SPIRITUAL QUALITY (2)

SPIRITUAL QUALITY (2)

Acts 2: 14 - 18; Acts 7: 55 - 60; Acts 8: 26 - 40

SMcC Our enquiry this morning takes us to these three choice vessels. The passages we have read refer to Peter, Stephen, and Philip. The scope of course, is large, and we shall have to keep within certain limits, and I think the Lord would help us to take account of the quality that appears now in such a definite way in these vessels like ourselves, men of like passions, who are under the divine hand in relation to the testimony, always keeping in mind as we suggested yesterday, the place the Spirit has in the assembly in relation to all this. We must not forget the place the assembly has, because the assembly is a great thought in the chapter. As we were saying yesterday, whatever ability there may be in our localities we must never let the thought of the assembly be overshadowed. It is a sorrowful thing in our localities when persons think they are greater than the assembly. They are on decidedly wrong lines, and may come to disaster. It may take years, but we have proved it and seen it working out practically. If there is one thing the Lord will not tolerate it is setting ourselves against the assembly and the background in Acts 2 is the assembly. The assembly has been formed and Peter is standing up in relation to this setting. Our hearts and minds should be affected by the pristine state in the Pentecostal church, for however much in the revival of our day we may come to certain things spiritually, we never come to the actual glory that existed in the assembly in Acts 2. We may touch spiritually and morally in a wonderful way in the light of the Philadelphian church revival wonderful things, but we shall never come publicly to the actual conditions of the Pentecostal church. The power that was there as the blessed Spirit in His sovereignty had free right of way, uninterrupted in His service by the conditions we have to do with in the broken state of things, and all the confusion publicly; think of the power that was there, the souls that were affected in this chapter, and Peter standing up against this background and the power that is evident in his ministry as he “lifted up his voice and spoke forth to them.” Now we are to take account of Peter; he was quickly recovered, because his behaviour had been very questionable in the end of the Gospels, but the Lord took him personally in hand - wonderful touch as to the grace of the dispensation, and Peter was fully adjusted, so that we see him here standing up with the eleven. That is another thought that enters into our subject. Isolationism is to be avoided. Peter is not an isolationist, he is standing up with the eleven. “First Peter,” he is leading in the ministry, but not independent of what is under the divine hand. He stands up with the eleven, and he lifts up his voice and speaks forth, and he alludes to what had taken place, and it is an interesting thing to see how even the sisters were affected in the Pentecostal state of things. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit; and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave to them to speak forth.” All would include the women as well as the men. “And they were all filled.” We are reminded of the glory and the power that existed then, and while there is no return publicly to what existed in the pristine state of things in the Pentecostal assembly, we are to learn from all that is there, and to see that the Spirit that was there then is the same Spirit that is here now amongst us and with us, and while hindered greatly by public conditions yet He is the same Spirit and we may touch the power that is linked with that blessed Person in His operations in relation to the testimony. It is a question now of the testimony in this setting, and its bearing upon men. The Spirit is contemplated as the Person who has authority. He is here in charge in the assembly.

DMD You were referring yesterday to the need of knowing the Scriptures. Peter starts here by referring to the Scriptures.

SMcC I think that is a very important thing, especially in having any part, however small it may be, in serving in the testimony. There is nothing like a knowledge of the Scriptures. You will find that certain systems that are promoting things around in this island now, do not believe in the atonement, or in the Person of Christ, or the Spirit. You will notice in contact with them remarkable ignorance of the Scriptures, and it is a great thing that we should have a knowledge of the Scriptures in meeting all that we have to do with, not only in the assembly, but with men generally, because there is nothing that carries power like the word of God. It is an interesting thing that Peter brings to bear upon the situation in Acts 2 a Scripture that really refers to a day yet to come, showing how the Scriptures may be used in spiritual application in regard of a given matter on hand at the time.

DMD Was it to bring forward that it was the Spirit’s day, and everything that was to be done was to be done in the power of the Spirit?

