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General meetings, Montreal, October 1973 Fourth Reading meeting.
14 is it?
Two verse 14.
For he is our peace.
Who have made both one and have broken down the middle wall of partition between us.
Having abolished in His flesh the enmities and the law of commandments contained in ordinances.
Or to making himself a twain 1, Newman saw making peace.
They might reconcile both under God in one body by the cross have inflamed the enemy thereby.
And came and preached peace to you which were far off, and to them there were nine. For through him we both have taxed us by 1, spirit under the Father. Now, therefore you're no more strangers and foreigners, but.
Fellow citizens with the Saints and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself, being the chief cornerstone, in whom all the buildings that they framed together grows on one holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye all through our building together for inhabitation of God through the Spirit.
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In the last meeting that was mentioned that.
It's the person that is brought before us, the person of Christ.
And so, as we find in this little epistle, we find reference to him by the Spirit of God over 100 * 100 times. And so I believe, brother, that it would be an encouragement to us, or should be an encouragement the purpose of the Spirit of God.
That it's he himself that is before us. What encouragement we have as we go through.
Because we're standing in Him and we're complete in him, and all things work through him. And So what a joy it is as we think of that, that one that is brought before us to encourage our hearts and let us to know what it is we really possess in Him.
That's a lovely way that subject is dropped before us Speaking of the person of Christ, for he is our peace.
Then who asked me both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us?
And the verse before but now in Christ Jesus.
That's emphatic. Now the Spirit of God is reminding us that at the present time we are brought into a position.
Of special blessing, and as to the distinction between Jew and Gentile.
That no longer exists in the mind of God.
You find them Zechariah that when God again takes up the Jew after the church period is over.
That the Jew will be holding on to the the quote of him who says he is a Jew. He comes in holding on to the Jew. That is the Jew will have the 1St place on the earth.
They will be the nation through whom God will.
Set up his government as earthly capital will be Jerusalem.
That will be all future, but after the present time it's entirely different.
Now both you and Gentile are brought together.
Into one body.
In Romans there's no difference between the Sinner Jew and the Senate Gentile. There it's all have sinned and is 1 remedy. Here there's no difference between the believing Jew and the believing Gentile. They now are formed into the Church of God and we turn to the third. I was thinking version of the third of Ephesians, which we might just read and notice.
The Apostle speaks of the mystery.
In verse four And he says, which is verse 5, which in other ages was not made known under the sons of man, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body and partakers of his promising Christ. By the gospel my brother has indicated the position of the Gentiles in the Millennium. The Gentiles are going to be blessed.
Under Israel. But if they'll be separate entities, the jewel will be the Jew and the gentile will still be the Gentile.
But in the Church the Jew and the Gentile are brought together in one body.
And this is called a mystery here. What a wonderful thing that is in the purposes of God.
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This is a lonely expression to it, for he is our peace. We often speak of peace as a feeling or something that a person finds in their soul resting upon the work of Christ. But I think it's very blessed to see that it's a person. He is our peace, and when we see the one who accomplished redemption.
A glorified man at God's right hand, and more than this that we are seated in him. By then we can say he is our peace. And before a church could be laid against us, it would have to be laid against the one who is there because we're in him before God. What a blessed thing to realize. It's not just having made peace, we have that in Colossians having made peace through the blood of his cross.
Here he is our peace. It's a blessed thing to see. It's a person who is brought before us, and this blessing is for both Jew and Gentile equally today.
Then we get He came and preached peace. Well we see the first message will Lord brought to his disciples. And that upper room after Mary had conveyed his message, I ascend unto my father and your Father. Then we find the disciples together.
With the door shut, for fear of the Jews. And Jesus stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you, He preached peace. How lovely. The first message the Lord presented to his own was that now the work upon which peace can be fully enjoyed and been accomplished, where he shows his hands and his feet, then he says.
To them again.
You, as my Father has sent me, Even so send are you. That is, he sends his disciples out with the message of peace to a lost world, and then we get in the armor where to be shot with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
I was thinking of the passage in in John where we have Nathaniel coming to the Lord.
And he said if there.
Any good thing? Are there any good thing he says. Doctor Phillips come out of Nazareth.
But all Philip says is come and see.
And.
So Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him and said, behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.
Well, it was. The point I would like to bring out is that.
All these questions were resolved. They're all finished when he saw Jesus. Now, permit me to make an application to our chapter in the.
In our chapter, I believe that the last verse would connect with the 4th chapter, where we have the practical application of the truth of the one body that is in practice here.
Now in Philippians 4, there's a little verse.
That may not seem connected, but the principle is.
I beseech the second verse. I beseech the Odious and beseech syndicate that they be of the same mind.
In the Lord Now, dear brethren, why don't we allow these things to reach into our hearts?
If we're the same mind in the Lord, there will be a oneness that will be seen among us and by the world.
If we allow our own thoughts to enter in.
It will only divide among God's people now.
The audience and syndicated there were no doubt serving in a special way. There. It seemed to indicate it, but they weren't of one mind in the Lord.
They have their own thoughts.
