CONTENDING EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS
JM The connection with what we commenced with in Jude will be seen here. Where we started to read it says, “See that there be no one who shall lead you away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the teaching of men”, and then a little further down we get the reference to “not holding fast the head”. It is important that we should inculcate and seek to arrive at an interest amongst our younger brethren as to the history of the testimony. The headship of Christ played a very prominent part in the revival under Mr. Darby. The light of it greatly helped our beloved brother to get clearance from the great clerical system that had held what is of God in bondage. It has a very prominent place in Mr. Stoney’s ministry; indeed he has a short letter to the Quemerford brethren (Vol. 2, p.527) in which he brings out quite clearly that he was very burdened that the great truth as to the headship of Christ that had been recovered under Mr. Darby had barely been taken on amongst the brethren. When I was young we were taught that the ministries of Mr. Darby and Mr. Stoney as to the headship of Christ were part of the classics, and I think they are. In addition to that letter, a large part of Mr. Stoney’s ministry deals with the headship of Christ.
So, I thought we would look at this subject. I feel for myself, and others feel likewise, that the present day is very like Mr. Stoney’s day; the same sort of things that crept in and led the brethren astray then are active at the present time. Hence I think the subject is of paramount importance. One of the things that is evident in the epistle to the Colossians, is that if there is anything whatsoever for God, it is only what is found in Christ. If anything is not in Christ, it is not for God’s pleasure. Now that might be challenged but it is true. There is only one Man before Him, and that is the Man who is now at His right hand, seated there as the One who has been through death; and what He has done has not only opened up the great heavenly privileges and status that belongs to us, but in the doing of it He has closed up the man who never could please God.
These two things go very closely together. Maybe one of the reasons, and I have to say it as feeling it for myself, for slowness to take on the glorious truth of the headship of Christ, is because we are not prepared to let ourselves go; because the man who never could be pleasing to God, of course, is myself. I thought that might be enough to give us a start.
WMcK I think so. I wonder what the younger brothers here would like to say about what you have brought up since you have them in mind; I think the older ones will be patient. We will be glad to hear their questions and your answers.
JM Well, the answers are in the assembly I am sure, but I think it is important that the younger brethren should give time to these matters, as Christianity is not only for older brethren.
WMcK Jude says that “certain men have got in unnoticed” (Jude 4). Paul is concerned here that that should not happen again, “See that there be no one”, that is the matter of persons, in how they are leading, and what they are propounding, would you say?
JM That is very important. It puts us on our guard in two ways; it puts us on our guard in relation to what has already infiltrated amongst us, and it puts us on our guard as to what is currently coming in amongst us. We need to be on our guard on each of these matters. What do you say?
WMcK I think that is true, and I think what we had in Luke 4 as to Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit would link with what was seen in Paul in Acts 13. Paul being filled with the Holy Spirit, he met the incursion of what was philosophy and vain deceit in the magician, who was seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith. The result is that the power of the teaching of the Lord was seen, and I think that we need that among us, the teaching of the Lord, the truth that has been opened out for us. But would you think that the teaching of the Lord is the current bearing of what has been recovered in the revival on us generally where we are?
JM That is very much one’s exercise, that we need to be concerned about what is getting place amongst us; there are matters that we could mention, but I do not want to get into detail because we might not have time for the truth that the Spirit is bringing out, but I think one of the things needed is godly discernment, and to be able to discern what is spiritual, because it is only what is spiritual that will help the saints; the corollary to that, of course, is to discern what is unspiritual. I need hardly add that we are told in Corinthians that “the spiritual discerns all things, and he is discerned of no one”, 1 Corinthians 2: 15. So that to have spiritual discernment, we need to be spiritual.
APD What would you say about the expression “in the Lord”. Our brother has spoken about the teaching of the Lord. There is marriage in the Lord, those that die in the Lord; how does that affect our communion, our relationships, could you help us about that?
JM Well, I think that opens up quite a bit, but I think as the work of God is proceeding in our souls, that is one of the earliest matters that comes on to view, what the Spirit would stress, the teaching of the Lord, that is the authority of the One under whom we are. As that is allowed it would have a bearing on every relationship in which we find ourselves. Have you more in mind?
APD It would perhaps preserve us from being loose and careless with our relationships with others, even with other Christians, maybe genuine persons, do you think?
