JUST AS ALSO YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING: kathos kai eklethete (2SPAI) en mia elpidi tes kleseos humon: (Eph 4:1; Ep1:18-note; Jeremiah 14:8 - Thou Hope of Israel...; Jer 17:7 - Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.; Acts 15:11; Colossians 1:5-note - because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel,; 2Th 2:16 - Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace; 1Ti 1:1; Titus 1:2 (note) - in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago; Titus 2:13-note (note on the blessed hope); Titus 3:7(note) - that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.; He 6:18, 19 (notes) - 18 in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil; 1Pe 1:3-note 1Pe 1:4-note; 1Pe 1:13-note ; 1John 3:3) Just as (2531) (kathos) introduces illustrative proof of the statement just made. Called (2564) (kaleo) means to speak to another in order to bring them nearer, either physically or in a personal relationship. The Gentile believers were supernaturally called into the kingdom of God and its requisite duties, privileges, and bliss in this world and the world to come. One hope of your calling - This would include all the saints will experience at the Return of the Lord Jesus and forever thereafter - to be with Christ, to be like Christ, to be joint heirs with Christ, to be free of the presence and pleasure of sin. Barnes writes that... Christians have the same hope, and they should therefore be one. They are looking forward to the same heaven; they hope for the same happiness beyond the grave. It is not as on earth among the people of the world, where there is a variety of hopes--where one hopes for pleasure, and another for honour, and another for gain; but there is the prospect of the same inexhaustible joy. This hope is fitted to promote union. There is no rivalry--for there is enough for all. Hope on earth does not always produce union and harmony. Two men hope to obtain the same office; two students hope to obtain the same honour in college; two rivals hope to obtain the same hand in marriage--and the consequence is jealousy, contention, and strife. The reason is, that but one can obtain the object. Not so with the crown of life--with the rewards of heaven. All may obtain that crown; all may share those rewards. How can Christians contend in an angry manner with each other, when the hope of dwelling in the same heaven swells their bosoms and animates their hearts? (Albert Barnes. Barnes NT Commentary) Hope (1680) (elpis) (Click word study on elpis) in Scripture is not the worlds definition of I hope so, with a few rare exceptions (e.g., Acts 27:20.) Hope is defined as a desire for some future good with the expectation of obtaining it. Hope is confident expectancy. Hope is the looking forward to something with some reason for confidence respecting fulfillment. Earlier Paul had prayed for enlightenment, that the saints would know (beyond a shadow of a doubt type of knowledge - When the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the heart, one will be able to see all these great truths) what their possessions were, specifically praying... that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (See note Ephesians 1:18) Paul reminded the Gentile believers that now in Christ they were called in one hope of your calling. The fact that Paul qualifies this hope as one hope emphasizes that there is the same ultimate, glorious reality for all of the church, whether Jew or Gentile! Paul wants to make certain that both Jewish and Gentile believers fully understand that there is no differentiation between Christians. This expectation of seeing Jesus, our Blessed Hope [see below] and being like Him is entertained equally by both groups. All members of the true church are called to the one destiny of being taken out of this world, being like Christ [1John 3:2], and sharing His glory forever. ) Eadie writes that... The hope is one for it has one object, and that is glory; one foundation, and that is Christ. Their call had brought them into the possession of this hope. (John Eadie, D., LL.D. The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians) Peter encouraged the suffering saints reminding them that they had a steadfast hope, writing Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope (the link between our present and our future - living because of the resurrection of Christ Who ultimately is our Hope as Paul states in 1Timothy 1:1 Christ Jesus, our hope) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (Comment: Our living hope guarantees our inheritance - see notes 1 Peter 1:4- , our protection until the revelation of our the final aspect of our salvation - glorification - when Christ returns in the last time) (See note 1 Peter 1:3) Therefore (on the basis of the salvation and the living hope believers presently possess) gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope (elpizo - verb form of elpis - this is a command to do this now, do it effectively - aorist imperative) completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (See note 1 Peter 1:13) In 1Timothy 1:1 we read... Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, our Hope Paul states that our hope is not a plan, not a program, not even a promise, but ultimately is a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the most significant aspects of this hope is the absolute certainty that He is returning to take us home where we will spend eternity with Him in complete perfection, free from sin and shame and sadness! And so our Lord promised His disciples... If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3) The hope of our calling is the absolute certainty of our heavenly destiny and includes all that awaits the saints at the return of the Lord Jesus and is what Paul referred to by the phrase the Blessed hope writing in Titus that... the grace of God has appeared (reference to Christs incarnation), bringing salvation to all men, instructing (child rearing) us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope (which is the appearing) and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (See notes Titus 2:11; 2:12; 2:13; 2:14) In another passage that speaks of a hope which should have a unifying effect on all believers, no matter what their denomination, we read... Beloved, now we are children of God (we are all in Gods family, one body, the church), and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears (not if He appears, but when = certainty which is the essence of the meaning of the word hope), we shall be like Him, (this describes the future and final aspect of our redemption, of which the Spirit now serves as a pledge, see note Ephesians 1:14) because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1John 3:2-3) Hope as the world typically defines it is a desire for some future occurrence of which one is not assured of attaining. The ancient world did not generally regard hope as a virtue, but merely as a temporary illusion. Historians tell us that a great cloud of hopelessness covered the ancient world. Philosophies were empty. Traditions were disappearing. Religions derived mans warped imagination were powerless to help men face either life or death. People longed to pierce the veil and get some message of hope from the other side, a message ultimately found only in the Cross of Christ. Believers also have the hope of perfect unity in the future Paul explaining that Jew and Gentile in one body now was with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. (See notes Ephesians 1:10) (Comment: When God heads up everything in Christ, one glorious result will be to bring everything into perfect harmony and the church into perfect unity! What a blessed hope we have as believers!) Paxson adds that... The hope of the saint is to be with and to be like his Lord. While he praises God for the progressive sanctification which goes on day by day on earth, every truly earnest Christian longs for that day when the partial will give way to the perfect and redemption will be consummated in glorification. The one hope that in these days unifies the Lords own as perhaps no other is the blessed hope of His soon return to take them unto Himself. (Ibid, Page 90-91) Calling (2821) (klesis from kaléo = to call) (Click for more in depth discussion of calling - klesis) (Click for analysis of related word kletos, and a discussion of who are the called) means a call and was used for an invitation to a banquet. In the NT the metaphorical meaning is that of an invitation by God to come into His Kingdom with all the privileges of a Kingdom citizen...and with all the responsibilities of such a citizen! Its an invitation to come to something special. In the New Testament its a special invitation from God to man to accept the benefits of His salvation. What is involved in the calling of the Christian? Your calling involves everything that God has done, is doing, and wants to do one day regarding your salvation. Paul is simply saying, I just told you about your calling. I just told you about what God has done for you. Now I want you to understand it deeply, deeply in your heart. It involves not only the joy of being blessed with every spiritual blessing. It involves not only the joy of being chosen by Christ before the foundation of the world. It involves being redeemed by His blood. It involves being adopted as His Son. It involves being sealed in Him with His Spirit, but it also involves the hope of His returning, and everything that is to come after He returns for His church. That is the full payment of which we have the earnest right now. In the present context calling (klesis) refers to those who have been summoned by God (the following phrases are meant to be read as one long sentence which gives a Biblical statement regarding calling)... according to His purpose (Ro 8:28-note) to salvation (Ro 8:30-note), saints by calling (1Cor 1:2), both Jews and Greeks (1Cor 1:24), having been called with a holy (2Ti 1:9-note), heavenly calling (Heb 3:1-note) out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pe 2:9-note) by grace (Gal 1:6) not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles (Ro 9:24-note) through the gospel that we may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2Th 2:14) and be brought into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1Cor 1:9) and return in triumph with Him at the end of this age (Re 17:14-note). Gods great