Well, we find in our chapter that the Jew and the Gentile were brought together.
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In Christ.
And he is the peace.
But how about the practical application for our hearts today? Can we apply this practically now? And if there are those things, brethren, that that would separate us in mind in any way?
Can't we just drop them and let let this truth apply here and apply the truth of God to our own pathway, each one, not our thoughts?
But the truth itself, as we read in The Word of God, isn't that right? Question was asked in one of our meetings in Bolivia. Why does Satan hate so bitterly the truth of the one body?
Well, there was a brother. A laborer gave this answer.
Because it draws us close to Christ.
And consequently closer to one another.
Brethren, the truth of the one body is being neglected, we feel, and it makes ones heart fail.
The truth of the one body we believe is, and we've been taught at all these years.
It is the ground of the assembly.
The truth of the one body, we remark, is the ground of the assembly.
The assemblies? What's it consist of?
Place you have called out people from this world where the Jew Gentile called out.
Born again, believers?
Who's in the midst? The Lord Jesus.
He is the the center where two or three are gown together unto my name. And I like that because that little word in the original is a simple Greek word that means unto.
The fact of being gathered, beloved brethren, unto the name of the Lord Jesus excludes every other name. Now this is something we are urgently desiring to keep before us in South America, as they brethren there are so numerous.
Growing. Just imagine that a group, when they get together, is a group even larger than this group here.
In this city.
And what a responsibility.
This truth of the one body.
Is strictly held by the grace of God.
Satan hates it as he hates Christ.
We have them, the Lord Jesus, authority in the midst.
There am I in the midge.
The power there is the word of God.
The assembly is the.
It is a gathering where the Lord Jesus presence is.
The assembly.
The assembly. And when we speak of the body, we naturally turn over to Timothy, where we get it in the house, as a house, as the house.
And their behaviour there.
But first of all, the power there, beloved.
Is the.
Word of God, now the assembly.
We've offered mentioned it.
In Bolivia that to maintain peace among the Saints, the assembly decision is final.
I don't want to make anybody upset, but beloved, these are principles that we are forgetting.
The assembly.
The power there is.
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The word of God now the assembly is not.
The truth. That's where we go wrong sometimes. The word of God is the truth. The assembly is the.
Pillar and ground of it.
It's not the truth.
The Word of God's the truth.
Who the guide There is the Holy Spirit.
So this ecclesia or called out body, the Lord Jesus is in the midst.
A decision taken there has to be acknowledged by the Saints. Oh, someone said Brother Smith, we're not all in agreement with that. Well, the Lord doesn't expect us all to be quite in agreement whether but leave it with the Lord. I want to tell you what happened in Bolivia. Again, there was a rift there.
And the elders decided what to do.
Half the meeting left.
One of all my spiritual children.
Half of them left.
What were the elders to do? These were young, younger.
Friends.
One young man, well, he was a man of 40 years of age. He led them astray and took them away. And so half lived. What did they do?
They read them out in tears, individually.
Of the fellowship they were in this cold world.
Of Satan? How long?
15 years.
All of a sudden.
They're backing fella.
One by one, they've been received back in felt and have taken their place at the table below. What has happened to that meeting?
That's the largest meeting in Bolivia, and the happiest.
There's peace there.
There's a bowing to the word of God.
Bowing to the decision taken.
Now sometimes we see.
Some who drift off and set up another table. There can't be two tables, there's only one table.
And if anything is introduced, beloved, there that is concrete. The word of God is ceases to be. The table of the Lord is man man's table. This is a very serious matter.
And perhaps.
You will pardon me as an old servant of Christ, by his grace, mentioning these things.
There will be peace among us.
As we acknowledge.
His presence.
In our midst, as we acknowledge the decision as final.
That the Spirit of God is the guide there. That the assembly while it is the.
The we call it in Spanish the Apollo, the pillar and ground of the truth. It is not the truth, beloved, because the word of God is the truth.
Well, we feel sad to mention these things, but it's something to pray about if safe.
He can scatter his the Lord's dear people, He certainly will.
That's his business.
And it's only as we adhere to 1St principles are we kept.
I suppose, Brother Smith, you have observed the preceding solve to one you spoke on yesterday, the Hundreds and 33rd Psalm, where you get.
How beautiful, how blessed it is.
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I better read it to get it exactly.
That lovely Psalm, 133rd Psalm. Behold, how good.
And how pleasant it is for buildings as well together in Unity.
Blacks that treasure so argument upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even inner beard that went down to the skirts of his garments with the dew carbon.
And as the dew that descended from the mountains, there for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even like forevermore, what is that? Christ is the ascended head in glory, and he received the Holy Spirit.
Father, and has shed this upon his own, so it's gone, clear down, as it were, to the skirts of the garden, but in the preceding Psalm, the 132nd Psalm.
You get David saying.
I will not quote first. I will not give sleep to my eyelids, or slumber to my to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids until I find a place.
For the Lord, and habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
So the the blessing.
Dwelling together bread and dwelling together in unity is the result of finding the place.
For the Lord, and you will find much about Zion in that 132nd Psalm, for it was Zion where David brought the ark. It would seem almost as though David when he was caring for his father's.