JM Well, what we are trying to say in these meetings is that there is a love of the truth that is available to us. If I could refer to Mr. Stoney again, he insisted that if you drop the standard of the truth, something has to go, and that something is always the top note, the assembly. So I think that the teaching of the Lord, the commandments of the Lord, the great range of things that are in the Lord, is to preserve us in those areas so that we can enjoy the very best of what is in the divine mind. That is one thing I would like to emphasise, that there is no demand, Christianity is not a system of demand, but there are certain obligations put upon us and these are really for preserving the best. Now, if these obligations are not carried out, you lose the best, and the best is not only for a small number of Christians, which it is, but I would like to emphasise that the truth is really God’s consideration for mankind, for the blessing of men. We should always approach it from that point of view, so that as we speak about the height of the truth, we are speaking about the greatest things that God has in mind for the blessing of men, and that is what we strive vigilantly to maintain.
CCE The thought of being led away as a prey; that would be over against saints walking in the liberty and newness, and freshness of life.
JM References to life come in quite outstandingly in this chapter, although life is not the main point in the teaching. The difficulty is, and I speak feelingly about it, we are always challenged as to whether we are prepared to trace the moral road. There is always a cost in the way of suffering, but what is standing in the way is myself. It should not be difficult to get rid of that, but it is.
DMW Does it not help us practically to see that circumcision and burial are important in view of not being led away as a prey?
JM Circumcision and burial and the things that come in in these verses are very attractively put. They are with Christ. If taken on these would deal with the elements that would seek to lead us away. If you have not got anything to appeal to, that Satan can fasten on, he has no scope has he?
LB These elements mentioned here, but what the contrast is, “and not according to Christ”. I am thinking in the early Acts it says, “the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11: 26)—they did not call themselves that, there was that reflection of Christ in each of them. They were called Christians.
JM Yes. That is in keeping with the early chapters of the Acts, because the subject is the reproduction of that order of man down here. He has gone out by way of death, the most ignominious death that could ever be accorded to anyone, but despite the fact that He has gone out by way of death, He is continued here representatively. The Lord might help us to think about circumcision. In the type in Joshua, immediately resulting from the circumcision with the stone knives, there is spiritual power and spiritual life.
GDR It is exceedingly important that the Lord is bringing this up a second time. The last time the brethren were together in this country for three-day meetings (at Indianapolis), these very verses were read, I think it is highly significant. We need to lay hold of it. I think it is very solemn that we are getting scripture again. The Lord says, “again I say unto you”. I think we need to lay hold of this in a most solemn way. Is it not suggested that the sufficiency of Christ is involved in this chapter in this section, the sufficiency of that blessed Man who is Head over all things to the assembly?
JM “Ye are complete in him”. The older brethren used to teach us that you have everything in Him and you need nothing outside of Him. I challenged myself recently going over these things. I read this and that kind of phrase comes to mind, almost automatically you might say, then you have to stop yourself and say, Where do you stand in relation to that? I think the point in this chapter in Colossians is real life according to God, life which is for the pleasure of God, but it is also life which is for the pleasure of men. There is power in it, it is not a weak system, it is a system where there is real power, so that we can take up what is in the divine mind in the enjoyment of it.
RS How can I stop Christianity from becoming a normality or repetition, and become a reality?
JM Well, the answer to that is simple. We should have said it earlier, perhaps, but it underlies the whole of this chapter, and that is what place do you give to Christ? I think that is the answer to everything. If you give Christ the place that is His, if you give Him the whole of your heart, Christianity will be everything to you, there is no doubt about that.
TFN There is teaching of men in this chapter, there is also the teaching of Christ. I suppose we ought to know there is a contrast there, and the power and liberty for that is in the power of the Spirit to lead us into all the blessings that have come to us from God Himself. The teachings of men have caused to lead us astray, I think that is what happened to the Colossians, they were under the influence of men and not under the great influence of the headship of Christ.
JM Yes, I think that was the danger. I suppose at Colosse there would have been what we would call a good meeting. There was love for all the saints. Paul says he was rejoicing in seeing their order, he speaks about the love of the Spirit and so on, but it would appear that Epaphras, who was local, had a fear that the things that you mention would come again. And I think that there is a fear, not just a suspicion, that things are coming in that will rob us of our real inheritance, a real solid fear based on fact.
CCE Would we have in verse 9 a very strong bulwark against the enemy gaining any inroad in our hearts? It says, “For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”, Colossians 2: 9. If Christ is allowed to have that place, that appreciation in my heart, it would preserve me from any other element, which is dominated by man, from coming in and getting a place in my heart.
