Address—P.L. Johnson
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I'd like to read 3 passages of scripture, The 1St in Joshua, book of Joshua, chapter 2, second chapter of the book of Joshua.
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Chittim two men to spy secretly saying go view the land, even Jericho. And they went and came into an harlot's house named Rehab and lodged there.
And it was told the king of Jericho saying, behold, there came men in hit her tonight of the children of Israel to search out the country.
And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee.
Which are entered into thine house, for they become to search out all the country.
And the woman took the two men and hid them.
Now in verse 8.
And before they were laid down, she came up under them upon the roof, And she said unto the men.
I know that the Lord has given you the land and that your terror is fallen upon us.
And that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you, for we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you.
When you came out of Egypt and what you did under the two kings of the Amorites that were on the other side, Jordan.
Zion and AG, whom he utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt.
Neither did there remain any more courage in any man because of you. For the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above.
And in earth beneath. Now therefore I pray you swear unto me about the Lord.
Since I have showed you kindness, that you will also show kindness unto my Father's house.
And give me a true token.
14.
And the man answered her, Our life for yours, if you utter not this our business, and it shall be when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. Then she let them down by a cord through the window, for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you, and hide yourselves there three days until the pursuers be returned.
And afterward, may you go your way.
And the man said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by, and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household home unto thee.
And it shall be that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless. And whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be upon our head, if any hand be upon him.
And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us. And she said, according unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed, and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
20th chapter of Acts.
Acts 20.
Verse 7.
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.
Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the Morrow.
And continued his speech until midnight and there were many lights in the upper chamber where they were gathered together.
And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus being fallen into a deep sleep.
And as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves, for his life is in him.
When he therefore which come up again, and had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of days, so he departed.
And they brought the young man alive and were not a little comforted.
Daniel, Chapter 6.
We'll just read from verse 10.
Few verses here.
Now, when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house.
And his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did before time. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
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Just those two verses in Daniel. Perhaps you noticed as we read these three portions.
That we had.
A window brought before us.
And all three passages. And I'm not saying that these are the only three occurrences in scripture where we have windows brought before us. I know it is there are others. But I would like to link these three windows together connected with these three persons.
For our instruction here to hear this afternoon, we have the window of rehab.
And we had a window that we might connect with a young man named Eutychus.
And then we have a window in connection with Daniel Rahab's window, the window of Utica's and Daniels window. And these three windows, I believe, would bring before us something that God would have us to be exercised about as those who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.
You know, the thought of a window itself.
It has you might say A2 fold application.
A window. If you're inside a house, you can open a window to let in from the outside.
What is there inside the house?
But a window is also something through which you look to the outside. In other words, it has to do with your outlook.
And we might say that in these windows that we have brought before us, we have these two aspects. We have, first of all, in rehab, the true outlook of the child of God as set forth in Scripture.
And in the window in connection with Eudicus, we have there the window as being that through which something from the outside might be brought into the room.
And in Utica's case, it would be something that is detrimental, as we shall examine more in detail.
And then in the case of Daniel, we see there that the window there would indicate.
Where Daniel's heart was, what his desire was.
We might say that the window of rehab would give us the proper direction.
That the Christian is to be looking.
And in the window of Eutectus we have the danger that besets every Christian here in this scene, and in the connection with Daniel, We might say there, that his window would give us what should be the desire in the heart of a true child of God, in the midst of a of a great mass of false profession, and in the ruin and failure of the church.
So let us turn first back to Joshua and consider the window of rehab.
We all start.
As rehab does here in this story, and I don't want to imply when I say story that it's just something fictitious. We know of course that it is a true story, a true happening which God has recorded. Not that we might just have a little Bible stories, you know, to print and for children to read these occurrences in the.
Old Testament are written for our learning at the present time.
We find many wonderful principles of God's ways and God's dealings with man in the Old Testament occurrences. We, most of us here this afternoon, I'm sure, if not all, are familiar with the story of rehab. We know that here the children of Israel have gone through the wilderness across the Jordan and they're about to enter into the Promised land.
And the first obstacle.
That they would come across as this city of Jericho and it is destined for judgment.
