THE PLACE OF PAUL IN THE HEARTS OF THE SAINTS

A. P. Grant

Philippians 1: 3–8; Acts 9: 22–25; 20: 36–38; 21: 1; 14: 19, 20; Romans 16: 3, 4; 2 Timothy 1: 16–18

What I would like to speak of from these scriptures is the word in Philippians 1 where Paul says to the Philippians, “because ye have me in your hearts”; there was a remarkable bond between the apostle Paul and the Philippians. He is not writing here as an apostle, he is writing to a company of saints that he loves, and who love him. When we speak of the place that Paul has in the hearts of the saints, it is not as displacing Christ, but rather enhancing the place that Christ has in our hearts. Paul was, as one said, the greatest lover of Christ, and what was in Paul’s heart was that there should be an answer to Him; he espoused the Corinthians to one Man (2 Corinthians 11: 2). What jealous feeling there was with Paul in view of Christ having the first place in the hearts of the saints, that there might be assembly features formed, pure assembly love for Christ. So when we think of Paul’s word, “because ye have me in your hearts”, I think that what would be conveyed in such persons is that they would have the same desires, and would have the same longings as Paul did.

We know that Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles and is of special interest to us as coming from the West. This epistle is especially interesting to those in this area of the world, as Philippi was the first European assembly that was set up, and they had a special bond with Paul. We often speak of the saints in Philippi, where normal Christianity was enjoyed, which I think would be the fruit of having Paul in their affections, and giving place to what Paul spoke. Lydia was one from Philippi, “whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things spoken by Paul”, Acts 16: 14. We know too that Paul suffered a great deal that the glad tidings might be brought to the Philippians, and the glad tidings have come to us in the same way; we have had the glad tidings brought to us through Paul as the testimony moved westwards. So I think we should appreciate Paul, and appreciate too the cost of the glad tidings coming to us. Paul speaks of the Philippians’ sympathy with the glad tidings. Paul’s glad tidings—how full they are, not only seeking to bring in an answer to the need of man, but bringing in what was for the Lord’s own affections.

Another feature that marked the Philippians was that they continued, as verse 5 says, “your fellowship with the gospel, from the first day until now”. He speaks too of God completing the work, he is confident that God will complete His work in them, for the reason, “because ye have me in your hearts”. I think that this would have a current bearing on us as we think about all that Paul brought out and of the sufferings he endured. There was particular suffering in Philippi that we read of in Acts 16, suffering in view of the glad tidings coming to them. Another feature that marked Philippi was households where Paul was received with affection. This epistle has been spoken of as a love epistle, and the scriptures that I have read demonstrate the love that the saints had for Paul and how love operated. I thought it might be profitable for us to see how love operated in the saints. We were speaking earlier of the “way of more surpassing excellence” (1 Corinthians 12: 31), and I think it would be an exercise for us that what Paul represents in the way of securing pure affections for Christ is maintained livingly among the saints.

I read in Acts 9, where Saul’s conversion is related earlier in the chapter, and also the wonderful heavenly light that shone into his heart, “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest”, Acts 9: 4. What marked Paul’s preaching was Christ glorified and also the answer to it in the assembly. So the verses I read in Acts 9 show how

the disciples in Damascus appreciated him; he was still named Saul here, and they showed how love was operating among the saints in view of the protection of the vessel. If we speak of loving Paul, we are speaking of loving Christ, because the features of Christ shone in Saul; he was not yet commissioned, but he had this heavenly light in his heart. It says of these persons, “but the disciples took him by night” (there was love operating) “and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket”. Think of the gentle way that they would have lowered Saul in view of his escape from the Jews.

As soon as Saul begins to preach the opposition becomes evident as it says, “the Jews consulted together to kill him”. We know that Paul refers to this incident in 2 Corinthians. In that epistle he refers to the ethnarch of the king seeking to take him, but here it is the Jews, no doubt behind this plot to kill him; but then love overcomes, love protects the Lord’s servant.

Love would protect that element even among the saints today, in view of the saints coming into the full enjoyment of the light of Paul’s ministry, “but the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket”; being let down would be a very humbling experience. One of the features that marked Paul was a humble spirit. You could say that Paul was someone who could be easily loved, a lovable man. I think those who are marked by features of Christ, a lowly spirit, and the spirit of Christ would be easily loved.