JM I would be very glad if anyone could open up that verse, it is a most important verse, not only most important but most blessed. I used to think that fulness is all that is required for the display of the thing, but I trust the brethren will correct me if I am wrong, I understand in that expression, “the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily” that really means deity.
WMcK That is the truth, the fulness is deity and, if I can refer to Mr. Darby, he said the Lord’s body was the shrine of deity, and it is still according to this verse.
JM Yes, it dwells bodily, that is the second question in my mind. What does that mean, “bodily”? Again I used to think, I am not saying that what I thought was wrong, that is what we had been taught, that the word “bodily” means that it is available to us, but I think there is something infinitely greater than that. It really means that in His body (I think bodily is actually His own body) there is the shrine of deity. Can you tell me of anything greater than that?
WMcK I do not think we could. I think it is important for us to see that this stands by itself, whether I am in the gain of it, or anybody is, is not the question. The ineffable truth is, all the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Christ. I think that ought to bow our hearts in worship, and the word “bodily” should attract us to Him, that there is a Man in whom this is all available to us. But whether anybody is in the gain of it, this glorious fact remains, would you say?
JM Yes, I would say that fully. I would also agree with what you say, if anyone is in the gain of it. But you would not want to leave it there, would you?
WMcK No, I would not. But I think often in approaching a feature of the truth like this, which nothing could surpass, we very quickly begin to raise the question, Well, is So-and-so in the gain of this, or is he dominating the locality according to men? I think what lifts us out of all that wretched reasoning is occupation with this glorious Person.
JM I am sure that is so, and that is what impresses me. As you say, it is stated here by itself, but it is stated for a reason. No doubt Paul had a mind in the stating of it to stop the drift, if I might use that expression, but I think one of the things that really should come home to us is that there is some valuation of the glory of this system into which we are brought.
WMcK And so, what it goes on to say, “and ye are complete in him”. Now that brings us in, and that as towards God we are complete in Christ. You might say, Where is the practical evidence of it? Well, that is another matter. This statement is true, “ye are complete in him”.
JM Is not that statement, “ye are complete in him”, absolute?
WMcK That is what I thought.
JM Well then, as you say that is God-ward, but man-ward as well. Is that the dual character of it, both God-ward and man-ward. We have everything, we have the glory of the system as such, that God has placed everything in a Man, and whether we appropriate it or not, because we are not up to it, is neither here nor there, but it is there and as being there it can actually be drawn upon.
WMcK It can, and along with this “complete in him” is what you had read later in the chapter, “but the body is of Christ”. That is another absolute statement that what is not of Christ is not the body. The body is of Christ.
JM Well, it leads me, at this stage, to say something that very often troubles me, and that is, why do our younger people spend so much time on things which, in themselves, are not against God, but are away below what we are dealing with here, where the very best is available to us to be committed to and to search out? The Spirit is on our side to help us in the searching of it out. Why do we waste time on matters which, you might say, are not exactly wrong, but they are not up to this level?
TFN I would like to ask a question. In Ephesians 3 we have “filled even to all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3: 19). Can you explain that in relation to what you have been saying?
JM Can we leave that one until tomorrow?
TFN You are speaking of the Godhead which dwells in him; in Ephesians 3 we are told, “that ye may be filled even to all the fulness of God”, can you explain the difference?
JM Well, as you can see, I am feeling my way in it as much as anyone else, but my understanding is the reference in
Ephesians 3, “filled even to all the fulness of God” really involves all that has come out from God; as Mr. J. Taylor, Senior, said a number of times when he was questioned about it, you are not filled to deity; but I think this is something we have to be very careful about. We cannot take a word out of one passage and make it absolutely fit into another, it may have a different meaning.
TFN I thought that. I just wanted to make sure that I understand what you have just said.
JM Well, I think our brother was wise when he said, whether anyone was in it, because that is just the question, you are dealing with what is near to infinity. We must be careful.
HJ Why do you think Paul adds that word, “who is the head of all principality and authority”?
JM Well, I think that increases the glory of His headship, it is the one who is the Head of all principality and authority who is Head of the assembly. I would not say that the Head of all principality and authority is greater than His headship of the assembly, but you think of a Person who is described in that way as Head of all principality and authority, that is the one who is Head of the assembly. And, as Head of the assembly, it is all that He is that is flowing into the assembly for our gain. I think it should be very attractive.
