LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF GOD
[p. 394] LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF GOD
Acts 1:1 - 4; Acts 13:46 - 48; Acts 20:4 - 12
JT Luke, the writer of this book, refers back to the Lord’s coming to His own after He rose, and says, “to whom also he presented himself living”. Acts 1:3 The word is presented Himself. The word presented is not found in the records of the appearings of the Lord as given in the gospels. There is the thought in it of the Lord having in mind that He should be seen in a certain way by them, and seen alive, or living, as if the Lord would indicate something as to life in some form or attitude, that would impress the saints and enter into the service of God in which He has part, the Lord’s supper being the centre of it. We have to compare this with what has been read in chapter 13, as to eternal life and the reference to life in a physical sense in Eutychus, evidently pointing to life in a moral sense as entering into the celebration of the Lord’s supper. Another thing to be noted is the word assembled, used twice in this chapter. It is not the usual word for assembly, but still it carries the same thought, and refers to what is requisite or customary, certainly requisite for the Lord’s supper.
Life, as indicated in chapter 13, would be eternal life in the ordinary sense running on to the millennium, but it would also involve what is now known in the Spirit whilst we are here in flesh and blood. And then, the state Eutychus was in, would be a flesh and blood state, although he was resuscitated or raised. It is said that he “was taken up dead”, Acts 20:9, as if death had actually happened, and yet Paul says, “Be not troubled, for his life is in him”. Acts 20:10. Life in a boy is a thought that needs to be kept in mind as to life, entering into the provisional circumstances at the present time. We shall see that life, in these senses, should have a prominent place in the service of [p. 395] God, not that we should simply be satisfied with the physical position and our moving together, but to have the evidence of life with us, life by the Spirit, giving buoyancy and freshness and attractiveness to the services.
JPH Does what you have said connect on with Matthew 16:16? “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Is that basic for everything connected with the assembly?
JT I would say that, and especially in view of Judaism. Matthew has in mind the gradual, though not immediate, disappearance of Judaism, and hence the thought of the living God, the Son of the living God. It is a living system, instead of a dead system as in Judaism.
JPH I was thinking too of Revelation 3:1, the word to Sardis, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead”. Are you encouraging living conditions and life in the assembly in contrast to all that is around?
JT Just so; “thou”, “art dead”. Revelation 3:1. It confirms what has been remarked as to Judaism. The present situation of the profession of christianity is similar to Judaism, as the book of the Acts contemplates, and is finally confirmed in the letter to the Hebrews by Paul; hence the presentation of the Lord Himself living is, as already said, suggestive and points to a living order of things in our meetings and services.
Ques Do you mean that life is apprehended first in a Man out of death?
JT Well, that is the idea in mind, but death would be implied. Life in the millennium will evidently be on earth in men, in flesh and blood; only, Satan being bound, sin will be weakened, but still it is there, and the Spirit of God is there too in some sense, maintaining such conditions as are illustrated in Numbers 29 in the feast of tabernacles, where there is steady decrease, but not below what might be called the proper level for life,
[p. 396] because the number seven Is retained; seven bullocks; verse 32.
I was going to remark that the book of Acts contemplates the gradual disappearance of Judaism, and hence we may say, the gradual but sure disappearance of christendom as it is. So that, before the final adjustment by the introduction of Paul and Barnabas, especially of Paul himself, the state of christendom as corresponding with Judaism is indicated in the death of Herod, who arose, according to chapter 12, and slew James with the sword and endeavoured to slay Peter, but he was eaten with worms. It was a terrible comment and judgment too on the system of Judaism at that time, but the work of God went on, and liberty was afforded to Paul and Barnabas, particularly Paul, the Spirit taking him on, after Barnabas left him, so as to carry out the divine thoughts in christianity. I suppose we may reckon that God will intervene in some way if things become worse, and if any attack is made on the general position of christianity, He will weaken the efforts of the enemy; hindering it, but weakening it, so that the service of God may continue. The second treatise of Luke is intended to lead into christianity proper, though to some extent still recognising Judaism, which gradually disappears. The thought was that we might see how primarily life such as we have spoken of attaches to the service of God.