doctrine of our calling should cause all the called of Jesus Christ to exclaim Glory! ...and to earnestly desire to walk worthy of the calling to which they have been called, motivated by the hope of His calling. The hope of His calling points to the certain eternal destiny and future glory of the saints. Click for additional discussion on some of the aspects of the hope of this calling. See related in depth study of the Believers Blessed Hope. The better we truly know the hope of His calling, the more we will be motivated to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. It is truth too magnificent for words to describe which is why even God’s own revelation requires illumination of His Spirit in order for believers to begin to understand the magnitude of the blessings of salvation that exist for saints. Jon Courson writes that... Throughout Scripture, the word “hope” always refers to that which is coming, to that which is ahead. I’m convinced the single greatest problem carnal Christians have is that they don’t know the hope of His calling. They don’t know the reality of heaven. Consequently, they constantly strive for material things and are continually caught up in carnal pursuits. They’re depressed and discouraged because they don’t see the big picture of eternity. (Courson, J. Jon Coursons Application Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson) Louw Nida defines klesis as an urgent invitation to someone to accept responsibilities for a particular task, implying a new relationship to the one who does the calling; the station in life or social role which one has. Vines defines klesis as a calling, is always used in NT of that calling the origin, nature and destiny of which are heavenly (the idea of invitation being implied); it is used esp of Gods invitation to man to accept the benefits of salvation. (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. United Bible societies) Paul does not want these believers to be like Chief Crowfoot. As the story goes Crowfoot, the chief of the Blackfoot nation in southern Alberta, gave the Canadian Pacific Railway permission to lay track from Medicine Hat to Calgary, he was given in exchange a lifetime railroad pass. Reportedly, Crowfoot put the pass in a leather pouch and wore it around his neck for the rest of his life—but he never once availed himself of the rights and privileges it spelled out. What a tragedy when believers do the same thing with the riches they possess in Christ, failing to really possess their possessions! >>> Andrew Murray in Living to Please God (Chapter 12 - Working Together in Christ)... In the last chapter, our subject was maintaining the unity of the Spirit in our relationships with fellow-Christians. Here our subject is the Spirit of unity. The Holy Spirit is the source and the power in which believers, as members of one Body in Christ Jesus, are to minister to each other to build up the Body of Christ. The knowledge of what the Body of Christ means, the insight into its glory and its purpose, and the fulfilling of the place and ministry to which God has called us in the Body, have a deep connection with spiritual life. To receive the Spirit and the love of Christ means death to every vestige of selfishness. We must surrender our life and love entirely to Christ and His Body. The welfare of every member becomes the supreme object of our desire. Let us try to realize what this Body is in which the blessed Spirit of God seeks to manifest Himself. Masterpiece Under Construction We know what a masterpiece of divine workmanship a human body is. Made of dust, it is the instrument through which spiritual life can unfold and express itself. Our human bodies are a parable of the Body of believers with Christ as the Head. God gave him (Christ) to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:22, 23-note). The Body is to contain and exhibit the divine fullness as it dwells in Christ. All the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:21, 22-note). We are reminded that Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it .... That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing (Ephesians 5:25, 26, 27-note). An intimate union exists between our body and its head. The power of the head to move and use every member and the readiness of every member to yield itself to assist its fellow-members is only a shadow of that mysterious power which links every believer to Christ. This power places the believer at the disposal of his fellow-believers. The Body of Christ is the highest revelation of the glory of God. He manifested His power to make a creature of the dust, who had fallen under the power of sin and Satan, become the partaker of the holiness of the blessed Son. The Holy Spirit presides over this work today as He encourages each believer to carry out the eternal purpose--that they all should be one, even as the Father is one with the Son. When the Church yields herself to His divine working, the power of the Holy Spirit can be expected to work unhindered in the Church and in the individual members. United In Ministry When He ascended on high, Christ gave His Church the gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ep 4:12-note). The apostles and