THE FULNESS OF THE SPIRIT
A.J.G. In chapters 3 and 4 of the gospel of John we have the distinct character of Christianity, the Lord being presented as the One who must increase, One who has come from heaven, who is above all, and as being the beloved Son into whose hands the Father has committed everything; and the present moment too is characterised by the fact that the Father does not give the Spirit by measure, so that the thought continues in worship as to the Father and God, in spirit and truth. This shows what is in Christianity, God now reaching His highest thoughts, the Spirit is not given by measure, but He is given fully to abide with the saints. He has come personally to this end, which implies that all God’s thoughts can now be fully known, and we have the capacity to respond to them in intelligence and affection. I thought that we could be helped in considering the fulness of the Spirit as giving us life and satisfaction, so that in chapter 7 of John, “Jesus stood and cried saying, If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”. It tells us that He said this of the Spirit who was to be received by those who believed on Him, “for the Spirit was not yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified”. That is the character of the present moment, that Jesus is glorified, and the Spirit is down here to open up all that relates to Jesus glorified. What is necessary on our side is faith, and faith in a characteristic way. It is said, “he that believes on me”, not who has believed.
The present time is called the dispensation of faith, and that emphasises faith as far as we are concerned; faith takes account of things that are not seen, and the Spirit is identified with what is of faith on our side. So it is in Ezekiel 47, the man who led the prophet said to him, “Son of man, hast thou seen this?” So it is a question of being lifted above what concerns us; how far have we seen? The whole passage shows that if we are exercised as to faith, the Spirit will show us more and more. There are such things attached to Jesus glorified. All the truth which is opened up is by the Spirit, on behalf of Jesus glorified.
Ques. Does the fact of drinking imply the reception of the Spirit? It is the fact that we appropriate what is available by the Spirit. The things of the Spirit are at our door, but the epistle to the Romans says, “For they that are according to flesh mind the things of the flesh; and they that are according to Spirit, the things of the Spirit”. The fact that we drink would show how far we have appropriated the things of the Spirit.
Rem. At the end of the chapter, it says, “Every one went to his home”. “And Jesus went to the Mount of Olives”. Those who were around Him found their life in natural things, but Jesus, as Man, found His life in the spiritual realm, to which the Mount of Olives refers.
A.J.G. Faith was really lacking in those who went to their homes. “He that believes on me … out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”. I believe it is very important to emphasise this thought of faith. It says that the Spirit was going to be received by those who believed on Him. Faith is a gift of God, but it is good for us to be exercised by faith. It is not only the confidence that we can have in God, but rather the direction our minds take; we do not look at seen things, but at the invisible. It is as we are in this direction that the Spirit will come to help us.
Ques. Would you say something as to the circumstances in John 7? At the beginning of the chapter, it is said that the Jews sought to kill Him, in verse 5; that the brethren did not believe on Him, in verse 12; that there was a big rumour as to Him among the crowd, verse 13; “However, no one spoke openly concerning him on account of their fear of the Jews” verse 20: “The crowd answered and said, Thou hast a demon: who seeks to kill thee?”, verse 20; and at the end of the chapter it is said, “every one went to his home”.
A.J.G. The whole chapter describes the present moment, that is to say that unbelief rules in a general way and it is opposition to Christ. Religious rites are continued, so that the feast is pursued, but in the last, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried: “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink”, recognising that the conditions around gave no satisfaction. Our position is like this, having the Spirit and enjoying the things of the Spirit is of the greatest advantage from the testimony’s point of view. It is a matter of persons who are around us receiving the impression that the saints are satisfied, that there is freshness, that they increase as time goes on.
Ques. Mention is made in Ezekiel of Eden and of the house; the Lord Jesus speaks here of a person: is it your thought that God desires that all that is presented in Eden and in the house should be presented in a living way in living persons?
A.J.G. So it was in Acts 5, when the apostles were in prison, an angel of the Lord, during the night, opened the doors of the prison and said “Go ye and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life”. There was life that was expressed among the saints, living separate from the world and fully satisfied; it was a testimony in Jerusalem, believers in whom life could be seen.
