Silver Trumpets

And you Christian people know very well as part of your kindergarten of Bible knowledge that silver in the Word of God, in the symbolism of the Old Testament, is a type or symbol of redemption.

I'm not going to gather up all that shows that to be so, but we know that it is so.

Silver speaks to us of redemption; so that the trumpets are the means of proclaiming redemption... making known the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

But it also says that no one can be a trumpet that is not redeemed;

Trumpets are silver, they are the embodiment of that spiritual truth: redemption.

And only redeemed people can speak for God. 

Only redeemed people can convey God's message.

Only redeemed people can voice the mind of God.

That, of course, is very elementary, but it's not universally recognized or acknowledged.

Before we can speak or proclaim the message of redemption, we have got to know redemption in the very constitution of our being.

We've got to be redemption in life, in experience. We have got to be silver.

~T. Austin Sparks~

Inner Ear Inner Silence

Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The man or woman who has no inner ear, no inner silence, no inner place for hearing the LORD is never going to be of much use in the service of the LORD,

And mark you, it must be the LORD, and we must be very careful that we do not give even good men and good writers the place that the LORD ought to have.

There is a time when we must sweep our books aside, when we must shut ourselves up from the voices of men, when we must get quiet with the LORD and listen, 

And more, we must seek to cultivate, by the grace of GOD, the ear that is always open to the LORD even when all the other sounds are around us.

It is difficult, yet not impossible, that in the raging of the street and the rush of business life the LORD should say something;

But He will only speak to those who recognize the value of listening to the LORD and who are giving Him His place of silence to speak when possible.

The ear to hear the LORD when all other sounds and voices are around us is prepared and trained in these times of detachment which the LORD demands, and against which the devil is eternally active to capture the ear again.

Now, that is elementary (we are not seeking to be profound), but tremendously important.

You and I know, never mind how spiritually mature we are – the one object of the devil is to capture our ear from GOD...

To make it impossible for us to have the silent hour and the silent ear for GOD.

The pressing in, and all the things which happen just when you have decided to have a little quiet time;

Then it is you have to fight for the ear...you know it is true.

Do you see there is something bound up with that; the undoing of the work of the devil, the registration of GOD'S mind upon this universe, 

Everything which is meant by priestly ministry, which is bringing GOD in, is bound up with this: 

GOD having the ear.

~T. Austin Sparks~

The LORD Wants Spiritual Power Recovered In His People For His Own Testimony's Sake.

We have not spoken much about power because so many today want to have power in order to be somebody great, to have power with men. 

The LORD has shown us that when flesh lays hold of power, the ultimate issue is very discreditable to GOD...

And there are all kinds of perils along that line, and flesh must not seek power for itself.

We are afraid of speaking about power. Yet we need it.
 
The enemy has got to yield.

With all the truth, teaching, light, knowledge, the enemy does not yield; there is not the power that carries through and puts the enemy out of action...

And if this is to be, we have to come to the place where we do not compromise with the flesh, the devil, or the world on the slightest matter...

Where we go on with the LORD fully, rejecting all our own argument which would give us a more favourable way.

Everything that rises up within and says that if you take that step it is going to bring you into collision with things...

Rob you of popularity, doors will be closed to you, you will come under suspicion, you will lose a lot of friends.

Immediately you listen to that, you have stopped, lost power, compromised.

The history is going to be very disappointing. 

We must give no consideration to the flesh, to ourselves, to man, to the world...

Because the enemy lies there waiting for a moment's compromise in order that he might rush in with something that is not true...

And destroy the whole purpose of GOD and set up a story like this which hits back at GOD, and brings loss and discredit upon Him.
 
The LORD give us to see that the one great inclusive secret of power is unhesitatingly, uncompromisingly, to go on in the obedience of faith to the fulness that is in Christ Jesus.

~T. Austin Sparks~

The Blood Effectual Through The Cross

So do not let us think of using phrases at the enemy.

It is occupying a position which paralyzes the enemy, an impregnable position, and all that he can do is to walk round and round trying to find some way in.

The Blood is the ground of the testimony. "They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb."

It is not by using something in an objective way, it is because of something in a subjective way; because of the Blood of the Lamb.