prophets and pastors are not called to build up the Body of Christ. Their work is the perfecting of the saints for the ministry of building up. Every saint is to be trained to take part in building up the Body of Christ. Just as every member of your body helps to build the whole, every believer should know his place and work in the Body of Christ in caring for every other member. Each one of us needs the other. Each one is to feel linked to the whole Body in the love of the Spirit. A Christian should not only avoid doing anything that is selfish or unloving, but actively yield himself to the Spirit to be the instructor and the comforter of all who are weak. Then it follows--Till we all come in the unity of the faith...unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13-note). Nothing less than maturity is to be the aim of each believer, not only for himself, but for all around him. Then the Body may experience the fullness of Him who fills all in all. We can grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together...according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:15, 16-note). The significance of all this in our spiritual life is clear. As long as our prayers only aim at our own perfection and happiness, they defeat themselves. Selfishness prevents the answer. Only in the union with the whole Body will each member be healthy and strong. Building up the Body of Christ in love is vital to our spiritual health. Let intercession, with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit...for all saints (Ep 6:18-note), be the proof that the Spirit of unity dwells and prays in us. Let us love the brethren fervently with a pure heart. In our home life, in prayer meetings, and in all our fellowship with Gods children, let our love watch over and encourage them. Always remember that we and they are indispensable to each other. Let the Spirit of unity inspire our secret devotions. Grace will be given to live in unceasing devotion to Christ to build up His glorious Body in love. Andrew Murray in his book the Spirit of Christ (Chapter on THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT Eph. 4:1-4, 1 Cor. 12:4, 11, 13) writes... WE know how, in the first three chapters of the Ephesians, Paul had set forth the glory of Christ Jesus as the Head of the Church, and the glory of Gods grace in the Church as the Body of Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, growing up into an habitation of God through the Spirit, and destined to be filled with all the fulness of God. Having thus lifted the believer to his true place in the heavenlies, with his life hid in Christ, he comes with him down to his life in the earthlies, and, in the second half of the Epistle, teaches how he is to walk worthy of his calling. And the very first lesson he has to give in regard to this life and walk on earth (Eph. 4:1-4) rests on the foundation-truth that the Holy Spirit has united him not only to Christ in heaven, but to Christs body on earth. The Spirit dwells not only in Christ in heaven and in the believer on earth, but very specially in Christs body, with all its members; and the full, healthy action of the Spirit can only be found where the right relation exists between the individual and the whole body, as far as he knows or comes into contact with it. His first care in his holy walk must be, therefore, to give diligence that the unity of the Spirit be maintained intact. Where this unity of the one Spirit and one body is fully acknowledged, the cardinal virtue of the Christian life will be lowliness and meekness (Eph. 4:2-3), in which each would forget and give up self for others; amid all differences and shortcomings, all would forbear one another in love. So the new commandment would be kept, and the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Love sacrificing itself wholly for others, would have free scope to do His blessed work. The need of such teaching the first Epistle to the Corinthians remarkably illustrates. In that Church there were abundant operations of the workings of the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit were strikingly manifested, but the graces of the Spirit were remarkably absent. They understood not how there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; how, amid all difference, one and the same Spirit divides to each severally as He will; how all had been baptized in one Spirit into one body, and all made to drink of one Spirit. They knew not the more excellent way, and that the chief of all the gifts of the Spirit is the Love that seeketh not its own, and only finds its life and its happiness in others. To each believer who would fully yield himself to the leading of the Spirit, as well as to the Church as a whole, in its longings for the experience in power of all that the indwelling of the Spirit implies, the unity of the Spirit is a truth fraught with rich spiritual blessing. In previous writings I have more than once made use of the expression of Pastor Stockmaier: Have a deep reverence for the work of the Holy Spirit within thee. That injunction needs as its complement a second one: Have a deep reverence for the work of the Holy Spirit in thy brother. This is no easy thing: even