And so in Ezekiel, the man led the prophet and made him go out towards the west; with a measuring line, and he measured a thousand cubits and made him pass through the waters—the waters were to the ankles. That is to say that Ezekiel must have the experience of the measure and the depth that there is in the Holy Spirit; and he must go on further in this line of thought; he proves increasingly that there is depth until he finds finally that the waters where he has to swim. They cannot be passed through, it is necessary to swim. Things are infinite and eternal in the Spirit.
This corresponds to the Spirit not being given by measure. God has opened up all that was in His heart in relation to Jesus glorified. So it is in Ephesians that Paul can speak to us about the length and depth and breadth and height, so as to impress us and show us that in the Spirit things are infinite and inexhaustible.
Ques. Is it also the thought that we are given things progressively as we can appreciate them?
A.J.G. Exactly, so that the water rose up to the ankles, which might answer to what we find in Romans, where the light of Jesus glorified is linked to the fact that grace is established through righteousness and we have the right to hold ourselves upright, as the man in Acts 3, where it is said: “And, by faith in his name, his name has made this man strong … and the faith which is by him has given him this complete soundness in the presence of you all”. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In beginning with that, we have the possibility of holding ourselves upright by God’s grace, who sets us free from all guilt. There is growth as continuing with God.
The knees imply the sign of dependence. We find many allusions to prayer in the epistles to the Colossians and Ephesians. The general thought is that there is increase and advance.
Ques. What does the man who leads the prophet in verse 3 represent?
A.J.G. He could be an allusion to the Holy Spirit. Evidently the prophet was led, and he was ready to be led.
Rem. The prophet allows himself to be led without reserve.
A.J.G. Yes, the prophet made evident progress.
Rem. One comes to an important point with “waters to swim in”, not that one could but one had to.
A.J.G. Yes, quite so; the great thought is that there was the energy and power to swim. He was in a position where he could control himself, he was not carried. After having spoken of the length and breadth and depth and height, the apostle prays that we should know the love of the Christ. That is to say, that what sustains us in the extent of God’s thoughts is the knowledge of the love of Christ, because we are in Christ and these things are inherited with Him.
Ques. Is it also a question of being strengthened with might by the Father’s Spirit in these things?
A.J.G. Yes, certainly. Now in verse 7, the prophet sees the trees beside the river; he had not seen them before. In going on, we always distinguish more, hence the necessity that our eyes should be open; for I believe that the trees are an allusion to the saints. It is a great thing to have God’s thought before us, but we have to see the saints in relation to His thoughts, that is to say a response in the saints.
Ques. Would you say that at verse 5 it is a matter of the abundance of water, and in verse 6 the result?
A.J.G. Yes. The trees are an allusion to persons who stand upright in a living way and bear fruit.
Ques. The leaves of the trees were for healing; is that a consequence of the testimony of the saints, is that what is seen?
A.J.G. I suppose that is so. In verse 12, it enlarges on the number of variety of trees: “all trees for food, whose leaf shall not fade, nor their fruit fail”.
Ques. Is that what we see in the brethren?
A.J.G. That is what I thought. I believe it is an exercise for the saints to seek to see the things of God effectively expressed among the brethren.
Rem. They are actually the features of Christ. I thought that the trees with the leaves are an expression of the thought in Psalm 1: 3: “And he is as a tree planted by brooks of water, which giveth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf fadeth not; and all that he doeth prospereth”.
A.J.G. We can well see what the testimony is in the midst of the apostasy and moral death which is around us, where there are those who always bear fruit every month.
Rem. In the Psalm it is a man, here there are the trees in a very great number.
A.J.G. With the trees, the idea is that their roots are not seen, but their beauty and their fertility are seen; their roots are out of view, they are secret.
Ques. What is the thought with the fish?
A.J.G. The fish are another illustration in the Scriptures of the energy of life; it is said that there were a great number of fish.
Ques. In verse 10, it is said that “fishers shall stand upon it”. What is the thought in that?
