REPROACH IN THE NAME OF CHRIST
J. Mitchell
I am looking for help to say a word about reproach. Where we read in 1 Peter 4 it speaks about being reproached, “If ye are reproached in the name of Christ”. It is quite remarkable that it does not say for the name of Christ, that would have been perfectly all right, but it says, “If ye are reproached in the name of Christ”. I think the difference is that “in the name of Christ” involves a formation of Christ in the saints. That is a very important matter. When Christ went on high the Spirit came in order that what came out in the life of Christ would be perpetuated in men and women here, perpetuated in the saints. That, I believe, is, among other things, the service of the Spirit, so that the features of Christ characteristically, Christ over again, should be continued on this earth. What was seen in Him personally was so pleasurable to God, that God could not allow that to be cut off in His death.
Men thought that when they put Him on the cross that was the end of that testimony, testimony that came right into their consciences and troubled them and the answer was “away with him”. It is very sobering to think of that, but the life of Christ goes on and it is here in testimony at the present time, and it is in reproach, just the same as it was in the days when He was here actually. The more you manifest the features of Christ, the more will be the reproach. And I say, very soberly, and for one’s own help too, that if we do not experience reproach here, it might be a question as to whether or not the features of Christ are wrought out in us. That, I believe, is the great service of the Spirit amongst us at the present time, that Christ should be formed in us, and that is an exercise for every one of us. If you do not experience reproach then I would, in all affection, urge you to get to the Spirit to see whether the features of Christ are being formed in you.
So, Peter is speaking to those of the Jews who were dispersed and were suffering. As far as I understand, they were the result of Paul’s ministry; but in the circumstances that came about through the terrible opposition to the people of God in the very early days of the church’s history, they were dispersed and the danger was of them being cast down. So that Peter’s epistle, particularly his first epistle, has in mind to lift them up, that they might really fill out what was in the divine mind in relation to them. He says here, “If ye are reproached”, because they were under reproach; and as the features of Christ are manifest amongst us and shine out in testimony in us in these days, we will be reproached. But he says, “If ye are reproached in the name of Christ, blessed are ye; for the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rests upon you”. What compensation that may be for any measure of reproach! If we compare ourselves with the Lord Jesus, He had to say that the reproach of God really had fallen upon Him. There was no one reproached like Him.
I always find comfort in that, if there is anything that we pass through, relatively speaking, it is nothing compared to what He went through personally in His life here. But it says that “the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rests upon you”. Think of that, the Spirit of glory rests upon you, that is what God sees. It may be hurtful to us, and I speak particularly to our younger brethren, as knowing a little of what it is, for we have all been young and all come through the exercises of the younger brethren. I say, as a little aside, when I newly came into fellowship, I thought no one had gone through the things I was going through. I looked upon the brethren, and they all looked perfect to me (that is a good outlook) but I came to see that they all came exactly the same way. I say that as a comfort for our younger brethren, that if things are testing you, the older brethren have been through that and they sympathise with you; they can be sympathetic with you and share your burdens and pray for you. Never be afraid to unburden your heart to the older brethren, men and women of experience who can take you into their affections and minister comfort to you. But it says that the Spirit of glory rests upon you. That is something which we have down here, the comfort that one another can provide. It is one of the benefits of the fellowship.
The fellowship has certain obligations, and sometimes we feel that the obligations are a bit on the hard side, and chafe against them, but there is a positive side to the fellowship. There is an area there of sympathy and comfort and love; what it is to experience it, there is no love like there is amongst the brethren, let every heart be assured of that. It is the love of Christ expressed by the Spirit and there is a comfort in it. As I said, never be afraid to unburden your heart, do not be ashamed to tell them what you are going through, however serious it might be, however troublesome it might be to your soul, you will find sympathy there, and you will find affection. Not only will you find that, but you will find experience, and you will find counsel as to how you can get through these difficult times.
