by T. Austin-Sparks
Beloved of God,
In such times as these it is no mere formality to send greetings to
our fellow-members of Christ in so many places of the earth; and we
do truly assure you that you are in our hearts continually. We have
said before that our mailing list is not just an office and business
affair. The map is in our mind's eye all the time. This ministry
has, and does, cost too much to become formal or routine.
There is one matter upon my heart concerning which I want to seek
your special fellowship in prayer. It is with regard to the blinding
work of the enemy. In this issue we have included the first of a
series of messages on spiritual sight. The ground is covered there
in a Scriptural way, but here I want to make the appeal more
personal and direct.
Among the Lord's people the very greatest need of the moment is of
an eye-opened and eye-opening ministry. In olden times the Prophet
was called a Seer, one who saw. The true God-sent Seer was the
interpreter of the times, and of God's thoughts in those times. Oh,
how we need some Prophets or Seers to interpret these present times,
and God's thoughts in them!
Here in Britain and in many other parts of the world, religious
buildings - including the most evangelical, and some of great
evangelical history - have been left with hardly one stone
upon another. In many places the activities of Christian
institutions have been brought to a standstill. Many Christians and
servants of God have been killed, not in the Lord's work, but
engulfed in the general destruction of war. An altogether new
situation is arising in most of the great fields of Christian
activity. Very severe conditions seem to be swiftly developing for
an ever greater part of the world. What the present happenings in
India, for instance, presage, we can only imperfectly surmise. And
yet the only positive thought among the responsible leaders seems to
be to rebuild what has been destroyed and resume on the old lines in
the old way. We have eagerly watched for, but have so far failed to
discern any real enquiry - let alone explanation - as to what God
might mean by it all. If He is really Lord and is interested, then
surely He has not allowed, and is not allowing all this for nothing.
But there is worse. In so many of these greater fields of Christian
occupation - as we say "At home and abroad" - the Lord's people, in
spite of all, still find it possible to allow Christian things to
take precedence over Himself. Their "work", their "society",
"mission", "church", interpretation of truth, tradition, etc., form
such a strong tie, and keep alive such rivalries, prejudices,
suspicions, jealousies, and fears, that the Lord has no chance of
doing "a new thing".
Does the present situation and its spread and intensification mean
that the Lord is under the necessity - for the sake of His full
thought for His people, and the world - of creating a state of
things which will bring people - and firstly His own people - to the
place where they will cry in earnest, not "prophesy unto us smoother
things", but "tell us the truth!"? Is there not a possibility that
the Lord may be seeking to bring His people to the place where they
realise that nothing short of an altogether new and fuller knowledge
of Himself will save them from being put out of the fight? He has
never yet been able to bring His great purpose to birth without
there being travail. It is a law in nature and in grace since Adam
sinned. The creation truly travails now. Is the Church entering into
a new travail? Are there those inside the general company of
believers who are being caused to travail with God in anguish of
soul and spirit? If so, what is it for and unto? I do not presume to
know the full answer, and such answer as I might give I withhold at
present. My point is to seek your earnest reach-out to the Lord,
that He will take the veil of the covering from the faces of His
people, and all peoples; a veil which Satan has put upon them, lest
God's fullest intentions as bound up with His Son should dawn upon
them. Will you pray much for the destruction of this work of the
Devil, and for the opening of the eyes of the Lord's people
particularly?
Big changes seem to be possible in the near future, and if at any
time it becomes more difficult, or even impossible, to communicate
and continue this ministry by mail, remember that the communications
by way of the Throne will never be interrupted, and the oneness of
the Body can then be just as truly known and helpful.
With love in our reigning Lord,
Yours through His grace,
T. AUSTIN-SPARKS.
In keeping with T. Austin-Sparks' wishes that what was freely received should be freely given and not sold for profit, and that his messages be reproduced word for word, we ask if you choose to share these messages with others, to please respect his wishes and offer them freely - free of any changes, free of any charge (except necessary distribution costs) and with this statement included.