SMcC I think so. So that we have quite a scope of things in mind in the pouring out of the Spirit here. It is important that the sisters should see the bearing that the Spirit has on them as well as on the brothers. While they do not take active part in the assembly as the brothers are doing now, it is important to see what is in mind here is that the Spirit is poured out “upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,” verse 17, and in verse 18, “and even upon my bondmen and upon my bondwomen in those days will I pour out of my Spirit and they shall prophesy.” So that room is to be made for the bondwomen as well as the bondmen who can prophesy in the appointed sphere that is theirs. Philip’s daughters prophesied, and it is evident from 1 Corinthians 11 that there is the thought of women prophesying “every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered puts her own head to shame,” 1 Corinthians 11: 5. Paul says in regard to the assemblies that the women are to be silent, “Let your women be silent in the assemblies,” 1 Corinthians 14: 34. That would be the Scripture that would govern things generally. Of course, we have to understand what the word ‘silent’ means; it does not mean that sisters are not to sing and not to say ‘amen.’ It is apparent that the allusion is to teaching and exercising authority over the man.

JR “I will pour out of my Spirit.” Does that suggest a plentiful supply?

SMcC Yes, it would suggest that God has given the Spirit in full measure. He is not holding back in any way. Pouring out suggests the plenitude, the copiousness of it and the fluidity of it. That is a wonderful thing, and we shall have to see the fluidity of the state of things in going through Acts, as over against the crystallised state of things in Judaism. Legality always develops a crystallised state of things, whereas grace, and what is linked with the Spirit always gives us a fluid state of things, as Psalm 133 sets out, and if there is anything we should avoid and be on our guard against it is legality, although someone has said it is better to be legal than loose, but still legality is to be avoided because it stunts spiritual growth, and spiritual liberty in divine things.

AEMcC Does “pouring out” suggest the thought of filling? It says of Stephen he was a “man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.”

SMcC Very good. That would be in mind in the type in 2 Kings 4 as to the pouring out of the oil and would fit in with that. It is a question of vessels, and we are to notice in Luke’s writings the vessels that are full of the Holy Spirit. Not full of themselves, but of the Holy Spirit.

LLC In Balaam’s prophecy he says, “Water shall flow out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in great waters,” Numbers 24: 7.

SMcC Very interesting. It is remarkable that the types of the Spirit are particularly fluid and moving. In John 3 you get the wind, and in John 4 you have the water, all to be noted as fluid and moving types and figures. It says in John 7 in regard to the one who receives the Spirit, “out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water,” verse 38. It is a good thing to find a brother or a sister who is in the gain of the Spirit’s presence. What a power for refreshment they would be in this place - rivers flowing from them.

LMcF In the beginning of the chapter it says “they were all together in one place.” Would you say a word as to being together?

SMcC Very good thought that to notice, the importance of being together. I am sure there is more than a geographical or physical reference to place. I think the result of the Lord’s service is enhanced in that way in that reference. We were referring to His service in the first chapter, and the result of it shines out in this verse that they were all together. Unity is a great thing in Christianity and in the assembly, not being together just physically, but together spiritually, not living independently of one another, but in relation to one another.

ECL In relation to the rivers it is noticeable that in Genesis 2 “a river went out of Eden, to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four main streams. The name of the one is Pison; that is it which surrounds the whole land of Havilah, where the gold is. And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and the onyx stone are there.” Quality is seen there in the gold, and the bdellium and the onyx stone.

SMcC It is, and one has often thought of that section in Genesis 2 where Christ and the assembly in type come particularly before us in the man and the woman, and reference is made to the rivers - “and a river went out of Eden, to water the garden; and from thence it was parted and became four main streams.” Then as you point out the resources are referred to in the regions in which it is flowing, and I think the book of the Acts shows us that as the Spirit flows, speaking in the language of the figure the resources that are to be employed in the testimony are coming into view so that as we proceed through the book we shall find the gold of that land, and the bdellium and the onyx stone coming into view. If there is to be a testimony over against the broken state of things in Christendom it is to be in the service of God as maintained in the power of the Spirit amongst us. While we do not ignore the rightness of ecclesiastical position (I am using the word in the right sense, the word in its root meaning) there is the right assembly position, the great thing is that in all the service, and in all our activities there should be a testimony to the free unhindered movements of the Spirit amongst us.

HD Is it to be noted too how the Spirit governed and controlled the conversation of the saints together? They spoke of the great things of God. Is that one of the features to be looked for today as making room for the Spirit?

SMcC Very much so. It is a great thing that conversation should be controlled, that we do not allow in our homes and elsewhere our conversation to run uncontrolled. In the early chapters of Luke it is the same - the things that were the subject of conversation in the hill country in relation to vessels filled with the Spirit is interesting.

HR Would you link that on with chapter 16 where they went out by the river and there met Lydia? She would be one who promoted kingly features. She was a seller of purple.