LPM “The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I this day”, Isaiah 38:19.
JT Very good; that links with what has been said about Peter’s confession of “the Son of the living God”. Matthew 16:16. Peter is not used afterwards much as to life, because it was intended that Paul should take it on, and take it on in sonship. Peter hardly ever refers to the Son of God except in the second chapter of his second epistle. The way was being cleared for Paul, and I think that is what we need to enter into a little, and to see that his appearance involved a revival, not such as we get in 2 Timothy, but [p. 397] what was needed in view of the tendency to waning in the general profession. Paul took up the thought of life in the Son, and John subsequently took it up because it is necessary to maintain it right through to the end.
AM Is there a relationship between life and suffering? I am thinking of the moral fibre needed in view of things going through. We see this in Peter and in Paul and John, in view of the testimony going through to the end in life.
JT You mean the moral fibre seen in life? Well, just so, that was what I was thinking both as to eternal life in chapter 13, and then in Eutychus in chapter 20. Because Eutychus is going through, a living boy, but it was in flesh and blood condition; he was alive and a comfort to the brethren. Surely therefore the moral side must enter into it. How much endurance there is with the brethren, how much the acacia wood is with us; that is to say, endurance in suffering!
WJT Was not that seen delightfully in the Thessalonians? They had been going through suffering and were a great comfort to the apostle. They “turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God”. 1 Thessalonians 1:9. It involves the public reproach, they were going through it, and comforting the servants and others.
JT I should think that is very encouraging to look into, although these remarks, as they come, cannot be pursued in each case, because the idea of these meetings, is to take on whatever comes out that will help peculiarly at the moment. The disciples contemplated His glory, we are told, showing that the Lord was not only to be spoken of, but to be contemplated. We cannot depend altogether on what is said, but we may rely too on what is contemplated, what we are able to take on, as we are lying fallow and taking on the truth, so that it gives character to us. We are to keep our sabbaths.
LR Would that link with “looking on the glory of the Lord”? 2 Corinthians 3:18. We are changed from [p. 398] glory to glory.
JT Just so. The glory changes us, glory to glory. That is a phrase that belongs to christianity; it belongs to the Lord’s supper too.
Ques I should like to ask, as to presenting Himself living, is it that we may get a living and fresh impression in the assembly?
JT Well, that is intended. The Lord clearly thought of the matter, as to how He should be seen by them. We know from this chapter, as we link it on with 1 Corinthians 15, that He appeared to several on several occasions. He appeared living; He appeared risen; He appeared from heaven too, and all to affect the conditions down here in connection with the service of God, because the first one to whom He appeared was Simon, and he is called Cephas, as if the assembly was in mind, and that the assembly is impressionable. Cephas was material for the assembly.
RGB Is the introduction of Melchisedec in Hebrews significant? It says, “Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec” Hebrews 5:6, and later “the witness is that he lives” Hebrews 7:8.
JT Very good. “Of whom the witness is that he lives”; Hebrews 7:8; so that Hebrews would have that in mind.
EAK Would the reference to the “many proofs”, Acts 1:3, be to stabilise our souls in the knowledge of Christ, not only as risen but living, and living before our affections.
JT Just so. Many proofs would be important, as conveying the idea of intensification of testimony.
LPM Is a similar thought to be found in 1 Corinthians 15, the number of references to the appearings?