DMW You spoke of the low level of things that we might have a tendency toward, especially younger ones; I wonder if that does not suggest the idea of philosophy? It is not Aristotle or someone like that, but it is bringing the thoughts of man alongside the principles of God and that is not drawing from the Head.
JM Well, I think that is so, and I want to be very careful how I can put this over, but God has a vast range of things in His mind and, you may say, well if we belong to God we should have an interest in everything that God has an interest in. Well, that is true, but we are in limited circumstances and one of the things extremely limited is time. We are in the busy commercial world and it buys up the time of the saints. Time is an exceedingly scarce thing, so somebody might say, ‘Have you read such and such a book on such and such?’ I ask what it is about, and he says about something else that God is doing, and I may say, ‘Well, I do not have time for it’. There are other greater things that God has in mind for us, and I have to admit that I have not explored them as I should, with the diligence and the committal that they should have been explored. There is not much time left, so we had better use what little time we have for the best. That is really what was in my mind.
DMW So your comment earlier was very helpful, that we have to mark the moral road, and failure to move, to make some sort of real movement, means that we have not marked the moral road probably as to where we find ourselves.
JM Yes. I think the brethren get a little afraid of sectarianism, and of course we should be afraid of sectarianism, but the other side to that is to be wide open and all your energies and exercises on a small fraction of God’s operations. You might say, Well, these things are God’s work, but what about the best that has been left behind? And I think, being very careful in what I say, very largely the best is what we have had in recognised ministries. I hope I have made that clear, that I have no time for sectarianism, but I do really think that we should encourage one another to go in for the best.
DMW Do you not think it is a very helpful, practical matter to just face the issue and to determine what ministry leads you outside the camp? That is a very practical thing. If it leads you outside the camp, the teachings of men which are found in the camp are left behind. There may be a lot of things that are true but where are they leading?
JM One of the things that amazes me about Mr. Stoney’s ministry is how the glory of what is in the mind of God is brought out so clearly, but alongside that, and I hesitate almost to use the word, but it is the wickedness of the public system of worship that has robbed God of what is His own. Now, immediately, you have to say, What side am I on? Am I going to follow on with what the Lord has graciously given? It is not that you despise any Christian, not at all, we are thankful for every one, but we should value what is of God.
NJH Reference was made to the camp by our brother. Who prophesied in the camp? Moses did not actually condemn them, but the mediator was outside the camp, and that is where we have to be. Would you say that the light and the word of God would be more profusely experienced as gathered together in the light of the assembly, than it would be in an individual pathway?
JM You mean individuals going their own way. Yes, I would say that fully. I think that the saints gathered together in the light of the assembly is the avenue God has used for the bringing out of the truth. Again, I am maybe over-emphasising this but I do not think I can over-emphasise it, brethren, it is the very best and we should actually take the opportunity to seize on it.
AML Would you say that we need to be alert to what belongs to the teaching of men, to save us from decline?
JM Well, I think so. This really involves the Spirit, the room that is made for the Spirit; things may look all right on the surface, but they are deflecting from the glorious thoughts of God. That is a very serious matter.
MN Would the example of the tribes who settled on the other side of the Jordan have a bearing? Some went over into the land but the others stayed on that side of the Jordan. They came over to help their brethren but they went back. The best was on the other side of the Jordan, was it not?
JM What did they do? The first thing they did?
MN I think they built an altar, did they?
JM Yes, of grand appearance. That was the first thing they did, and then the declension set in from there on. Of course the sad thing is the declension set in in the ten tribes, but nevertheless the principle of that is quite clear. I think that is the instruction. We may have been diverted a little bit, but in this passage in Colossians you are really dealing with the ark going over and the people going over with the ark. And not only have they gone over but they are going over in power, so great power that when the spies got into Rahab’s house they discovered from there that the whole land was in fear of them. There was power there, and I think all that comes out—twelve men that lifted the twelve stones out of the bed of the Jordan and set them up on the other side. Think how pleasing that must have been to God at that time.
CCE Just thinking of the strength and vitality that was there with men at the time of Mr. Darby, the few who came out from the systems, so it was wrong there and they were helped in their simplicity by the Lord. It was not too long after that the enemy came in and got an advantage. So, do you think the maintenance of the simplicity as to the Christ would hold things here for Him in His absence?