Well, you see, that means that the Cross must have become an actuality.

The Blood becomes released and effectual by way of the Cross.

I mean, that the Cross must have removed all the ground of death for the testimony of the Blood in life to be established.

The ground of death is dealt with in the Cross. 

You see, the specific significance of the Cross in this matter is that there we, in all that we are by nature, have been taken and set aside. That is the Cross.

After that you have the living testimony of the Blood.

It is another nature; not the nature which has been put away in the Cross, but another nature, His own nature, which goes on in glory... testimony

After the sacrifice has been offered, the Blood is carried through into the Most Holy Place to be an abidingly living testimony, and it is there as witnessing to the fact that all that ground of death in the old nature has been abolished, put away.

This Blood in the presence of God says, There is another nature which triumphs over that, triumphs over death, over sin, over the flesh: and therefore over all the power of Satan.

That is the present testimony of the Blood.

The Cross, then, must have been appropriated by us.

We must have come to the place where we accept our union with Christ in His death to all that is of nature; otherwise there is no living testimony.

Any attempt at testimony will be very soon countered by the enemy.

~T. Austin Sparks~

Not Reckoned Among The Nations

Num 23:9  For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 

Not reckoned among the nations. Oh, that is glorious!

That puts Israel not only apart from the nations, but on top of the nations. 

Now, if there has been one thing which Satan has ever tried to do with the people of God in all ages, it has been to get them reckoned among the nations.

I speak solemnly and carefully. Right at the very heart of Christendom as we have it today is the desire to be recognized. Recognition! 

Everything that organized Christianity does is to gain recognition.

What are all these churches? I mean, in this instance, all these elaborate and imposing buildings. They are to gain recognition.

They are in order to be reckoned something. To what end is all the procedure, the advertisement, and the much else besides?

It is in order to get recognition, to be accredited here on this earth, to be reckoned.

Yes, that is Satan's triumph. That is where spiritual power has gone out.

That is where the Church has ceased to be something to be reckoned with up there.

It has, in spirit, come down here, to be reckoned among the nations.

If only Satan can get the people of God into a position where they are taken up by this world, written up by this world, made something of by this world, he has triumphed and pulled the Church down out of its heavenly place and made it an earthly thing.

That is the principle right through the Old Testament.

That too is seen to be the trouble in the Revelation. God will not have it.

Satan's success is along that line. He has pulled the Church out of the heavens. 

Somewhere he has made it touch earth, form a link in some way with earth.

What we have just said does touch us in so many ways, yes, in countless things, this question of being reckoned among the nations in principle, this coming down from the heavenly position

The LORD never meant His Church on this earth to be something that would be taken up by this world, to be something that would be reckoned among the things of this world, recognized and accredited by this world.

What He meant, and what obtained when things were right, was that the world itself could not bear the presence of the Church, did not want it.

That is the power of the Church to testify against the world.

~T. Austin Sparks~

Would We Really Rather Have Things Our Way?

Psa 27:14  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Will we ever learn this?  If we would live in this world for the Honor and Glory of Christ, we must understand that it is our glorious privilege and responsibility to wait on our GOD.

If we would honor the LORD Jesus we must wait on Him faithfully believing His word, trusting His promises, resting in His finished work as our Savior, hiding beneath His precious blood, depending on Him for righteousness, salvation, and acceptance with our GOD.
 
We must wait on Him patiently without murmuring, without complaint, without dissatisfaction,  without discontent.
 
GOD does not always work immediately, but He always works.

He never performs His works on our carnal schedule, but according to His all wise eternal purpose of grace.

Let us be patient. GOD knows what's best for His Glory and our immortal souls. He knows when, where, and how to work deliverance for us, far better than we do.

We must wait submissively. We must submit our vain wills to His Sovereign, Almighty, Perfect will.

We must wait on Him with a spirit of humility and submission as children waiting on their father to help them, feed them, teach them, and provide for them.

His name is Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord Will Provide).

Our GOD will not forget us. It is our responsibility to submit ourselves to Him, His will, and His ways.

We must wait on Him gladly. We quickly forget that not only is it our duty to wait on him, but our privilege to wait on His Majesty.