It's going to be overthrown, and here is a woman who is a Sinner in this city. Not only is she personally guilty as a Sinner, but she's in the very place of judgment itself because the city of Jericho is about to be destroyed. First of all, we see here in the rehab the condition of every individual.
Apart from salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
It isn't that everyone is a rehab.
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That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And the result of that is that everyone is exposed to the judgment of God. And if there is anyone here in the room this afternoon who has not come to the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.
If you have still rejected Christ putting off the salvation of your soul for one reason or another, you're just like this woman. Rehab a Sinner and in the place of judgment and God's judgment is going to fall.
You know, I like to contrast rehab with the inhabitants of Jericho. Notice what she says in verse 10.
For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, and what you did under the two kings we have heard.
Who do you think that we refers to? Well, I'm sure it refers to a Rahab in her household, but perhaps two to all the inhabitants. This was something that went through the whole city how God had.
Judged those who were enemies of his people, and they knew they were in line for that same judgment. They had heard of judgment.
But it's only Rahab who had faith to believe.
That God was a God of love and grace and had faith to believe that.
This report, perhaps, was truly going to take place.
Notice in verse nine. And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land.
Well, if you ever wondered how rehab knew that, how did rehab know?
Rahab knew because she had faith. You know, this is the only way in which we can really know the things of God is by faith, not by experience nor by external proofs, but by faith. The report had gone out that God was leading this people out of Egypt through the wilderness into the land of Canaan, and He had given them that land and all of those who were outside of that nation were going to be judged and were were to perish.
That's the report that had gone out.
And no doubt there were many in that city who heard it and scoffed about it. Perhaps there were others in the city.
And thought, well, this won't happen for a long time yet.
And for various reasons they were not excited about it, or even disturbed. But rehab. Before these spies ever came to her house, she was undoubtedly already exercised and disturbed about the coming judgment upon all the inhabitants of her city. I wonder if there's any in the room this afternoon who have sat under the gospel so many times and have heard it over and over again, and in your heart.
I don't say with your mouth, I don't believe if I stood at the back of the room after the meeting and spoke to everyone in this room, even the young ones and asked them say do you believe the Lord Jesus is coming in judgment?
I doubt if there'd be anyone to say no, I don't believe that, but there's such a thing as saying things with the mouth and not really believing them in the heart.
Do you really believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior, your Savior? Do you really believe that He suffered for your sins on Calvary's cross?
And you know that you are safe from coming judgment.
That all of your sins are washed away, and that when he comes in flaming fire.
Taking vengeance on them that know not God, and those that obey not the gospel.
That you will not be among that number, but you will have been already caught up with all of those.
Who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, I want to put that word in. I think it's necessary because we often find in a in an audience of this size that there are those who have been going along.
And not doing anything outwardly to indicate that there are unbelievers. But what about the heart? God looks upon the heart and the Lord knows your heart. But I trust that we would all be as rehab who has received the message of God.
And incidentally, you know, in the New Testament we have rehab referred to well more than twice, but two times I'm thinking about.
Once in Hebrews 11, where it says by faith she received the spies, they're called spies.
And in James chapter 2, we read there that she received the messengers and sent them out another way. These men are called spies in Hebrews Chapter 11, and they're called messengers and James.
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And we might say that the Gospel has this to these two aspects. To us as spies, they were harbingers of coming judgment, of harbingers of judgment.
They announced the fact that judgment was going to fall upon that people, and she accepted that.
She acknowledged that the nation was due and headed for judgment.
As messengers, they brought.
A way of escape.
A way of escape, and that's what I had, especially before me in connection with the window. But we find that the way of escape from judgment.
For rehab in all of our household was through that window where the scarlet cord was bound. So as spies they had to do with coming judgment, and as messengers they brought the glad tidings of a way of escape. Oh, that's what the gospel tells us. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.
That's true.
The wrath of God is revealed, but also the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation unto everyone.
That believe? Well, I believe these words are important. I believe they're important enough for each and everyone in the room to pay attention to.
That we might take heed to the word of God.
Well, this wonderful way of escape has been made through the window of rehab, but now notice.
