THE GOSPEL AND THE MYSTERY

THE GOSPEL AND THE MYSTERY

I fear many have accepted the truth as to the unity of the body — that all Christians are united together — who have not laid hold in their souls of the great fact that Christ is Head of the body, and that the mystery is that the body — the Christ, is Christ’s body, His complement, and I feel that all the turning aside which betrays a low state amongst those who have tasted of peace, is traceable to this, they have not gone on to the knowledge of the mystery. It is a great favour to be allowed to stand really for Christ, not only for the gospel — His blessed service to man, but for the mystery — the centre-piece with the blessed God for ever. Why should it not be our centre? I believe the great lack is from not seeing the difference between where the gospel puts us and where the mystery puts us. Much that is very edifying is simply gospel. 2 Corinthians 3 and 4 are gospel, though no doubt one who was there would very easily enter into the truth of the mystery. The Lord give you grace to withstand every buffeting, and having done all, to stand.

I was speaking on tithing last evening. The Lord is not to be shorn of His dues; you come from worship to service, to render to Him His due — the tithes. The tithes belong to the conqueror. See Abram — the conqueror, gave them to the priest. “I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use” (Deuteronomy 26: 14). There are two great ways in which the Lord is deprived of His rights. You must have a heavenly state to have a heavenly practice. You must have the state first. The worm shows the colour of the leaf it feeds on. We come from wisdom’s feast to walk down here. Forsake the foolish and live. For this we must have been feasting first at wisdom’s feast.

I quite enjoyed hearing ———— speaking on, ‘If the Lord delight in us, He will surely bring us in.’ Hedoes delight; may we rejoice in His delight.