WHAT ONE MAN CAN DO
D.J.Hutson
1 Samuel 14 1, 6, 7, 14, 15; Revelation 2: 7 (first clause)
I am encouraged by the commencing hymn (No 284) to bring forward this impression one has been carrying because, as our brother said in prayer, it relates to what the Lord Jesus said to the Father about His own, that "They are not of the world, as I am not of the world", John 17: 16, speaking there of the disciples as individuals. The assembly, of course, is not of the world, being heavenly in its origin and destiny, but it is composed of persons, and there are times when we need to be reminded of the effect of the activities of one person on the assembly. I did not read in Joshua because we do not want to be occupied with what is negative, but we all know the way in which the Israelites suffered that set-back when Achan took of the accursed thing; and the word to Joshua was that "Israel hath sinned", Josh 7: 10. What was introduced through the activity and failure and sin of one man is charged to the whole assembly, and the whole assembly suffers as a result. That would be exercising to us as to our comings together and, if ever we feel that there has been a lack of power in any sense, it would be a searching matter for each one of us. We are not onlookers, not spectators, as to what is proceeding in the assembly. So if we make any comment as to any apparent lack of power at any time, we say it to our own shame, and it is a searching matter for us as to what we ourselves may have introduced. We may feel we are insignificant persons, perhaps sisters or some of us who have but a small part in things audibly and publicly, but nevertheless our very presence here means something. It is either furthering the occasion and making way for the word of God and the powerful operation and manifestation of the Holy Spirit and the presence of the Lord among us, or it is hindering that. But as I say, I do not wish to dwell on negatives, but to point out that the appeal in Revelation is to the individual - "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies". We cannot identify the assembly of God in a place at the present time, but there are still, thank God, individuals walking in the light of it, and so the word still applies. Thank God, the blessed Holy Spirit in His service is still speaking to the assemblies, the Lord Jesus is still serving the assembly in that uninterrupted service of His; as it says, He "loved the assembly, and has delivered himself up tor it", Eph 5: 25. The service of washing of water by the word in view of presentation to Him self, which is so near, still continues, and as we walk in the light of the assembly we are able to prove the blessedness of that service, coming from the Lord Jesus Himself in the power of the Holy Spirit. So the word to us is "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies". It is open to each one of us, for the letter is addressed to the angel - "To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write", and similarly to the seven assemblies - the angels are addressed, that is, those responsible in the assembly. which indeed all really are as the note tells us (note to Rev 2: 20). So that whether we accept it or not, the call is to us to hear as taking on responsibility in relation to what is the current mind of the Lord and what He is leading in at the present time. We remember the words which we have had of recent months, which remain with us, and I think of the word we had as to Moses and his desire: "make me now to know thy way", Exod 33: 13. Have we yet discerned, beloved, the way in which the Lord is leading at the present time in view of the closing up of this wonderful dispensation and the final presentation of the assembly to Himself? So the call is to the individual walking in the light of the assembly and holding the truth: and, insofar as we are able according to the principles set out for us in the word of God, holding the ground and thus coming into all the gain of the present service of the Lord Jesus on high and the Holy Spirit here. The word is "He that has an ear, let him hear", so we should each be attentive to what the Lord would say.
I just read as to Jonathan because it shows what the committal of one man can do in a day of some confusion, when there has been failure in one who had his place in leadership among the people of God. You might say the whole history of man is related to what one man can do; think of it coming in the teaching of the gospel in Romans that "by the disobedience of the one man the many have been constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted righteous", chap 5: 19. How everything depends upon the one Man, Jesus Christ - everything for God has depended upon Him! In that sense He is absolutely unique; we always guard the person of the Lord Jesus in the uniqueness of what He has accomplished which none other could do. So we might have read of David and what he did in the slaying of Goliath the Philistine, when there was the challenge "Give me a man" (1 Sam 17: 10) and David came forward, and the deliverance that was wrought. But then as we think of that our hearts and our minds go to the way in which the Lord Jesus has come in Himself: 'His be the Victor's name, Who fought the fight alone; Triumphant saints no honour claim, His conquest was their own' (hymn 24). He came in and "through weakness and defeat" has won the meed and crown, in the way that He has gone Himself where no other could go, and has wrought such deliverance, a glorious Man, the Man Christ Jesus "who gave himself a ransom for all", 1 Tim 2: 6. Everything, I say again, depends upon Him; He stands out alone and unique, without compare, in all that He has accomplished for God; and in securing such results for God it has involved, in wonderful grace, the blessing of such as you and me.
