Address—C.E. Lunden
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When you turn with me to the 12Th chapter of John, please.
23rd verse.
And Jesus answered them, saying, the hours come, that the Son of Man should be glorified.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except the corn of wheat fallen into the ground, and die it abideth alone.
But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it.
And he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me. In Where I am, there shall also my servant be.
If any man serve me, him will my father honor.
The chapters that go along with the 17th chapter.
Which are sometimes spoken of as the Upper Room ministry.
Bring the person of the Lord Jesus before us.
Now this chapter really is the ending, perhaps of his public ministry.
And it's the it's the Greeks or Gentiles that come and inquire.
That they would like to see Jesus.
Jesus.
Oh, what a precious thought, dear brethren, to see Jesus.
And so we find that the Lord instructs them that when he's gone, they will see him.
But in a different way when the Spirit comes.
And that's been our privilege in these meetings to see Jesus.
It's been expressed in the heap in the Book of Hebrews, the 2nd chapter.
But we see Jesus.
Made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. Crowned with glory and honor.
That's where he is now.
Our brother has been speaking to us about new creation. We have that here.
The corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying.
That it does not abide alone.
And the kind of fruit that's brought forth is just like itself, just like himself.
And how was this?
We've had it before us in the meetings.
There's no corruption there.
No, it's all new creation.
It's like himself.
The fruit is just like the seed that was planted.
And so he speaks here of glory.
Glory.
Well, in this passage, we're not taken back to our sins.
We're not taken back to our history, but the believer is seen identified with one who has gone down into death and has come up like a corn of wheat that fell into ground and died.
And so we have new creation, we have resurrection life here to start with.
And I'd like to associate that with discipleship in the next few verses.
Now we find that the Lord Jesus gave himself.
He spent everything that he had. We learned in the 13th of Matthew for that Pearl of great price.
And he appeals to our hearts in these scriptures.
Is there going to be a return to him?
And so he said.
He that loveth his life.
This life.
Shall lose it.
Lose it.
I remember a young man who began by.
Preaching the gospel in the street, attending the meetings.
Taking part.
And various activities connected with the Saints.
But gradually he began to take up with things outside.
And now he's an old man, he has a family grown up in the world. You can't speak to him of the things of Christ.
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He lost his life.
He lost.
But not in the sense of this.
No, it says here.
He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
He loved his life in this world.
That he lost it, and it says here he that hateth it shall keep it.
Until life eternal.
The Lord Jesus gave himself for us.
Now what is the natural thing for one who has that new nature?
To do to respond.
Well, to forfeit this present life and all that nature would.
Suggest to us.
For the one who gave everything for us.
I'm going to touch just on a few points this afternoon in these various chapters.
And this is the first one.
The first one is that new creation and discipleship in response to it.
If you'll turn with me to Luke to a verse in connection with this in the 9th chapter.
The 57th verse.
And it came to pass that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord.
I will follow thee whithersoever thou goeth.
And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes.
And the birds of the air have nests, but the son of man is not where to lay his head.
And he said unto another, Follow me. And he said, Lord, suffer me first.
To go and bury my father.
Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God.
Another also said, Lord, I will follow thee, but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.
Now it seems to be that what we have here is fitness for the Kingdom of God.
Fitness for the Kingdom of God.
I suppose this passage, this last verse, is taken from the history of Elisha and Elijah.
As Elijah comes out of the country, he finds Elijah plowing.
Now that act speaks, typically, of repentance.
Valley, ditches, trenches, plowing, all speak of repentance, state of soul, ready for the water and the blessing.
That God has.
He cast his mantle upon him, and he runs the following.
But.
He says let me go.
Bid my mother and father farewell, or kiss my father and mother. Which is the real the same meaning?
He says, go back again, what have I done to thee?
He went back. Nor did he do.
He slew the oxen with which he had been plowing.
He brings death, beloved, upon everything that belonged to his former core.
Why There's a new life, new creation?
And now what does he do? He takes the oxygen, and he takes the instruments of the oxygen, and he makes a fire and he.
Prepares the flesh for meat for the people of God. That's the ministry of grace.
That's what you and I should be occupied with, beloved. The Ministry of Grace. As has been suggested in these meetings, we're sent here.
We are not just left here.
And what is our ministry? Grace. Grace.
And so we find then that.
As soon as he does all this, he turns his back on his father and mother.
Now, of course.
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Scripture doesn't suggest that we dishonor our father, Mother, but the point is that the issues of the Kingdom of God come first.
1St.
All how we need to learn this beloved first.
Are we occupied with that which belongs to the present, or that which?
Belongs to that.
Eternal day that lies ahead that we've heard so much about in these meetings.
I'm not going to say anymore about that, but we'll turn now to John.
13.
These chapters have often been opened up to us and only one appoint to a verse or two in each of these chapters.