Rahab was a woman here in this city.
In connection with this, when it was headed from judgment and she remained there even after she had believed the message that was brought by the spies, but her outlook was changed. Her outlook was changed. She was no longer looking out to that city for what might be enjoyed or what might be gained from the benefits of living in that city.
Now all of her hopes and her and our entire outlook was connected with that window.
Isn't that right? When those spies left, they said, now this. You put this cord in the window.
And her whole hope and everything was connected with that window, no longer with the city.
She had given up that city now as as headed for destruction. She had no hopes in connection with the city, but her hopes were in connection with that window.
Doesn't that remind us of a verse that I want to read in the first chapter of First Thessalonians?
We could quote it, but I'd like to turn to it.
We see here that this is characteristic of every child of God.
Verse 10, or rather verse 9.
For they themselves show of us what manner of entering, and we had unto you, and how ye turn to God.
From idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven. But isn't that sort of like rehab?
He had been turned to God now from idols. She had been turned, as it were, from the city in which he had been living and where she had had all of her business to do.
Her whole life and everything was centered in that city heretofore. Now these messengers come, these spies come, and her faith lays hold of the message. So she has turned from that city now to look out through the window. And all of our hopes and our expectation is from that window. And so it is with the believer. We've been turned to God from idols.
No longer is our life in connection with this world.
I'm not saying that we're not here physically here, just as Rahab remained there in the city.
She was still there, but she was, she was not there as far as her expectations and hopes were concerned. She wasn't seeking anything from the city anymore. And so these Thessalonians, they returned to God from idols. Well, I had, especially on my heart this afternoon, Not exclusively, but I might say in one way, chiefly the young people in our midst.
As there are so many and I believe this is very important.
That all of our hopes and our expectations that they should be heavenly and not in respect to this earth and this world and prospects down here. This is not to say that God is unconcerned with our circumstances in this world. He is, He is concerned of how we get on. He's concerned with our health.
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He's concerned with our work, He's concerned with our home life. He's concerned with all of the affairs. And the proof of it is that we have detailed instructions in the word about them. You know, it's amazing. In the Word of God, we're told just how we're to work, how we're to play, how we're to be in our homes, how we're to be among those in the world, how we're to be in the gathering of the Saints, why everything is set out in great.
The mind of God is told by showing how concerned he is with our circumstances in this scene. And yet we know that our connections are heavenly. Our connections are now with God. We have another verse in Philippians that says our citizenship is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior. Well, I'd like to ask in the room this afternoon and especially again I say the young people.
What? What are you looking for as to your hopes and expectations?
Are you looking for something great in this scene? I mean by that. A great time, a great a name, a great popularity.
Are a very comfortable living the luxuries that this country affords and things of that nature, or is it that you're passing through them with a desire to honor the Lord, knowing that your calling is heavenly, that you're connected now with a window to the outside?
Though you're still in the world, you're not of the world, and if you're no longer, as it were, looking to the City side of things, that is this world and what's going on here.
But your eyes are turned toward through that window to heaven, where our citizenship is and where we're looking for the Savior.
That's what we're looking for, and God has called us to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus.
Oh what a wonderful outlook. Is ours to be turned from idols?
All of the idols that men value in this world, all of the things that men pursue a whole lifetime.
And you know, I think this is important too. You find that they're individuals that have such a burning desire.
For various things in this world that they pursue them vigorously for a whole lifetime, it becomes an idol.
I trust that the young persons will not be ensnared in that to be turned from idols to God if there is a burning desire and an ambition which is normal to young people, and it should be.
It should be an ambition and a burning desire to be for the Lord for the little while that we're here.
And to be occupied with those things that will make us more acquainted with our heavenly portion. Well, we see here that the window of rehab turns us, as it were, from the idols of this world to God, the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven. Now turn to the 20th of Acts.
Here we have the window of Euticus in Acts 20. We might connect the truth of the gospel with the window of rehab. And I would say too, in passing that when we speak about what characterizes a child of God, we're speaking about the way the Christian is presented in the Scriptures.
You know, it's most important for us.
Have God's viewpoint of things in order that we might have a standard by which all things are judged and we.