Would we really rather have things our way?  

Has not our way proved to be abject misery and shame, countless times before?

Would we rather have our foolish way than His who is Love, Mercy, and Wisdom?

Let us, as the dear children of God, wait on Him cheerfully.

We must wait on Him expectantly. He will do all that He has promised.
 
He will save us. He will remember us. He will destroy our enemies.
 
He will bring us to Himself. He will dispel the darkness.
 
He will accomplish His purpose for us and in us.
 
Let us wait on Him who cannot fail, with earnest expectation and lively hope.

We must wait on Him prayerfully. We must have our eyes perpetually fixed upon Him. 

Let us give ourselves to constant prayer, so that day by day, hour by hour, and moment by moment - we are looking to Him for fresh supplies of mercy and grace to sustain us, strengthen us, and keep us to the end.

We must wait on Him with persistence and perseverance. We must be resolute and determined to wait on Him forever if needs be.

In His time, on His terms, when the time is best, right, and perfect - He will come and He will deliver us from all our sorrows, all our troubles, and all our fears.

Children of GOD our Savior will never leave us to ourselves!
 
He is with us always! He loved us! He chose us! He suffered, bled, and died for us!
 
He redeemed us with His own precious blood! He called us by His Spirit and gave us life from the dead!
 
He has staked His glory as GOD, upon our everlasting salvation!

He has promised to do us good, and to withhold no good thing from us!

How can we not faithfully, joyfully, and patiently wait on such a GOD as this?

Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD! 

~Frank Hall~                                                 

Dwelling Safely Apart

Deu 33:28  Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.   

The more we dwell alone, the more safe shall we be. 

GOD would have His people separate from sinners, His call to them is, "Come ye OUT from among them."

A worldly Christian is spiritually diseased. 

Those who compromise with Christ's enemies may be reckoned with them.

Our safety lies, not in making terms with the enemy, but in dwelling alone with our Best Friend.

If we do this, we shall dwell in safety despite the sarcasms, the slanders, and the sneers of the world.

We shall be safe from the baleful influence of its unbelief, its pride, its vanity, its filthiness.

GOD also will make us dwell in safety alone in that day when sin shall be visited on the nations by wars and famines. 

The LORD brought Abram from Ur of the Chaldees, but Abram stopped halfway. 

He had no blessing till, having set out to go to the land of Canaan, to the land of Canaan he came, He was safe alone even in the midst of foes.

Lot was not safe in Sodom though in a circle of friends. 

Our safety is in dwelling apart with GOD. 

~~Charles Spurgeon~

Signs Of Being Ashamed Of Christ

1. Concealment

First, then, I wish to speak about its revelation, about the way in which this shame of Christ betrays itself: and the first feature that rises before me is concealment.

Is there any man or woman of whom you are ashamed? Think of them and call up their names while I am speaking.

Well, however else your shame may show itself, it will at least have this mark--you are ashamed to be seen with them in public.

In private, that is a different matter: you have no objection to meeting them in private.

In the pressure of a great crowd, that is a different matter, for any two may be cast together in a crowd. 

But when you are ashamed of a man you are ashamed of being openly seen with him, you are ashamed of walking in broad daylight through the streets with him; and as that is a feature of all shame between man and man, it is a mark of the man ashamed of Christ.

Remember we may be ashamed of Christ although in the quiet hour we pray in secret.

Remember we may be ashamed of Him although at the stated times we come to church.

For in the one case - in private prayer there is a solitude, and in other - in public worship is a crowd; and neither in solitude nor in the throng is the shame or glory of the heart detected.

It is as we walk through the streets of daily life; it is as we take up our task in homely scenes; it is as we go about our work and mingle with our friends - it is there that our heart's loyalty shall be seen.

If we honor Christ men will perceive the friendship. If we are ashamed of Him we shall conceal it.

2. Silence

The second feature of all shame is silence. There is a close and mysterious tie between the two.

The feeling of shame whenever it is operative has a way of putting a seal upon the lips.

A child will babble and prattle all day long, and spin out a history about its small adventures; but let it do anything of which it is ashamed, and not a word will it speak concerning that.

How many homes there are in which one son or daughter has come to disgrace, till the parents' hearts are breaking!