JT Just so, to show the variety of life. It is first to Cephas and then to the twelve, meaning that Matthias, the one needed to complete the twelve, was there; the Lord immediately recognised what was there. Acts 1 implies that the matter was not finished, so to speak, when the Lord went up to heaven; there was something to be added, hence the second treatise. Cephas being [p. 399] the first mentioned would point to the assembly, as if the Lord would intimate that He is now working on to that line; Cephas means a stone. In John 1 it has already been noted, the Lord said to him, “thou shalt be called Cephas”. John 1:42. Following Cephas the Lord appeared to the twelve, showing that their judgment and their selection of the two nominees for the apostleship were generally right. One only could be selected and that was decided on the principle of the lot, which God recognised and used, and so Matthias was selected. Hence the second appearing is to the twelve, without the word apostles being mentioned, and then it is to above 500 brethren at once, and then to James, and then to all the apostles; this latter would be related to the authoritative side of the apostles’ position and service. Finally he appeared to Paul himself. There is variety in what is presented, in the sense of life; and the assembly should move on in the variety of life.
Ques Would you expect a fresh presentation each time we partake of the Supper?
JT Well, I think that is the idea. The tendency is, as you know, to staleness, and the recurrence of the incoming of the Lord at the Lord’s supper would promote and maintain freshness.
HPW Do you think that the Lord, speaking reverently, would present Himself to us now just as far as we can bear. The Lord says that He had much to say to them, but they were not able to bear it. Do you think, that if we lived in closer touch with the Lord, we should be able to bear more of these living impressions even now?
JT Yes, that is very good, and would you not say that the increase of these meetings, these special fellowship meetings, is an evidence of the increase of life? Would you not say that this is the very thought in mind? These meetings are an evidence that the Lord is helping us in this [p. 400] living sense.
SJL He was present among them, as risen from the dead, for forty days.
JT Well, that is in keeping with what we are saying. “Forty” is used in scripture in the sense of a complete period of testing something. This reference is quite in keeping; “to whom also he presented himself living, after he had suffered, with many proofs; being seen by them during forty days, and speaking of the things which concern the kingdom of God”; Acts 1:3. So that the forty days, somewhat less than seven weeks, would point to the Lord’s consideration of the whole position, giving the opportunity for the completion of what was incomplete when He arose, because Matthew, and Mark particularly, stress the fact that the saints were in a very poor way when the Lord rose and appeared to them at first. The Lord knew what was there; He knew what He had effected, and the sequel showed that the unbelief was just superficial. The Lord knew that the real thing was there in every one of them, and He allowed time to bring that out, what He had effected Himself, making due allowance for recovery with all, before the Holy Spirit was sent down. I believe it is a matter of great importance, the Lord’s consideration for what He has effected in His own before the Holy Spirit came down, and Acts 1, particularly from the 15th verse, is to bring out what was there. “Peter, standing up in the midst of the brethren, said”, Acts 1:15, And then we are told that the crowd of names was about one hundred and twenty; the names meaning there was life in them. Then what Peter says is to be noted. “It is necessary therefore, that of the men who have assembled with us all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day in which he was taken up from us, one of these should be a witness with us of his resurrection”. Acts 1:21,22. It will be seen that Peter is very far advanced on what he was when presented to us first after the Lord rose; and the Lord intended that it should be [p. 401] so. The Lord knew what was in him and in all of them; the Lord knew the depth of what He had wrought Himself, and the forty days were to bring that out, so that we have a complete number in the final words. “And they appointed two, Joseph, who was called Barsabas, who had been surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou Lord, knower of the hearts of all, show which one of these two thou hast chosen, to receive the lot of this service and apostleship, from which Judas transgressing fell to go to his own place. And they gave lots on them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles”. Acts 1:23 - 26. So that the position is finished, and then the Holy Spirit comes down. He is the power for everything in christianity, and His presence here implies the completion of the position. This book is to bring it out, in its continuous variety, until it eclipses Judaism and all else.
ECT Do you think, going through Acts, that as the reproach increases, living conditions increase?
JT Well, I think that is good. Chapter 12 brings that out, how, although there was some decline in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, yet Peter was equal to the position, and it shows that the service of God was to go on. He knew what to do. When the final barricade was removed he knew what to do. He entered into one street, but he knew what to do, and James too knew what to do; they both knew what to do. So that in these cases it is a question of knowing what to do.
