the vision" he seems to have forgotten that he was hungry.

T.N.P. That was the effect on Peter. It may be I am going over the same ground to some extent, but I do think there is a need for pondering, searching and pondering; the Bereans searched (see Acts 17: 11). In pondering you go over things in your mind; we do not jump at things; when we are younger we would like to jump into things and just get everything all at once, but we do not get things that way. Peter is pondering and is seeing all that is in this great sheet and he cannot understand it. How could God have a vessel like this for His pleasure? It is all the things that I do not want, he says.

W.D. In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul says "fourteen years ago" (v 2); he must have pondered it for fourteen years, and subsequently the wealth of it came out in ministry in Ephesus and other places.

T.N.P. I think that is true. I suppose you have found that as to many a thing you have carried for a long time and turned over prayerfully. Peter went up to pray; this prayerful attitude would go alongside the pondering of things. You get something, something is shown you and you prayerfully go over it with God.

Rem. It says "and he beholds"; the note says 'view with attention'.

T.N.P. You mean he is held interestedly. I think that is important; when God is showing something you concentrate on it.

J.C.W. Paul seems to draw attention to the importance of ponder in g; he says "think of what I say, for the Lord will give thee understanding", 2 Tim 2: 7. He is quite sure of the result, but he says "think of what I say".

T.N.P. Yes, that is the pondering. Mary pondered things too (see Luke 2: 19). Certain things she shows she did not understand, and I think we are pretty much like t hat; there are lots of things we do not understand, but just ponder them.

J.C.W. Jacob too heard what Joseph had to say but he could not understand it, but he pondered them (see Gen 37: 10-11).

P.G. Verse 10 is "desired to eat" but verse 14 is "slay and eat". "Desired to eat" was natural, but the voice says "slay and eat".

T.N.P. Yes, that is what God is saying, that is the communication - "slay and eat" - and Peter says "In no wise, Lord". It happens three times, the thing is repeated, the communication is unquestionable. Peter had said the wrong thing: "I have never eaten anything common or unclean", but he pondered. I think divine light comes in as we ponder; what is of Christ comes into view.

M.G.W. Daniel was addressed as greatly beloved because he had set his heart to understand (see Dan 10: 11, 12). He seemed to come under the eye of heaven as greatly beloved because he purposed to follow things out, think about them, ponder them, understand them.

T.N.P. I think that is right. We will be promoted on spiritual lines as we take up that attitude.

W.D. Would you say something about the fact that both the Lord and the Spirit communicate in this matter?

T.N.P. Well, you had better open up what is in your mind.

W.D. It definitely says "the Spirit said" in verse 19; a voice in verse 13. Had you thought it was the Spirit speaking?

T.N.P. No, I had not thought of that. It is the idea of divine speaking. What would you say as to the voice, the prime Speaker - "there was a voice"?

W.D. I thought it was what you were saying earlier in the meeting, a communication comes through Christ and then the Spirit comes in. In the addresses to the churches in Revelation the Lord speaks to the assembly, and then He says "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies". It started with the Lord and finishes with the Spirit.

T.N.P. I think that is a good point because the Lord's speaking makes way for the Spirit's speaking, or adding, we might say. The voice had said "Rise, Peter, slay and eat" and he is pondering. Maybe that would agree with Revelation 3, because if we reject the speaking we do not know the Spirit's touch. The Spirit would come in where a thing is accepted. I think the pondering here would involve the acceptance of what is said; you are holding it, looking enquiringly at it maybe, and the Spirit just comes in because Christ has His place. Would you think that is right?

W.D. Yes; I have often heard it explained this way, that the ministries - for example Mr Darby's Collected Writings, Mr Raven's Notes and Lectures and Mr Taylor's ministry - are in a sense historical because they were spoken at a certain time; but the voice of the Spirit is to give the current application of what the Lord says through these ministries. So at the present time that is what is happening. Do you think so? ·

T.N.P. I do think so. If Christ is made way for the Spirit is free to bring in a present living touch. It is not that the communications are new, I mean in the sense that there is something different from what there ever has been before, but it is a fresh touch in the power of the Spirit.

A.T. Do you think it is a great matter that we have living relations with divine Persons?

T.N.P. They are living. A conscious sense of Christ alive makes things different to you. I think that is what held Peter here; the voice, this communication, held him; he is pondering it, and as he is pondering (I think this is important) the Spirit joins on. The Spirit will link on where there are persons subject and making way for Christ. He does not link on otherwise.

Rem. Do you think that Peter had been adjusted in that regard as to the rights of God?

T.N.P. I think he was; maybe he did not understand at the time what was happening, but he afterwards looks back. The next chapter brings out how he came to understand the thing. "Behold, three men seek thee; but rise up, go down, and go with them, nothing doubting, because I have sent them. And Peter going down to the men said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek". He did not say, Who are you? He said "I am he whom ye seek". He had accepted the word in its totality. We are tested often as to whether we accept the thing in its totality and let the Spirit come into it so that it is worked out.

J.S. "Because I have sent them": do you think that, along with the fact that the Spirit is speaking, what He is saying is related to what He is actually doing in divine authority in His service?

T.N.P. It opens up a tremendous range of divine operations. What is being communicated, what is being done, the Spirit's work in another area, coordinating things, bringing two persons together in the right state at the right time: I think all this opens up a tremendous range of thought, how things are coordinated in divine love in view of getting the objective that God has in mind.

J.S. What the Spirit is saying to the assemblies is helpful in that connection. Is He bringing about universally, through what He is saying, one thing that will finally in its completeness be the answer to the heart of Christ?

T.N.P. That is what the Spirit's service is. So the Lord presents Himself and then the Spirit links on with the presentation of the communication given. I think that is how it would have worked in each of the churches. Rem. ln the last four addresses the Spirit's voice comes after the reference to the overcomer, which would bear out what you are saying.

T.N.P. Very good, that is interesting.

Rem. ln this broken day in which we are the overcomer, that is persons who are exercised as to the truth that has been brought out by the Lord, find the Spirit's voice coming in to help such, do you think?

T.N.P. I am sure that is the truth and in small measure we know something about it. If we have had any experience at all we get some sense of that.

J.B. Is Peter, in pondering, allowing the word of the communication to have effect in himself?

T.N.P. I think that.

J.B. We see something of the depths that came about in Peter in his epistle.

T.N.P. We need to let the thing work in us. I speak for myself, we are too superficial; depth comes out through pondering.

 

DUNDEE

16 August 1980

 

Key to initials

J.Boyce, Dundee; J.R.Cumming, Edinburgh; W.Dickson, Edinburgh; P.Grant, Dundee; J.Mather, Dundee; H.McFarlane, Dundee; D.McGregor, Lochgelly; J.A.McLaren, Dundee; T.N.Pye, Kirkcaldy; J.Strachan, Dundee; R.Taylor, Kirkcaldy; J.C.Walker, Dundee; M.G.Wood, Dundee