Clock in the wilderness when he says Lo. We heard of it in Africa. We found it in the fields of the woods.
He was. He was. God was praying about it and deeply exercise about that arc.
Had been carried captive by the Philistines, and had not been returned to a place where all Israel could gather. And that was the burden of Davide heart as the young man. And as soon as he was raised to be the king of Israel, as one of the first acts was to bring that up to Jerusalem to the city of David Arzan, And while he just pitched a tent for him, yet then and there there was a trace.
Where the Lord, where the Lord's name rested, and that is the connected with brothers willing to gather in unity. It's where the trace is heard, the Lords willing is and just as you brought out.
And we mentioned it again. Where two or three are gathered together under my name, there am I in the midst of them. So if we're gathered in that name alone, or there is a place where children can dwell together in unity, but if they go outside of that and try to mingle with all the different isms, why you depart from the place where brethren can dwelt together in unity?
The next song is beautiful because it's the last of the series, is it not? There are 15 songs of degree.
And I liken it to a staircase, which usually has 15 steps in the first Psalm. They're in distress, but as they go along, there's an enlarging of the heart and brethren. Wouldn't it be nice if right now we were in the?
133rd Psalm in spirit because the next one is praise.
And that's the end of the series. Behold, bless ye the Lord. All these servants of Lord would find out. Stand with the House of Lord. Lift up your hands to a sanctuary, and bless the Lord, the Lord that made heaven and earth. Bless the out of Zion. How beautiful will it be, rather than if those gathered to the Lord's name were one mind and one heart, just as the Lord comes to take the whole.
Believe the moral principle in that 132nd Psalm is important to consider. There are two things there I'd like to call attention to.
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Which is the foundation of 133rd Psalm verse 13. We have the place our brother Barry was referring to for the Lord of chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation, but isn't just enough to have the habitation? Who's going to occupy it Verse 17.
There will I make the horn of David the bud I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. What does that tell us? God's king in God's appointed place. And so morally, if we applied it to ourselves, if Christ has his rightful place in our hearts.
And then along with that in the assembly, then the 133rd saw can be fulfilled in a practical way. Now Christ must have his rightful place. David must be in Zion, in God's feather. And then once God's king is in God's center, then the unity comes back. We know prophetically this will not be fulfilled until Ephraim and Judah are reunited. They've never been united since Reubon's days, and that will take place in the later day. But the principle of it is good for us now.
Pardon me a little more brethren, feel kindly pardon me another comment or two.
The assembly, as subsisting on this earth, is the House of God.
Oh, how long we have sought to bring that before our loved Latin breath.
The assembly has subsisting on this earth.
Is the House of God.
And not only that, it's the House of the living God.
The assembly is the House of the living God.
Well.
God dwells in the assembly.
He browsed there.
We sometimes forget that.
And it's God's vessel.
For this world to know really what it stands for.
What does the testimony beloved stand for?
Are we by reason of any other influence?
Apart from the word of God going to allow these principles to be.
Just left out or slipped over.
Now this is not legalism, beloved. This is this is faithfulness to God.
When those deals Saints came back in Bolivia after those those years, they went out in a godly way and the whole of those 40 assemblies were more now.
Were notified to the effect that these were no longer in fellowship. Do we do that today?
And when they were received back again.
It was made known one by one that they were received back and all the assemblies were notified that that decision in that city was final. That means, beloved, that when they went out and were duly read out.
Even in tears. Because to be read out should bring us to an amazing tears. It's the last thing that we ever intend or hope to do. When they were read out, they were all notified, all those meetings. When they were received back again, they were all received individually and all notified.
All the assembly, we believe that this has been a peculiar blessing.
To the work and politics.
Now I mentioned that because.
It has proven.
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So efficacious in maintaining peace.
The man who led them away is dead.
A dear child of God, gifted man.
He's home. God took him off there, some said.
We feel the absence there was parental affection there. They were all mixed up in marriage.
But it made no difference to the decision before God of that assembly.
They acted according to the word of God.
What is the result? There's perfect peace in that assembly, and this perfect peace in the 40 odd assembly because it set a president there and showed them that there was authority there, it was the House of the living God, and that Christ was He was supreme there. The word of God was the authority and the guide was the Holy Spirit himself.
And everything else went was left aside parental affection.
And thought that do come into our minds when we sad things take place.
But it has resulted in perfect peace.
I can go if the law doesn't come to the grave delighted.
That they've understood this.
And it's been in peace, the workers in peace below. Now here's another very trying case for the Eval Dorama I mentioned. This this is a very discernment of Christ to read. His letter will show where Valderrama Lee lives.
It was translated not by me, it was translated by another.
His old son.
Well, a matured man has been in fell into sin.
Poor raw Wilder Emma has shed more tears over that his son should have performed such a thing. What were they to do?
He put he's the first signature to remove him from the table.
He was rebellious at first.
He said. Son, you don't eat at my table anymore.
Understand and no one's going to give their hand to you.
You're a rebellious child of God. What has happened? There's no more humble man anywhere than that man today.