RH Did you say that Eutychus represented moral life?
JT Well, life in a moral sense. It is a question of what we are, what a young man like Eutychus would need, to fill out the position. Evidently there was something in him. That leads us to consider what the living boy is, what the young people are just now, those who are breaking bread, how much life there is in them.
Ques Would the presentation of Himself living be for [p. 402] contemplation with a view to carrying on the service of God?
JT To carry on the service of God. I would say that, rather than being caught up to glory, because the Lord is not in any hurry on that line yet. It is a question of what He is having down here, and it is a question therefore of this young man and what he can be, and what we get about him is that he was a comfort to the brethren. They took him away; he was worth carrying away.
Ques You mean that being a young boy shows it was a continuation of matters?
JT That is the idea. At the Lord’s coming the idea of our translation is of men, not of children. In the ark with Noah there were no children. I mean that things are to be finished; it is a question of full manhood. When we are in the course of finishing, then the thing is to see what is there and what may be developed through the principles that God affords to us, the Spirit of God being with us to help us.
LPM Light and divine order — are they closely linked in a normal sense?
JT I think so. I think God would have light visible; even in the natural creation we can see the foliage and all that is so beautiful under the eye of God. Being the Creator of it, you would expect that from Him, rather than the bare fact of creation.
Ques Why do you remark on the fact that we are given the young man’s name?
JT Well, I think he may have come to something; then it would be well that his name should be known, because the idea of name is stressed in the first chapter — 120 names.
Rem Well, I think that is very encouraging. The testimony involves that, the continuation of the service of God, and that in the saints which can be named.
JT Quite so. And the fathers of persons who might be distinguished, the father of Alexander and Rufus, for [p. 403] instance. He was the one that was selected to carry the Lord’s cross, but he was the father of two, and their names are given to us, which would indicate that they became distinguished in the Lord’s service, because the Lord has great pleasure in bringing out what He is doing, what He is effecting, in the variety.
Ques You mean that the incident that should stand in our minds is not so much the fall as the potential material that came to light through Paul’s embrace?
JT Just so. Just as Peter’s own case. We might talk about his blunders, but look at the product. He is “first Peter” all the time. It ought to encourage all young people as to the possibilities, the possibilities seen in Eutychus and the examples all round. The environment is full of potentialities for the minds of the youth. Eutychus was there, but it says, “there were many lights in the upper room”. Acts 20:8. The seven men mentioned earlier in the chapter were lights in a spiritual sense; they were the products of Paul’s own work. There are the possibilities of the present ministry; what it can produce, and, of course, it should aim to produce something. We are not told what Paul was saying, but we may be sure that he was saying something that was good and needful, even for Eutychus, and the elder brethren as well.
TH You were saying there was great need for doing what was right. Does not Paul shine here in what he does in regard to Eutychus, going down — descending?
JT Yes. I think it is a beautiful picture, and I would say it is a picture prophetical of the whole assembly, and it is encouraging, because of the assembly running on to the end, and the continuance of the boy, one resuscitated like this through the affections of Paul.
LPM Is there any significance in his being referred to, and the only one of the seven, as a son, the “son of Pyrrhus”? Acts 20:4.
JT Well, it is in keeping with what we have been [p. 404] saying — how fathers may be distinguished by their sons. No true father will resent that.
JC Would this embrace by Paul give the moral and spiritual stamina that is needed? It says, “And they brought away the boy alive, and were no little comforted”. Acts 20:12.
JT Very good. “Paul descending fell upon him, and enfolding him in his arms, said, Be not troubled, for his life is in him”, “And they brought away the boy alive”; Acts 20:10,12; that is, in resuscitated life, resulting from the embrace of Paul, all pointing to so much that is encouraging.
Ques Is there any point in the fact that the literal word for “life” is “soul”? Do you think we are too apt to judge by appearances with young people, whereas Paul would count on the work of God inwardly and we should keep our eye on that?