SMcC Yes, she was a very interesting woman, and she is part of our subject; we shall come to it, and I think what you say is right. She is an interesting woman, a woman to be noticed especially as coming under, the Lord’s hand, coming under His operations; it is said of her “whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things spoken by Paul,” Acts 16: 14. A remarkable statement about a woman.

ECL Would the places set out geographically in verses 9 and 10 show the places into which this river was flowing?

SMcC I think so. The different settings as to the eunuch, and Cornelius, and Saul of Tarsus would show us the distribution of the streams, and the channels in which they are flowing, and that the grace of God is towards every man, “For the grace of God which carries with it salvation for all men has appeared,” Titus 2: 11. The flowing rivers in these chapters have that in mind. I think we should consider for a moment this matter of the Spirit coming upon all, and all speaking, bondmen and bondwomen. How much do the brethren here look to the sisters for a touch in prophecy? What can they say about the sisters prophesying? We are not, of course, referring to what takes place in the assembly, but that does not alter the fact that in the New Testament sisters are referred to as prophesying, and there is ample scope at home for it. It is left to us to look into the matter. Philip had four daughters who prophesied. There must have been some time and some where that the brethren got the gain of that. We brothers are so inclined to be occupied with what we say, but we want to bring the bondwomen into the matter. Are there any Deborahs Who can help in these matters? Bondwomen, subject women, not any kind of women. Paul speaks of silly women. We do not want to make room for silly women.

SWR What some of the sisters have said has at times helped the brothers in deliberation.

SMcC I think it is a great matter that in our houses, our homes, and in our conversation we give full weight to what the sisters have to say in matters.

SS Reference to King Lemuel: “the prophecy that his mother taught him,” Proverbs 31: 1.

SMcC Very interesting. What comes out in that chapter is really wonderful especially as the book speaks a lot of the strange woman. Proverbs is a very interesting book we should all give attention to. Chapter after chapter speaks of the foolish, the clamorous, and the strange woman. We want to pay attention to that subtle influence, and not make room for it. That is what is abroad in Christendom, and it refers to the subtle spirit that is abroad that would turn our feet into the paths of hell, the paths that lead to hell. What you refer to is very interesting over against that, that there was a woman of worth. Solomon spoke about searching, and how difficult it was to find a woman of worth.

LC You are stressing that the Holy Spirit is available to brothers and sisters alike, and the means of acquiring the mind of God.

SMcC That is exactly what is in mind, and that we should be more concerned in our contacts with the sisters to get the gain of what they have, and may be passing through in the way of experience.

OMR Speaking is referred to in the three passages we read. Peter “lifted up his voice and spoke,” then Stephen “cried with a loud voice” and Philip “opening his mouth... announced the glad tidings of Jesus to him.” Then in the Scripture referred to in John 7: 37, “Jesus stood and cried saying.” All in connection with the Spirit’s operations. I was wondering whether it is of much importance that not one thing should be lost of what the Holy Spirit is indicating.

SMcC That is important; the matter of the mouth, and the matter of speaking because there is so much speaking today. It says in 1 Corinthians 14: 10, “There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of undistinguishable sound.” The great thing is we are to see and discern the speaking, and the speaking in Acts is to help us in regard of what is in the power of the Spirit, and therefore what you allude to is a remarkable thing, because it shows the change that has come about through divine operations that man’s mouth which is so corrupt according to Romans 3 has become so changed that it becomes the channel for this authoritative speaking.

I think we should proceed to Stephen in this relation now. Of course, there is much more about Peter that could be referred to because there is so much said about Peter, but there is no time to go into all that is said, and written about him, and I think it would be well for us now to go on to Stephen, so that we might get help in seeing the quality that is expressed in this great vessel. He comes to light with Philip as we know, in regard of the most menial kind of service, and I would like to say in passing to the younger brothers and sisters that whatever work is to be done put your hand to it. It is not a matter of how menial it may be, but if it is in relation to the testimony put your hand to serving the saints, and you will find that God will take you on and honour you in the service. There may not seem to be much in regard to attending to matters in the meeting rooms, and different menial things connected with the comfort and care of the saints, but as we addict ourselves to these things we will find that God will take us on, and the Spirit will take us on as He took on Stephen and Philip. They took on what was to hand in a small insignificant kind of way, but yet they were honoured in it, and these closing verses of chapter 7 show the glory that is linked with vessels who did what was to hand to be done.

