SMALLNESS WINS

SMALLNESS WINS

I was speaking last evening on 2 Corinthians 4. The effect of receiving the rose graft in chapter 3 is, that there must be no bud allowed on the briar, in order that the bloom, that is the life of Jesus, may be manifested in my body. Secondly, labour in chapter 5. I said a great deal on work, that it should be work, not ^[p. 160] merely standing up to speak in a meeting, but real labour; like the Kohathites who had to bear the holy things on their shoulders; the others were allowed waggons. I touched on separation and poverty giving, and finally that the revelation of heavenly truth resulted in your being smaller in the eyes of men. Are we ready to accept it on these terms? The great view in 2 Corinthians is being small. Be small and everything will be in divine power.

Paul was comforted because of his sufferings on account of his faithfulness, and he can comfort them in their suffering because of their unfaithfulness. They were small and hence the comfort. The gospel of the glory of Christ is grace quite outside man. Man is unrecognised there, but Christ written in the heart; not only the assurance of salvation, but we are His epistles, the treasure in an earthen vessel. If the outer man perish (small again) the inner man is renewed. Separation is making oneself small, but it is greatly rewarded. To give, be poor; if a poor person gives, it is the greater grace - ending with chapter 12, “when I am weak, then am I strong”. (2 Corinthians 12: 10)

The practical effect of being heavenly is that I am in the wilderness. I am in association with Christ in heaven, and in the power of the Holy Spirit down here, walking as He walked where He is not. In 2 Corinthians 3 I get my state because of knowing Christ in glory, and in 2 Corinthians 12 my place because I am in Christ in heaven. In the power of the former I come back here to live Christ; because of the latter, according as I am exalted, I have to be little among men and thus the power of Christ rests upon me.