But here it says that the Spirit of glory rests upon you; that is another side of the truth, what God sees as persons go through these reproaches, however large, or however small they may be, as God looks down what He sees is the Spirit of glory upon the persons. What a thing to think about, that is what we call the testimony, that is what God has left here and He has left it here for His own pleasure, for His own satisfaction, but He has left it here as a testimony to men that there are Christ-like features in men and women who are in the same circumstances as they are in; and through the week they go through the same pathway as they go through, but go through with the Spirit of glory resting upon them. What a triumph that is, what an encouragement, what a comfort it is! Then he says “the Spirit of God”, you wonder why these two things are separated. The Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rests upon you”. There was in the life of Christ fragrance God-ward, but here, you get the fragrance of Christ (it is God-ward) but it is worked out amongst the saints. There is that which is not only in the testimony to men, and that is important as we shall see in the next passage, but there should be that which is for the pleasure of God. So, do not let us be afraid of the reproaches, but let us think of this, that if there are the reproaches, then the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God is resting upon us. God can take account of that, and take account of it in a way that is pleasing to Himself. How wonderful it is to be here, in some small measure, as pleasing to God, and I think this is one of the ways to it. “The Spirit of God rests upon you—on their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified”.
In a scene where Christ is blasphemed, and who of us does not experience that in our day to day walk, it is becoming more and more common amongst men to blaspheme Him. It used to be, those of us who are older will tell you, that there was a certain restraint in this country, but, sad to say, there is practically no restraint now, and the name of Christ is blasphemed. So then, how wonderful it is to be reproached in the name of Christ, a name that is blasphemed publicly, taken on men’s lips in the most awful way, and things said about it, even coming into such places as the schools where our children are. Think of some of the things that are coming into these establishments, emphasising the need of home teaching and emphasising the need of assembly teaching, teaching in the meetings, in order that our young people may be fortified as to the name of Christ. What it really means to God, what it really means to us, and what a joy it is to the hearts of His saints, although it is blasphemed in the world.
Then he says, “but on your part he is glorified”. So, while there is the blasphemy among men, there is the glorification among the saints. I often wonder, as I suppose we all do, why God has prolonged this dispensation. You might say, publicly everything is in place for the closing up of it, and the closing up of it in judgment, but God is prolonging it. We know that it speaks of the long-suffering of God that waited in the days of Noah, and the antediluvian age was a wicked age and I often feel that the present age is no better. There is a lot in the present age that is reminiscent of the antediluvian age, and yet God is prolonging the testimony. Why? Because the fragrance of Christ is arising from those that are faithful and reproached in the name of Christ.
Now I leave that and turn to Isaiah because while what has been said deals with individual reproach, I wish to apply the passage in Isaiah as related to the testimony coming under reproach. It is not exactly that we are coming under reproach or coming into reproach, but what is referred to here is that the testimony comes into reproach. Now that is a very sobering thing. If you read the close of the previous chapter you will see the immoral state of things there was in Israel, and it is exclusively addressed to the women there. I am not saying that that is exclusive to our sisters, but it suggests the subjective state of things that was in Israel at that time, and you think of Israel and all the benefits they had. Think of them under David and under Solomon, when Israel was at its height, but it is not long after that when deterioration came in. If you think of the present dispensation, as you read the epistles and think of what the persons enjoyed, what they had in substantial way, it was not very long until the Lord had to say to them at Ephesus, “thou hast left thy first love”, Revelation 2: 4. It is often said that the epistle to the Ephesians was the height of Paul’s ministry, that is not quite right, the height of Paul’s ministry was the Ephesian saints. The ministry was there in persons before it came into writing. Mr Raven said that if the truth had been carried forward in power, in persons, there would have been no need for the epistles. That is a sobering thing to think about, but it was not long before the deterioration came in, but, let us think of the day in which we are, let us be sober about it and take stock; not that we want to be occupied with negatives exactly, but at the same time we are responsible for the state of things among the saints. If I might take something upon myself, those of us who are older are perhaps more responsible, and that is the situation at the present time. I cannot but think that anyone who is in any measure with God would have to be humbled at the present state of things amongst us. It is a matter of great humility, of great sorrow and it is intended that we should feel it, and that is the situation here in Isaiah.