JR Quality was seen in Stephen. He was full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit.

SMcC Exactly. It is an interesting thing how faith is linked on with the Holy Spirit there. Full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. The two great resources in Christianity are faith and the Holy Spirit, and it is a great matter that we should see the place faith has in these things. Full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.

HF Do we get the idea of the myrrh seen in Stephen? Suffering enters into the matter so that he comes out like his Master, and dies praying for his enemies.

SMcC It is important to see how like his Master Stephen is. We shall be like the Lord in glory, that is the great objective before us that we are to be fully conformed to His image, but it is a great matter that we should be like Him now in spirit and in all our ways, and now the subject of sufferings is before us here. It is one thing to be like Him when nothing is taking place, but it is another thing to be like Him when faced with the awful energy of opposition that Stephen is faced with here. These people knew the indictment was against them, and yet in persistency they resisted the truth. It says in verse 54 “And hearing these things they were cut to the heart, and gnashed their teeth against him.” Think of that! this vessel full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and it says “But” - the conjunction “but” is to be noted - “But being full of the Holy Spirit, having fixed his eyes on heaven, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” I think we are to see what kind of spirit, and what kind of attitude is necessary for this state of suffering that is immediately before us in Stephen’s case.

HF Accuracy marks Stephen in going through the Scriptures.

SMcC And think of the intelligence he had in regard of all the ways of God, and that should raise enquiry with us as to how we follow through matters. It is quite apparent that Stephen did, for he begins with Abraham and not with Adam. Why? It shows, I think, the quality that was in the man, the vessel. Abraham is really the new head, the head of the race of faith. Adam was the federal head of the human race, but God began anew and called out Abraham, and he becomes the right head of the line of faith as it says “who is father of us all” (Romans 4: 16), and Stephen beginning there shows his intelligence.

ECL Before he commences his oration it says “and all who sat in the council, looking fixedly on him, saw his face as the face of an angel,” chapter 6: 15. Would that depict the quality that was in Stephen as before the council?

SMcC I am sure it would. It is the look in his countenance, the very glory was affecting his visage, his countenance, and yet in spite of what there was there they went forward, and Stephen has to suffer, and we have all been called to suffering. As Peter says, “if, doing good and suffering ye shall bear it, this is acceptable with God. For to this have ye been called,” 1 Peter 2: 20, 21. We are called to it. It is not something we fall into by the way, it is something we have been called to, “For Christ also has suffered for you, leaving you a model, that ye should follow in his steps.” Stephen would help us in relation to the quality that shines in suffering.

AEMcC It says of Stephen in chapter 6: 8, that he was full of grace and power. I was wondering if that does not enter into the position too.

SMcC I am sure it does. He was a very full man we might say - full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and then in verse 8 full of grace and power. It is a remarkable thing about this vessel, and I am sure it is not a question of mere rhetoric in his address in meeting the enemy but it is a question of these resources, faith, and the Holy Spirit, and grace and power. What a combination in a man like ourselves.

JEW He was the first choice of the brethren. It is interesting to see that “they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.”

SMcC Yes, it is interesting, that. “They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,” so that he heads the list there, and it is an important matter in these matters of deaconal work that we should take it on in the light of these resources. We sometimes think if the work of a deacon is to be done it might be done by one who knows how to do it naturally, but it is a question of one being full of faith, and the Holy Spirit, and grace and power.

AEMcC They were chosen too. The disciples were chosen by the Lord, and here Stephen and Philip and others are chosen by the assembly.

SMcC Well, I am sure there is something in that because the brethren knew what was there. It is interesting and a remarkable thing that Paul had to call the attention of the brethren at Corinth to what was amongst them. There were certain persons of quality amongst the Corinthians they were not regarding or making way for, and this is a great matter in our localities. He says to them in 1 Corinthians 16: 16, “But I rejoice in the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus; because they have supplied what was lacking on your part. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours; own therefore such.” It is a great matter that in looking over the ground we should see what there is in our localities and make the most of what there is, and appraise rightly what there is, and that was the case with Stephen and Philip.

LC Varying conditions seem to demand various qualities. I was wondering in connection with the service as to whether suffering connected with it would bring the quality of durability to light seen in a man like Stephen serving in menial circumstances, and as to whether these conditions connected with circumstances of suffering would bring out the quality of the heavenly man in Stephen.