So as we turn to Jonathan we are not thinking of what could be said to be unique as relating to a type of Christ, but of a man who felt the condition of things in his day and who made a resolve that he would do something about it. It is very interesting to see the way in which the matter proceeds. This is a secret resolve. It says "he did not tell his father". How much is there in this room by way of secret resolve? Thank God for it, we would credit one another with secret resolves in relation to the holding and securing of the ground for the Lord Jesus in the scene of His rejection so that the testimony might be maintained in power and the service of God sustained in freshness. Here is a secret resolve with one man and he confides in his armour-bearer, but he confides above all in Jehovah. He says "Perhaps Jehovah will work for us". There is no assumption there, he just puts himself in the way of being available to be used of God. God is working through persons all through the Old Testament. By certain persons He came in by way of deliverance. Jonathan would have known the history of the judges and the way that persons were available so that deliverance was wrought for God's people, and without assumption he says "Perhaps Jehovah will work for us"; not exactly 'work with us' but "work for us"; that is, it must be God's work and then Jonathan would be able to follow in relation to what He was doing, "for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few". What a comfort that is today, beloved brethren, when there are many places where there are but few walking in the light of the assembly and cherishing these things and seeking to hold the ground and to overcome the onslaughts of the enemy and the assailing of hades' gates in relation to the assembly. So long as God has one person available to Him in such circumstances, what cannot be done?
And so "there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few". Then what an encouragement! The armour-bearer says "Behold, I am with thee according to thy heart". So we can be encouraged, as we make these resolves and committals to the testimony, that the Lord will surely support us Himself, there is no doubt of that. Then, as we share these things with others, He would give us to see that there is support for us, not only from Himself above and the presence of the Holy Spirit here, but He would also give us a brother born for adversity. So that as Jonathan goes up he has another with him who says "I am with thee according to thy heart ". In those inward links according to his heart, Jonathan has one who understood what his feelings were in relation to the testimony at that time; and as he confides, not in Saul, but in such a one, then there is this resolve to go forward with him and strengthen his hand in what he has before him.
So this slaughter is effected. It may not seem to be anything spectacular but think of what it says, "as it were on the half-furrow of an acre of land" and what that would speak of, all the potential that was there for fruitfulness for God. The furrow is there, ploughing, labour; work is involved as we have in Timothy -- "if any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work", 1 Tim 3: 1; and then there is "the work of an evangelist", 2 Tim 4: 5. So in these things, whatever we are committed to, labour is involved, the ploughing is there, as it says, "the half furrow of an acre of land". What Jonathan does in meeting the enemy has in view that this part of the inheritance, hitherto unfruitful as being held by the enemy, might be held in relation to the truth and bear fruit in view of what should be available in the service of God. Then as he works in this way, as Jehovah is working for him, "there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the ravagers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked; for it was a trembling from God." From this small beginning, may we say, this resolve of Jonathan's, as it went forward and as this result was secured, God came in with His approval as to what had been done - "a trembling from God". God came in with a manifestation of His power. Even on an occasion like this we can prove the power of God coming in among us. Would that we knew more of it; but thank God for what we do know. We can just speak without assumption of the fact that we do experience the power of God with us at such a time, as we seek to hold the ground and hold the portion of the inheritance that it might yield for Him.
