“BE STRONG IN THE LORD”
1 Peter 5:8,9; Ephesians 6:10-13;
Mark 9:50 (from “Have salt”)
I have been reflecting on the way that Satan, and what proceeds from Satan, is mentioned in relation to the assembly in Pergamos (Rev.2:13). We are here for encouragement, we are not here to depress one another, but I think that we need to be mindful of the devices of Satan by which he would seek to overthrow what is pleasing to Christ, and what the Lamb of God has sacrificed Himself to secure, “once in the consummation of the ages”, Heb.9:26. Peter knew what it was to be in a privileged position and yet fail, but then he also knew what it was to be recovered. He was qualified to urge his readers to “Be vigilant, watch … resist”, and the footnote is very interesting1. I was thinking of how these characters are to be won by doing these things that Peter urges. The Lord knows and values these moral features that are to become characteristic in those who overcome; “I will give to him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written”, Rev.2:17. This is written to the assembly at Pergamos. I know that there is a dispensational aspect, but it is right to think of local assemblies, because the church is still here. However small the circumstances, and however feeble we feel in them, we desire that what is for the heart of Christ should be maintained. The Lord feels perfectly the condition of the church, and the conditions in which it is found, and the addresses to these churches in Revelation 2 reflect His perfect knowledge and His holy feelings about what is precious to His heart. He addresses the assembly in Pergamos directly, and says that they were where the throne of Satan is. While Pergamos is not one of the four churches that in character follow on to the end of this dispensation, the features mentioned in the address to each one of them go on to the end, despite the opposition of Satan himself.
But Peter meets that opposition by saying in this letter: “Whom resist …”. Again, that is a character to be won: we might say that characteristically resisting Satan is something that the Lord can commend, “stedfast in faith”. In Ephesians 6, faith is a part of the armour. It must be, for we are in a time of faith, “knowing that the selfsame sufferings are accomplished in your brotherhood which is in the world”. Peter is exhorting the saints unmistakably, and I believe that it comes down to us “upon whom the ends of the ages are come”, 1 Cor.10:11.
Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was the top-stone of what he taught the saints. When the Lord addresses the churches in Revelation, He begins with Ephesus. Paul writes, “For the rest, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the might of his strength”. He goes through what needs to be put on. These things are practical exhortations – the footnote says, ‘have it put on’ – “that ye may be able to stand against the artifices of the devil”. Again, it is Satan that is the great opposer to what God is doing. We are helpless on our own, and divine resources are essential. We have been taught that we need every part of this armour. If there is a piece missing, there will be weakness, but we must be dependent, and confidence in God is the resource for us every day. “Put on the panoply of God, that ye may be able to stand against the artifices of the devil: because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness”. Such is the character of what is opposed to the saints, opposed to each of us as believers, and opposed to each of us as we seek to gather to the Lord’s name.
We read the ministry of some who could speak about what had preceded them in the testimony, and we know of men whose works have come down to us. I do not want to put anyone on a pedestal, but we are thankful for the works of Mr John Darby and Mr James Taylor snr, and others. These are men whose works follow with them (Rev.14:13), and there are many others whom the Lord knows and has taken to Himself, their works being complete. But we have also witnessed much public failure in our own times. I find that very humbling indeed; we have had our own part in public failure. These things have an application to us, beloved, a practical edge, but all is not lost, because the Spirit of God is here. We may be in small circumstances and yet there is grace to go on and to be encouraged. This chapter in Ephesians brings out the things that we need every day, indeed that we need all the time. “For this reason take to you the panoply of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having accomplished all things, to stand”. That is in divine power, in the power of Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, not in anything in ourselves.
I refer to the verse that I read in Mark where the Lord could summarise poignantly: “Have salt in yourselves”. How practical it is: “Have salt in yourselves”. Salt is what preserves, and speaks of self-judgment, and if I am preserved individually, it would be out of character for me to be a trouble to my local brethren, to be a thorn in their side. If we are preserved in self-judgment, then characteristically we will be at peace with one another. We can thank God for that; He has set us together. We did not choose one another – He has set us together, beloved.
Let us go on then, let us go on in dependence on God, for the Lord’s name’s sake.
Tim Franklin
Two words given in a meeting for ministry, Grimsby
16 September 2021