JM Yes, I think that publicly there was not very much to take account of was there? But, as far as spiritual power and spiritual life were concerned, it was there in its fulness and blessedness, and these men entered into it; but the exercising thing I find for myself, is that the same power that was there, available to these men, is available to us, there is no difference.
LB The twelve stones you mentioned were there currently, and we speak about past ministry, which is right, but it should come down to our day, and work out practically.
JM I am sure it should. I am only using that because God was pleased to use men in those days that really opened up the truth for the saints.
LB The children of Israel enquired what these stones meant. So, as we said earlier, enquiry of things is to open up, not only for the individual enquiry, but for the whole body.
JM I think so. It should continue, there is life and power there, each of the twelve had to take a stone and put it on his shoulder, and carry it on to the lodging place where they were going to lodge, and lay it down there. It is always a question of what do these things mean, these types?
GDR There was authority in the ministry, to which you have referred, in the former days, but do we not need to see the Lord’s authority in the present ministry? That is continued and it will continue to the end. Does that not relate to His place as being made Head over all things to the assembly?
JM I am sure the Lord’s ministry continues, maybe I have not made the situation clear, what I was really thinking about was the way in which the real living truth has been opened up to us. So that the twelve stones, they were set up on the other side, they were not just thrown down in a heap, they were set up there. There was what was for God, there was what was for man too, “What mean ye by these stones?” (Joshua 4: 6); but there was what was for God, what is involved in that is real spiritual life.
GDR I just wondered if there is not a need of recognition of divine authority in what has preceded and what is proceeding. At the very outset the enemy’s attack was, ‘hath God said?’ Questioning divine authority. That must have a claim on our souls, does it not? It leaves no room for philosophy and vain deceit, does it?
JM I am sure that is right, we have to take account of divine authority, but can we move forward into the realm of spiritual life that is on the other side of the Jordan? It is not authority there, Rahab was not the subject of ministry, was she?
LB I was thinking what you said as to each of the twelve stones, and I do not know if I am right, but would it represent the twelve tribes?
JM Yes, I think it would be a stone for each tribe.
LB Yes, alas, two and a half went back, and currently, I myself am exercised whether I am looking back, or if any others are looking back, or are they going forward?
JM Well, I think as you say it represent the twelve tribes, one for each tribe, it really represent the saints set together in love, in relation to each other and in relation to a system of spiritual life. I think that is a very much needed matter, because Christianity is not a negative system, it really involves God’s blessing for men.
AJMcS I was just going to say that Hebrews not only involves going outside the camp, but it also involves going inside the veil. Is that not the line that is developed here in the Colossian epistle, persons who are going in to God? That is what we want to see in ministry that is presented. We want a ministry that helps us to distinguish between what is wrong, but also one that will bring us into what is blessed and the best as you are presenting, do you think?
JM I think that is the point of it, it is what really is for God here. We come into the gain of it; it would not be like God to have something in mind for Himself which He cannot share with His saints. So, we need not be afraid of it, there is plenty there to enjoy in a sphere of spiritual life. I think we should encourage one another to go into it. Those other matters, we need them outside the camp, and certain matters need to be attended to, but while we are so busy with that, do not let us miss the best.
TFN If holding fast the Head we would get the gain of the whole system of blessing and teaching you are speaking about.
JM Well, if you hold fast the Head you are going to have everything that flows from the Head, are you not?
TFN The Head is the source, and everything we need for the body, the building up and the blessing of the body comes from the Head. I thought if we are holding fast the Head, if we are related to the Head, we are related to the centre from which everything comes and we must get the gain of the blessings, do we not?
JM Yes, I am sure that is right. All that flows, bearing in mind what we read earlier, that all fulness of the Godhead dwells in Him, and ye are complete in Him. Think of the great wealth that really flows from the blessed Man where He now is. God has put Him there. If we go back again to Mr. Stoney, that was the great point of his ministry, a Man in heaven. We sung that hymn in the house this morning ‘There lives our Head with glory crowned’ (Hymn 7).
WMcK I was thinking earlier, as the brethren were speaking, the ministry of the revival not only led us outside the camp but it has led us into the heavenlies. If we have understood the way the Spirit has moved and that the Lord has acted in the revival, it sets the saints together in the heavenlies. Colossians is on the way to that.
JM On the way to it, you are not there in Colossians but it is on the way to it and that is what is bearing on one’s spirit that we do not stop short, but really go in for these great and glorious matters.