He obviously had secured a place in the affections of the saints following his conversion, “the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall”. This operation would take more than one disciple, and would involve the disciples working together, maybe two or three or more, they “took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket”.

Although Paul as a vessel contained wonderful light, he was willing to go that downward way. Think of how often he refers to how he persecuted the assembly, he never lost sight of that and he was maintained in humility. How essential it is for us that we are maintained in that feature at the present time.

He speaks to the Philippians of the going down mind, “For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2: 5), think of these downward movements that marked the Lord Jesus, coming down into manhood and going into death. Saul had this humbling experience, and in the epistle to the Corinthians where he recounts this experience, in the following verses he speaks of being caught up to the third heaven. How beautiful that is, that the one who was let down was caught up to enjoy the greatest things, caught up to the third heaven. I think that if we, at the present time, are to enjoy the greatest things, these heavenly things, and to enjoy them in divine power, we need to be maintained in the lowly spirit that marked Paul. The love of the saints here operated with that in view. The Jews were seeking to kill Paul but the Lord protected him; the Lord had given him this great light for the saints in view of what was for His own pleasure. The Lord protected him, but he used the love of the saints to protect him, “the disciples took him”, what a beautiful reference, showing the place Paul had in their hearts.

I read in chapter 20 where Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders, the last three verses showing clearly the love that the saints had for Paul. This is often referred to as the love chapter, beginning with Paul’s embrace, and ending with the answer to it, the saints embracing Paul, “And having said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore; and falling upon the neck of Paul they ardently kissed him, specially pained by the word which he had said, that they would no more see his face”. What a bond he had with these saints, and it was to these brethren at Ephesus that Paul was able to open out the greatest things. The Philippians prospered, they had Paul in their hearts, and I think the Ephesians too clearly had Paul in their affections. Paul was able to open out the greatest thoughts of divine purpose to these saints, “I have not shrunk from announcing to you all the counsel of God”, Acts 20: 27. Paul was a personal representative of Christ. We read here of the saints’ love for Paul, it was really love for Christ that was expressed, love is something that can expand. Paul prayed for the Philippians “that your love may abound yet more and more”, Philippians 1: 9. It is a great matter to allow our affections to expand and allow everything that is of God, and what is pleasing to God, to have a place in our affections. We speak of loving the Lord Jesus and loving the truth, loving the saints, and here I think what is particularly in mind, is the place we have in our affections for what Paul represents.

I often think about what Mr Taylor says, ‘if we do not shine in Paul’s light, we shall not shine at all’ (J.T. Vol. 6, p.45). The saints that we have spoken of in Philippi were shining and the saints in Damascus too. Those in Damascus were not the fruit of Paul’s preaching, they were converted before Paul, they were in Christ before Paul, but Paul could take account of what was there among the saints in Damascus, a beautiful example of Christianity. In Ephesus too, Paul had been with them three years opening out the greatest things. They had particular affection for Paul, it says “they ardently kissed him”. The note is interesting because it refers to Luke 15, the father’s love for the returning son. The Ephesians were from afar, Paul speaks of them, “without Christ ... and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2: 12), just like the younger son; but they appropriated divine grace, their hearts were opened to receive what Paul was teaching. They were faithful and Paul had a particular place in their affections as we see here in chapter 21, where it says, “And when, having got away from them”, the note says, ‘An expression of effort—‘torn ourselves away’ may be too strong, but it implies force’.

Think of how love would hold Paul and all that he represented. I think if we have this in our hearts it will be maintained and will not be given up. Currently in Christendom, Paul has largely been given up and all that Paul represents, and Paul’s teaching has been given up. What a loss! I think it is for us to maintain this at the present time in view of there being pure assembly affection for Christ. He says to the Ephesians, “but I speak as to Christ, and as to the assembly”, Ephesians 5: 32. So I thought that this would be a suitable spirit for us to express, as it says, “specially pained by the word which he had said, that they would no more see his face”. Think of what was expressed in Paul’s face, the grace that he had shown, his face would be shining, and I think we are to be preserved in this shining at the present time.

