The Provision of His Presence..." all the days"  Matthew 28:20.

For the past 44 weeks, by the grace of God, my wife and I have been privileged to gather (only) to the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; and on each and every occasion we have "broken bread" together in fond memory of Him as He lovingly and longing requested us so to do. Many of my dear brethren and sisters would be aghast no doubt, but none are able to prove from the N.T. Scriptures that this is contrary to the mind of the Lord. 

On every occasion, we have claimed His presence in the midst, and known, felt, and realised His answer to our prayer; furthermore, we have experienced the precious help of the Holy Spirit in graciously composing the worship of our redeemed hearts. 

The Lord Jesus has known the end from the beginning, and in anticipation of the awful state of the collective testimony, even now in tatters, He compassionately made provision for the "twos and threes" who would gather unto His Name. He said unequivocally and unconditionally that He would be "in the midst of them." (When I say "unconditionally" I mean of course where there is the absence of gross immorality and false doctrine; we need ever to "examine ourselves" in the light of His Word, "and so eat.") 

Now is such a time for us to take possession of His ineffable provision and ask Him to grace our little companies with His sweet and delightsome presence. I am fully persuaded that this promise is for such a time as is being experienced throughout the earth. Matthew 18:20 could never be more relevant than now!

So much for divine provision for the twos and threes. It does not finish there for Christ has made provision for the individual believer as well and this in an age of Laodicean character; for in the Revelation we find the Lord in the outside place, (I mean of the heart,) and seeking an entrance into the believer's heart. He cries thus, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hear My voice and open the door, I will come in unto him and sup with him, and he with Me."3:20. In his footnote J.N.D. adds, "meaning, "I have placed Myself there and am standing." He is there in heart-longing to enjoy the fellowship of those He has redeemed at infinite cost and in infinite love.

Dear brethren and sisters in Christ, we have robbed Him of His rightful portion for almost a whole year. Bowing to misleading and incorrect "science;" having capitulated to the strong submissions of a few continental brethren who have mishandled the Word of God, by determining what we should do and how we should meet and worship and "fitting" the scriptures to suit their preconceived decisions. They have surrendered to an ever-changing "science," and chosen to obey man rather than God. Advancing the plea that we are to obey those in secular authority over us, (which is our bounden duty,) even in that which pertains to the Assembly, the Body of Christ. But do we not understand that this is not their province or prerogative? We need to obey implicitly the Word of God; I mean just simply obey.

This has not been written in the bitterness of my spirit, but in my utter dejection, as we continue in our abject state of being scattered abroad and that without an end in sight. It cannot be wondered at that the lovely and loving Saviour should thus determine in eternal counsels that we should have provision for every eventuality here in this vale of tears. And a provision for the smallest company of believers and even the individual saint. Praise Him for His unspeakable care in protecting, preserving, and yea, providing for His own in every dispensation.

    

"A Time to be "Cut-off"

I have just read a "Post" on a highly regarded "Forum" that has left me totally perplexed. It is an invitation to hear the Gospel of Gods' grace concerning His Son. (My wording.) I wish to quote verbatim one line from the invitation to "hear.". It is of course a "virtual" meeting.

"Starting sharp on the hour, (and) the moderator is no longer able to admit folks after the start!"  (My underlining and exclamation mark.)

I ask in all simplicity, "Is this not fatal nonsense? If an unbeliever desired to hear the Glad Tidings and was late, he or she would not be permitted. Now if this person was not completely stumbled thereby and purposed to listen a day or two later, and far be the thought perished in their sins, where would that leave us, brethren? It is too frightful to contemplate. I am sorry but such action is way far beyond my ability to grasp.

May I ask, "do we turn away folk from a "physical" meeting? I think not! Do we "tarry one for another," as fellow saints when the need arises? I trust that we do!"

If the problem is one of technology, then we need to give up the technology!

I trust this has not been written in a spirit of bitterness, but rather in that of absolute incredulity and disbelief that such a situation should ever arise. 

To Probe the Conscience

The Government of the UK and the First Ministers of the devolved nations within it have stated that their advice and current legislation is for the general public to "travel locally," but if necessary on the "Christmas Day" ONLY to travel further afield but NOT to stay overnight on their journey to or from the visit.