A.J.G. In its application, it would be absolutely a necessity to rely on the Holy Spirit for evangelical work.
Ques. What is the thought in verse 10: it “shall be a place to spread forth nets”?
A.J.G. The fishers stand before the river and that is also the place for spreading the nets. It is an allusion to the necessity of depending entirely on the Holy Spirit in all evangelical activities, at the same time the Holy Spirit produces activities that augment, as in the last chapter of Revelation where it is said, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come”, so there is correspondence with Jesus. In chapter 7 of the gospel of John, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”. That is to say, that the more we come into the gain of what is found in the Spirit, the more we will be active in an evangelical way.
Ques. Would you explain verse 11?
A.J.G. They are the things which have no life, the stagnant things. Our measure of faith in spiritual things is very small, there is a lack of energy of faith in us; the more we find the energy of faith, the more there will be evidence of faith in us. This is why the chapter is given us as a test.
In verse 6, we have “Son of man, hast thou seen this?” This shows somewhat that Ezekiel had not seen the trees, but in verse 7: “When I returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other”, as if he saw them for the first time. That is to say that there is the exercise of faith in us. The Spirit will always be ready to lead us to fresh things.
Ques. What would you say about the apostles’ prayer: “Give more faith to us”? Can we speak to the Lord like this, with the impression that faith is weak with us?
A.J.G. If we make use of what we have, that will not be necessary. “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say to this mountain, Be transported hence there, and it shall transport itself; and nothing shall be impossible to you”.
Ques. Would you say something about “God has dealt to each a measure of faith”?
A.J.G. If we make use of this measure, God will increase the measure. He gives a certain measure to begin with and to those who have, He will give to them and give abundantly.
This would be in accord with verse 9: “And it shall come to pass that every living thing which moveth, whithersoever the double river shall come, shall live”. To those who have will be given. They are living things, they live characteristically and are in movement.
Ques. Why does it say the double river?
A.J.G. That is a very interesting question. It may be that we are to be impressed with the fulness that there is in the Spirit.
Rem. It is said the trees were on this side and on that.
A.J.G. Yes; there is a thought of abundance.
Ques. Will there be a double river in Zachariah 14: 8: “living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea”?
A.J.G. Yes, that is interesting.
Rem. The name Joseph means addition and the name of his son Ephraim means double fruitfulness.
A.J.G. I am inclined to think that that indicates the fulness that is found in Christianity. Christianity is what is better; all that is secured for one who believes on Jesus. It is not only satisfaction that we may have found in the Spirit, we touch inexhaustible things which are in the heart of God. The Holy Spirit spreads before us all that God’s wisdom can give; He being God and having divine power. It is only as we give ourselves up entirely to the Spirit that we are able to be led into things without limit.
The assembly enters into divine things with Christ; that is why we need to know the love of Christ which sustains us in what is so great. Christ is the Centre, and if we know our part, we will find ourselves at the centre of things with Himself; and we will be able to consider everything given into His hands.
Rem. We will then have more resource in ourselves and never be independent.
A.J.G. We will always have the Holy Spirit and will always be sustained by the love of Christ.
Ques. Although there will be refreshment through what grows, the river of water of life which flows out of his belly; do you think there is firstly something for God?
A.J.G. Undoubtedly. God will find pleasure there because He rejoices in the influences manifested by His people; but John 4 is more what is for God and in chapter 7 it is man who is in view.
Rem. And in Ezekiel 47: 12 it is a matter of nourishing and healing. We always need these things.
A.J.G. Yes.
Ques. Is there a connection with the tree of life in Revelation?
A.J.G. I think so, but the tree of life in Revelation 22 is in the singular, it is an allusion to Christ, while here, we have trees, which shows that men are an influence for blessing; they are trees planted beside a river; it is there that their roots are found.
In the death of Christ, the first man has been set aside, and those who accept that have received the Holy Spirit. It is thus that God traces things to their source.
BRONAC
9th November 1949
Translated from the French magazine, ‘Ondées’,
September 1951
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