We have another instance in Acts 14 of the love of the saints for Paul. We have been reading the book of Acts locally and I have been impressed with these references showing the expression of love for Paul. The background to these scriptures is Paul’s sufferings. It says, “But there came Jews from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds and stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing him to have died”. Then it says, “But while the disciples encircled him”, what an attractive suggestion, the circle of love. In Mark’s gospel we read of a circle around Christ, those who were His brethren, those who were doing the will of God, and I think this would be a similar circle, composed of persons who appreciated Paul. I think that we would want to be in such a circle at the present time, suggesting what is collective, with each one having their own appreciation of Paul’s light in their hearts. It says, “But while the disciples encircled him, he rose up and entered into the city”. There was a revival here and I think that this might suggest the love and the life too there is among the saints. It has often been quoted that while we cleave to Paul, we do not forget John. I think that this may be suggested here; what love there was among the saints, a circle of love among the saints in view of reviving Paul.

This might have a link with 2 Timothy because Paul refers to these sufferings in chapter 3. Paul refers to the things that Timothy was thoroughly acquainted with, and he includes the sufferings that happened to him in Lystra; we know that Timothy came from this area. I think this would refer to what is to be maintained in the last days, the circle of love that John would suggest, in view of Paul’s ministry being enjoyed in a living way. We were speaking of life in the reading and we have been taught that life is the answer to the breakdown at the present time. We know that Paul’s ministry has been rejected in Christendom, but I think we can enjoy the great things that Paul has opened out, the purpose of God, and the truth of the assembly. These things can be enjoyed in a living way as this circle of affection is known. How sorrowful it is if we belong to any other circle. We might have a circle of friends, worldly friends, but what a favour to be in this circle around Paul, as appreciating the greatness of divine purpose, and in view of Paul being revived. This is a great triumph, the enemy seemed to have won a victory here, but the love of the saints again overcame, and Paul was revived. It says, “he rose up and entered into the city”, a reminder of Acts 9 where he was told to enter into the city, suggesting the administration of love.

I thought in the other scriptures that I read, these were individuals who had love for Paul. We want to be marked by these features now. In Romans 16, Prisca and Aquila, a husband and wife, of whom Paul says “(who for my life staked their own neck)”; think of a man and his wife, completely at one in their support of the testimony, in support of Paul. This would remind us of Genesis 2, as to Christ and the assembly, being typically reflected in the man and his wife. Aquila and Priscilla are referred to six times in the scriptures, always together.

They received much help through Paul, and what an appreciation they had of him; they took account of his ways too and they were able to help Apollos, “having heard him, took him to them and unfolded to him the way of God more exactly”, Acts 18: 26. What love marked them and what I was particularly impressed with was the way that they were completely at one in it, “(who for my life staked their own neck)”. We have read of companies of saints appreciating Paul, but here we have a husband and wife together appreciating Paul, staking their own neck. In 2 Timothy 1 we read of a man, Onesiphorus, who also appreciated Paul. It says, “... Onesiphorus ... has not been ashamed of my chain”, this is Paul as a prisoner, this is a time of great restriction in one sense, but then it is also a time when the greatest things can be enjoyed. Paul says of Onesiphorus that he “sought me out very diligently, and found me”; I thought that would be love that was behind it.

There is particular energy needed in the present time where there is so much apathy as to divine things, so many turning away from the truth, it says here that “all who are in Asia ... have turned away from me”, 2 Timothy 1: 15. What a thing it is to be individually, in our households and assembly-wise too, appreciating and going on in life and giving Paul a place in our affections. As I said at the outset, this does not displace Christ. Paul had only one thing in his heart and that was to glorify Christ, that He might have the first place in the hearts of the saints, that He might have the first place in all things. No one loved Christ as much as Paul did, no one suffered as he did. So I think it would be for us at the present time to be maintained in such affection, having Christ in our affections and what is for Christ’s pleasure, what is for His heart. Paul speaks in Ephesians of those “that love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption”, Ephesians 6: 24. That was what was in Paul’s heart, and so may we be attracted to it and maintained in it, in love, “a way of more surpassing excellence”, 1 Corinthians 12: 31. It is to be maintained in our affections, not only held in a mental way, but I think if it is in our affections we will continue as the Philippians did, “from the first day until now”, Philippians 1: 5. May we continue in it for His glory.

Address at Havering
8 December 2007