ENERGY IN MUTUALITY
[p. 448] ENERGY IN MUTUALITY
Judges 1:1-3; Judges 1:9-15; 1 John 2: 12 - 17
Energy is an element that is always needed down here for the work of God and for the ordinary walk of the saints in their relation to God and to one another; all this requires energy. This energy is to be exercised in mutuality. 1 John refers to energy. If I had read the other section you would see that mutuality underlies this energy. Before writing to the different grades he addresses all on common ground as children; however advanced in experience with God, we all come under the heading of children and are all viewed on that footing. We all enjoy in common the forgiveness of sins for His name’s sake, and there is much else in common; the youngest as well as the oldest enjoys the sense that his sins are forgiven. Thus a basis is formed for mutuality. This does not imply socialism, or ignore growth and experience in the family of God, but mutuality that respects every increase that exists.
Joshua and his service are honoured in this record. Joshua forms a sort of preface and the facts recorded show him in mutuality, he had not held things in his own hands. One of the most baneful things is to hold things; the more spiritual a man is the more he will promote mutuality. Joshua exercised himself wisely in what he laid on the people in view of his departure. After the death of Joshua Israel said to The Lord, “Which of us shall go up?” The whole people said it, that was unity, no rivalry. There is conflict ahead, territory to be possessed, but which shall go up? This is the fruit of ministry, the fruit of the work of God in the saints; the work of God in the saints brings about a state of mutuality; it is the Lord that is to decide who is to go up. Energy is not the guiding feature; God has set [p. 449] certain in the assembly — God has set them. He is to decide; if there is to be a lead, God is to indicate that.
God is in the light. John says, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another” (1 John 1: 7); there is no partiality in the light where God is; that is the true light; there is no respect of persons there, the true light is shed on every man without partiality. This produces a spirit of mutuality. The next thing is, that God is inquired of, “Which of us shall go up?”
Joshua was in the companionship of Moses; he had the great privilege of being Moses’ minister; he remained in the tabernacle when Moses went into the camp; he was with Moses eighty days on the mount. In Joshua is set out the great principle of companionship; he was with the one who represented the Lord Jesus, with the Lord. He chose those whom He would have with Him. A man like Joshua brought about a state of mutuality in which there was no rivalry. Jehovah’s answer to the inquiry was, “Judah shall go up”. He had the energy; it is blessed to have energy, but more blessed to let God in and to let Him dispose. In maintaining this mutuality Judah said to Simeon, “Come up with me”. That was right morally; and he says, “I likewise will go with thee”. That is the situation that Joshua leaves, marked by a beautiful spirit of mutuality, dependence on God and brotherly consideration. There was co-operation on the line of sovereignty on the one hand and sympathy on the other.
In 1 John the “little children” refer to those whose progress is small; they are addressed according to their stature. He says more to them than to any other; he warns them about men, antichrists. Young people are extremely exposed to antichristian influence. You have to go where these men are. There is necessary contact with the world in business [p. 450] life, but watch for the antichrists, those who are against Christ. Beware of companionship with those who hate Christ; the whole fabric of society is against Christ, even the teaching in the schools undermining the simple faith of the child; look out for these men against Christ. When Israel left Egypt God took them by the hand and led them out, yet they walked; they were “carried”, yet taken by the hand. We can still count on this in regard to the “little children”.
John passes on to young men; and his word is, “ye are strong, and the word of God abides in you”. Having developed from children to young men, resisting antichristian influence and having the word in them, he writes to the young men because they are strong and energetic. They have dismissed all companionship against Christ, and the word is in their heart, but that energy must be controlled by intelligence and experience.
“Fathers” implies that we respect those that are older. He pays respect to those who have known Christ from the beginning: what is new is not always true. We are to know that which is from the beginning. The fathers have the knowledge and experience that date back to the beginning; they have gone through things, weighed them and connected them with the Lord Jesus from the beginning. John pays respect to the fathers and young people must do that. God has brought in His family and He looks for the respect due to His gradation.
Revelation 4: 4 - 6 forms a wonderful setting forth of the energy of life. “And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, four living creatures, full of eyes”. They realise every prompting of the throne, cognisant of all that is taking place there. The twenty-four elders manifest the dignity and repose of those who know the mind of the throne. When the four living creatures render tribute, then [p. 451] the twenty-four elders respond with a reason for it, saying, “for thy will they were, and they have been created”.
In Judah the energy existed and Achsah becomes the expression of it. She moved her husband, but she moved him in the right way. Wives need to heed this. Instead of going direct to Caleb she moved her husband to go. Caleb is emphasised in Joshua, calling attention to his energy. Christianity is not a place for heroes. The mother of Zebedee’s children shows how the natural may supersede the spiritual; she is not called Zebedee’s wife, but the mother of his children; she should have moved her husband, but she goes to the Lord herself and the result is division. The Lord answers her gently, but addresses His question to her sons, “Are ye able?” Then is brought out His place in subjection to His Father and His Father’s sovereign right to dispose of the honours. The division came in when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two. The mother loved and respected the Lord, but the natural was greater than the spiritual.
It is good to see Achsah moving her husband there is no spirituality to be taken account of in a woman that disregards her husband. Thus Achsah came to her father; in deference to one like Caleb “she sprang down from the ass”. The principle is energy, but energy regulated rightly, the energy of the Spirit. She had a spring in her; she used the spring to humble herself in presence of his dignity; she did not ask sitting on her ass, but she used her energy to humble herself and honour him. The spring was necessary in the very brightest day. In John 4 the fountain springs up to God: that is energy.
Energy is necessary to worship God: nothing is more distasteful to God than stale things. He looks for persons coming to Him with the spring in their soul. “My heart is welling forth;” that which goes up to God: a spring, the upper affections; “My [p. 452] heart is welling forth with a good matter”. The early church had a spring. Achsah calls attention to what is necessary, the upper and the lower springs; we should be in energy as we draw near to God, also to man. Achsah had the spring in her, but it had to be regulated, and her father gave her the upper springs and the lower springs: this is what follows, the state regulated by intelligence.
There is great need for energy, never greater need; some say that the whole light has come out and that we have it all. But, beloved, there are spots in the land that we have not yet touched — the most spiritual of us have scarcely crossed Jordan. God was with Judah, He marked them off as successful in their warfare, and God will be with us.
Energy is to be regulated by intelligence; the saints being in entire accord with God, their compassions flow out, as rivers of living water; John 7: 38. The Holy Spirit would beget in us compassion as to the need around us. The little that I have will be used of God and enlarged. The final word in Revelation 22: 17 is, “And let him that is athirst come; he that will, let him take the water of life freely”. The need around is taken account of and the word is “let him take the water of life freely”. May God bless His word.