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An Utter Self-Emptying

Don let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know Me and understand that I am the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23,24 NLT)

Why does not the Lord do this and that, which we think He ought to do? It is simply this soul-craving to have proof and demonstration; and this is why, if there is anything built up in Christian work which is obvious, big, impressive, where there is a great thing being organized and a great movement on foot and all is in the realm of something that can be seen, crowds of Christians flock after it; or if there are manifestations, things that seem to be clear proofs, the crowds will be found there. The enemy can carry away multitudes by imitation works of the Holy Ghost in the realm of demonstrations and proofs. We are so impressionable, we must possess; and that is exactly the same principle as that which governed the rulers. They were not prepared for the principle of the Cross to be applied in this way an utter self-emptying, being brought to an end of everything but the Lord Himself....

What was the one thing the prophets were always talking about? It was about knowing the Lord. The thing that was lacking amongst the Lord's people in the days of the prophets was the knowledge of the Lord. There were plenty of people who were prepared to have the Lord for what He could do for them, but as for the Lord Himself... ah, that was another matter. What is the Lord after with you and with me? Is He first of all wanting us to do things? The idea of what is of God today is chiefly associated with the things which are being done for Him, the work we are engaged in, and so on that is, with what is objective and outward. But the Lord is not first of all concerned about how much we do. He is far more concerned that, whether we do little or much, every bit of it should come out of a knowledge of Himself. Any amount can be done for the Lord in Christian work and activities, just as you do other work, but it may not proceed from your own deep knowledge of God. The Lord is concerned above all else that we should know Him.

He led them on safely.

I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice. Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. § In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old.

They did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them. § So You lead Your people, to make Yourself a glorious name. § Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face. § Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.

Ps. 78:53;  Prov. 8:20;  Ex. 23:20;  Isa. 63:9;  Ps. 44:3;  Isa. 63:14;  Ps. 5:8; Ps. 43:3,4

You were washed . . . you were sanctified . . . you were justified.

The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. § The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. Christ … loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. § To her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. § Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. § Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

1 Cor. 6:11;  1 John 1:7;  Isa. 53:5;  Eph. 5:25;  Eph. 5:26  Eph. 5:27;  Rev. 19:8;  Heb. 10:22;  Rom. 8:33;  Ps. 32:1,2

Nature, Not Law

But now we are delivered from the law" (Rom. 7:6a).

The Christian life is not regulated by Moses and the Law, but lived by "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." Not rules, but nature.

"God gave His people Israel, a nation living in the world, the law; one of its purposes being to act as a curb or restraint, a kind of bit and bridle on their rebellious flesh. It had to be checked on the one hand; it had to be pushed on the other, so to speak. Thus it was that the law dealt with man's flesh. But to go back to the law now is just the denial of Christianity.

"Some good men who in grievous error would impose the law as a rule of life for the believer mean very well by it (for they strive to be pious); but the whole principle is false. The law, instead of being a rule of life, is necessarily a rule of death to one who has a sin nature. Far from being a delivering power, it can only condemn such; far from being a means of holiness, it is, in fact, and according to Paul, the strength of sin' (1 Cor. 15:56)." -W.K.

"In man the law and the flesh always go together. The Cross was the end of both in the sight of God. The flesh was judged and condemned there; it was treated as a dead thing before God - dead and buried. And the law which deals with the flesh we are dead to.

"We have passed out of both: we are not in the flesh, and are no longer under the law. The flesh being that in us with which the law grapples, and the flesh being now by faith reckoned a dead thing, there is no more for the law to lay hold of. We pass out of its province into another country and atmosphere - 'hid with Christ in God' (Col. 3:3)."

"That we should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter" (Rom. 7:6b).

Run With Patience

Imitation or Identification