One's burden however is that this depends on the resolve of one man. Let us not put it off to others. Jonathan did not put it off to others, thinking that they might be more able for it than he was; but he committed himself to it and went forward with it and the Lord encouraged him as he went forward. In result something was secured which would yield for God, and God Himself came in with a manifestation of His power. All this is open to each one of us in such a day as that in which we are; and I would just stimulate the dear brethren, even as I feel the need of stimulation myself, to see what can be done through the resolve of one man in relation to the inheritance. In the name of the Lord Jesus.
LONDON
4 December 1973
THE CHIEF INTEREST OF CHRIST
A.A.Brown
Genesis 2: 21- 23; John 20: 19 - 23
I have an impression as to the time that we are in, dear brethren, that we should have an appreciation of what is proceeding and what the chief interest of Christ is. It goes without saying, of course, that that is the assembly; but as we make much of the assembly we make much of Christ. This scripture in Genesis 2 is well known and we would stir up our pure minds in looking at it because this is the deep sleep that falls upon man; this is what God does. It refers to the death of Christ; it says that "he slept". It would bring in something of what Christ Himself did through this great operation. It does not emphasise, as we know, the side of suffering so much as the assembly as the fruit of the purposes of God. It is well to remind ourselves that this still obtains, that the assembly according to the purpose of God remains and it goes through. We know that here there is no past history and that so far as God is concerned (we would say this reverently) the matter was completed here. It says "he took one of his ribs and closed up flesh in its stead". It would appear that this that is out of man comes before man for identification. I wonder if in how the Lord comes to us, as He manifests Himself, we are conscious of something of this. Man says "This time". We think of all the ways of God in the history of the truth, we think of the prophets and of all those who have gone before, but what is "This time"? It is the assembly time. This is the time in which we are, beloved brethren! Are we aware of it and of what it means?
Do our interests centre on this time, on what God is doing at this time? We know that the glad tidings goes out, and we know what God's grace is and how it flows to all men; but this time is the assembly time. I speak of this because some of those who are younger, and older too, may come across this in their pathway as they speak to other believers. While it is right that what is evangelical should continue, it would not be given up at all, the primary thing is "this time" - "This time it is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh". What is next to Christ's heart is the assembly; and what should be next to our heart is the assembly, first in its local expression; what the brethren mean, what they mean to Christ, what they mean to the Father. What does the local company mean to me? What does it mean to you? Is it your greatest interest? Is it mine? I believe something of this could come home to our affections and stimulate our interest, because it is interested persons who come in for the blessing. It is not persons casually occupied but interested persons, persons who have this nearest to their heart. Mr Darby speaks of it in his hymn: 'Nor what is next Thy heart can we forget' (No 160). These are real things; they stimulated those who have gone before us in the recovery and they are intended to stimulate us still.
Then it says "This shall be called Woman, because this was taken out of a man". It is like identification; and we would understand something of what the assembly means in this because, in these dark days through which the saints have passed, how much there is of breakdown. But we must ever keep this before us, beloved brethren, just what the assembly is for the heart of Christ and what it is in the purpose of God.
Now I read in John. There is something distinctive here as to time; we have now the distinctive day of the week, the first day of the week. This is distinctive to Christianity. It is the Lord's day but it is the first day of the week. This is the day when this message was conveyed by Mary to the disciples. What a day this was! How this would remain in the affections and the minds of these persons! And it is intended too to remain so for us, what the first day of the week means - this time. It is the prime day, it is how things begin, how things are set forward. I understand that Mr Stoney wrote to brethren gathered for meetings at Quemerford giving an impression he had received on the Lord's day and that that impression gave colour to the series of meetings. These are things that are not just recent happenings; this is the principle on which these men of God lived and on which we are intended to live, of receiving divine impressions through the Lord 's manifestation of Himself. So there is something distinctive here: "it was evening on that day, which was the first day of the week". Certain things are taking place, the doors are shut. Do we not learn that? I suppose it is something that we have to learn, how to shut out certain things from our minds, and particularly, I suppose, when we are young we can say like the words of the hymn 'No infant's changing pleasure is like my wand'ring mind' (No.51). The mind has to be in control. So it is a calling of Him to mind. By the Spirit the mind can be controlled. It is the renewed mind, of course, but the secret of it is having Christ in the affections.
