THE SERVICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE ASSEMBLY
[p. 23] THE SERVICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE ASSEMBLY
Mark 14: 26; Mark 13: 3, 4; John 7: 53; John 8: 1, 2
These scriptures, as you observe, speak of the mount of Olives, and I use them in this connection, wishing to show how the present privileges and intelligence and service of the people of God are dependent upon the Spirit as come down from heaven. The Holy Spirit is here as from heaven; He has come down from heaven, Christ being there as Man, and is here as a divine Person Himself, with the holy affections and feelings and sympathies that are proper to divine Persons. He is here thus, as the Lord says, as “another Comforter”. He takes the place of Christ as amongst His people on earth, and, as sent down from the Father in answer to the mediatorial prayer of the Son. He is here to supply all that the assembly needs and to be her Guide and Companion to lead her to Christ now.
We are not translated by the Spirit. The Lord reserved that, as according to divine ways, for Himself. The Spirit’s perfect service and mission are seen perhaps fully at the end of Scripture where we read “the Spirit and the bride say. Come”, Revelation 22: 17.
The Spirit has His own interest in the coming glory of Christ being placed in this world according to divine purpose and right, and so He says “Come!” to Jesus, and in unison with Him the bride says “Come!” It is the united expression of desire.
I want to show from these scriptures how we are brought into the present gain of the Spirit — not exactly in the light I have spoken of, though intimately connected with it — but as a direct link with heaven. In this gospel and in Matthew, after the [p. 24] Lord introduced His supper to His disciples, it is said, “when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives”. I apprehend as coming into the assembly, and as having part in that holy institution called the Lord’s supper, we are in a position to enter on this living link with Him.
Matthew and Mark pre-eminently treat of what is dispensational. The church has her part in that, for it is said that on her has come the ends of the dispensations, that is, the ages: they all converge on the assembly. Every testimony of God from the outset was deposited in the assembly. I use the word ‘deposited’ as a scriptural word for we are enjoined to “keep ... the good deposit entrusted”, 2 Timothy 1: 14. We are enjoined to hold in affection every divine thought, not to allow any to lapse; all are to be preserved by the saints, but this can only be by the Spirit, and by the Spirit as a link with heaven, for by virtue of this living permanent link with heaven the assembly is kept alive, vigorous, and fresh, a becoming vessel for the maintenance and expression of these wonderful thoughts. This expression is indicated in the candlestick which suggests the way in which she is to shine during the dark night of this world.
So there is this outlet for us in Matthew and Mark into that which is our own sphere. The assembly is left down here to have access into these things, and there is ability in her by the Spirit to enter heavenly regions.
What I am saying is, I hope, not theoretical in our minds, for it is practical, and a truth which if not rightly understood will leave us little better than Judaism, whereas we should be marked by what is heavenly. “Such as the heavenly one, such also the heavenly ones”, 1 Corinthians 15: 48. It is to be noted that this does not refer to what we shall be, but what we are.
[p. 25] The Lord maintained that heavenly side, saying, “No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man” (John 3: 13) and also “We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen”, John 3: 11. The divine thought is correspondence with that, and that is possible by the Spirit as the living link with heaven. It says they sang an hymn; it does not say He sang it, but they. We never find the Lord praying with the disciples; He prayed in their hearing and sight, but always He is seen alone, whereas in this particular case He sings with them, and they go with Him to the mount of Olives.
Now in later days they would revert to this extraordinary experience. Need I suggest that they would think of the manner of His singing. Can anything be more interesting than enquiry as to His singing with them? And then came the movement outwards and upwards. This experience can be sustained only by the Spirit. It involves a link with heaven, and this can only be by the Spirit.
Many will know that this incident is only recorded in Matthew and Mark, and this is because in these two evangelists the previous dispensations are prominent and the assembly is linked up with them, but she has an outlet to her own domain by the Spirit, and in virtue of this outlet and her appropriation of it she takes on this character in the maintenance of it.
In chapter 13 we have another feature. The temple, the representative building of the accredited religion of the day stood out prominently as viewed from the mount of Olives, so that his disciples say, “See what stones and what buildings!” How many people of God today are held by imposing buildings, ceremonies, and titles held by those who serve there, and by the antiquity of it all. The Lord would show that what Olivet represents is the secret of deliverance. Even His disciples were awed by the grandeur [p. 26] of the system, but it was nothing to trust in now; the Lord had said “Your house is left unto you desolate” (Luke 13: 35) and here “not a stone shall be left upon a stone”. This is a solemn word for every religionist today who relies on structures and system. “Not a stone shall be left” and this is said of that which God had owned. There is no idea in the New Testament of the sanctification of a material building; God is not in it, and deliverance for us lies in the recognition of what mount Olivet represents, the Spirit. The Holy Spirit says through Stephen as the system is about to be given up, “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool”, Acts 7: 49. Think of the presumption of men who would build a house for God today. Does not God resent this? He does, and the systems are coming in for judgment.
