48. “C,” Birmingham. To ask in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is certainly to present His name to the Father as the only ground of being answered, and of being answered, too, according to His estimate of that infinite and all-prevailing name. It surely is the ground of true confidence in prayer and supplication; and when we consider it, it is no marvel that the Son should have said, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:1313And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13).) It is, however, to be observed, that it was after Jesus had taken His farewell of Jerusalem, and thus Jewish things were virtually over, that the Lord, (who had before taught them a prayer) on His now going to the Father as the Accomplisher of redemption, and to send down the Holy Ghost, should have given an entirely new order of things as to prayer. He said, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name” There was not a sound of it in the so-called Lord’s prayer. The Lord, therefore, went on to say, “ask,” that is, in my name, “and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:2424Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24).) No doubt those who plead His precious name will know the Lord Himself as dear to their hearts, and will have it on their consciences not to deny His name. Hence they will avoid such things as they cannot truly associate with the name of the Lord Jesus, and delight in those things which will be for His glory. We are therefore told, “ Whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col. 3:1717And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17).)
The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is that to which the Holy Ghost now gathers together believers. But those so gathered know Him in the place of authority as Lord, the glorified Man. Such, therefore, have a heavenly Christ before their souls, and know Him “in the midst.” They know Him as the One in whom we have redemption through His blood, the Head of His body [one body] the church, the Giver of the Holy Ghost, the source of all blessing, who also judges the assemblies, and is soon coming to take us to Himself. He therefore looks for that which is suitable to Himself, who is “the holy and the true.” The highest privilege on earth, no doubt, is to be really gathered together in His name; but He looks for holiness, righteousness, and truth, as well as love.
49. “S.,” Launceston. When the Lord is spoken of as being “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” it was so according to the Jewish mode of calculation, which was to reckon a part of the twenty-four hours as a day and a night. They also looked at the day as composed of the evening and morning, as in Gen. 1. It is remarkable that the only place the statement occurs is in Matthew’s Gospel, which all Bible students know to be eminently Jewish in its character.
50. “N.,” Haverstock Park. Your little paper is very sweet, but, we judge, not written with sufficient care for publication. We rejoice to hear that you are longing and waiting for the coming of our Lord; our earnest prayer is that this “blessed hope” may spread deeper and wider in all directions. As you say, it will be indeed “in a little while.”
51. “H.,” Jersey. The case you speak of seems to us to call for personal exercise before God over His word. The heart and conscience must know what it is to be in His presence, and to act out His will. Scripture does not always lay down hard and fast rules, like acts of parliament, but teaches us our new standing and relationships, and enjoins us to walk accordingly.
52. “P.,” Cinderford. It would far exceed the limits of this magazine, if we were to give, as you say, a “full explanation” of the texts you refer to. We can scarcely grasp the particular points you wish taken up, but if you will kindly let us know what the attack on the truth of holy scripture is, we will do our best to reply.
We take this opportunity of saying, that, like others, you wrote to us at the end of June, and wished for a reply in our July issue. Permit us to say, that, before your letter was ever written by you, not only was the July number printed, but the August number was in the printer’s hands. We regret that there is any delay in replying to our correspondents, but we generally reply as early as convenient time and space in our little serial will permit.
53. “J. C” Bromley. The Holy Ghost is ever dwelling now in the believer, but scripture does not speak of Him as “Thine own Holy Ghost,” but the Holy Ghost. It is always safe to keep close to scripture.
54. Jedburgh. The question of dress has an important place in scripture. We are told that outward adorning, costly array, and ornaments of gold or pearls, are unbecoming christian woman; but the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is said to be “in the sight of God of great price.” In these matters, as well as every other step of our path, all need to be exercised before the Lord, and to have our hearts set on doing His will.
55. “L.,” Shepton Mallet. We see no difficulty in accepting the truth of the assembly at Corinth, like the assembly generally on earth, being the temple of the Holy Ghost because there was evil there. Not only are we plainly told so in so many words, but instead of the Holy Spirit’s tolerating the evil, He resented it in the most solemn and uncompromising way! No doubt there was much ignorance among the Corinthian saints, and this He graciously met by instructing them, as, for example, concerning the resurrection of the body. He rebuked them too, as for instance, “Awake to righteousness and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” (1 Cor. 15:3434Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:34).) He asserted His claims for practical holiness in many ways, and threatened that “if any defile the temple of God, [the assembly] him will God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1 Cor. 3:1717If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:17).) The presence then of the Holy Ghost exposed the many forms of evil which were there; and afterward when they hearkened unto what the Spirit said, and cleared themselves, they were commended for it and were comforted.
As a matter of fact, the Holy Spirit dwells in every child of God; and who does not know what it is to have the evil working within laid bare to his view? and what it is to be rebuked, so as to produce in the soul’s experience self-judgment, confession, and restoration to peaceful intercourse and communion with the Father?