He's not perceived yet, but he's like a lamb.
Instead of being a young lion, he's like a lamb and some of the Spanish can be quite nervous about anything that's done. Indeed they can. He sits there just absolutely quiet.
Poor Al Valderrama.
There will be peace there soon. He'll be back. He'll be a lame priest, of course.
But he'll be back at the table.
Anytime now because of his quietness and adhesion to divine principles.
Well, it's hard for a father. I've never had the joy of any children of my own. I've read a lot of those Latin children.
And LED them to the Savior by His grace.
But here is the secret of peace belonging among us today.
Are we going to abide by the assembly decision, whether we think it's all right or not? Are we going to leave it with the Blessed Lord to fix it to range it? Are we going to those who?
Fulfill almost 16 by forming a party, and that's heresy. Of course, Beloved, that's heresy. It's not merely the denying of any truth that comes in there, but the one who falls a party. Beloved is a heretic.
And that's the meaning of it in the Greek.
A heretic, and we are to depart from such.
Is that cruel? It seems so, but it's God's truth and beloved. One thing and I'm going to stop.
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Truth is only understood, beloved, as it is couched in the language of God.
Truth is only understood as it is couched in the language of God.
And the peace of the assembly is only made possible by its adherence to the truth cost what it may.
The acquiescing by the grace of God in the decision for that which is.
Bound here in earth is bound in heaven no matter what we think.
And when it's loosed here, it's loosed in heaven.
These are principles, beloved, that burden my soul.
For years.
And I'm sure it's burdening your own dear hearts.
Let us be found faithful, no matter what it costs.
Let the breaches be healed. It comes here in the one body truth.
Satan is behind or everything. God is not the author of confusion, beloved, but of peace.
As in all the churches of the same, he's the not the author of confusion, but of peace.
And we long God's dear people.
Oh, how we should be in the dust with their faces in the dust, considering the problems that come to us, the work of Satan.
To scatter the flock. I'm sure we all are feeling it. God wants us to feel it and humble ourselves about it.
We should remember that each local assembly is a local expression of the whole, and any assembly action, if led by the Spirit of God, will be the mind of the Spirit. And so we should be exercised in carrying out any assembly action that it is the mind of the Spirit.
Because.
Now otherwise it would be a spirit of independency, and so they didn't settle the matter at Antioch. When the question of circumcision came up, they settled in a Jerusalem, so that it might be settled in the unity of the spirit, and it would be very happy if when these difficulties arise, each assembly would realize that when their action is going to be binding on other assemblies, it should be in the unity of the spirit, and it should be according to the mind of the spirit.
As felt by brethren elsewhere. Because brethren, it's not just one city, there is one body. And while we must wait on the Lord about many problems, we must remember that assembly action should be carried out always with that thought in view.
That the action should be in keeping with the mind of God.
And in fellowship with our brethren in other places.
With the practical.
Truth of James come in here. I was just wondering, just looking at this third chapter of James.
In connection with this verse, he is our peace.
I just wonder about this thinking of what you said, Brother Smith and going to ask here in James three and verse 13 here it's it's an it's a word to to us individually, isn't it here in James.
313 Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you?
While there is, It's a good question, isn't it? Then it says, let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. Well, I suppose this would be one who is occupied with the one in the midst who is our piece. He's occupied with Christ and he doesn't. He's not. He's not using his own mind, he's he's occupied with the one who is our peace, who is in the midst. And then I was thinking too it said it goes on in this chapter.
Fourth verse 14. If you have bitter, but if you have bitter ending and strife in your heart's glory not, and why not against the truth?
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For we're envying and Christ is there is confusion and every evil work that is its tumult and unquietness. There isn't that quietness and peace, but how lovely to see then the 17th verse. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure. I think this is very important point in this verse because.
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Pure would show that we're occupied with the one who is our peace, the one in the midst who is pure. This is a pure object business, to be occupied with Christ and then peaceable, that is, I take it to be here, not at the expense of of truth or the Lord's honor. But putting the Lord first is first pure, isn't it? Having Christ as the object, the one who is our peace. And then?
Peaceable. Not peaceable at the expense of, of just trying to get along together and allowing evils. That's not it, is it?
So I was thinking of this. I wondered if it wasn't be in connection with being occupied with the one in our midst, who is our peace? And then the end of this, this lovely chapter, it says.
Pure, peaceable, gentle, Easy to be entreated. Well, am I easy to be entreated? That's another thing, isn't it? How do I have forgiving? An unforgiving spirit, full of mercy.
Good and good fruit. Without partiality, without hypocrisy.
And then that lovely 18 verse, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace. Of them that make peace well, the fruit of righteousness, well, isn't that the result of going on in the right way? The fruit of righteousness. So how is it sown? How is it sown? It's sown in peace of them that makes peace. If I'm a troublemaker, it surely wouldn't apply to me because I caused a lot of confusion.
So I was just wondering if this practical application of James wouldn't come in, and I'm thinking of it in each for each one of us individually. I take it to my own soul.
Brethren, I see the Spirit of God has given us something.
On this subject in Philippians 2.