I'm not saying that this is necessarily the average.
Condition of things as far as Christians are concerned, but God's thought of a Christian.
A child of God is that he has turned completely away from the idols of this world to God. He's brought to God and let me quote another verse that that is in connection with this Peter tells us that Christ has suffered for sins, the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God.
You ever thought of what that means? It doesn't mean he suffered for sins, the just, for the unjust, that he might bring us to heaven.
I didn't know what that means. It means that he might bring us to God. That's now that doesn't mean bring us to God when we die or when the Lord comes. It means that we're to be brought to God now that the Christians life is all lived in reference to God as his Father in God's will. It is never contemplated in scripture that a child of God.
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Would ever get up and enter on any day of his life.
Without due consideration for the will of God, that's what it means to be living to God.
And brought to God is you have to do with God in everything you do, what you wear, what you eat, and where you go. God is in all of these things. You're brought to God. The Lord Jesus died for that. The Lord Jesus didn't die merely that he might take you to heaven one of these days. It's true, wonderful as that is, and more than we ever deserve. But the Lord Jesus died that he might have a peculiar people, that is a people for himself here in this world.
As you go about in this world.
And if you were to go among your neighbors and your associates at work or school who do not know the Lord, you'll never find them considering the will of God.
They never think of what God would have them to do. In fact, they don't care and they're opposed.
But God wanted a people here in this world for himself. He wanted those who would be living to Him.
And with reference to him to be his people. And that's why the Lord Jesus Christ suffered for sins that just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.
So we've been turned to God like rehab. That's the window that connects us with what is outside. How wonderful it is to have that connection. And now then here in the 20th chapter, I would connect this with the truth of the assembly.
The truth of the Church.
Well, we find here that the one who is prominent is Paul, though it is that they came together to break bread on the first day of the week. All discourse to them, and we see in verse eight that there were many lights in the upper chamber where they were gathered together.
You notice the emphasis here is and two things, or three we might say. One is that there were many lights, there was a well lighted place. Another is it was in an upper chamber and the other is they were gathered together. It has to do with the gathering of the Lord's people.
This is equally.
In connection with the sufferings of Christ as our personal or individual salvation.
We read in John 11 That the Lord Jesus was to suffer for that nation Israel, and not for that nation only, but that he might gather together in one. The children of God who were scattered abroad gathered together.
That wonderful chapter in John 10 of the Good Shepherd giving his life for the sheep. How many have?
Use that.
Gospel and how many times we have rejoiced in that individually and say, oh the Lord Jesus loved me and gave himself for me. But in that same chapter we read not only of individual personal salvation. I am the door by me if any man enter in that individual, is it not?
Many men enter in. So we have the individual salvation there, but also we have the Lord saying.
Other sheep I have which are not of this food, them I must also bring.
And there shall be one flock.
And one shepherd there we have the gathering of the Lord's people not only coming in individually through the door of salvation in Christ, but that he should gather together in one so that there would be the one flock and one shepherd. Now that's Pauls ministry. Pauls ministry is in connection with the truth of the assembly, the church. And we might say that it's heavenly calling, it's heavenly destiny, and it's unity.
Well, the many lights were there.
I like to think of this as the light of Christianity.
We know that the word light is used very frequently in the New Testament. It's almost characteristic.
Of the New Testament writers, this word light, everyone of them, most of them rather use it. John, of course, more than others, heard a light.
Because it's a, it's a very suitable.
An appropriate figure for all that has been brought to our souls.
Through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ revealing the Father and accomplishing that work on Calvary's cross.
And we might say, in short, the whole of Christianity is characterized by light.
You know the Apostle Paul.
When he was stricken down on the road to Damascus, he speaks of it that he saw a light from heaven.
And then as he's recounting that later on, he speaks of it as a great light from heaven.
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And then the second time he refers to it, I believe in Acts 26, he speaks of it as a light above the brightness of the sun.
But in every case it was, it was thought of a light, a great light, and a light that eclipsed even the natural light of the sun. Oh, I think there we have a little picture of the blessed light that has been brought to us in Christianity through the Word of God, of course, revealed here in the New Testament in connection with the 1St and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the writings of the apostles and prophets of the New Testament, the wonderful truths of Christianity.