Does the stranger entering that home talk of the prodigal?

Is not that the one name that is never mentioned?

There are ceaseless yearnings and there are secret prayers rising to heaven daily for the wanderer; but mingling with every thought of him is shame, and one great witness of that shame is silence.

Now far be it from me even to suggest that all our silence about Christ is such.

There is a reserve which is dignified and right when we move among august and holy things.

Still, hours will come in every Christian life when confession is imperative and clearly called for, and if in such hours there be not speech but silence, the silence is the stamp and sign of shame.
     
3. Avoidance

The third witness of shame lies in avoidance. We avoid instinctively what we are ashamed of.

When an architect has designed a building of which he is proud, I can imagine his delight in looking at it.

I can imagine him going out of his way by half a dozen streets just to get one more glimpse of his conception.

But let the building be a failure, and the man ashamed of it - he is not eager to feast his eyes upon it. 

Now he does all in his power to avoid it, and he avoids it because he is ashamed.

I fancy that most of us know places such as that, for we are all the architects of our own fortunes: places that are disgraced for us by wretched memories, tarnished and desecrated by some sin; and we too, as we journey through the years, are glad to avoid such scenes, and we avoid them because we are ashamed. 

Avoidance is one sign and seal of shame. Can it be said of you that you are avoiding Christ?

If so, however you may explain it to yourself, depend upon it you are ashamed of Him.

~George H. Morrison~
     

Steady In Our Walk

In taking Christ in any new relationship, we must first have sufficient intellectual light to satisfy our mind that we are entitled to stand in this relationship. 

The Shadow of a Question here will Wreck our Confidence.

Then, having seen this, we must make the venture, the committal, the choice, and take the place just as definitely as the tree is planted in the soil, or the bride gives herself away at the marriage altar.

It must be once for all, without reserve, without recall. 

Then there is a season of establishing, settling and testing, during which we must "stay put" until the new relationship gets so fixed as to become a permanent habit.

It is just the same as when the surgeon sets the broken arm. He puts it in splints to keep it from vibration. So God has His spiritual splints that He wants to put upon His children and keep them quiet and unmoved until they pass the first stage of faith.

It is not always easy work for us, "but the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after that ye have suffered awhile, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

 ~A. B. Simpson~

There is a natural law in sin and sickness; and if we just let ourselves go and sink into the trend of circumstances, we shall go down and sink under the power of the tempter.

But there is another law of spiritual life and of physical life in Christ Jesus to which we can rise, and through which we can counterpoise and overcome the other law that bears us down.

But to do this requires real spiritual energy and fixed purpose and a settled posture and habit of faith. 

It is just the same as when we use the power in our factory. We must turn on the belt and keep it on. The power is there, but we must keep the connection; and while we do so, the higher power will work and all the machinery will be in operation.

There is a spiritual law of choosing, believing, abiding, and holding steady in our walk with God, which is essential to the working of the Holy Ghost either in our sanctification or healing.

~Days of Heaven upon Earth~

You Provoke GOD Thus To Give You Up To Your Heart's Lust!

Remember that it is one of the greatest plagues on this side hell, to be given up to our own desires, and that by your eagerness and discontents  "So I gave them up to their own heart's lust, and they walked in their own counsels:"

"Oh that my people had hearkened to me!" & Psalm. 81:12.  'Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts," & Rom. 1:24, 26. "For this cause God gave them up to vile affections," verse. 28. 

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient, 2 Thess. 2:10-l2.

God may give you that which you so eagerly desire, as he gave "Israel a king, even in his anger," Hosea. 13:10,11.

Or as he gave the Israelites "their own desire, even flesh which he rained upon them as dust, and feathered fowls as the sand of the sea; they were not estranged from their lust but while their meat was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them," Psalm. 78:27, 29-31.

"They lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert, and he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls," Psalm. 106:14,15.

God may say, Follow your own lust, and if you are so eager, take that which you desire; take that person, that thing, that dignity which you are so earnest for; but take my curse and vengeance with it: never let it do you good, but be a snare and torment to you. 

"Let a fire come out of the bramble and devour you," Judges. 9:15.

~Richard Baxter~