The end of chapter three shows the moral state that was there. But chapter four opens with “seven women shall take hold of one man in that day”. Now I understand from the good teaching that that seven women suggests repentance, and I believe the call at the present time is to repentance. Repentance is not a matter of merely saying I am sorry, it is a moral matter in the soul as feeling the need of coming to an end of ourselves and opening our hearts to God. If I may so say, there is much need of real tears before God as to the present state of things amongst us. Yet there is so much light, that was the situation in Israel, light had not deteriorated one whit, but there is a need here, as it comes in, of repentance. And it says that seven women shall take hold of one man, there is the secret to it all, repentance towards God, that is the gospel, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. I think true repentance leads us to Christ, one Man, and the place that Christ has in our affections. Who of us would be bold enough to say that there is not more room in our affections for Christ? I think the Spirit of God would help us. He would magnify Christ to our hearts, so that we take Him into our hearts soberly.
There is no bargain with these women, they say “Our own bread will we eat, and with our own garments will we be clothed; only let us be called by thy name”. That is a tremendous exercise to come to, that we are called by His name. There is only one Man, there are not two, no choice, and it is one Man for my affections and your affections. I think that is the secret of everything, beloved, the place that belongs to Christ, and I believe the Spirit of God would emphasise that amongst us.
It goes on to say, “In that day there shall be a sprout of Jehovah for beauty and glory”. As Christ is given His place in our hearts there is this sprout of Jehovah for beauty and glory. I judge the sprout suggests life inwardly, and there is always a need for that. There is the public side of things as we come together in assembly, we have our meetings and so on, but the real question is, how much life is there among the saints, and that is a matter for the soul, the inwards. I need not go into it, but the brethren will quickly understand that that sprout is Christ-like. In John’s gospel life is the main subject, life in Christ, spiritual life, moral life, but it is Christian life. John writes for the breakdown, and he does not go into certain details that the other gospel writers do, but he concentrates on life. I believe that is the great issue at the present time, as to what life is there, and it is life that is patterned after Christ, the sprout of Jehovah and it is for beauty and glory.
Think of what is beautiful for God, what is beautiful to God! You may think that God does not appreciate beauty; but if you have a look at the creation you will see that God appreciates beauty, and not only does He appreciate beauty but it comes in through His own operations.
And here we have spiritual beauty and glory. I think it is a good thing to get our sight lifted off what is on this earth; not that we can ignore the present state of things; but lifted to what there is for the pleasure of God. Then the holy committal on our own part that we should search ourselves morally and inwardly, and make room for the operations of the Spirit of God in view of this beauty and glory. You will remember it is said, “By his Spirit the heavens are adorned”, Job 26: 13. It shows that God is a connoisseur of beauty and He is looking for beauty among the saints. Let us look for it too in one another, beloved, let us not look for things that are not beautiful, but if we cannot see it, let us search for it among the saints; the Spirit’s operations in forming beauty among the people of God at the present time. You say, Well, I know Mr So-and-So, and Mrs So-and-so, I have known them all my life; but there is beauty there for the finding and let us be concerned about it. It says “for beauty and glory”, there is glory there.
The rapture is not far away, let us be exercised about that. We used to hear quite a number of hymns sung in the meeting that referred to the coming of the Lord. Now I trust it is slightly different in this area, but I know that where I come from in my area, we seldom hear them sung these days. It is a very sobering matter, but I repeat it, let us keep before our affections that the rapture is imminent and there is not much time, and yet the Spirit of God can do much in a short space of time. Think of what He did in a man like Saul of Tarsus, in a very, very short space of time, and He can do much in you and in me in a short space of time, creating this beauty and glory. That is, I believe, what the Lord sees in the saints that gives moral warrant for the rapture, for Him taking them. Somebody said, when we were in a difficulty away back in 1970, that things are so bad that there is only one thing to do, that is for the Lord to come. That is not the truth; God does not work that way, the Lord comes to what is pleasing to Himself, what is of Himself and what belongs to heaven; it does not belong to earth, it is here in testimony but it belongs to heaven and it is suited to heaven, its beauty and glory is there; He comes to that, and that is what He will rapture.
