HOW THE ASSEMBLY IS ARRIVED AT PRACTICALLY
J. Spinks
I have been thinking a little of how the assembly is arrived at practically. We speak much about the assembly and it is right that we should do so, because it is the great divine thought that those who have been secured by the precious blood of Christ in this dispensation would form this wonderful vessel, the assembly; a vessel that will be for the glory of God eternally. In reading through Exodus I was struck by the way that everything God does tends to unity.
In Exodus 12 we read about the passover and the blood put on the door-posts and lintels of the houses of the children of Israel. As we know, this has an individual application, every one has to avail themselves of the precious blood of Christ. Nevertheless the commandment, involving the eating of the passover and the unleavened bread, was to the whole assembly; all tending to unity. The footnote to “assembly” refers to it as a ‘moral whole, a corporate person before God’ (Exodus 12: 3).
Then as they left Egypt they came out in rank, they were learning to move together, and as they stood on the banks of the Red Sea they were enjoined to “stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah”, Exodus 14: 13. Again I think that involves what is collective, although we must come into it individually. God would impress us with the glory of His operations, how He has intervened in divine power and majesty to liberate us from the bondage of Egypt and secured us for Himself. Then immediately following the passage of the people through the Red Sea we have the first song in Scripture. That is probably one of the greatest expressions of unity, unity in song. It is a most blessed thing to gather together and join in song. In Christendom, where the truth of the assembly has been largely obscured, there is much made of solo singing but there is no such thought in Scripture. We sing together in intelligent affection. What a unifying effect it has, how it lifts our spirits and engages us with Christ, the centre of God’s world.
1 Corinthians bears on the public expression of this unity, involving the maintenance of the testimony in an evil world. It says they “all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink”, 1 Corinthians 10: 3. There are two references to unity in Ephesians. There is the unity of the faith, which involves that we are governed and regulated by the truth of God; we are affected by divine light which comes to us in all its liberating power. Also we move together in the unity of the Spirit; I think that is an inward unity. Feeding on the passover and unleavened bread brings about an inward unity, and Christ becomes ever more precious to us. As we seek to be governed by divine light the Spirit helps us to take on features of Christ and the truth of the body comes into expression, a very precious thought.
In the section we read in John, I think we see the unifying effect of ministry, it draws us to Christ and also to one another. The two disciples were so affected by John’s presentation of Christ as the Lamb of God that they immediately followed Him. I think that was divine instincts, they were not commanded to do so. I am sure we would all desire to speak of the Lord in such a way that it would stimulate the saints and draw them to Jesus; that is really the object of ministry. The next question that arises is when the disciples ask the Lord, “Rabbi ... where abidest thou?” Where is the divine dwelling place now? It is in the assembly. Think of the preciousness of being in an area where the Lord is at home, where He is able to expound the great things of God; an area where we can enjoy divine teaching in its liberating power. Then it says, “they abode with him that day”. No doubt we could apply it to the present time, the Spirit’s day.
Then Andrew finds his own brother Simon and leads him to Jesus. His own brother was, of course, his natural brother, but I think the thought can be extended to all who belong to Christ. It is a fine thing to look around and take account of our own brothers and sisters, we all belong to the family of God. Then the Lord looks at Simon and gives him another name, Cephas, meaning stone, no doubt a reference to the building of the assembly. It is wonderful to read through this gospel and see the various manifestations of the glory of Christ. As we know, it is not so much miracles in John’s gospel, but rather signs, each one accentuating the glory of the Son of God. I think that runs right through to chapter 17 where the Lord speaks to the Father about His disciples. He says, “the words which thou hast given me I have given them, and they have received them, and have known truly that I came out from thee” (John 17: 8). Think of the Lord’s pleasure in looking round that sanctified company! He says, “those thou hast given me I have guarded, and not one of them has perished, but the son of perdition”, John 17: 12. He is ready to leave the world and go back to the Father and He leaves a fully unified company, ready to receive the Spirit, in order to maintain the testimony during the whole period of His absence. I just touch on these things, dear brethren, that we may increasingly value the precious truth of the assembly, and set ourselves to experience it in a greater and fuller way. May the Lord help us in this for His name’s sake.
Word in meeting for ministry, Grangemouth