“THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIAS”
P. S. Chareyre
In these past few days I have thought of the character of the service of John the baptist—
raised up in the midst of a faithful and humble remnant but marked by great power, as the angel says—“He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias”. Luke 1: 17. Then when John himself is presented to us attention is drawn to his appearance, the same as that of Elias.
I have thought of him in relation to our condition at the end of the dispensation.
We are used to saying that we are in circumstances somewhat similar to those at the beginning of Luke’s gospel. We should, therefore, I think, have it in our hearts to look into this consecration which was seen in John—“the spirit and power of Elias”. It seems to me that one of the causes of the sorrows which have come upon the brethren may well have been the lack of appreciation of this kind of service.
However, hearing our brothers speak of rejoicing and leaping with joy, I thought that this remarkable account at the beginning of the gospel of Luke is worth considering, a remnant marked by so much weakness, so much smallness, but trusting in God and finding its pleasure in being occupied with the things of God—it is, in fact, what we find in chapter 4 of Philippians. Here are two women come together to speak of “the things that are more excellent”, Philippians 1: 10. I did not read any further, but we know how Mary expresses herself in terms of praise and joy towards God. Well, in such surroundings there is so much pleasure for divine Persons that the little child leaped with joy in his mother’s womb. She, the mother, is filled with the Holy Spirit and the little child leaps with joy. It is something extraordinary. Beloved brothers and sisters, I believe that it is simply suggestive of the character of things that the Spirit would wish to produce with two or three occupied amongst themselves, in their conversations, with the glorious things of God. As our brothers have said, that is part of the so simple Christianity in which I am sure the Spirit invites us to find our place when we are reduced to such small dimensions.
One would like to search out these things in our thoughts, as it says in the epistle to the Philippians, and to make them the subject of our conversation, as we have it in this passage, so that something of the spirit and power of Elias may be maintained in our midst in spite of outward weakness, and that something as distinct as the little child leaping for joy in his mother’s womb might appear. It seems, and I think you would agree, that these are conditions which suggest a truly great power, a great power in extreme outward weakness; not an external power, but the power of God in weakness. May the Lord encourage us by His
grace to pursue ardently these things which are within our reach.
Words in meeting for ministry, Valence
27 July 1982