ADMIRATION

R.D.Plant

John 1: 29-31 to "I knew him not", 35,36; 2 Samuel 7: 18-20 to "say more to thee".

I just wanted to speak a word, dear brethren, as to admiration. I have been affected since Lord's day as to the word in Thessalonians, which speaks of Him being wondered at, and admired, "in all that have believed", 2 Thess 1: 10, sometimes slightly misquoted. It is not 'admired by all those that believe', but "in" them. In other words, there will be something seen in formation in persons who have been affected by the work of Christ. I think the day for the secret side of that is now. If there is to be that in persons in which Christ will be seen and wondered at and admired, I believe that the feature of admiration must have its part with us now. Admiration, of course, would not be everything, but I am just touched with it since Lord's day and in these two men, John and David, I think you get some suggestion of admiration. It has been said that this second reference to the expression, "Behold the Lamb of God", is John's admiration of Christ. A wonderful thing, dear brethren, if we can come to that point, and a poor thing, I suppose, if service does not yield moments of admiration of Christ. I suppose we would all be occupied in service, no-one would exclude themselves from that. I should not think so. In the old dispensation the Kohathites and the Gershonites and the Merarites carried the various parts of the Tabernacle. You do not get those distinctions today, but I think that every one of us would be concerned to be occupied in some way, in whatever our measure, in serving as we are able, and if this is so then each one would need these secret moments like John when as it were he stands back and admires what he sees in Jesus. I do not believe, dear brethren, that service should become an over-riding and all-possessing object in itself but that the glorious features that shine out in Christ are constantly to affect us. We are so used to activity and some of us so used to conflict. Perhaps the first impetus imparted by recent exercises amongst the saints has faded and we could well ask ourselves whether often it is in the outward order of things that a certain excitement carries us along. It is a wonderful thing, in such times to find our resource in Christ, a wonderful thing to be able to stand back, as it were, and find beauty in Jesus; to be able to admire Him, to see something perhaps that we had not seen before. Think of a man like John, a great servant as he was, one of whom it is said that there is none greater born of women (Matt 11: 11; Luke 7: 28), and yet he could stand back at this moment and, in admiration say "Behold the Lamb of God." Do you have moments like that, beloved brother, beloved sister, just to marvel at the beauty and the glory of what God has in Christ, to marvel at the great things of God, at the things in which we are occupied, dear brethren, not just to be accumulating details of the truth so that you might be the most knowledgeable brother in the meeting, but gaining impressions of Christ which will go right through into eternity. Would that we were all like that.

Well, David was a man who was disappointed and I suppose that disappointment also has come into the lives of most of us at some time, and yet in his disappointment he did not become bitter, he did not even turn to the brother who was perhaps nearest to him in his thoughts; but he sits before Jehovah as it says here, and uses this expression, "Is this the manner of man?". A great thing, dear brethren; to be able to stand back from where we are or what we are occupied with, whether it is our service, or disappointment, or even elation, whatever it is, to see the beauty of the Man of God's choice, to marvel at the manner of Man He has chosen, to marvel at the things you are occupied with, at the mercy that has taken us up and kept us to this point. "Is this the manner of man?" - the greatest disappointment of his life, I suppose, and maybe there is someone here today like that. I would encourage such and all of us to turn to God and find that the Man in His presence is the only One who can totally satisfy our hearts. I believe it is an exercise, dear brethren, that things are maintained in freshness and vitality until the Lord comes, and that will not be secured alone by the amount of knowledge we may have or by the amount of ministry we have read, important as that is. We have had to prove these things. I believe that interest and vitality and the spirit of revival will be maintained amongst us, and in me, if we become more and more occupied with Christ. The Spirit's work is perfect, dear brethren, everything He has ever touched has been successful and will be successful right the way through the dispensation, and God will not be hindered in any thought. What a wonderful result, but may we be preserved in freshness and not merely in terms, and not merely in doctrine, important as it is, dear brethren, but in freshness and affection and interest. I believe it will be as we are occupied more and more with Christ and with divine things, and really interested in them, not as an academic exercise but as they are linked with the Man who has touched our hearts, and has filled them with love for Himself. May we be encouraged, for His Name's sake.

LONDON

24 September 1974