I wonder how many of the Lords' people have chosen to disobey this prohibition? I KNOW that some have acted thus!

My question to those who have transgressed is simple; are you in truth prepared to flout the law out of love to family and friends, natural affection, the "honey" of the Word? And yet fail to "obey God rather than man," in order that you may declare your love for the Lord Jesus in answering the loving, longing of His heart for you to "call Him to mind," to adoringly "remember Him?"

If in all good conscience you will answer "yes," then the path you have chosen in these days of "lockdown" is one of hypocrisy and inconsistency. It is a case of unprincipled behaviour and dishonouring to the divinely exalted Name of Christ.

From the commencement of the pandemic, the Assemblies of Gods' should have bowed themselves unreservedly to the Word of God and instead of first looking at the circumstances and then up to God, it should have looked at God first and then dismissed the circumstances as of no account.

Only Joshua and Caleb among the twelve spies fully trusted in the promises Jehovah made to Israel in connection with the possession of the land of promise. The rest brought an evil report and declared "we are not able;" the product of infidelity. But Caleb would faithfully assert, "we are well able;" the language of faith. The majority saw the circumstances, great cities, high walls, and giants, and thereby caused the people to succumb to abject unbelief. Caleb and Joshua saw the circumstances from Gods' own vantage point and were ready to act in Christ-honouring faith. They simply trusted God and the word of His grace. No failure through lack of faith on their part. And remember those two alone of all that unbelieving generation received their inheritance in the land. God ever honours faith-obedience in His own beloved people.

May we humbly and lovingly impress this incident from the pages of the Holy Scriptures upon your consciences; because the Lord Jesus is being robbed of His rightful portion, (all the fat and the incense,) all the while we live in fear of "circumstances."

Numbers 13:17-33. 

Renewed Friendship

During the years from 1977 to 1985, my wife and I held Sunday School meetings in our house, every Lords' Day afternoon. We also held a mid-week meeting on a Wednesday from 1978 to 1984. Over those years 310 children attended, some just the once, others as long as the meetings continued.

I sadly allowed my employment to dictate my movements and had to abandon those who still attended when my job required me to move from Bristol to Cardiff. We lost touch with the vast majority of the children on this account. I have regretted it ever since, believing I moved outside of the will of the Lord. Although "He remained faithful" and proved "His gifts and callings were without repentance," so permitting me to serve Him in South Wales.

Wonderfully by His infinite grace, at least four of our Sunday School "pupils" were gloriously saved! Eternity will reveal whether there were more! Others also showed real interest and faithfully attended the meetings.

One young lady (among a few others) remained in touch with us each "Christmas" season by sending us a card. She (sacrificially) remained at home with her father after he was widowed, keeping him company for the remainder of his life! He only died in December 2019. learning of her loneliness I wrote a letter and inserted it in the card we sent her. We offered to meet up with her and renew our friendship with her, hoping to alleviate a little of her unhappiness. She did not reply. I left it with the Lord and continued to pray for her and the many who had touched our lives in those earlier days.

Yesterday we received the customary "Christmas" card from her with a letter. She apologised for her failure to respond to our invitation but has asked us to meet her God willing after the current lockdown restrictions are lifted.

My wife opened the mail as usual and then told me there was something that I would be pleased to see. I was delighted and thanked the Lord for this answer to prayer and the opportunity afforded to us to be of some feeble blessing to her.

What a lovely little oasis in this wild howling waste of a desert! How it uplifted our spirits in this vale of tears. May there be an abundance of glory secured for our altogether lovely Saviour as a consequence, if it would so please Him.

"Virtual" Meetings -- My Perplexity

 I readily admit I am hopeless when it comes to computer ability, so please bear this in mind when I ask how anyone accesses "virtual" meetings and "webinars?" Does everyone need a secret code or are they available in the whole of the public domain? 

When "virtual" Breaking Bread meetings take place how is the "table" safeguarded? Further, I have learned of numerous differing "patterns" adopted/adapted for the Lords' Supper. Which one is correct? If one is according to the mind of God, (and I doubt that is the case), then ALL THE REST ARE WRONG! Brethren and sisters in Christ does this not perplex you?