SMcC I think that is right, and I think all the sufferings of the present time give divine Persons great pleasure because the features of the heavenly Man are coming out. Take the young brothers called into the armed services. Well, think of the testimony that comes before the authorities as to the heavenly kind of man that is present under their eye. It is not a question of a great display of power, but as Abraham set before Abimelech seven ewe lambs, the spirit of Christ in testimony in the type, and such as Abraham, are not easily moved. Try and shift them from their ground, try and change their principles. What tenacity and stability there is in relation to the work of God in them, the features of the heavenly Man. I think it gives divine Persons great pleasure that through suffering circumstances there comes out these heavenly features. If we have another world war the young men will have to face it, and one thing about it to which they do well to take heed, is that the one thing that stands in the testimony before the authorities is what you are, not only what you say, but what you are. There are persons who have gone before tribunals and authorities with much to outline as to the truth of the position, but it did not carry much power, while others have just stated to the authorities that they are believers on the Lord Jesus Christ and it carried power. There was something there. We want to be prepared for every exigency. What we say will flow out of what we are, and it is not the amount we say, but after all it is a question of what Mark says, “for ye are not the speakers, but the Holy Spirit,” Mark 13: 12. Only Mark says the Holy Spirit is the Speaker. Why Mark? I think it is interesting because Mark has a special bearing on young men. He went back from the work as a young man, he was not prepared to go all the way.

DMD Is that why in verse 55 “full of grace and power” is not brought forward, but “being full of the Holy Spirit, having fixed his eyes on heaven, he saw the glory of God, and Jesus.” It is linked with the glory of another world.

SMcC That is right. Full of grace and power would have reference to the testimony in its effect upon men, but the Holy Spirit would bear on the heavenly side, so that our entrance into what is heavenly lies in relation to the Spirit. Then notice the dignity of this sufferer, and the spirit that marked him in verse 59, “And they stoned Stephen, praying and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And having said this, he fell asleep.” What a spirit in a sufferer like Stephen!

JR Is that the spirit of the dispensation?

SMcC That is it, the spirit of the dispensation, and it is a great thing that we should get it into our minds because you know, people do us wrong sometimes, in our businesses, or in our work, and we are liable to be recriminatory in our thoughts, and speak accordingly; we are likely to take up the attitude of the ordinary man, but what is to be expressed are features of the heavenly Man - the meekness and gentleness of Christ. I think we all have to take courage, because these two men, Stephen and Philip appear in the very midst of the apostolic section. The apostles, of course, thought it was below their dignity to serve tables, and while none of us would like to say much that would cast any reflection on the apostles, it is to be noticed what they said, because the Spirit of God seems to leave them for a while and make much of these two men, who were prepared to put their hands to the work, and do it. You find that in so many places there are only a few who put their hands to the work. Those who do not do it, it is not to their honour, it is not to their blessing, because you will always find that persons who put their hand to the work and do what is to be done. God takes them on and honours them.

CW Do you think the Spirit of God in calling attention to Stephen brings before us the intrinsic quality that you are speaking of over against what is official?

SMcC That is just the way to express it - intrinsic quality. It is not a garment to be put on for certain occasions. It is not an attitude to be adopted, but what the man was intrinsically by the work of God, because we are referring to the work of God, and what is coming out is what the man really was according to the work of God, and it is a great matter that we should get the full gain of that in any of us.

HD He fixed his eyes on heaven, not on his persecutors, and he “saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said Lo, I behold the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” He remembers the Lord’s own words, “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?” Luke 24: 26.

SMcC It is important to see that, if I may use the expression we have used recently, Stephen was occupied with the “unseen world,” and I think we all, and especially the younger brethren, want to get our eyes filled with a view of the unseen world. Take this world and all that is against us, the might of man arrayed in all its strength in different associations, trade unions and other things, we do not want to get our eyes on that so much, but on the unseen world. Hebrews tells us “ye have come to mount Zion; and to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem; and to myriads of angels, the universal gathering; and to the assembly of the firstborn who are registered in heaven; and to God, judge of all; and to the spirits of just men made perfect; and to Jesus, mediator of a new covenant; and to the blood of sprinkling, speaking better than Abel,” Hebrews 12: 22 - 24. We want to get our eyes filled with that view. The young man in Elisha’s day had his eyes opened; 2 Kings 6: 17. You remember Mr. Darby in one of his hymns says (there is much of the wealth of these hymns which is not in our book):

“What powerful, mighty Voice, so near,
Calls me from earth apart -
Reaches with tones so still, so clear,
From the unseen world my heart?”

showing how he thought of the unseen world, and all that was linked with it - Christ and the assembly, the myriads of angelic hosts that surround us in all our goings. Little do men know the myriads of angelic hosts that surround us; even as we go by car we pray to God for angelic care and ministration. These things are real.