JT That is right. I rather think it is a creditable comment. There is but little soul generally today, and I think the soul here is something to be noted. There is a similar suggestion in 1 Kings 17 in reference to the boy in the house of the woman of Zarephath. He fell sick and died, and Elijah prayed for him and asked that his soul should return to him, and it did. I think that woman would be greatly enlarged by these happenings. Eutychus was “sitting at the window-opening” Acts 20:9. This is not like Daniel’s window. Daniel’s window was opened towards Jerusalem. This opening would be towards the world, I would think. Eutychus would be looking out at something that was happening, and he fell asleep. Daniel’s window was always open, apparently, towards heaven. That was his outlook. So Paul, when he was released from Damascus was let down out through a window in a basket. The window would be an outlook. He would have an outlook there. He escaped from the king, and was delivered. Paul was a young man at that time.
And now as to the Lord’s supper in Acts 20; a great [p. 405] deal has been said about it, and now we are still talking about it, and questioning about it. It seems to me that the Berean spirit is needed, to see what scripture says about it, and what the last word is about it; that is, what Paul says about it.
Ques Is there a suggestion in Paul “having long spoken until daybreak”? Acts 20:11. Do you think we should look for adjusting and helpful ministry in relation to the Supper right until the time when the Lord comes again?
JT Well, I think that is good. I would say that although we have no record of what Paul said at this time, the Spirit of God has carried all through and it has come out from time to time, and is coming out yet, because it is a prophetic matter. The long period is to be noted, and though what was said is not mentioned it surely means that there is a record of it, because Paul’s words would not fall to the ground, any more than Samuel’s did. The discourse does not fall to the ground in the sense of losing it, and the saints want it and value it, or if they do not now they will presently, they will need it and it will come out.
Rem Whilst what Paul has said is set down authoritatively in the Scriptures, it is capable in teaching of expansion and development.
JT Well, is that not what is meant by the change of word, the first is discourse in verse 7 and then it says in verse 11 “having gone up, and having broken the bread, and eaten, and having long spoken”? Acts 20:11. The word translated spoken means conversed or communed. That would be our Bible readings, I would think. They have been greatly valued, from the outset of this present revival. The change of word there would show how ministry in right hands will bring about what is needed. “Having broken the bread, and eaten”, Acts 20:11, means that the Supper was actually partaken of, although it was delayed. I suppose it was delayed because things were not right. “Having long spoken until daybreak, so he went away. And they brought away the boy alive”. Acts 20:11.
[p. 406] So that things could be left in the Lord’s hands.
AM Have you anything in mind as to “the first day of the week”? Acts 20:7. It is not “the Lord’s Day”. Revelation 1:10.
JT It is a day that is mentioned twice in John 20. It is a new beginning, a new order of things. The Lord’s supper and all that enters into it involves what is new.
Ques Has the first day of the week a bearing on what is eternal, and the service of God; and the Lord’s Day has its bearing on the testimony?
JT I would say that too. The “first day of the week” Acts 20:7, runs on to eternity; there is no stop, because it is a question of love; that is capable of going through.
ECT If we listen to the ministry we shall not need an adjusting word at the breaking of bread, shall we?
JT Quite so. It has been before me that the imprisonments of Paul were intended to fit him for the final touches. Looking at Isaac as a type of Christ viewed as the bridegroom, we see that he had time to meditate, he had plenty of leisure, and so when a man married, according to the types, he had a year off, so that he is fitted for the household. I think what is needed at the present juncture is brethren able to take time off to look into Scripture, and weigh things. The lack of time for this is apt to hinder us in the services, in the ministry, because time is not given to meditation.
ACSP When Dorcas had died, Peter’s service results in her being presented living.