WMcK In a certain conflict Mr. Taylor replied to an opposer of the truth, who was likening Mr. Darby’s ministry to what was current in Christendom, he said that Mr. Darby’s ministry was on a plane altogether above and beyond anything since the ministry of the apostles. I think we can say the Lord has maintained that ever since, that what the saints have through divine grace is altogether above and beyond what is current around us.
JM Yes, and the younger ones might have a bit of difficulty with it, it is not always easy to understand, but the great thing is to persevere and seek the Spirit’s help. If you seek the Spirit’s help, He will help you, and in addition to that, you might say there are other beloved men, we have mentioned some by name, who were very close to Mr. Darby and valued his ministry. I think the letters between Mr. Stoney and Mr. Darby are most affecting, the affection that enters into them. These men imbibed his ministry, so if you find it is a bit too much for you, have a look at that of Mr. Stoney. The important thing is that that is our inheritance, and that is what God has really established for us. The revival is not just a thing that happened in history. God had in mind His saints of the assembly who were being denied the truth, through the wickedness of the public systems. He had in mind that the truth should be opened up and therefore enjoyed by His saints.
DMW Persons were affected because ministry was coming from the Head. In the mind of the Head was that the people of God would move into an area of things, by having their minds affected by that ministry. Colossian vain deceit affects the mind, so you get in the next chapter, the mind on things above. We should have these things in mind that ministry is from the Head that we have.
JM I think that is so, but I would encourage our young people not to give up, persevere; you will never get much in Christianity without perseverance. Persevere and pray about things, speak to the Lord about it, He understands you, He understands your young mind, He will help you. Speak to the Spirit about it, He loves to unfold the truth.
CCE This matter of what we have in verse 12 of Colossians 4, it says, “Epaphras, who is one of you, the bondman of Christ Jesus, salutes you, always combating earnestly for you in prayers, to the end that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God”. That is something that we all can get into, the youngest and oldest, always combating in prayers that the saints might enter into things rightly.
JM I think that is quite a touch. I do not know if Epaphras was a young man or not, I do not know if anyone else knows, not that it matters, it was in my mind earlier that we might refer to chapter 2 where Paul wanted the brethren to know what combat he had for them, then you get this reference here to Epaphras, one of you. The older brethren used to say that “one of you” was a Colossian feature. John 12 says Lazarus was one of those at table with Him. He was just there happily sitting among the saints, and that is Epaphras; he was not a man who wanted a public position in any way at all, but he could see the need and he could see the danger, and he combated in prayers that the brethren may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
NJH His relationship with the Head seemed to be at ease, holding fast the Head seems as if it is a reflection somewhat on my state, is that right? But he seems to be in the current mind of the Head.
JM I think so. What a man to have in a locality. If you have an Epaphras in Ormond Beach, what a value he would be; but maybe you have one and maybe you have two.
APD Why is it combat?
JM I think that is because of the enemy, do you not?
APD I am conscious of how the enemy is against the saints coming into the best.
JM He is absolutely against the saints, and really the enemy is not against the saints only, but really he is against God and he is against God’s highest thought. I think he would have been quite content to have allowed man to go on in a certain course, I do not think he would have disturbed him very much, but immediately even the savour of the truth, the full truth of Christ and the assembly comes into expression, he is against that, because that is what is for the heart of God and for the heart of Christ.
HJ Is that always your prize?
JM Well, let no one take your prize, why would you like to lose it? Why lose it if you can have it? It is to deprive you of your prize. It is a very subtle way; the enemy never exposes what he is at. He acts in a very subtle way. I say that especially for our dear younger brethren, it is the subtle, underhand way that he can take you in. Things might appear to be all right but then you begin to find that your links with Christ are on the wane.
HJ I am struck by the fact that this matter of the elements of the world are in this chapter twice, “according to the elements of the world” where you first read, then later, “If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world” (Colossians 2: 20).
JM Well, the whole world lies in the wicked one. Satan is really the god of this world, is he not?
2nd Reading at Ormond Beach/Bunnell
17 December 2004
KEY TO INITIALS
L. Barnard
A. M. Lidbeck
T. F. Noel
A. P. Devenish
W. McKillop
G. D. Rosenberry
C. C. Elliott
A. J. McSeveney
R. Surtees
N. J. Henry
J. Mitchell
D. M. Welch
H. Jensen
M. Noel