Whenever the Lords' people gather to the Name of Christ alone, I mean "physically," only the ONE pattern is adhered to BY ALL who bow to the authority of the Word of God. There is an undeniable compatibility shared by every company of the redeemed. Brethren and sisters in the light of this simple setting forth, are you not perplexed?

Random reminiscences

In having completed my reading of the above book, my initial feeling was that of disappointment. Perhaps this was due in part because I was familiar with a good number of Ironsides' anecdotes within its pages. I suspect I had read them previously in the biography of  H.A.I. written by E. Schuyler English, and entitled "Ordained of the Lord." Furthermore, it may be as a consequence of being personally perturbed by the title English adopted for his biography which is surely a misnomer! The last eighteen years of Ironsides' service was as Pastor of the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, an ordination by man! A violation of many of the convictions of his own soul, and in disobedience to the Word of God. 

But within the pages of the "The Reminiscences", I discovered an incident that caused me much joy and I confess, such poignancy that I wept. It was the occasion when a Japenese gentleman surrendered to the claims of Christ and acknowledged the Lord Jesus as very Son of God, and his own personal Saviour. His testimony was purest childlike simplicity. His conversion took place at the Breaking of Bread one Lords' Day when he was there as an observer. Moved by the Holy Spirit, and no doubt causing some initial dread among the believers, he "I like to pray," and he poured out his heart to the Lord in true repentance and faith. The whole company was reduced to tears!

Just as poignant was his request for baptism there and then! On being told the brethren would be happy to baptise him on the next Lords' Day, he shamed them with his simple reference to the imminent return of the Lord, and they humbly agreed to baptise him that afternoon!

A similar arrangement was made when Abraham Lincoln requested believers baptism, the promise to baptise him some while after his interview with his fellow believers. He was subsequently assassinated e'er he could obey the Lord in this respect.

Quite some years ago I was preaching the Gospel on a Lords' Day evening. The Scripture taken up was that of the wonderful conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8. I stressed the need for believers to be baptised and that immediately on the confession of their faith in the finished work and glorious resurrection of the Son of God, "out from among the dead." I perhaps laboured it a little too much, as the saints there refused to allow me to preach or minister there again. They practiced a probation period in which (they) presumably judged whether the "candidate" was suitable for baptism. I am saddened to this day by such a prohibition when no scripture is referred to in refuting that the conversion and baptism of a repentant sinner do not go hand in hand. And sadly it took a long period before I was able to approach one of the elders of that Assembly as to why I was no longer welcome. He was hesitant, embarrassed, and ashamed, I believe. 

Brethren, e have no scriptural warrant for delay in baptising new-born believers!

Acting on an Exercise

                                                                  Acting on an Exercise

Yesterday proved to be one of the hottest days of the year here in Bristol. It reached around 86 degrees fahrenheit. The previous evening I had an exercise to distribute Via gospel magazines within my extensive local area. I filled my bag with 250 copies and set out not long after noon. It was very hot, and without the semblance of a breeze quite uncomfortable.

After close on an hour I began to feel somewhat unwell and realised I should not continue much longer. I decided I needed to stop at an easily identifiable place so as to resume on another occasion should the Lord so will. I soon reached a "T" junction and felt this was appropriate. As I knew a short cut home rather than retracing all my steps I was grateful for the opportunity to reach home more quickly, having lingered a little in a shady spot on the way.

Arriving home I drank more than a litre of orange and ate a few squares of chocolate and began to feel much better. I then read a little ministry in my armchair having put my tired feet up. Fully recovered I picked up my bag, still somewhat heavy with magazines, and went up to my study to count how many copies were left and thus establish how few (I feared) had been distributed. It was a great surprise to find I had actually delivered exactly half, 125 copies! I was quite elated and thanked the Father for His gracious undertaking for me in acting upon the exercise brought to me by His Holy Spirit. 

In dark and difficult days with the preaching of the Gospel at a premium due to "lockdown" restrictions, it was precious to give perhaps 250 or more souls the opportunity to read the saving truth of the Glad Tidings, words whereby they must be saved.

May I commend this humble, unobtrusive ministry to you in these days one the Word of God is scarce; and multitudes are dying every day without Christ!