4

4

says, “If therefore the whole assembly come together in one

place, and all speak with tongues … will not they say ye are

mad? But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or simple

person come in, he is convicted of all, he is judged of all; the

secrets of his heart are manifested; and thus, falling upon his

face, he will do homage to God, reporting that God is indeed

amongst you”, 1 Corinthians 14: 23–25. It is God’s presence

known by His word. That is what we would expect in an

occasion like this.

But actually this incident in John 4 was not a meeting for

ministry; it was a personal interview between the Lord Jesus

and this woman, more personal than an occasion like this.

We often take advantage, and possibly rightly so, of an

occasion like this to speak to persons whom we know need

help. We often do so in the preaching; but how often do we get

alongside by personal contact to help such persons? That is a

greater challenge. We have gone through the gospel of

Matthew recently endeavouring to get a better understanding

of kingdom and assembly principles, one of which is “between

thee and him alone” (Matthew l8: 15). I raise the matter with

us, dear brethren, for we may not do enough by personal

contact. Paul at Ephesus for three years not only taught

publicly, but in every house. He also said, “Wherefore watch,

remembering that for three years, night and day, I ceased not

admonishing each one of you with tears” (Acts 20: 31); that is

not in the meeting, that is personal contact, ‘ each one of you

with tears’. I just raise the question; maybe we

could do more by personal contact, bringing in something

prophetic to help a person where he or she may be at the

moment. I am sure it is an important matter. May the Lord help

us in it.

The Lord Jesus as Prophet has not only to do with what is

moral, because the moral question does not come in with

regard to the man in John 9. The Lord said regarding him,