Christians, in other respects advanced, often fail here. The cause is not difficult to discover. In our books on education we are taught that the faculty of Discrimination, the observing of differences, is one of the earliest to be developed in children. The power of Combination, or the observing of the harmony that exists amid apparent diversity, is a higher one, and comes later; as the power of Classification, in its highest action, it is only found in true genius. The lesson finds most striking exemplification in the Christian life and Church. it needs but little grace to know where we differ from, other Christians or churches, to contend for our views, or to judge their errors in doctrine or conduct. But this indeed is grace, where, amid conduct that tries or grieves us, or teaching that appears to us unscriptural or hurtful, we always give the unity of the Spirit the first place, and have faith in the power of love to maintain the living union amid outward separation. Keep the unity of the Spirit: such is Gods command to every believer. it is the New Commandment, to love one another, in a new shape, tracing the love to the Spirit in which it has its life. If you would obey the command, note carefully that it is the unity of the Spirit. There is a unity of creed or custom, of church or choice, in which the bond is more of the flesh than of the Spirit. Would you keep the unity of the Spirit, remember the following things. Seek to know that in thyself in which the unity is to find its power of attachment and of victory. There is much in thee that is of self and of the flesh, and that can take part in a unity that is of this earth, but that will greatly hinder the unity of the Spirit. Confess that it is in no power or love of thine own that thou canst love; all that is of thyself is selfish, and reaches not to the true unity of the Spirit. Be very humble in the thought that it is only what is of God in thee that can ever unite with what appears displeasing to thyself. Be very joyful in the thought that there is indeed that in thee which can conquer self, and love even what seems unloving. Study also to know and prize highly that in thy brother with which thou art to be united. As in thyself, so there is in him, but a little beginning, a hidden seed of the Divine life, surrounded by much that is yet °carnal, and often is very trying and displeasing. it needs a heart very humble in the knowledge of how unworthy thou thyself art, and very loving in the readiness to excuse thy brother, for so did Jesus in the last night: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak,--to look persistently at what there is in the brother of the image and Spirit of the Father. Estimate him not by what he is in himself, but by what he is in Christ, and as thou feelest how the same life and Spirit, which thou owest to free grace, is in him too, the unity of the Spirit will triumph over the difference and dislike of the flesh. The Spirit in thee, acknowledging and meeting the Spirit in thy brother, will bind thee in the unity of a life that is from above. Keep this unity of the Spirit in the active exercise of fellowship. The bond between the members of my body is most living and real, maintained by the circulation of the blood and the life it carries. In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. There is one body and one Spirit. The inner union of life must find expression and be strengthened in the manifested communion of love. Cultivate intercourse not only with those who are of one way of thinking and worshipping with thyself, lest the unity be more in the flesh than the Spirit. Study in all thy thoughts and judgments of other believers to exercise the love that thinketh no evil. Never say an unkind word of a child of God, as little as of others. Love every believer, not for the sake of what in him is in sympathy with thee or pleasing to thee, but for the sake of the Spirit of the Father which there is in him. Give thyself expressly and of set purpose to love and labour for Gods children within thy reach, who through ignorance, or feebleness, or waywardness, know not that they have the Spirit, or are grieving Him. The work of the Spirit is to build up an habitation for God; yield thyself to the Spirit in thee to do the work. Recognise thy dependence upon the fellowship of the Spirit in thy brother, and his dependence upon thee, and seek thy growth and his in the unity of love. Take thy part in the united intercession that rises up to God for the unity of His Church. Take up and continue the intercession of the Great High Priest for all who believe, that they may be one. The Church is one in the life of Christ and the love of the Spirit. it is, alas! not one in the manifested unity of the Spirit. Hence the need of the command: Keep the unity. Plead with God for the mighty workings of His Spirit in all lands and churches and circles of believers. When the tide is low, each little pool along the shore with its inhabitants is separated from the other by a rocky barrier. As the tide rises, the barriers are flooded over, and all meet in one great ocean. So it will be with the Church of Christ. As the Spirit of God comes, according to the promise, as floods upon the dry