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The Reality of 'Knowing'

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. (1 Corinthians 8:1-3 NIV)

The fact is this, that we may advance a long way in spiritual knowledge (I mean in information, the knowledge of the truth) beyond our own real measure, and then have the shock, under terrible conditions, of discovering that all that we have accumulated through the years does not help us. We are right up against things and have to say, "I have not got the realities I thought I had, they are not helping me; I am being brought right back to foundations in my real, personal, living knowledge of the Lord Himself." The peril then, of course, is to jettison all the teaching we have had and to say that it is a valueless thing. It is not valueless; but we must recognize that there is all the difference between knowing the thoughts of God in our minds, and the Holy Spirit's using that knowledge to accomplish God's ends. Thus we have to come back with every fragment and have very real dealings with the Lord. Our attitude every time must be, "Lord, do save me from ever coming to the time when what I have heard proves only to have been a thing heard; make it a basis of Holy Spirit activity to reach the Divine end."

Now, if you can grasp this, it is going to be a great deliverance. Why are the people of God suffering? That they may be conformed to the image of His Son. Of course, we may not need a world upheaval to do that, but God is going to use all conditions to that end, and, tragically enough, there are multitudes of the Lord's people who do need a world shaking. They are so bound up with the externalities of Christianity, with its whole structure and system, that nothing but that which will overthrow, disintegrate, destroy, and raise tremendous questions about the whole business, will bring them to the place where the Spirit of God can begin really to do the work which He has come to do in them.

It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? § I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You.

Shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. § Wait for the Lord, and He will save you. § Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. § See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

Lam. 3:26;  Ps. 77:9;  Ps. 31:22;  Luke 18:7,8;  Prov. 20:22;  Ps. 37:7;  2 Chron. 20:17;  Gal. 6:9;  James 5:7

Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. § [Look] carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. §  You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ  … Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. § The tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell … No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. § Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.

Song 2:15;  Ps. 19:12;  Heb. 12:15;  Gal. 5:7;  Phil. 1:6,27;  James 3:5,6;   James 3:8;  Col. 4:6

Personal Poverty

For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Pet. 2:25).

It is during the time of our being broken that we learn that His promises concerning us cannot be broken.

"It is more than comforting to realise that it is those who have plumbed the depths of failure to whom the Father invariably gives the call to shepherd others. This is not a call to the gifted, the highly trained, or the polished as such. Without a bitter realisation of their own inadequacy and poverty they are quite unfitted to bear the burdens of spiritual ministry.

"It takes a man who has discovered something of the measure of his own weakness to be patient with the foibles of others. Such a man also has a firsthand knowledge of the loving care of the Chief Shepherd, and His ability to heal one who has come humbly to trust Him and Him alone. Therefore he does not easily despair of others, but looks beyond sinfulness, wilfulness, and stupidity, to the might of unchanging love. The Lord Jesus does not give the charge, Be a shepherd to My lambs. . . to My sheep,' on hearing Peter's self-confident affirmation of undying loyalty, but He gives it after he has utterly failed to keep his vows, and has wept bitterly in the streets of Jerusalem." -J.C.M.

"As to Simon Peter, we not only see him restored to the work to which he was called at the first, but to something even higher. Feed My lambs - shepherd My sheep' - is the new commission given to the man who had denied his Lord with an oath. When thou art restored, strengthen thy brethren.' There is nothing in all this world nearer and dearer to the heart of the Lord Jesus than His sheep, His lambs: and hence He could not have given Peter a more affecting proof of His confidence than by committing to his care the dearest objects of His deep and tender love." -C.H.M.

"Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. . . And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men" (Lk. 5:8, 10).

Faith Fundamentals

Patiently Endure