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the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge”, the Pauline
ministry, making demands on our affections, but feeding our
affections that we may stand against the devil, so that what is
precious to Christ’s heart is carried through in detail to a fruitful
result.
Then a brief word only on Philadelphia in Revelation 3 which
focuses attention, as I would see it, on that day so near. In the
words of Jesus Himself, “I come quickly: hold fast what thou
hast, that no one take thy crown”. There is a crown in view, a
signal mark of the appreciation of the Lord Jesus, the One who
has royal rights over us in every respect. There is a crown in
view in the
particular touch of His approbation of our standing by what is
precious to Himself. These promises are extensive and
remarkable in character— “I also will keep thee out of the hour
of trial, which is about to come upon the whole habitable world
... I come quickly hold fast what thou hast, that no one take thy
crown”. We have to reach some assessment of what we have.
I see in it, as we must see in it, the heart of God towards us to
bring us into the best. What we have here, brethren, is not just
books. The books open up a great deal to us as the Spirit uses
them, and as the Lord helps us, but that is not the point; the
reality and substance of what has come in the Spirit in the
saints is the point—“hold fast what thou hast”. We may feel we
need to gain more; I would certainly say that for myself. The
Lord will help you to gain more, if He leaves us a little longer,
but “hold fast what thou hast”—hold it fast. The enemy would
seek to disintegrate it, to rob you of the gain of what you have
taken on in the Lord’s grace and power in His ministered word
from time to time. The crown is the mark of the singular delight
and approbation of the Lord when you are standing firm,
immovable.
Well, I leave that word with all of us, especially myself. I
believe the Lord is showing us that He has His own resource
always to meet conditions; conditions in me or in you, or in my