THE MINISTRY OF W. J. HOUSE
THE MINISTRY OF W. J. HOUSE
The ministry of W. J. House is of a deeply spiritual character as it is very seldom encountered amongst God’s people, especially at the present day. He never wrote expositions of the Bible or its books, but he ministered the things of God and of Christ as he saw the need of them, and as they came to hand; others put them down on paper as he spoke. He ministered as one that is led by the Spirit. Those that knew W. J. House personally (and there are a few older brethren and sisters still alive who did) say about him that he brought the presence and cheerfulness of Christ with himself wherever he went, and wherever he ministered.
W J. House was a man who, like the apostles, lived what he preached. He adorned the doctrine of Christ in a very practical way. The spirit of his messages bears witness to the truth of this, for the things that he ministered were not made up of the shallow and superficial material that one acquires at Bible schools, Christian seminaries, schools of divinity and so on, but they are ministry directly from the throne of God and of the Lamb, like the streams of life and blessing that proceed forth from that throne to and through everyone who is truly subject to it, and who is done with man, his institutions, organizations, thoughts and ways.
Seldom does one find ministry that brings the Lord Jesus so close to us and makes Him so dear to one’s heart. W. J. House, in his ministry, brings before us Christ, the Son of God and the Son of man, in a most marvellous way; and, after reading some of that precious ministry, in a certain way one can say as Job of old, “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.” Many of us have heard, read, and studied about Christ and His things, but W. J. House obviously lived in Christ’s presence, and walked and communed with Him. His ministry is not of that only too common analytical, academic, and rationalizing type, a carnal and basically erroneous approach to the Word of God, that is so abundant amongst us at the present day where there is so much of the intellect and for the intellect, and so dearly little that speaks to the heart and appeals to the conscience. What W. J. House ministered obviously was what he personally had seen with his eyes, what he had contemplated, and what he personally had experienced of the word of life; and his ministry can best be described as refreshing rivers of living waters that flowed out of his innermost being.
He could speak about the eternal city and the world to come; about their glories, loveliness, purity, and childlike simplicity in such a way that one could go on refreshed and renewed on the pilgrim path for another day; having one’s eyes on the things not seen and yet eternal, forgetting and despising this present world with all it has to offer, having one’s eyes opened to all its falsehood, vanity, and pride by the loveliness and glories of that to come. But he could also discover to us the flesh with all its deceitfulness and subtleties.
The times we are living in are extremely difficult and confusing, both secularly and spiritually. The Apostle Paul, in his second epistle to Timothy, calls them perilous times, that is dangerous times full of spiritual pitfalls and snares. So often and so easily one loses the vision of heavenly things and the touch with spiritual realities.
As the Lord wills and enables us, we will republish much of the ministry of W. J. House for those which sigh and long for such ministry, and whose hearts and lives are affected by it unto more heavenly mindedness in all holy conversation and with all godliness; and, let us make sure that these writings do not become just some more collector’s items on our Brethren bookshelves. They are living ministry for a living people. Let us give thanks to Him who alone can give such gifts unto His church and who alone is able to prepare such servants; men that are comparatively little known and yet are truly the first amongst many.
Sad to say, there are those that can and will only too easily speak evil and in a derogatory way of W. J. House, for he was not of their particular partisan persuasion,
unsubdued disposition, and unbrokenness of heart and spirit; men that are full of themselves and their “correctness” in doctrine. Let us not be deceived nor misled by such. Let them first by a meek and quiet spirit and in childlike simplicity show forth their good works in all godliness and holy conversation, refraining their tongues and lips from all malice, guile, and evil speaking and thus approve themselves in the sight of God and commend themselves to the heart and conscience of all true and unfeigned lovers of the Lord Jesus. Let their froward and carnal zeal “on God’s behalf” first be replaced by subdued, spiritual, and self-denying service for Christ, ministering blessing instead of strife and contention. Such ministry, as that of W. J. House, will never have any appeal for those who harbour and cultivate the spirit and disposition of the Pharisees. W. J. House was truly amongst those, who for His name’s sake went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles; the spirit of his ministry proves that only too well. All genuine lovers of our Lord Jesus Christ, the friends that greet each other by name, therefore receive such that they might be fellow helpers to the truth (see 3rd of John). W. J. House is long gone on to be with the Lord, but we can still receive his ministry which above all was according to godliness.
At the judgment seat of Christ God will give to every man as his work shall be. Then and there the hidden things of darkness and counsels of the heart shall be made manifest, and none will be able anymore to hide his ill will, malice, and love of pre-eminence behind good words and fair speeches about “sound doctrine” and “scriptural separation”, deluding themselves and misleading those of simple minds.
Finally, we like to appeal to our readers, should you by any chance possess some of the ministry of W. J. House that you would like to see republished, please write to us and let us know about it; the greater part of his ministry appears to be worth republishing.