And you know, it's a blessed thing to have such a light.
I wonder if we appreciate really the light that we have, appreciate the light that we have. You know, sometimes events occur in this world that strikes fear and terror into the hearts of individuals who do not know God.
They are completely in the dark.
And all, how blessed to be a child of God, to have the light of God's word and the light of Christianity. Just think of all of the dead end schemes you might say that man is undertaking today. Think of all of the problems he's faced with. Think of all of the committees and all and everything they're doing to try to solve all of the riddles of this world and try to set society right. Try to clean up this thing.
They make advances in one area, they find that worse things break out in another. Think of having to cope with all of these things. I've often thought how simple the Christian's life is. He doesn't get all involved with all of these complications because it's endless.
The child of God has the light of God's love and grace in His precious Word for his pathway, and he can go through it simply in obedience to the Lord, enjoying the Lord, knowing that He has in heaven a better and an enduring substance. That doesn't mean that one is calloused and indifferent as to the state of things here. That's not the point. The Lord Jesus was the most unworldly of anyone whoever walked through this scene.
He never once took part in the projects of this world.
He never once took them up, and yet there was none, I'm sure, who sympathized and entered in more greatly with the sufferings and the ills of man than the Lord Jesus. He felt them keenly, and no doubt He was compassionate. And we as Christians are called upon to do good unto all men, especially unto them who are the household of faith. But never are we called upon to be occupied with the schemes of this world. We have the light of Christianity, and it's in an upper chamber.
You might say that it's in a on a higher level. That doesn't mean a holier than thou.
You know Satan has many trips.
In his bag of tricks to try to terrorize Christians.
He tries to lead them away with his Wiles, and he seeks to terrorize them as a roaring lion.
And I've often thought one of his ways is, is by coming around and trying to say to a Christian or a believer who's seeking to walk in separation from the world with that taunt that oh, you think you're better than others and you're holier than thou. That isn't the point at all. It isn't a question of a holier than thou. It's a question of this that God has revealed to us in this precious book, truth that is so far elevated above this scene, it is not according to the philosophies.
Man. The reasonings of man, it isn't according to his sociological thoughts.
It's the divine revelation of God, and it separates us in spirit and in attitude and in habits.
From this world, it's an upper chamber, it's light and it's heavenly.
And as I say, it has to do with the gathering of the Lord's people. This is a sort of an epitome of the ministry of the apostle Paul.
The light of Christianity and in its heavenly and separating character, because, you know, the word of God, makes very plain that Christianity separates from the world.
You can't read very far in the New Testament without finding that.
The Lord Jesus gave himself for our sins in Galatians one in order that He might deliver us from this present evil world, not make us comfortable here.
But to deliver us in this present evil world, I remember reading one time in a Roman historian.
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And about the this historian Rd. I think in about the 3rd century.
He was a heathen and he made mention about the Christians. Very little he said about the Christians, but he did say this.
In respect to the persecutions that were taking place at that time.
He said the leading charge that the state had against the Christians was that they were haters of mankind. Now that may sound strange.
And but if you went on to read, you'd find out what he meant. What he meant was they didn't take part with all of the affairs of the Roman state. They were separate. And this was one of the reasons why they were hated by the Romans. The in those days, they were a separate people. They were a people who had turned to God from idols and were waiting for his Son from heaven. Well, we know that it didn't always continue that way.
And here in this window.
Of Euticus we have a little picture.
I feel of how the church has fallen from the ministry of the Apostle Paul.
You see, the apostle here is ministering, preaching the word in this room with many lights, and there's a young man in that window and he's not very interested. He's asleep.
Or is that also has a very practical application, does it not? We find sometimes that the young persons are not very interested in truth in connection with Paul. They're content to say, well, I believe Jesus died for my sins and I'm saved, and that's as far as they want to go. They're not very concerned about the heavenly light of Christianity and the gathering of the Lord's people.
But I feel that we do have here a little picture of the church in its fall from Pauls ministry and it has done that.
