LIGHT SHINING OVER AGAINST THE CANDLESTICK
A. P. Devenish
Numbers 8: 1–4; John 8: 25; 2 Timothy 3: 10, 11, 14
In Numbers 8 the light from the lamps shines over against the candlestick. It shows the beauty of the candlestick, it shows the detail of the candlestick. I thought it linked with the reference in John, “Altogether that which I also say to you”. The Lord Jesus was not different from what He said. (I am seeking help to express myself.) He was altogether what He said; the light in that sense was thrown over against the candlestick. A remarkable light shone in Christ, but what is shown is the beauty of the One on whom the light shone and everything was perfectly in accord in Him. There was nothing to discredit, nothing to contradict what shone in Him in His life.
My exercise tonight is that if we are to help one another it must be by example. There is much that causes sorrow amongst us; how can we help one another? Every part of our lives should demonstrate that we are consistent. Paul was a remarkable expression of what he said.
You could look at any part of his life. He speaks of his teaching. There has been teaching among us that has not been according to the truth, but you could look at Paul’s teaching and it was according to the word of God, it was according to the Scriptures, it was according to God. You look at his teaching in detail, a wonderful study, “my teaching”.
Then he says “conduct”; there was nothing in his conduct that would in any way take away from his ministry. If he could be seen at any time in his life, any place in his life, there would be nothing that would bring discredit on him or his ministry, or that would contradict what he professed to be. Paul says, “thou hast been thoroughly acquainted with my teaching, conduct, purpose”. What was his purpose? What is our purpose? It may be getting on in the world, it may be seeking a place here, but what was Paul’s purpose? How wonderful to think of what was in his mind and what his purpose was to bring the saints into the gain of the truth, into the experience of the truth of the assembly. It is as if the light is shining here for Timothy to take account of, shining on Paul’s conduct and purpose, his faith, his long-suffering, his love.
Paul would have love towards all the saints, there would be nothing partial about his love. He would not have special friendships as we often have amongst us. How damaging they are!
His love would be impartial and it would express the love of Christ. It is almost, as I have suggested, that the light is shining on every part of Paul’s life, and what we find is consistency. What an example he was for Timothy. Timothy would not be able to say, ‘Well he says this but he does something different’. There was no darkness there, no dark places there.
In the Corinthian epistle he is transparent, the light is shining through him and my exercise simply is this that we can help one another; I think we can help one another more, than in any other way, by example. If the light shines in any measure from us, what may be seen in us should confirm or express the substantial character of what God has wrought in our souls.
Well that is a simple suggestion that one would have for us tonight. There is much to sorrow over, much that we can only be cast upon the Lord about, that matters might be adjusted, that the saints may be really together, that we may be joined in soul, that we may think one thing, thinking the same thing, that there may not be these divergences. But how can we help one another? How can you help the brethren? How can I help the brethren? I think it is by example. I just commend that to the brethren to think about. As the truth shines in one and another, the effectiveness of it lies in what we are; we are not to be different from what we say.
It is very interesting in 1 John 1, John repeats over and over again, “If we say”. In verse 6, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie”. We are in a time of profession. There is so much profession publicly and yet a denial of the truth in practice.
Therefore the word is “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practise the truth”. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1: 8). If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar”, (1 John 1: 10). Many times John speaks to us about what we say, but is it confirmed in what we are? I would just commend that to the brethren. May the Lord bless the word.
Word in meeting for ministry, Denton
17 April 2006