So when He comes in it says "He came and stood in the midst". As the brethren know, in the midst is what is universal (not simply universal administration, although that does obtain) but what is universal as the Lord comes in and manifests Himself to each company. There is something that is communicated. How wonderful these things are! That has never been left aside, that has not broken down with the breakdown, that still obtains, beloved brethren. Is it our interest? I think it would be the interest of those persons, because He stood in the midst and says to them "Peace be to you". So when the Lord comes in He says something and He conveys something, and He conveys just what is needed at the time. They needed peace and He gave them it, a wonderful consideration. What a One we have in the Lord as Head! He gives just what is needed, and it is for Himself. How can we serve Him if there is any restlessness of mind or any crossing of affections? "Peace be to you". It would settle us in these conditions.
Things then are taken on; manifestations, things conveyed are taken on, with no disruptive element. We can say in all humility, can we not, that these conditions obtain, and we would seek that they continue. We would not take these restful conditions for granted, beloved brethren. What the Lord has graciously given us we would value, and maintain them through exercise and committal too to the assembly, to Christ's first interest. These things can be disturbed by any taint of selfishness on your part and mine, but let us value these conditions and see that they are maintained. So "He shewed to them his hands and his side".
It would speak, of course, of Genesis 2. He would remind them, in a sense, of just what they were. They were disciples, but they were His brethren according to the message given to Mary. When He "shewed to them his hands and his side" we would understand something of the Lord's own feelings as coming to a company prepared by this great message. And there is preparation with us too. How much preparation has gone before? Are we interested in the ministries of the recovery; or the teaching of Mr Taylor sen as to the ornamentation of the assembly? I speak to the young men particularly; these are valuable things and they are a preparation. Do we value them? Are we interested in them? Has the ground been prepared? We want to have prepared hearts so that when He comes in we are ready and are sensitive as to what He says. So it says here "The disciples rejoiced therefore, having seen the Lord". I think we would take that home as to the bearing of it, that no matter what may be communicated, what is greater is the One who communicates. We would know something of this joy in our places, but this is what is taking place universally - in the midst. Then it says He "said therefore again to them", as though this has to be emphasised; these peaceful conditions we understand have come from Him and are to be maintained, for Himself and for the enjoyment of these things; and also even for administration, because in the breathing we have the blessing; the remission comes first, as we know, it is blessing. But there is peace for that. If we have these conditions, all I would like to emphasise and seek to understand more in my own soul is that, if the Lord has graciously brought in these conditions, they are to be diligently maintained. Everything we do is to that end. This is not simply a matter of the care meeting, this is the administration of blessing, what is proceeding from the Lord as Head, and it is diffused because they are sent. What this must have meant to these men! It says "as the Father sent me forth, I also send you". I believe, beloved brethren, this is the basis of all service. If any would seek to serve the Lord Jesus and commit themselves to His interests here, to the assembly locally, to what is universal, then this, I believe, would be the secret. We have been hearing from our brother as to Jonathan, what can take place through one person committing himself, and in this way each one of us would be available, ready to be sent. So the emphasis is on "send" in Isaiah 6: 8. Not send me, but send me, as under His direction. So we would go out from this meeting, not as we came in, but with fresh direction, as to His interests and our committal to them; and each of us, in secret, committing our selves afresh in the way of a vow that would be fulfilled for His glory and for the advantage, we would say; of the comp any. How wonderful these things are! We would lay hold of them afresh, beloved brethren, tonight. May the Lord bless His word.
LONDON
4 December 1973