It has done that. When I speak of the church now, I'm talking about the church in its responsible aspect. As the House of God said. Here is a witness and a testimony to God, The church in its profession. We know, of course, that in the word of God there is a distinction to be made between the true church, the body of Christ, and the church in its profession. Professing aspect which includes all the.
The persons who profess to be Christians.
I'm talking about the church in its professing aspect.
We see and we know that it has fallen.
Turn to Second Timothy, chapter one.
This occurred very early.
In the history of the church, verse fifteen of Two Corinthians 1.
Or rather second Timothy.
Two Timothy 1:15.
This thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me, of whom are fabulous and homogeneous.
All they which are in Asia, you know that takes in quite a territory.
The assembly of the church at Ephesus was there.
And the church at Colossi.
And Laodicea.
There were a number of assemblies, number of churches there, and he's not saying here that they all became apostates and took up some Oriental religion or something like that, he says. They turned away from me.
He didn't say they turned away from Christ. They never gave up the profession of Christ. He doesn't say they're false professors even.
They might be true children of God, but the point is they turned away from Paul. Just like Eudicus, he wasn't interested in Paul's ministry and he fell asleep and the result was that he had a fall. He fell down from that window.
So the church, the professing church, has departed from the ministry of the Apostle Paul. The truth of Christianity as contained in the writings of the apostle. And in its place we find that man's organization.
And man's ways of doing things has replaced it.
Now then, to come to the point of the window at you. With that Eudicus was in.
I feel that the window of Eudicus would bring before us the danger of coming under the influence of outside things.
You see, that's where you because he was perched on that window there and as a figure, I believe, of one who would come under the influence of outside things, things outside Christianity.
True Christianity. I don't mean Christendom. There's a difference, you know, between Christianity.
And Christendom. Christianity is the truth of God as revealed in the New Testament.
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Christendom is what the church in its profession has has become as the great house filled with vessels under honor and under dishonor. There's two different things. Christendom has really turned from Christianity and has taken up with philosophy and man's reasoning and man's ways. But Christianity brings us to God, gives us God's fault and God's ways.
Well, the danger is of coming under the influence of those things that are outside Christianity.
Outside Christianity. And yet there can be things outside Christianity and still in Christendom, and that's the figure I believe with many.
It can be outside the true Christianity, but still within the confines of Christendom. Professing Christianity, at least Christendom.
That which is not accordance to the mind of God as found in the Apostles writings. It's all about us.
We find it on every hand today, those who might even preach the gospel.
And you know, in Second Timothy, when he says about those who turned up, there is no hint or indication at all that they gave up the gospel.
Absolutely no indication, even with Demas.
That Demas hath forsaken me, not Christ, you find all the way through Second Timothy. It isn't people giving up Christ.
They are those turning from Paul and from the truth. They may still have a measure of the gospel.
But are they going on with the heavenly light of Christianity and the gathering together of the people of God?
Or are they simply individuals often following this man and that man?
Well, this is not according to the truth of Christianity. There may be Christians doing it.
But it's not according to Christianity, and the danger is coming under the influence of those things and being LED astray.
From the truth of Christianity turn to Colossians chapter 2. We have a danger of warning there, given to us by the apostle.
Verse 8.
Colossians 2 Beware lest any man spoil you.
That word spoil here means that make a prey make a prey of you.
Through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
You see the apostle in his ministry, those many lights in that upper room speaks to us of the ministry of Christ and Christianity.
And that's what Christianity is. It's in connection with the person of Christ and his work.
Well now, he says, lest any man should spoil you, or make a prey of you will the real danger of Eudicus window.
Is that we might be robbed and spoiled of the truth of Christianity.
By coming under the influence of all of these extraneous things that Christendom has brought in the glorification of man, the making much of a man's ability as speakers and as singers and man's organization and man's salesmanship, we find these things all in connection even with the gospel that we don't find them in the Word of God, in connection with Christianity.
Paul says when he came to Corinth he did not come with wisdom of words. Purposely he says I don't want your faith to stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
You see, in Christianity, it's not the wisdom of man, it's not training, it's not an eloquent speaking, it's not getting persons in the right mood, it isn't using a certain amount of pressure and salesmanship. No, it's the simple presentation of the word of God. It's Christ. Now we can be robbed and spoiled of what true Christianity is through becoming under the influence of these things that are outside.