Let us be concerned, therefore, about it each one of us, concerned for our own selves. And he says, “and the fruit of the earth for excellency and for ornament for those that are escaped of Israel”. Well, I think that is a very beautiful picture of what the Spirit of God is seeking to work out amongst the saints. It involves searching, it involves giving way in our souls to the work of God, it involves coming to a judgment of all that is contrary to it. I think each one of us would find plenty in ourselves that is contrary to it, but, beloved, it is well worth it for God’s sake, and for the sake of Christ, and for the sake of the Spirit, and for our own sakes, that we might be concerned as to this excellency and for ornament for those that are escaped of Israel. Thank God that we have escaped, that is our present position. I think the Spirit of God would seek to produce these beautiful characteristics in us, in every one of us. Undoubtedly there would be a great change in the situation here, in our local meetings, and generally among the saints as this would come to light.
It goes on to say, “And it shall come to pass that he who remaineth in Zion, and he that is left in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem”; well, you would like to be among them. It is sad to say, that here and there there are one or two going away, and sometimes the reason for the going away is said to be the conduct among our brethren. That is a very, very sobering matter. Maybe if you examined them thoroughly you might find there is some other motive, but for persons to say that they have to leave the present position in which we are because of the conduct is a very, very sobering matter. It really puts you before God as to it, but it says here that he that is left in Jerusalem shall be called holy, every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem, which is a type of the assembly. Well, you would like to be among them, persons that are called holy. I find that sometimes we shrink from the idea of holiness, but holiness is the nature of God, and what is for His pleasure must have that character, the characteristic of holiness.
Some of the younger ones might say, What is the difference between righteousness and holiness? I think holiness is an inward thing that is produced by the Spirit in us. But of course there are all these things produced by the Spirit as we make room for Him. If you hinder the Spirit from His operations in you then the responsibility is yours; it is not the Spirit’s fault, it is your fault if you hinder Him, and you can hinder, indeed it speaks about the quenching of the Spirit. I think we need to examine matters in ourselves and make sure that we are making way for the operations of the Spirit. It speaks of every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem. How beautiful that is, as John’s gospel is life and those that live to God. Paul’s desire was, “that I may live to God”, Galatians 2: 19. What a wonderful thing it is to live to God! Think of the life of Jesus, think of His ear being wakened morning by morning to hear as the instructed, and it says prophetically of Him, “I was not rebellious”, Isaiah 50: 5. How do you start your day, beloved, do you start it with God. That comes home to me I know; I just have to be sober about it, to start our day with God, and not only to start our day with God but also to go through our day with God. That will help us in holiness; keeping company with God. There were men in Scripture who walked with God in an extremely evil day; a day that is very like the present one when every thought of God is being thrown off; there were men who walked with Him and those men would take on the characteristics of God Himself; they would take on holiness. May we take it on, beloved, more and more.
It goes on to say that “when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have scoured out the blood of Jerusalem from its midst, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning”. Well, that is an important thing, the spirit of judgment. I think if there is one thing that we could be helped on it is this matter of the spirit of judgment; that is that we have a right judgment of matters. It involves, of course, firstly, you judge yourself, that is where judgment starts, it starts with yourself, and if you are going to judge yourself, you judge yourself in accordance with Christ. It is not a matter of legality, trying to do better, you will never do it, you will only sink further and further into the morass; but as you seek the Spirit’s help to judge yourself, then, as you do, it is right to have a judgment of everything that comes within your reach.