The disciples ask Him privately; so we can see that we can obtain private information. News has become an article of commerce, but here is information beyond the range of man: it is not intended for the journalism of this world but for those who understand secrets.
Samson began with a riddle but disclosed it, and this led to his ruin. We understand secrets — the ultimate destination of this world. How many have asked for private information? It is possible to obtain it for “the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him”, Psalm 25: 14. Think of Daniel who prayed towards Jerusalem; he had secret information. He was not merely curious, he loved his people and enquired of heaven, and heaven instructs him; he gets days and dates. Here was a man “greatly beloved”, and how precious it is to turn to God as having this sense and as doing so in relation to His interest. The assembly is in the midst of the course of God’s governmental dealings with this world, but we can know what is going to happen. Daniel, “greatly beloved”, is instructed by the angel as to [p. 27] the future of his people and then he is “to stand is his lot”. It is most important that we ask for private information. They “asked him privately”, and the Lord immediately answered.
We are in a most deceptive age; darkness is everywhere and hence it is most important to seek private access to the Lord and get information. It is not that everything has not been told, for the Revelation is an unveiling. In Luke 2: 32 we have, in the Babe in Simeon’s arms. One who was “a light for revelation of the gentiles”, who were to be brought under God’s eye by Christ for blessing, whereas the book of the Revelation is the unveiling of the European world and its outgoings, so that we may learn what is going to happen; the assembly has a place in it all.
It steadies the believer as, like Ezekiel, we see the frame of a city, the city of God. You see how important it is to be in a secret and this by the Spirit. You say ‘we have it all in Revelation’, but how many understand that book, which is designed to be for private information for the saints?
(Revelation 1: 10 - 19 quoted).
You see that whilst it is all there it can only be understood by the Spirit. “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”. And so, as in Mark 14, they are led by the Lord to the mount of Olives, they are led into the link with heaven. We are, as it were, in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and hence our capacity for receiving private information. The truth is hidden there, but not to those who are “in the Spirit”; it is by the Spirit we understand all things. This steadies the soul and separates one from the course of this world and from its political atmosphere.
In John we have an example set for us as to ministry, and among other passages it shows us the Lord in isolation. This gospel particularly stresses the isolated positions in which He is seen in His ministry. “Every man went unto his own house.
[p. 28] Jesus went unto the mount of Olives”. John 7: 53 - 8: 1. This position of isolation stands out as one of the most prominent because it is set over against “every man”. His position is different from that of every man. If we are to serve we must learn to be thus isolated. It is much easier to serve in a sympathetic atmosphere than in an unsympathetic. The Lord had to serve in an unsympathetic atmosphere, and though unfolding the greatest light, He was alone. This isolation is a test, but necessary if we are to be effective as servants for we must learn to be alone, and yet not alone, for He says “I am not alone”, John 8: 16. He went to the mount of Olives, the point nearest heaven. He did not retire there, nor was He withdrawn by just a stone’s cast; everyone had gone home.
May I remark on the power of our homes, of the time, thought, and money expended on them. The more sumptuous, the more attractive to the flesh, the more likely they are to draw us away when we should be on the mount of Olives with Christ. Our homes may be a link with the world instead of with the mount of Olives, and thus our outlook will be to the world, and need we be surprised if our children go to where we look!
He spent the night on the mount of Olives and then early in the morning He came again into the temple and sat down and taught. The chapter which follows is one of the most wonderful in Scripture and all hangs on what we have here. How can we expect to come in to the people of God to teach and serve except as we frequent the mount of Olives?
Mere reading will never make teachers nor preachers. Those whom the Lord intended to make preachers He chose and took to the mountain so that they might be with Him, and if we are to be effective in ministry it will only be as we frequent the mount of Olives. “He sat down and taught them”; coming in in the early morning with all the thoughts of heaven [p. 29] in His mind and heart He sat down and taught.
I commend this to all who would aspire to serve the saints, and ability to serve is available as we desire it. The service is as heaven imparts, and one serves as coming out of heaven.
In this passage we have the incident of the woman, and how in meeting her guilt and the religious men who accused her. He stooped down and wrote on the ground. The One who comes with thoughts of heaven in mind and heart is ready to stoop down. The first stooping forces out the accusers; they might have stayed, but they went out from the light. She did not go out and so He says, “Neither do I condemn thee”.
He was not only the Teacher of what was in heaven, but this incident shows that He had stooped down in order to save the sinner, and so it follows the thought of the house, as to which He says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”, John 8: 36.