Outside. Well, you know, I think of the early disciples on the.
Resurrection Day, when they were gathered in that upper room where the doors were shut for fear of the Jews, they shut the doors.
When I hear Utica's in an open window.
He wanted to have everything open. He wanted to be, as it were, inside and outside. He was in connection with those inside, all right. He was there in connection with them, but He was under the influence of what is outside and the result was he fell. The result was he fell. These things outside will not help us in going on with the truth of the assembly is gathered to the Lord's name.
Whatever God might use in the way of the gospel, we can be thankful for. As the apostle says, that's one thing.
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But to come under the influence of them and to be occupied with them will only lead.
To our being, as it were, falling, being LED astray from the truth of what Christianity is in its heavenly and separating character, elevating character and gathering character and.
I think if we would examine so many of these great evangelistic efforts that are going about.
You will not find those features in them at all. You'll hear nothing about the separating character of Christianity. You'll hear nothing about the heavenly character of Christianity or the gathering together in one under the one shepherd. In Christianity. You might hear the truth of the cross.
And you might hear how sinners can be saved, for which we thank God. I say again, But to come under the influence of these things will rob us.
Of the real true character of Christianity. And Paul says beware.
Lest any man spoil you.
How shall we turn to the book of Daniel?
Just briefly. Daniel 6.
Here in Daniel's window.
We might say that the circumstance here is that the people of God have gone into captivity.
Daniel was carried away captive by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
This was the result of the failure of the nation.
So they were scattered, carried away captive into a foreign land. Things are in ruin.
Jerusalem. The center had been destroyed, the temple destroyed, the city burned. All was in ruins. But we find here that that Daniel had a window.
And the window was open and outside influences that were evil or destructive. But here it was a window open to show that his desire was still toward the place.
Where God had put his name, the divine center.
And I would suggest that here in Daniels open window.
We would have brought before us the fact that even though we are in a day of ruin and failure and the Church is scattered.
They are true members of the Body of Christ, scattered throughout all of the various sects and denominations of Christendom.
It is not as it was in the early days.
There is scattering and ruin and failure, and yet the truth of the divine center remains.
The truth of there being one flock and one shepherd. The truth that there is one body.
Is still with us today as it was on the day of Pentecost. It's never been altered. There is one body.
The one flock with the one shepherd, and there is the one center.
No doubt the Lord Jesus had this in mind in Matthew 18 verse 20 when He says, For where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them.
You know, in the Day of Pentecost.
I forget the exact figure now, someone may have to correct me. Was it 3000?
See, it was a large figure, quite a number, and if you go through the book of Acts, you find that when the apostle went around.
Generally speaking, there were many who were converted multitudes. That's quite different from two or three, isn't it?
Why did the Lord say two or three? Then why would the Lord pick that number?
Are three? Why not just say where there are those gathered together under my name? But he says two or three.
I feel that the Lord in his wisdom and in His grace.
Was making provision that the divine center might be maintained right down to the very end.
Till his coming for his own, for he well knew that during the.
Sojourn of the Church on earth. It would become so scattered and in ruin and failure that it might be that only two or three in any locality would have the faith to depart from all of the organizations of men, and to gather simply under the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
That means His name is the center of gathering. Not some mission, not some doctrine, not some ecclesiastical form of gathering, but His name, the truth of Christ, as we have seen already, Christ in Christianity. Now turn back to Jeremiah chapter 3.
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There is a very interesting verse there that we want to connect with Matthew 1820. Daniel's window brings before us the divine center.
Though the city was in ruins, Daniel still recognized Jerusalem as the divine center.
He didn't say we're living, I'm living in a day when Jerusalem has failed and in ruins and so God has removed his center or there is no center. He said there is a divine center there in Jerusalem, and He opened His window toward it. God would have us to have our desire toward that as well. Now, of course, this doesn't refer to the church in Jeremiah 3. This refers to the time of Israel's restoration.
Verse 17. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord.