That is what he says here, “and shall have scoured out the blood of Jerusalem from its midst, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And Jehovah will create over every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and over its convocations, a cloud by day and a smoke, and the brightness of a flame of fire by night”. I think that is very affecting, it shows that we go by the Old Testament, it shows that God takes possession, but then, as it says here, it is “by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning”. You might wonder why that is. You go back to the beginning of the Acts at the incoming of the Spirit where the Spirit came in as cloven tongues of fire. Let us not forget that, beloved, let us not put these things off and say, Well, that is unlike God. That is what they say in the world, they go on in their own way and then they say, Oh, well, it is unlike God to come out in judgment. But the spirit of judgment is with God, and the spirit of burning is with God. I think that was the point in the incoming of the Spirit, that He came in on a company that was absolutely suitable to Him, there was no hindrance in that company that the Spirit came upon. In Acts, it is not so much the Spirit inwardly, it is the Spirit upon them, because the testimony was involved, but it really involved the cloven tongues of fire.
So, let us not forget that. You might think of something but do not like to say anything about it; let us remember the spirit of burning. If it is offensive to God, beloved, it is our responsibility to deal with it. That is just a simple matter, it is our responsibility to deal with it, and God will hold us responsible to deal with it according to the spirit of judgment and to deal with it in this way as the spirit of fire. It does not mean, of course, that we burn people up, I do not mean that, or, as we might say in simple language that we use these days, withdrawing from persons; that is not the point, the point is to deal with the evil. Mr Coates has a very fine touch, he says ‘the service of the priest is to separate the sinner from his sin’; that is the point, and the sin is dealt with and the sinner is preserved, that is the exercise. The spirit of burning is to deal with the sin, deal with what is obnoxious to God. Let us never forget that, as we mention His holiness, that God dwells in what is holy, and it is morally impossible for God to dwell anywhere else. Because of what He is in His nature, it is morally impossible for Him to dwell anywhere else.
So, there is a responsibility upon us, and it says, “Jehovah will create over every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and over its convocations”; so, there is not only the individual, but there is the dwelling-place; what about my house? There are things these days that appear to be small things, pardon me for saying it, but they infiltrate into the houses of the saints and that is a very sobering thing. What is infiltrating into the houses of the saints is the world, that is what it is, with all its unholiness; it is the world we read of in the first passage that reproaches those “in the name of Christ”. What a sobering thing it is if I have anything, big or small, of that world in my house. Let us make sure, then, that our houses are holy places and that they are suitable for the testimony, that there is nothing about them that God could point a finger to, everything there is in accordance with God Himself, and is manifesting the testimony as to Christ. I believe that is a very necessary thing, beloved, I do not say it harshly, but I say it kindly, I say it out of affection for Christ.
He goes on to speak about every dwelling of mount Zion, that is one thing, and over its convocations, that is our meetings, our comings together. Therefore, the Spirit of God would exercise us so that there is nothing in our comings together that is out of accord with the holiness of God. I say that simply, I am not saying that in this locality, or in this area, there is anything (I do not know) but God knows, and you know yourself if it is so, but what I am saying is what is the truth, and here it says what will be over every dwelling-place of mount Zion and over its convocations. Mount Zion is very precious to God. Do you every think about that, that our dwelling-places and our comings together are extremely precious to God? Let us make sure then, and seek grace and help, that we might come up together in the spirit of holiness and in the spirit of what is pleasing to God, so our holy convocations may be for His pleasure.
Well, it says there will be “a cloud by day and a smoke, and the brightness of a flame of fire by night—for over all the glory shall be a covering”. I think that is very beautiful. I have no doubt glory is the outshining of love, particularly the outshining of divine love. If you want proof of that go to that section in the second epistle to Corinthians, the end of chapter three and chapter four, and you will see what glory is, shining out from the new covenant, the outshining of love. The beauty of what comes in in that section really links with the assembly of God, coming down out of the heaven from God, having the glory of God. The glory of God is secured now and secured in this way. May the Lord bless the word to us.
Address at Buckie
18 June 2005