On looking around at the Lord’s work, and the vast amount of machinery of one kind and another in operation, it must strike even the most careless observer that the results are terribly small in proportion to the means used.
It is true that the gospel is to be preached for a witness; true that what is required of us is that we be found faithful; true that the people being taken out of the Gentiles for His Name are a “little flock” compared with the world around. Yet, making every allowance, does not a single glance convince us that there is a terrible lack somewhere?
There is a great lack; and we must not gloss it over, but look the matter straight in the face. With the appliances at work, souls ought to be flocking to the Christ of God; and there should be such a living power about every saint of God that the ungodly would feel in their presence as if standing within the confines of eternity. Is it so? We know it is not.
We thank God for the mighty wonders He has done in the past; and we praise Him for those of His saints–few though they be–men and women that we feel are living in the very presence of God. But do we not look on these few as exceptional cases? We settle down on our lees and are satisfied; yet we begin to wonder at the “insignificant results.” We “can’t understand” the worldliness of so many of the saints; and perhaps there are other things we wonder at, too. But need we wonder?
What we need is to be filled (Eph. 3:19). There needs to be room in us for God to fill us with Himself.
If “consecrate” means a filling of the hand (as the margin has it in 1 Chron. 29:5), then we must be filled with God; and, if filled with Him, there is room for nothing else. You may call it “full surrender,” or any other name; but it is the reality we want–the fact accomplished in each one’s experience that I am God’s. It is easy to sing “All for Jesus,” but we want to live in the power of it–to dwell in the secret place of the Most High (Ps. 91:1), abiding under the shadow of the Almighty.
Thus abiding, what does God say shall be the result? “Much fruit” (Jn. 15:5); not the meager results of long and laborious striving; but the spontaneous outcome of a life hid with Christ in God. Ah! that is what we want. And it is within reach of every one of us–yes, every one.
We all have the same storehouse, the resources of the risen Christ of God. If we were abiding in Him, what would happen then?
The gospel would be preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven (1 Pet. 1:12). God’s Word, going forth out of His mouth would not return to Him void (Isa. 55:11), for it does not always go forth out of His mouth. Then, speaking out from God’s presence–His very mouthpieces–the saints of God would hear His voice in our simplest utterances. Speaking in the calm consciousness of the power of the Holy Ghost, every word would be as a nail in a sure place, a messenger of God.
Mere filling up time would be out of the question. Having simply “a nice meeting” would be no object. Business done for eternity–that would be it. And the dear saints of God, who look to some of us to be lifted above themselves into the very presence of the risen Lord, would not be disappointed. They would be borne upwards as on eagles’ wings.
That is the cure for growing worldliness–God’s remedy for ease in Zion. It may be, some will say, that this is just a dream. If so, we shall be sorry; for to them it will be but a dream. But it will be no dream to those who long to see the saints of God a testimony for Him in more than profession–a testimony that shall bring glory to His Name, and cause all around to declare that “they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.” Why should it not be so? “Feeble folk” though we be, is there anything to hinder our testimony from being what is described in Song of Solomon 6:10, “Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners”?
When we see Stephen “full of faith and power, he did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:8); when we behold Barnabas “full of the Holy Ghost and of faith,” and how much people were added to the Lord (Acts 11:24), we ask: Were these “men of like passions” with ourselves? (Acts 14:15). They were. But in immediate connection with the mighty results, the Holy Ghost has taken care to record that they were men filled with Himself. That’s it–filled with God. That explains the wonderful results.
Do not misunderstand us about results. We do not mean success as it is called in so many quarters–great crowds, great popularity, and much profession. We mean results as God reckons results–fruit to the praise of His glory; fruit in the godly walk of His saints; fruit in sinners turned to God–fruit that shall remain (Jn. 15:16). O, then, to be filled! Everyone needs to be filled. The humblest saint needs to be filled–for the silent walk with God, for the life bright with His praise. What a power is there!
As those redeemed by the precious blood and delivered from the graveclothes of men’s traditions, we are affectionately desirous of the saints (1 Thess. 2:8). We joy in beholding their order in the Lord, but long to see each one spreading around him a savor of that Name which we have found to be above every name. Shall we not then go in and possess the land? (Num. 13:30). Shall we not walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it? (Gen. 13:17). “Follow thou Me” (Jn. 21:22), said our Lord. At every suggestion of Satan the adversary, that “it’s no use,” “impossible,” and so on, let us reply, “All things are possible to him that believeth” (Mk. 9:23). “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37). And, like Caleb, speaking of the land given, let us “go up at once, and possess it.”
“That ye might be filled.” Such, and nothing more is the purpose of our Father in heaven. Let us see to it that we are content with nothing less.