Two, I realized that we're.
At large and somewhat on this thing, but it's a such an important question, I believe that we could read a few versions.
In Philippians 2 The very burden of the apostle there verse 2.
Or any right fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded having the same love.
Of 1 accord of one mind, this is what is his burden here and don't we get wonderful words here that we?
I I speak for myself now that make us a shame. I think of the fact that the Lord was just about to go to the cross when they were the disciples were contending among themselves that these things you know, oh beloved, I believe the Spirit of God would bring us down with this secret.
Are we asking how we can have this unity? Haven't we got a word here for this? Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Kingdom. I believe this touches of everything.
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
But made himself of no reputation.
And took upon him the form of a servant was made in the likeness of men.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the frost. And so on. Wherefore the Lord also has highly absorbed.
He didn't need to exalt himself. He abased himself.
Law has highly exhausted a lot of this has given us in a context isn't it? They were not a one mind. I'm convinced there's already alluded to there was that discordance and.
Here, we're told this is the mind of the this is what we need to learn.
And your comments, brother little. There are two forms of wisdom there, as you notice.
Now there's wisdom.
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That is not from above.
And there is wisdom that is from above.
Well, this is heavenly wisdom in the second place.
And that leads and producers peace.
That word there, gentle, we notice, is also yielding, yielding.
In another place, I just forget the word in English. I think it's moderation. Let your moderation will let yielding this there too.
So here we have that wisdom which is.
Just worldly. There's nothing in it. It's just guided by the thoughts of men. But then there's the heavenly wisdom. And herein is where truth triumphs.
Now we appreciate what you say, dear brother, about it, and I believe you've spoken a good word, but here are 40 odd assemblies in Bolivia that have bowed to that one decision.
Can we say that there's to be no mind, unanimous mind of the Spirit of God? Is it?
Is it possible for 40 odd assemblies with the table spread to be of one mind about this case? It is, it is.
Now all my dear brethren may not see this, but there I'm only quoting that which is dear to his heart, and my own 40 odd assemblies have bowed to it.
No more comments about it.
The word of God has been obeyed.
Wouldn't you sum it up, brother script, in this way that it's bound to the authority of Christ in the midst, And then in the 4th chapter he failed. Where you get the practical side to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit and the uniting bond of peace, and with all loneliness and meekness and long-suffering for being one another in love.
Not just continually stirring up things that.
Tell that.
Distress, our brethren, and cause trouble. But to be walking and Lolitas of mine, and letting the Lord have his time and his way to bring in, as it were, the healing ointment. Sometimes you you might be right, but if you keep stirring things up and keep.
Speaking about it and keep the Saints occupied with it. It can cause a lot of dissension and trouble. So the important thing, it seems to me, is to go on quietly with the Lord and humility in our own souls if we think we're anything. The sooner we get down the ladder, see what we are and God's sight, the better for us to be. The brother used to see we're just a lot of nobodies.
To be as take the whole long, humble, lowly place and consider the feelings of our brother, and instead of going around and stirring up strife at the time we could even cause lots of trouble, when Alan and writing letters on the right subject might not be the mind of the Lord at all.
I remember a brother telling me that Wigram makes this remark. He said that they could be a state of things where the truth would be on one side and the Spirit of God on the other side.
Well, I said, how can that be? Well, he said I could take a certain subject and keep agitating it and writing letters about it and keep the things occupied with it till he said I believe I could cause a division. He said the subject would be the truth of God, but he said the Spirit of God wouldn't be with me. So a brother and let's go on quietly and humbly each one independence on the Lord.
And just remember that verse. Follow the things that make for peace and whereby we may identify one another. Thank you for the barriers, one of the oldest servants.
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I think this is a good word.
We are feeling these things before the Lord and we get in, get in with our faces in the dust about it.
Is there not a solution?
We are nothing, beloved.
Poor sinners saved by the grace of God.
And everyone is precious to him. Oh, how precious.
Each St. is to the Lord why the Lord is coming.
The Lord's coming. That should be a break on our actions and our ways.
I remember a case of a brother, I guess he's, I think he's a brother, he's very contentious individual who came to visit another one.
To complain about his brother and this dear brother gave him one word.
After listening, he says.
Brother, go home and act on the principle of Philippians 2. That is all I have to say.
That answer, that was the answer act on the principle of Philippians 2 and I thought that was a very good answer.
It's a very remarkable thing. Our brother Paul Wilson wrote an article on this some time ago when there was a trouble among the Saints and pointed out that in the 18th chapter of Matthew, where we have this verse about binding and losing, that the case which the Lord describes immediately before it involves more than three people. There was a difficulty between two. It was then told two or three more.
Who tried to help? It was then told to the assembly. And then why does the Lord follow?
By Speaking of this authority in the midst of the two or three, isn't there some spiritual lesson? Well, our dear brother Paul Wilson pointed this out to us to show us that there are times when the health of another assembly is needed. Because certainly on a case that involves quite a few people, as we have in the verses before, If you commence at the at the 15th verse of the 18th chapter of Matthew.
