LIVING RELATIONS WITH DIVINE PERSONS

T. D. Beveridge

Daniel 6: 10; Acts 7: 54–56, 59, 60

What I was thinking about, beloved brethren, was the value of having good and living relations with divine Persons. Reading the Scriptures and ministry is of great value, but life is really related to our living relationships with divine Persons. I think to have good relations with divine Persons needs time. If you love someone what

you need is time to be with them; if you want to enjoy their company, you need time away from whatever else engages you, in order to be free to enjoy their company.

I read of Daniel because he was a praying man, and, in praying, we may speak to any one of the three divine Persons. It may be the Father in relation to matters in our lives, or to the Lord Jesus, or to the Spirit. If we need urgent help it might be to the Spirit, the blessed holy divine Person indwelling believers. I think it has been said amongst us that we sometimes forget about Him, the best Friend we have down here. Just think of that, beloved brethren, a divine Person indwelling us, as the scripture says, “Do ye not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God”, 1 Corinthians 6: 19. We may pass through a day and perhaps never even think of the Spirit or speak to Him. If you love someone, you respect and value them, and generally you would speak to them. I think that our links with divine Persons are enriched and made more living as we speak to Them. So Daniel was marked by this feature, so that whatever circumstances arose in his life, he was committed to his God and purposed in his heart that he would not do certain things, and he abode by that. Sometimes things arise in our lives, it may be in our work or in our household arrangements, and we begin to adjust ourselves to them, instead of keeping our links fresh and living with the Father, and with the Lord Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit.

There is an interesting reference in Acts 16, “having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia”, Acts 16: 6. Have you ever had an experience like that? You may have been going somewhere or going to do something, and then there was some indication which you knew was not of yourself that would have forbidden you to do a certain thing. I think I have known that in my life; I expect many of the beloved brethren have known that.

Therefore our links with divine Persons are to be real, but not mystical, so that we move and seek to be here pleasing to Them. We are to know what it is to speak to Them and seek Their help. How much we need the help of the Father and of the Son and of the Spirit! I read of Daniel to illustrate the matter of prayer, so that in our prayers we might be encouraged in our communion with divine Persons. I know that has been spoken of many times, but it is vital that we maintain living, fresh contact with divine Persons.

Of Enoch, it says that he walked with God. You can think of walking in a natural sense, and to walk with someone is an attractive thought. John the baptist, looking at Jesus as He walked, could say, “Behold the lamb of God”, John 1: 36. What impressions can come into our hearts as we sit down quietly and contemplate the Lord Jesus. Sometimes even as you just read over a hymn, of say Mr. Darby’s, something can come livingly and freshly into your soul. As Enoch walked with God, what conversations, no doubt, he had with God; how close and intimate would have been his communion. It says, “and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5: 24), I do not understand fully what that means, but he must have had wonderful links with the blessed God.

I read in the Acts in relation to Stephen of whom it says, “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit”, Acts 6: 5. This scripture that we have read speaks of his stoning, but how living his links were with the Lord Jesus Christ. Even as he was suffering physically he was still able to speak of what he saw, and he was still able to utter these words, praying and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”. Beloved brethren, how real and how fresh are our links? Is it perhaps only on Lord’s day and at the meetings that I begin to think about these things? I speak carefully because the beloved brethren have work and many other matters to attend to, but I would like to encourage every one of us to have fresh living links with the Lord Jesus as Stephen did. I am impressed with the fact that the Spirit is indwelling believers. How near He

is! How ready He is to help us! and how ready He is to hear us! I recall a word recently as to the Spirit as the Comforter, and maybe sometimes we need comfort. We pass through circumstances that are trying and difficult, and maybe no one else knows about them, but there is a blessed Comforter here, a divine Person, who can cause the love of God to be shed abroad in human hearts so that they know the support and nearness of that divine Person.

How wonderful it is that we, as creatures, can have to do with divine Persons in all our matters.

I was thinking of Ananias too. Even if he had those doubtful thoughts as to Paul he could speak to the Lord, he said, “Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man”, Acts 9: 13.

How fresh and living and simple he was in his relationships and converse with the Lord. If you are uncertain about something, I am sure the Lord will listen to any difficulties or thoughts you have, and He will direct in a way that is pleasing to Him. I am sure the Spirit would do the same; He is here as a Helper. Our Father in heaven is ready to supply whatever we need in a providential way; He would hear us as we ask Him and He would provide. Let us be aware, beloved brethren, that divine Persons are so available in all their greatness. How great God is! The God who inhabits eternity, before beginnings were He was there, such a One has revealed Himself in the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit, and desires to have living, vital, fresh relationships with poor creatures like ourselves. Let our hearts be encouraged for His name’s sake.

Word in meeting for ministry, Kirkcaldy
15 September 1998