In this chapter we have cleansing. First we have new creation, and then we have discipleship.
Now we have cleansing.
And so.
It says in this chapter.
The fourth verse will not read only a part. He rises from supper, and laid aside his garments, and took a towel, and girded himself.
After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet.
And to wipe them with the tower with he was girded.
Then cometh he to Simon Peter, and Peter Seth unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now, that thou shalt know hereafter.
Peter said unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands in my head.
Said unto him, He that is washed needeth not saved to wash his feet, but is clean every width and year clean, but not all.
Verse 13.
You call me Master and Lord, and you say, well, for so I am.
If I, then your Lord and Master have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet, for I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you.
Now Peter thought the Lord was Speaking of cleansing him in another way.
He was thinking of the literal side of things, of washing his feet and the Lord to stoop to do this. He wouldn't have it.
But when he tells them that he won't have any part with him if he doesn't, then perhaps the light is beginning to breakthrough to Peter.
Oh yes, we have to have our ways cleansed down here. Now how are our ways cleansed?
Well, I'll read a verse in the next chapter that will tell us.
In the in the you know the 15th chapter and the.
15th chapter.
And the third verse.
Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Now I know that applies to salvation too.
But it applies to the cleansing of our way.
The words which I have spoken unto you.
And so we find then, that the means of cleansing our ways is the Word of God.
We find the exercise of the disciples that they do this to one another.
That they wash one another's feet.
Now, this wasn't a literal washing of the feet, necessarily.
There's certainly nothing wrong with that.
To stooping down and taking a little place.
But the point here is.
That which we learn for our souls. Blessing.
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Oh, how good it is that we are taught to love one another, that we are also taught to wash one another's feet.
The way of correction is the way of life.
And beloved, do I resist correction?
Or you say, well, I'd take it from an older brother.
I heard a brother say not long ago, he's not going to correct me, I'm older than he is.
Is that the Spirit of Christ, beloved?
No, no.
The way of life.
The way of correction, the way of life.
Oh, how blessed the end that's in view.
And so.
He called me Master and Lord 13 first, and you say, well, for so I am. If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet.
You also ought to wash one another's feet, for I have given you an example that she should do as I've done unto you.
Now read the 17th verse.
If you know these things.
Happy are you if you do them.
Now we turn to the next chapter.
In this chapter we have communion.
The person himself leading us into the Father's.
How oh how blessed this is.
Now I'm not going to read much in this chapter, I'm just going to read the start with the 21St verse.
He that hath my commandments and keepeth them.
Here it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest.
Myself to him.
Judah saith unto him, Not a scary at Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loved me.
He will keep my word and my father will love him.
And we will come unto him and make our abode with him.
Blessed are the boldness is.
Experienced in the first chapter of John, when the disciples say Master were dwelleth thou.
And he says come and see. Have you ever come to see?
Have you ever had the experience of the first chapter of John's Gospel? Come and see.
Oh, what a privilege.
Now I know it's individual in John.
Primarily.
But all what a privilege we've had this morning together.
But there must first be the individual.
Enjoyment of Christ and the soul.
And so in the first chapter of John.
They, their hearts, have been drawn to the person.
Just as in this chapter.
And they said, Master, where dwellest thou? Where do you live? He says, come and see.
And they abode with them that day.
It says.
Bless a day, precious day.
To have the person of Christ before us in communion.
Fellowship.
Though it is his desire that we might have this as our continual experience.
Not just for an hour.
And you, dear young people, were not speaking especially to young people this afternoon.
Have you ever tried when you come home from school Oregon from the job?
And you older ones do.
Slip in your room and get down your knees, just for a minute, just for a minute. Have you done it?
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To keep in touch, to keep happy in your souls. Have you done it?
All this is the secret, beloved, and fellowship and communion.
Often.
You remember the Prophet?
Who came to the great woman in the 4th chapter of Second Kings?
He came once, and then pretty soon, it says. As often as he came, as often as he came.
Is it so with us?
Well, we have then Communion.
Here.
And is connected with the Father's house.
Now we notice the order here.
There is a new life in the 12Th chapter. Then there is discipleship.
Then there's cleansing. And what is the cleansing do?
Well, it was the custom in that land, and perhaps still is.
That if you went to visit someone, they would.
Wash your feet.
Why? To cleanse all the defilement from the road.
That you have traveled. But that wasn't all.
To refresh it.
To refresh it.
Now we'll go back just for a moment to that thought of refreshment.
Do you think a sheep is happy if it's defiled?
No.
A pig might be, but not a sheep.
But all when the sheep is cleansed, it's happy.
Refreshment.
Is there something, beloved, on my conscience this afternoon? On your conscience?
That hasn't been judged.
Has someone spoken to you and you won't have it?
Well, you can't go on refreshing your spirit to enjoy the things of the Father's house.