JT That is good. Showing that Peter was set up afresh. I should say there was a revival in him too, for the advent of Paul resulted in a general revival of things; so that you get Peter more active in that particular case than you find him elsewhere. He went through all quarters, we are told, which is remarkable, showing that it was what God was bringing in; it was forecasting itself. At the same time Peter had time to go up to the housetop, and pray, and enter into ecstasy. It is remarkable, as [p. 407] indicating the triumph of spiritual power. The Lord would accord to us spiritual power, if we were ready for it.
Ques Is the thought that we should be led from the physical to the spiritual?
JT Well, that is what I thought. Dorcas became a spiritual woman, as we see in the end of Acts 9:40. “But Peter, putting them all out” (whoever they were, they were of no value spiritually) “and kneeling down, prayed. And, turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up”. We may well connect all this with Eutychus; it is now a woman. “And, seeing Peter, sat up. And having given her his hand, he raised her up, and having called the saints and the widows, presented her living”, Acts 9:40,41. It is the same expression as you have of the Lord Himself, in chapter 1. “And it became known throughout the whole of Joppa, and many believed on the Lord”, Acts 9:42. A great result, in such a crisis as this.
Ques Would persons who are living have something that the Lord could call upon, like the little lad in the gospels who had the loaves and fishes, which the Lord could call upon to feed the thousands? The Lord uses what He has.
JT You have a little boy here, he only knew that much. That is very good, I think.
Ques Peter says before this to Aeneas “Jesus the Christ heals thee: rise up and make thy couch for thyself”. Acts 9:34. Would that suggest the grace that would mark us in view of recovery?
JT Well, that is the thing. This is a remarkable illustration of the service of Peter as passing through all quarters. Peter’s word to Aeneas, “make thy couch for thyself”, Acts 9:34, was effective. “And straightway he rose up”. That brings in the principle of local responsibility. Showing how, instead of writing long distances to get light or information about the things of God we should be concerned to get it locally. Aeneas was to rise up and [p. 408] make his couch for himself; that is, it is the local people who should be doing things. “And all who inhabited Lydda”, “saw him”, Acts 9:35, and they “turned to the Lord”. It was a remarkable time. And then we have this female disciple, named Tabitha, and then, “it came to pass that he”, (Peter) “remained many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner”. Acts 9:43. Following that in chapter 10 we have the account of Cornelius, and the gentiles coming in. Peter is all ready for them. He has the keys of the kingdom, and he is acting now as one worthy of the Lord’s confidence in committing to him the keys of the kingdom.
Rem There is no possibility of the maintenance of the testimony locally unless that is in evidence.
JT Do things for ourselves, you mean? “Rise up, and make thy couch for thyself”. Acts 9:34. The local brethren are to do things for themselves, not to expect the visiting brother to do everything. Not, of course, that the visiting brother should not come; he should, as Peter did, but make thy bed for thyself. Things are to be done that need to be done.
DJM The word to Philadelphia is “thou hast a little power”. Revelation 3:8. Is that what is in mind?
JT That is the idea, exactly; “thou hast a little power”. Revelation 3:8.
RGB The service is carried on in Revelation around the throne; the elders are there and then the living creatures. Would it show intelligence as linked with life in the service of God?
JT That is good. The elders move as they see what the living creatures do. In Revelation 4:9,10 we read, “And when the living creatures shall give glory and honour and thanksgiving to him that sits upon the throne, who lives to the ages of ages, the twenty-four elders shall fall before him that sits upon the throne, and do homage to him that lives to the ages of ages”. You have something else in [p. 409] mind?
RGB The living creatures are linked with the elders. The elders setting forth intelligence, and the living creatures being suggestive of life that is to be innate in the service of God if it is to be rightly carried on.
JT That is right. When the living creatures do certain things, then the elders “fall before him that sits upon the throne, and do homage to him that lives to the ages of ages; and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy will they were, and they have been created”. Revelation 4:10,11. The elders carry on the service and worship fully, which I think might be applied to the elder brethren moving Godward as they observe the younger men taking things up that need to be done, because the living creatures refer to the creation, and the idea of life must be there.