You see that there was a case here that involved quite a few people. And how could it be settled by two or three? Well, Brother and I say again, the Church of God on earth is 1, and any assembly action should be in harmony with their brethren. And this shows us that there are times when help is needed, when a thing may not be cleared up by one assembly about others. Acting in the unity of the Spirit could be a blessing and a help.
Saw that the unity of the spirit might be maintained. We're in a low state, brethren.
And God forbid that we should desire anything but to go on together in the unity of the Spirit, in the uniting bond of peace. But has God-given us a remedy when situations arise? I believe He has, and I believe it's clearly outlined in His word. And as our brother wrote and helped us in this situation that came up among us some years ago in Europe. And I believe it would be a blessing for us to understand these principles because.
The enemy attacks us, and the only way that we can meet difficulties is in the light and wisdom of God's precious Word.
Presidents won't do. What has been done in the past is not our direction, but the precious living word of God.
I was wondering, I've enjoyed this Lord in Matthew 18I suggested to my brethren that while the law does speak in the previous verses of additional persons, when it comes to the final composition and and formation of the assembly with His authority in the midst.
Brings it down to the lowest possible number. There may be in some assemblies these other numbers, these additional numbers, but the law says don't count on that because if you've only got two or three, my authority is there in all its power and equality. And so I believe that, as Mr. Darby has put it that.
We bowed on an assembly decision, prima facie, that is on the face of it. Now, as our brother Gordon has pointed out, and it is well put, that other assemblies can be interested as being in the unity of the body. But there must first be the acknowledging of the laws, authority, and the assembly that provided the decision. Otherwise we got spoiled God's order of things. And so I believe that we take the word of God without changing it. The law doesn't even say how these two or three are to be constituted.
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Whether they're two or three sisters or two or three brothers who are related or not related, that isn't in the passage, we we can introduce that in and spoil God's word, but it says we're two or three. I remember Mr. Darby and his letters mentioning that the Lord was in the midst of two or three sisters gathered to his name, but there are other scriptures governing their actions. As to the assembly, I only submit this thought because I I believe that the law brings us down and worse, 20 the lowest possible number, and he doesn't reduce the authority.
Three. And whether 2 or 300, because the authority is the same in the large assembly as it is in the small ones. It's Christ in the mid. And so I submit that thought.
I was wondering if we couldn't get back in our. There's some beautiful thoughts here.
As to the church, he speaks in the in the 15th verse for To Making Himself a Train 1 Newman Soul Making Peace. I think you'll find that in seven ways.
The Church is right before us in these closing verses of this chapter.
You can look it up. I never thought of it before, but I was just looking over the chapter seating the meeting and I discovered there's several ways the churches brought before us.
First have one new man, then the 16th verse? And what about it then as a fellow citizens, and then as Saints, and then the household of God?
And then the temple in the Lord, and then the habitation of God through the Spirit. I believe you'll find the 7th way. The church is brought before us here the letter of wonderful thought that he is 1 new man.
Well, if you think.
All the wrecks that God has taken up in this world and saved through his grace. Someone described seeing all broken up cars that were being taken and melted up.
In a Greek VAT, here are all these cars were going in all wrecks and broken up and I go in there and are melted in this great melting pot and afterwards this material is taken out and changed and and designed until here maybe you see a beautiful Cadillac car coming rolling out of the factory, well made out of the old Ricks.
So God has taken from this poor both you and Gentiles.
And here for all that material only God could do it one new man. And while we have been discussing subjects and connections where the testimony to the Lords name, we want to get the mind of the spirit as to the 4/4 here that we're looking at the Church of God on earth which takes in anyway believer the world over.
They are all dear to Christ, and though they have been divided and subdivided and scattered.
Yet God, in his wonderful pattern, just sees one new man.
As the work of His Grace.
In the 18th verse, Brother Barry, the access there, is that a very general, broad thought or is that related to prayer or just one? How would you bring that in?
Well, it's a precious wonderful truth. Well, when we think of the times when Paul was laboring and the Jew had had such an important position as having the oracles of God, Gentile being just looked at as a dog and outcast without any position or without any privilege.
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And now here both you and Gentile.
Have access.
Now, because one spirit has been sent, we know that on the day of Pentecost, how the Holy Spirit was sent from the Father and that company, about 120 were gathered together and immediately they're formed into one body. Then when you get to the 10th chapter of Acts in the House of Cornelius, we get the compliment of.
That baptism, because there is a gentile company that's all brought in at the same time.
And now these Gentiles and Jews meet together. All have access by 1 spirit. Oh a little. It was yesterday morning as we met here. Think there was 1 spirit.
Guiding in our worship together.
Under the Father.
Contract two is Judaism, isn't it? Because they had to worship at a distance. There was one particularly favored nation and they didn't know God his father. He was revealed as Jehovah God in distinction from holly idols about he was the ever existing covenant keeping God. But the characteristic name of God in Christianity is Father and so how blessed that now Jew and Gentile.
Not only have access to God, but they have access by 1 spirit under the Father, and it's by the Spirit that we address God as Father. What a blessed thing this is. The world likes to talk about the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, but they would have that in man's unregenerate state and they don't see the necessity of new birth that the only way that this can really be brought about is by new birth.
