True Service for Christ (Continued) (Triumphs of Faith 1.8)

TRUE SERVICE FOR CHRIST.
­[Concluded.]

 The apostles were pre-eminently men of service, and men who had power in their service, and their history is ever held before us as the history of a successful working and witnessing Church. Let us go to some of our Lord’s teachings, and see how they open in the light thrown upon them by the lives of these Apostles, after the Spirit of Truth had come to them and they were prepared to be witnesses for Christ.

In his lesson, drawn from the Vine and the branches hear Him say: “I am the true Vine.” “Abide in Me.” “The branch cannot bear fruit, except it abide in the Vine. Ye cannot bear fruit except ye abide in Me.” Then follows five distinct things said of the branch that abides even through purging:

…”He bringeth forth much fruit.”
…”Ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.”
…”Ye shall abide in My love.”
…”Your joy shall be full.”
…”Ye shall love one another.”

And interwoven all along to make the fabric complete, comes the “Abide and keep My commandments,” and, “If ye keep My commandments ye shall abide.”

This is made very personal, for, listen, again: “I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should bring forth fruit; that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye may ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you; that ye love one another; that with the Spirit of Truth ye have that joy that no man taketh from you; and that with this Spirit ye shall bear witness.” There is an element of life belonging in the common to the Vine and the branches, for, “If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My sayings, they will keep yours also.”

This abiding and its abundant blessing was all proved true in the experience of the disciples, and, reading it now, with their lives as exponents of the text, we know that the life which flowed so freely between the Vine and the branches was of the Holy Ghost.

What was true for the disciples may be made true for us; and what was their need is no less our necessity. Witnesses for Christ must be branches of this living Vine. By the Holy Ghost we may have the fuller knowledge of the abiding presence crowning the work of Jesus in our hearts. Do any ask to hear God’s word, to know His voice, to have His power? “When the Comforter is come He will guide you into all truth.” “He that is of God heareth God’s word.” “Then shall ye receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.”

Seeking gifts we only limit our advances to Him, Whom having, we have in Him all things. Abide, and the branch will receive from the Living Vine the Holy Ghost. He will come bringing peace and joy and love, and strength to keep the commandments, so that we shall do whatsoever He shall say to us. He will come, making all grace abound. “that ye always, having all sufficiency in all things, may about to every good work.” He will come ministering bread for your food, and multiplying your seed sown, and increasing the fruits of your righteousness.

The Life from the Vine nourishes the Branch, and fruit is produced, the fruit of the Spirit; with the measure of the fruit-bearing limited by the soul-abiding. The practice of a grace, however beautiful, may be all in the life of self-nature and self-culture, and therefore unto death. The care of the branch is left in other hands, and when fruit appears, the purging of the Husbandman, alone, can bring more fruit, and the fruit that is unto life.

As living branches, we, putting into form and expression the life within, the life of the Vine, ask and receive, for we ask what He wills. His words are spoken, for the words are the expression of His life, and His life is there. His words are to us the outward signs of an inward truth; we keep them, to because His will is our law, but because His will expressed in these words is our will also.

The branch bears no fruit for its own using; the service is for another, and in the laying down of our life for others, more life comes; in the giving of all, all is received. Then abiding in love, for “God is love,” and cannot withhold Himself; and in “fullness of joy,” for He fills all our present and measures out present life and present duty; in quiet acceptance of today, we find out content, and our best having, and bear witness in our lives that we have been with Jesus from the beginning.

What is your need then? Hear Christ’s words: “Abide in Me, and whatsever ye shall ask the Father, in My name, He will do it. Abide in Me and bring forth fruit, yea, much fruit; yea, fruit that shall remain. Abide and have the love of God shed abroad in your hearts. Abide and have that joy that no man taketh from you. Abide and keep My commandments as I have kept My Father’s commandments.” So shall your life be of God, and your service, true service.

CONSECRATION AND FAITH PLEDGE

CONSECRATION PLEDGE.

Dear Lord; I present myself unreservedly to Thee.

My time.

My talents.

My tongue.

My will.

My property.

My reputation.

My entire being.

To be, and to do, anything that Thou requires of me.

PLEDGE OF FAITH.

        Now as I have given myself away, I am no longer my own, but all the Lord’s.

        I believe Thou dost accept the offering I bring.

        I trust Thee to work in me all the good pleasure of Thy will.

        “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and I will receive you.”

                As I do give myself to Thee, I believe Thou dost receive me now.