THE SERVANT A WITNESS
[p. 54] THE SERVANT A WITNESS
I thank you much for your kind and interesting letter. If you knew how much your spiritual progress would rejoice me, you would understand me when I say that I desire to see you not only a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ but also a witness. The Spirit is given (John 14: 26) in order that we should be here for Christ, as He was here, opening out the heart of God to man as recorded in the gospels — a wonderful service, while in John 15: 26 the Holy Ghost is sent from Himself in glory to testify of Him, “He shall testify of me”; that is, that we, here for Christ, should be descriptive of Him as the exalted Man in heavenly glory. I am convinced that any servant who is in spiritual power does not confine himself to John 14: 26, where properly he is prepared for John 15: 26. So that he is not only a disciple but he is a “friend” and a “witness”. I see many converted souls, but I do not see many witnesses. I see that the purpose of the blessed God is that the church should be here descriptive of Christ; and as J.N.D. has said of John 17 — ‘He first sets us as Himself in the presence of the Father, and then sets us as Himself in the presence of the world.’ I feel that one man in a place, standing fully for Christ, like Anna the prophetess, would be a greater testimony than many conversions. Every place is coloured and characterised by the highest spiritual element there, be it either in man or in woman. I see that from Abraham down God had an object; and as His object for the time became the object of any man on earth, that man was specially helped of God. God’s object now is the church — the body of Christ — the mystery; and in my judgment no one has His present mind in power, who is not paramountly set for God’s object. No one else can meet in divine efficacy the difficult times. I hope I have not said too much, but I wish I could prove to you how much I desire for you the highest spiritual blessing. I may add that I believe the nature of the distance between God and the sinner is not preached, and if the distance is not fully gone, nearness cannot be [p. 55] known. The One who measured our distance is Himself the measure of our nearness.
If I misjudge any one, you can send me the paper or the tract, wherein the nature of the distance has been fully set forth.