CW Stephen saw the glory of God and Jesus, but before that it says, “being full of the Holy Spirit.” Is that the power and spring that would occupy him with what is unseen?

SMcC That is it; and it is a great matter that, so that Stephen is a choice vessel. Would to God we were like him more, and what is to be noted in his indictment and address is that he makes the most of Moses. The biggest part of his address is surrounding Moses. There is something in that, because Moses made a definite choice to suffer affliction with the people of God, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. It is interesting how Stephen makes so much of Moses, whereas Paul makes so much of David in his address at Antioch in Pisidia.

We should finish with a word as to Philip. I think Philip would encourage those who have in their hearts the subject of the gospel, and open air work. It is a great matter that open air work should be carried on. It gives great opportunity to the younger men to develop and to see what they have. We are now in the finishing of the dispensation and Philip would help us as to the evangelical side. There is, maybe, an Ethiopian eunuch to be met, or it may be a Samaria in the principle of the thing, where there is a lot of work to be done. Philip’s work had to have a certain amount of adjustment, but he was prepared to get the gain of it.

ST Philip goes out and purchases to himself a good degree.

SMcC We are all to have that in mind, to do things well. After all, especially on this island in view of getting a job in the Civil Service you have to apply yourself, how much more so in the assembly? We are to apply ourselves and do things rightly, and well, and accurately. No one gets anywhere who does not apply himself. Ability to serve does not come suddenly out of the air. J.N.D. said if there was more devotion amongst us there would be more gift.

JR Do you think the brethren are especially supported in the preaching if they have the assembly in view?

SMcC I am thankful you have brought us to the suggestion that the assembly is to be in our minds as a background. Philip seems to be going on individual lines, but it is very interesting to see how the work is incorporated in what is going on in the assembly. Peter and John came down and looked over the matter, and Philip does not say to them “this is my work, you have nothing to do with it.” He is subject to the adjustment and gets the gain of it, and then the Spirit takes him on in these closing verses. The Spirit would delight to take us on as we are ready to be adjusted in these matters.

FW The Spirit speaks to Philip.

SMcC What can we say about the Spirit speaking to us? The Spirit is a divine Person, and He can speak, and there the test lies as to whether we are moving in communion with the Spirit, and whether we are sensitive and can discern when the Spirit is speaking to us. The angel spoke to Philip earlier, and the angel would hardly denote what is linked in a distinctive way with the dispensation. Angelic speaking is more in the Old Testament, but the Spirit speaking is linked with the New Testament. The angel represents God acting providentially in speaking to us, perhaps in the loss of a job, or a bereavement, but the Spirit is a divine Person with us and in us directing in regard of the service.

HD Philip obeys immediately. When the angel spoke “he rose up and went,” but when the Spirit speaks he runs.

SMcC It is a great thing to be immediately available for whatever the Spirit may be indicating in any line of service. This was one man, not three hundred or more, but one man, and the Spirit is moving in the area of his service and directing the service in relation to one man, and it is a wonderful thing the way Philip is amenable to the direction of the Spirit, “The Spirit said to Philip, Approach and join this chariot.” Not join the eunuch. In dealing with souls the thing is to get alongside of them and find out about their circumstances. We never know who God may pass our way. He may pass our way someone to whom He would have us speak about his soul. Some refuse, but others in these circumstances are thankful for a word as to these matters because many realise the need of looking into their links with God, and so the word is “join this chariot.” These scriptures point us to how we are to learn from these vessels how to link on with men; how to link on with men having God and Jesus in mind, and the glad tidings of Jesus in mind, and get some opening to speak about their souls.

HW We are to be encouraged as Peter tells us, “If we are reproached in the name of Christ, blessed are ye; for the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rests upon you,” 1 Peter 4: 14.

SMcC Well, indeed we have to see that, that suffering is our portion, a wonderful favour that has been given to us. You know we are liable to think of it as something awful, but it is a divinely conferred favour, and we are to take it up and go through it in the dignity of having the Spirit, the Spirit of glory, and the Spirit of God resting upon us.

Kingston, Jamaica.