The Lord Jesus had to say to some in his day, hear of your father, the devil and the works of your father you will do. It's true they were of the common race of humanity. It's true that in that sense they were the offspring of God, but they hadn't yet been brought into the family of God, and they couldn't address God his father. And so this is really in contrast with that which we see about us this present idea, the the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
Now this is only brought about by new birth by the inclined from our sins, and the precious blood of Christ by being indwelled by the Spirit. And now we can come and address God as Father.
It's a Trinity there, isn't it? In that 18th verse.
For through him, that is, through Christ, we both have access by 1 Spirit unto the Father. How lovely to know that.
Through him, through Christ, the link is by the Spirit of God, isn't it?
To the Father. This is our link to the Father, the Spirit of God. And someone asked ask one one time what he was. He was in a denomination and he was quite the exercise about these things, and he wanted to know. After coming to the meeting sometime and and vacillating back between the church and the meeting, he wanted to know, he says well, what is the difference between where I go and where you meet?
Well, one didn't know exactly what to say. We look to the Lord about and answer. And what came before me was the fact I said that the Spirit of God is not given his place in that in that division where he went because man was set up.
And so I told him, that's just the fact that as those gathered to the Lord's name, the Spirit of God has given his place in the assembly. Well, I believe he he got he learned something there. He hadn't thought of that before, but I was just thinking of it here. But through through him, that is, through Christ. And our our link and our connection with the Father is by the Spirit, isn't it?
Any effort of man to bring in order is always disorder, isn't it? God's order is through the Spirit.
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And we often go on in much weakness. And perhaps that's why so many turns of system because maybe in some little meeting their long foes that are rather distressing. But far better if you have such evidence of weakness.
Than to be in a position or system where the spirit of God is denied his place. I remember her brother giving me a thought that one time I didn't hesitate to go into a denominational church.
And the brother said to me, he wrote me. He said, He said, when you go into a place like that, you're going into a place where the authority and place of the Holy Spirit is denied. Well, I never went to. I never went to a place like that again. It struck me with such force to think of going to a place where God, the Holy Spirit is denied his rights.
Tonight the first applies into the Ephesians Saints who are Gentiles. Does it not ye?
Ye now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints and of the household of God.
So that now the the gentiles are seen as one.
No longer as a separate company. In this world, there are the Jews, the Gentile, and the Church of God. If you're of the Church of God, you're no longer either Jew or Gentile. So this brings you down to the household of God as it does.
How we become a member of a household is, I think, very interesting. One could become a member of a household in only two ways that I can think of. One is by adoption and the other is by birth. And I suppose we might say that either one has a particular advantage that the other does not have.
An adopted son could look at his father and say that man wanted me.
And chose me, but he couldn't say. And I share the life and nature of this one, whom I call my father.
Because he was adopted, however, a son born into a family could look at his father and say, I share the life and nature of this man whom I call my father, but he couldn't truthfully say and he wanted me and chose me. But I think that right here in Ephesians we perhaps have both or we were brought into this relationship by the wonder of adoption choice. He wanted me.
He chose me and I am part of his household by choice and by adoption. But are we not also quickened together with him? That is, we possess that very light and nature so that we're part of this household? Are we lost by adoption and by birth?
And enjoy the special delights that are particular to eat.
As touching a person but predestination touching a place or a condition.
And there's some difference.
Election touches a person.
Predestination of place.
Well, I just thought of their brother as you spoke.
Observing with adoption.
And are builded upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
I think I've heard you say, Brother Hill, that the apostles.
Were the foundation builders, that is, they brought Christ to the those where they labored. And you have to notice carefully here the order. It isn't profits and apostles.
It's apostles and prophets.
Showing us that the prophets here are not Old Testament prophets.
Its New Testament prophets. So in the these times they had both apostles and prophets.
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That's very clear from the end of the 16th of Roman 2, isn't it? Romans chapter 16 and verse.
Verse 25 Now to him that is the power to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest notice here and by the scriptures of the Prophet.
According to the commandment of the everlasting God made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. Here we can clearly see that it's speaking about New Testament prophets, because he speaks about a mystery that was kept secret from that since the world began. But now it's made manifest and made known by the scriptures of the prophets. And that's why in this present day the foundation has been laid as we have in First Corinthians 3.
Other foundations and no man lay the knife is laid, which is Jesus Christ. And all those groups that talk about apostles and prophets today are adding to the foundation. You always find that they bring in something that is beyond what's in the written word of God.
They want to have something to it, but when we realize that the foundation has been laid as we have in Colossians 2, the word of God has been completed. Now what is going on is the superstructure. And so in the gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4, we have.
The apostles and prophets, and then the evangelists, pastors, and teachers. You and I would have thought it would have put the evangelist first, but no. The apostles and prophets played the foundation. Now the work goes on with the spreading of the gospel and those who are saved by there to be taught and cared for in the Assembly of God, but no new foundation, and when the fathers are addressed in John Epistle.