That are spoken of in the 17th of John. You can't do it.
Why, oh Holy Father, we have in the 17th of John.
Keep to thine own name, those that thou hast given me.
Holy Father.
There is no communion outside of holiness, beloved.
And it's reversed to there's no holiness outside of communion.
Again, we speak of that new creation and what belongs to it.
Its character is that, and it was manifested in the person of the Lord Jesus when he was here.
Not His glory, as will be exhibited in that coming day, but His nature and His character.
Oh, how beautiful.
To trace these things, these moral glories in the Gospels.
As well as in the types of the Old Testament.
Well then we've spoken of communion and it says.
Will make our abode with him.
You know we're going to make our abode up there in the coming day with him.
We're going to be with Christ in glory. We're going to be in the Father's house.
Are we going to wait until then?
To enjoy that fellowship and communion? No, he says.
Keep my commandments.
And this will be the result.
The Walking in obedience and dependence.
Then he comes down and the Father comes down to make their abode with us down here, until that day when we go up there.
Is that going to be your experience in mind?
Now we go to the 15th chapter.
Verse 3.
Now we have the subject of fruit bearing, because, you know, beloved fruit bearing.
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Follows Communion.
Just as it does in this order.
A new life discipleship.
Cleansing Communion.
Fruit bearing.
Fruit bearing.
Verse verse four I should have said.
Now we have 3 abides here, the first ones in the fourth verse abide in me.
And I in you. Oh, what nearness.
He's not talking about when we get to glory. He's talking about now.
Abide in me and I and you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself.
Except to abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Now they're in communion. Nice. As you abide there, you abide there.
No fruit unless you abide there.
Saw precious fruitberry, the result of communion.
Not abide in this doctrine or those set of rules. Abide in me. Oh how sweet this is.
A precious abide in me.
Aren't we in Christ? All right? Abide in the sense of it now, in your soul, by faith.
Read the scriptures.
Prayer.
Abide in me.
Now in the.
Seventh verse. Well, we read the 6th.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered.
And men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. This is solemn, isn't it?
It doesn't say if ye, it says if a man.
If a man.
You know, in a day like this, when?
Things are getting lighter and lighter in a spiritual way. Sometimes there are those who slip in among the Saints.
And pretend to be real, Judas did.
I remember 1 morning after the breaking of bread.
I noticed a young man who was not in the assembly where we were, but he was visiting with his parents.
And I knew that there was something wrong with this young man.
I didn't know what it was.
But I know that the word of God has power.
And so at the close of the meeting, he tried to get out before anyone could reach him, and I reached him before he got away.
And this is what I said to him.
If he live after the flesh, he shall die, and this is eternal death.
He broke down and he confessed the life of sin.
But he's still gone.
He's still living a life of sin.
But he was breaking bread for a good many years.
If you live after the flesh, you shall die eternal death. Oh, how solemn.
Here's the branch.
The man abide not in me is cast forth as a branch. Now I'm not going to pass judgment on this young man.
But it's an example, a picture to us.
The one who manifests by his ways that he's not real never come back, as far as I know.
Still living in that kind of a life. Wickedness.
And is withered, and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
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That's the final end of that course.
There are steps here, but there's a final end to it.
So it was with Judith.
But you know, there are also things that come into our lives that.
Where we may slip away and have to be brought back.
Through this gracious washing of the feet.
The plying of the Word of God to our consciences, and we should be able to admonish one another.
We should be in that state of soul.
So that we might continue in communion, we might be restored to communion and continuing communion.
That there might be fruit. Now this chapter speaks of fruit.
More fruit and much fruit.
Fruit. More fruit, Much fruit.
How is it with us?
Well now we have if you abide in me and my words abide in you.
You shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.
Do we have our prayers answered or is it because we ask amiss?
To consume it upon our lusts, as James says.
Do we have the happy?
The joy in our soul of seeing our prayers answered.
Do we beloved it?
Well, here's the order, isn't it?
Oh how blessed the Word of God is, how perfect the order, new life, discipleship, cleansing, communion, fruit bearing, prayers answered.
Living in the good of Christianity, shall we say?
I know the fullness of Christianity isn't brought out in John the beginnings though.
And that's what we need, isn't it, to be exercised about these beginnings.
Here it is, my father glorified that she bear much.
Group how? Well, now we're asking, and now we're bearing much fruit.
Asking and our prayers are answered.
Though shall ye be my disciples?
Now the 9th bird.
That little word continue is the same word there as abide.
You get the IT referred to in the following verse.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.
Abide ye in my love.
Abide ye.
In my love.
And now how are we going to abide in His love?
Well, it explains it then in the next verse.
How perfect, how beautiful, how simple scripture is for the heart that wants to learn.
The truth of God.
If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love. Now. Is there anything simpler than that for our souls this afternoon?
And he tells us, as his commandments are not grievous.