ground, each will know the power in himself and in others, and self disappear as the Spirit is known and honoured. And how is this wondrous change to be brought about, and the time hastened that the prayer be fulfilled, that they all may be one, that the world may know that Thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as Thou hast loved me? Let each of us begin with himself. Resolve even now, beloved child of God, that this shall be the one mark of your life, the proof of your sonship, the having and knowing the Indwelling Spirit. If you are to unite, not with what pleases you, or is in harmony with your way of thinking and acting, but with what the Spirit in you sees and seeks in others, you must have given yourself entirely up to His way of thinking and acting. And if you are to do this, He must have the mastery of your whole being. You need to abide in the living and never-ceasing consciousness that He dwelleth within you. You need to pray unceasingly that the Father may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. it is in the faith of the Triune God, the Father giving the Spirit in the name of the Son, and the Spirit dwelling within you; it is in this faith brought into adoring exercise at the footstool of Gods throne; it is in direct contact and fellowship with the Father and the Son, that the Spirit will take full possession, and pervade your entire being. The fuller His indwelling and the mightier His working is, the more truly spiritual your being becomes, the more will self sink away, and the Spirit of Christ use you in building up and binding together believers into an habitation of God,, Christs Spirit will be in you the holy anointing, the oil of consecration, to set you apart and fit you to be, as Christ was, a messenger of the Fathers love. In the humility and gentleness of daily life, in the kindliness and forbearance of love amid all the differences and difficulties in the Church, in the warm-hearted sympathy and self-sacrifice that goes out to find and help all who need help, the Spirit in you will prove that He belongs to all the members of the body as much as to you, and that through you His love reaches out to all around to teach and to bless. Blessed Lord Jesus! in Thy last night on earth Thy one prayer for Thy disciples was, Holy Father, keep them, that they may be one. Thy one desire was to see them a united flock, all gathered and kept together in the One Almighty Hand of Love. Lord Jesus! now Thou art on the Throne, we come to Thee with the same plea: Oh, keep us, that we may be one! pray for us, Thou Great High Priest, that we may be made perfect in one, that the world may know that the Father hath loved us, as He loved Thee. Blessed Lord! we thank Thee for the tokens that Thou art wakening in Thy Church the desire for the manifestation to the world of the unity of Thy people. Grant, we pray Thee, to this end the mighty workings of Thy Holy Spirit. May every believer know the Spirit that is in him, and that is in his brother, and in all lowliness and love keep the unity of the Spirit with those with whom he comes into contact. May all the leaders and guides of Thy Church be enlightened, from above, that the unity of the Spirit may be more to them than all human bonds of union in creed or church order. May all who have put on the Lord Jesus above all things put on love, the bond of perfectness. Lord Jesus! we do beseech Thee, draw Thy people in united prayer to the footstool of Thy Throne of Glory, whence Thou givest Thy Spirit to reveal Thy presence to each as present in all. Oh, fill us with Thy Spirit, and we shall be one! one Spirit and one Body. Amen. 1. The health of every member, and even every particle, of my body depends upon the health of the surrounding portion. Either the healing power of the sound part must expel what is unhealthy, or this will communicate its disease. I am more dependent upon my brother than I know. He is more dependent on me than I know. The Spirit I have is the Spirit of Christ dwelling in my brother too: all I receive is meant for him too. To keep the unity of the Spirit in active exercise, to live in loving fellowship with believers around me, is life in the Spirit. 2. That they may be made perfect in one, They approach perfection as they approach unity. Perfection is impossible in a state of separation. My life is not wholly given to me, but a part of it is given to my brother, to be available to me when I abide in him.--BOWEN. 3. It has taken thee time and prayer and faith to know the Spirit of God within thee; it will take time and prayer and faith, and much love, to know fully the Spirit of God in thy brother. 4. It is only in the unity of the body that the Spirit of God can fully and mightily display His power, either in the Church or to the world. God speaks to companies of men as He never speaks to solitary watchers or students; there is a fuller tone, an intenser fervour, in Pentecostal revelations than in personal communion, and, as we ourselves know, there is a keener joy in sympathy than can be realized even in the devoutest solitude. --The Paraclete, p. 252.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:37:48 +0000
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