THE BROTHER SET AT LIBERTY
[p. 192] THE BROTHER SET AT LIBERTY
I take the liberty of reading this scripture on account of the great encouragement which it affords the saints, especially under circumstances such as those in which we find ourselves. I refer to the measure of limitation imposed on a portion of the people of God. Along with this passage another came into my mind; that is, Hebrews 13: 23, in which the writer says to the saints addressed, “Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty”. It was a piece of encouraging information for the people of God at that time. The apostle does not state the nature of Timothy’s bondage, nor by whose authority he was released; the fact that he was released sufficed. It is of great moment now that the brother should be set free. No doubt the enemy would limit a brother by whatever means possible, military or otherwise, whereas I apprehend the release of the brother is what has marked the last days. The Spirit of God has brought out the true relation of saints, first to Christ, and then to each other as brethren. Now, the enemy would limit the idea in the working of it, so the word in Hebrews seems to me to be forcible, “Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty”. One would like to be assured of that.
No doubt, if we look around, we shall recognise that readjustment is a very serious consideration in the world at the present time, and I would observe that this is not limited to the world system; there must be readjustment all round, and it is for us now, in connection with that readjustment, to find our own company. The word company is one which has been emphasised of late, being used in a military sense, but there is only one Christian company in the true sense, there is no A or B company in [p. 193] Christianity. The scripture we have read tell us, that “they went to their own company”; the company is designated as “their own”. It seems to me this word has a voice to us at the present moment, for if the word readjustment has any application to us, it has this, that one has definitely to find, in one’s soul, his own company, and being free make that his resort, he goes thither.
Now, the apostles, arriving there, reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. It was a matter of common interest in the place of mutual communications. It is very beautiful to note the simplicity and mutuality that marked the people of God in those early days. If we refer to the two disciples going to Emmaus, we may recall how when they returned to Jerusalem, they found the eleven and those with them, and reported all that had taken place, the result being that their contribution occasioned satisfaction and joy. So here we find that “when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said: Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things, the kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy servant Jesus; whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done”, Acts 4: 24 - 28.
The Spirit of God would have us to be engaged with what God is doing. What the world is doing, or shall do, is of very secondary importance to God. It is a question of what God is doing, and the more we think of that, the more satisfaction we shall find.
[p. 194] God is acting governmentally on our behalf, and acting by the Spirit in the saints, so that it remains for each of us to discern what He is doing. We are not to be blind to what the enemy is doing. Self-judgment must be maintained, and readjustment must go on; it is a question of discerning where one is in regard to God.
As I said, the Spirit would suggest to us the importance of seeing what God is doing. Here, the company tell the Lord that He created heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is. They recognise His lordship, and then go on to speak of the attitude of the kings of the earth, and of the rulers, towards Him. The issue is, Christ; and they go on to say, “For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done”. Whatever governors may do, it is what God’s counsel predetermined. Things are entirely in the hands of God, and so far as they accord with His counsel, shall they be carried out. Then they continue, “grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy servant Jesus”. That was their prayer, very short, but very comprehensive, and the answer to it is contained in verse 31: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness”. That is to say, God acted. He acted in answer to their prayer. The place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
It is encouraging for us to observe how things were at the beginning. There is no change in God. We may still reckon on His hand being stretched out for us, and further, as I remarked, it is recorded that “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit”. What a company! We are not to be together for a good [p. 195] time merely, but in recognition of the lordship of Christ, so that we may have the realization of the Holy Spirit indwelling and actuating us, towards Christ and towards the brethren.
It is well to be reminded of how things are in the sight of God, and of how He acted to preserve and continue His testimony at the beginning, and later in the release of Timothy, whose service, as released, would be for the continuance of Paul’s ministry. God is acting now for the release of the dear brethren so that we may serve Him to the end.