So to abide then in his love.
Now whether you think of it in the sense of being loved yourself by Christ.
Or whether you think of the love as that very love, that with which he loved Christ as he went through this world. They're both beautiful to think of.
He loves us, but the Father loves us, just as he loves Christ as he went through this world.
They're both.
Go through how do we have this happiness in our souls?
As the next verse says, this joy.
Keeping his commandments.
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So you say, well, I don't have a definite commandment for this, and I don't have a definite command for that.
No, you don't.
But do you love him?
Isn't that enough?
Isn't it strange that we have to resort to scriptures that give us a direct command as to what we should do when we know by being guided by His eye what to do?
Walking so close as this to be guided by his eye.
We're instructed in the scriptures what to do, there's no question about that.
We're instructed in every detail.
As to our conduct here.
You know, I was Speaking of the practical aspects of these things.
I was telling about this young man who had made a profession of Christianity.
I'll speak of something else practical too, because I have it on my heart.
To just mention this.
That.
In the day in which we are living, the enemy is coming in. And there's the evidence, beloved, that many of us are not abiding in His love, practically in our souls.
And so I would suggest that.
I won't read these scriptures, but I would suggest.
For the.
Young men and young women and older men and older women to read.
First Timothy.
The second chapter.
And verses 8-9 and 10.
In the new translation.
And I would suggest also.
That.
Our dear sisters read Isaiah 47 verses 2:00 and 3:00.
There's no mistaking, beloved, that the Word of God covers every part of our conduct.
And we will not abide in Christ.
If we just slide over these scriptures.
We said we'll keep all these words.
Someone said to me, oh, that's in the Old Testament, is it? Whose word is it?
Admit God's word.
Does it have any application to me? Indeed it does.
Every word of God is pure.
It has its application.
A young couple went into assembly.
A small assembly.
And they handed their letter to the brother.
And you know what this faithful brother said?
You know, I hate to have to speak of these things, beloved, he said to that.
Couple. He turned to the young lady. He says, Do your brethren allow you to break bread?
Dressed like that.
Isn't that solemn?
Isn't that solemn?
Is this abiding in Islam? Is this keeping his commandments?
Is this in the enjoyment, beloved of his love?
Bearing fruit, he sent us here.
And it's his desire that we would bear fruit. But how can we bear fruit when the simplest things in our lives are neglected?
That we refuse. Absolutely refuse.
To bow to the precious holy Word of God.
Oh, it's solemn.
Well.
It says here, if ye 10th verse, if you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
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These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you.
And that's your joy might be full. Now how is our joy going to be full, beloved?
By doing our own way.
No, by keeping his commandments.
Word from the beginning to end to command our conscience. Rightly divided, of course, to command our conscience.
Now the 16th chapter, these things have I spoken unto you, that you should not be offended.
They shall put you out of the synagogue gave the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God's service.
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
But these things have I told you, that when the time should come, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to Him that sent me. And none of you asked of me whether goeth out, but because I said these things unto you, sorrow that filled your heart.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away. But if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you, that if I depart, I will send him unto you, and when he is come, he will retrieve the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, and so on.
13 First I'll be it when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all.
The truth, For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak.
And he will show you things.
Things.
To come.
We have the Spirit mentioned coming in three different ways in these three chapters, the 14th, 15th and 16th.
And in each case, he's spoken of as the spirit of truth.
Who?
The only three times that I know of in Scripture, except in the Epistle of John where it simply refers to truth contrasted.
With evil.
He is the spirit of truth.
Now in the 14th chapter he was going to leave them orphaned.
He was going away, and so the Father would send the Spirit.
And he would bring things to their remembrance.
In the 15th chapter.
We find that.
In the end of the chapter, the spirit of tongue coming to bear witness, and they were the bear witness to.
When the spirit of truth is come.
Testimony there.
But now in this chapter, we find they're under persecution.
He's telling him about the time when they're going to be in the very path that he took.
And they'd be persecuted.
Perhaps John was the only one that escaped being a martyr. I don't know. History seems to.
Suggest this, that all the rest were martyrs.
Persecuted even unto death.
But.
He's comforting in their hearts with.
Things to come.
That's what the Spirit of God is doing for those who are under persecution.
But you know, it's only those that will live godly inside Jesus that suffer persecution.
So remember the order that we have here.
The new life, the new creation. Discipleship.
The subjection to correction, which is the way of life cleansing, and then that sweet communion.
Bearing fruit.
Now persecution and how does the chapter end that all close 33rd verse.
These things have I spoken unto you, that in me.
You might have to.
Oh, it doesn't matter what your trial is, beloved. Here's something for your heart.
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That didn't mean you might have peace.
In the world you shall have tribulation. These were his disciples that had set their courts to follow him. They're going to have tribulation. But be of good fear. I have overcome the world.