This is future and on earth, and all the nations shall be gathered unto it.
To the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem.
Now you can see the passage here. Obviously the thought of being gathered to the name of the Lord.
Means that that name becomes the center.
They may not all all of the nations come to Jerusalem.
But they all be gathered unto it. It will be the center which they will acknowledge and own no other center on the face of the earth but Jerusalem.
So I would connect this with Matthew 1820. Today God Center is where two or three are gathered together unto not really gathered in my name. I know the King James has that, but the preposition there signifies unto or two as a center, not merely gathering. As Christians we know that every professed Christian on the face of the earth, if they gather or assemble, always assemble in the name of the Lord Jesus.
I've never heard.
Of a so-called Christian group gathering in the name of Buddha. That's true.
They gather in that name, but that is what that verse means. It's having his name as the center of gathering.
Not merely just gathering as Christians, but gathering to him as the center. Not to man or to some organization or to some mission, some doctrine, some truth, but the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's Daniels window, having it open to the divine center with a desire to to be in the place where he has placed his name.
And while we're on the subject, I'd like to mention too about a Matthew 1820. This is not to say that the Lord is not with all of His people, wherever they are in any circumstance.
We must learn to distinguish in the Word of God always the context.
You cannot take verses of Scripture out of its context and put them against each other, or even put them together.
In Hebrews 13, when he says, I will never leave the nor forsake thee, this is an unconditional promise.
To all of the Lord's people, wherever they are.
Wherever they are gathered or wherever they are scattered.
Whatever they are in association with, the Lord is always with His people.
But Matthew 18, the context definitely shows it has to do with the place where His authority is, the place of His authority. It's in connection with the whatsoever is bound on earth is bound in heaven. And if any two of you shall agree, it has not just ordinary prayer, but has to do with the administration and the assembly. And then he says, for where two or three are gathered together under my name, they have all of the authority of the Lord in their midst.
Oh yes, the Lord is always with his own and he'll bless his own wherever there is individual faith, wherever there is individual piety and godliness, the Lord will bless Wherever his word is presented. He cannot do anything other than honor His word. No matter how unfaithful man is. God abides faithful and if the gospel is preached, the gospel it will work and souls will be saved, but that doesn't mean that the Lord's authority is found there it.
The Lord is there and blessing, it's true, but the Lord's authority is found in the midst of the two or three gathered together.
Unto His name there am I in the midst of them. It is to be distinguished, as I said, from the the promise of being with all of His own. This is Daniels window recognizing the Divine center still in a day of ruin and failure. Well, God would have us to be, you might say, to have.
Instruction from all three of these windows we won't rehabs window to give us the proper outlook toward glory.
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Our backs turned on the world, and our faces turned toward heaven, from whence we look for the Savior. And we want to have Daniel's window too, with a desire and a heart for God. Center where he has placed his name, and seek to go on there and then to be careful about the window of Euticus, that we do not come under the influence of things that are outside.
But just one more thought about Utica before I close. I like to think of it this way, too, in a practical way. Euticus, we read, was a young man.
And we find very often that young people.
Young women as well as young men.
Get under the influence of things that are outside.
Outside the assembly.
Outside of what is God's will. But you know, when Eudicus fell and Paul went down, he said now trouble not yourselves, his life is in him. I've often thought of that as a comforting thing. Eudicus had a life and he was restored. That's wonderful. And I believe that sometimes we, we know that young people, they may come under the influence of things outside.
But if the truth is presented.
No, Paul kept on ministering even after he Utica spell. We read that Paul went back up and he continued.
They didn't give up Paul's ministry. They didn't say, well, now Eudicus wasn't interested in this and he fell. So therefore we're going to have someone else speak. We're going to have another ministry. No, they continued with the same truth, but he was restored. And I feel that we can go on this way to continue on in the truth that the Lord has given us from His word as to gathering to His name outside the camp.
And in separation from the world. And it may be that some of the young for a while are not too interested.
But we looked at the Lord, where there's real life. If God had worked, God will work.
And they will be restoration and perhaps to enter into this truth more fully.
As time goes on, well, may we learn from these few windows that we've had brought before us.
That the Lord's heaven.