Twice mentioned, it is he have known him that is from the beginning. There is no progress beyond revealed truth in the word of God.
And as our brother Smith remarks, he Assembly does not teach. The assembly is not the word of God, but it is the pillar and ground, or the support of the truth. And any Assembly of God to be as an Assembly of God, must stand for the truth of God.
Must be upon that foundation because that is the responsible position of the assembly in the in the world, and so it's a tremendous responsibility that is ours. The truth of God must be the foundation and the authority of the Lord Jesus must be owned.
In Matthew 16 the Lord Jesus said there I will build. So it's instructive to notice in this verse the apostle says an awful showing that the work is now underway and that this building is going up. We've been reminded the apostles and prophets having their place connection with the foundation are built and then in verse 21 in whom all the buildings fitly framed together.
Growers. So the building is going on. Now Price is building his his house, his temple.
The Lord himself is spoken of elsewhere as the foundation stone, school delays and violence foundation stone. And then he's also spoken of as the top stone, but here he is the chief cornerstone.
As the foundation stone, he supports the whole structure.
The top stone, he crowned everything that.
God has erected, and then as the chief cornerstone, he binds all together.
Those different ways that the Lord has spoken of as a stone is rather instructive and interesting.
Then in the 21St verse, in whom all the buildings fitly framed together groweth into an holy temple in the Lord, you'll notice in this verse. And then in the next, the 22nd verse, we get two different views of the assembly.
In the 21St verse is something that's growing. It doesn't yet complete. And the 22nd verse we find it is something looked at as complete in a certain sense. That is, it's a habitation. It's more like the Tabernacle, whereas the 21St verse is more like the temple. So there are those two distinct views of the church whenever poor Sinner accepts Christ.
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The Spirit of God indwells him and unites him to every other believer the world over, so the so the assembly is growing.
And somewhere and so we see it increasing in size all the time.
And as a holy temple, but then as when we're building together.
It's more the thought what you get in the page First Corinthians 3 where you you get man as a builder for God dwells in the assembly that maybe have composed both of the levers and unbelievers.
Brother Berry, would you then say that?
Holy the holy temple, it says. And holy temple would that be in glory? And not until then brother.
And Holy Temple, the Lord, would you say that? I don't know. I never thought of it. Brother Smith, I'm glad to be taught wondering as you mentioned, it looks. The words seem to have that thought, wasn't it? It's something like the Solomon's Temple. The material was all there and at a given moment by every stone and every bit of wood was prepared and was cut to exact measurement. And then the temple.
Began to be billed and kept on until it was finished. Could we notice a voice in connection with that and Ezra? I believe that the verse in Ezra the 5th chapter where we have the Restoration Temple Ezra chapter 5.
And verse 16.
Read about a man by the name of Shesh Bazaar, who was also called the Rubble in other books. Then came the same Shesh Bazaar and laid the foundation of a House of God which is in Jerusalem. And since that time even until now hath it been in buildings. And yet it is not finished now Shesh Bazar of the rubber bullets, it says in the 4th of Zechariah.
That his hand is laid the foundation, and he will finish it. The same one who laid the foundation is going to finish it. So here I believe we have a picture What's going on now? Ever since the foundation was laid, shall we say it, the day of Pentecost, This building is being built and it's not yet finished. But all out of precious thought, when it is finished, when they say grace, grace to that headstone and the building is finished, what will happen? Oh, that's our hope, is it? Is it not So I believe it's a temple growing, growing in that way.
The living souls.
Nice person they Exodus 15 and 13 has always been the the light of God as well, these people. And Moses Stone in the 13th, 1009 Mercy has led forth the people which thou hast redeemed, and has guided them in thy sense unto thy holy habitation. And in the 25th chapter, the eighth verse of this.
Make me a sanctuary that I meet well among them, that is everybody Desire of God to be among His people, both for now and any judge in Millennial day, which nobody is wrong.
I think it's important, as our brother mentioned, that the habitation of God through the Spirit includes the profession. Because we have in First Corinthians 3 the building where man, man is the builder that is a worker together with God, and in that case it speaks of a man who's not saved at all. It says if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy.
Which temple ye are? Well, in that sense, why the professing House of Christendom is the place where the spirit of God dwells, and that's what makes it a great responsibility. I don't believe it would be right to say that those gathered to the Lord's name are the only ones who have the Spirit of God among them. He is in the professing house. We can say the Lord is in the meds, but the Spirit dwells in the house. If it were not stalled, what would be wrong with another group not recognizing His presence?
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He wasn't there, but because he is there, they are responsible to recognize his presence, and I believe it. We should be clear as to this now that the Spirit dwells in the house. And the reason it speaks in First Corinthians 3IN that way, because it was a very strong thing to bring in evil doctrine into the place where the Spirit of God dwells, because he's the Holy Spirit, He's, He leads us into all truth and to bring into the very sphere.
Where his name is and where he dwells Now that which denies the glory of Christ or the work of Christ, would indeed be very serious, but that's where the Spirit dwells. And so we should distinguish between the Spirit dwelling in the professing house, and the Lord being in the midst of those gathered to his precious name.
Sing 99.