The supremacy and sovereignty of
God in His Assembly is much pressed in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12. We read in
verse 28 how "God hath set some in the church." If in verse 4 Paul
talks of "diversities of gifts," then in verse 6 he says, "It is
the same God which worketh all in all." Evidently in Corinth (and I do not
think, beloved brethren, Corinth was the only place where the tendency came
out, if I know the history of the Church of God, whether in days gone by or in
our own) there was the working of the human will and mind, and a desire on the
part of some to have a place of importance. Manifestly there was no desire on
the part of Paul or Apollos to take this place, but there was the endeavor on
the part of some foolish men to put either them or others in such a place. (See
chap. 4:5, 6, 7.) Notice how the apostle slays all this factionary work.
"It is the same God that worketh all in all." He would slay
all schism, and division, and school, and party of every kind. If it is a
question of the Body it is not Paul or Apollos but, "Now hath God set the
members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him" (ver. 18).

 

If I think of the Church as it
is presented here in Corinth, I see that God has set the members in the Body
according to His own will. Do you know, beloved brother, why you are where you
are? why you are located just where you are? If there be true subjection to God
and subservience to Him, you will feel and own that you are in the spot where
it has pleased God to set you, and that is everything. The moment I see that
God has set that brother in his place, and this one in his, I am content and
say, ‘Thank God for that servant and his ministry!" It is his place, not
mine. So, if I am right I neither emulate nor ape it, being just satisfied with
my own place and niche in the Body (ver. 24). "God has tempered the body
together. . . ." God has arranged all, for we read again, "God hath
set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly
teachers" (ver. 28). Here we have not a complete list of gifts, for that
we do not get anywhere in Scripture. We have some gifts mentioned in Romans 12,
others in Ephesians 4, and many here, but not in any case a complete and
detailed list. In each passage the gifts named are seen to be in connection
with the special truth the Spirit of God is bringing before the saints at the
moment.

 

Here it is striking to observe
that the list includes no evangelist. The reason is not difficult to
understand. The apostle is instructing the saints about their coming together
and the order of the Assembly before the Lord, and it is not there that the gift
of the evangelist is in exercise. I feel strongly that the evangelist is of the
Assembly and belongs to it. No evangelist is working according to the truth
unless he is working in conjunction and, if possible, in whole-hearted
fellowship with the Assembly. Then he naturally helps his converts to gravitate
towards the Assembly. In the apostle’s days that was a natural thing and the
convert was like a fish out of water if he did not get among the saints. In the
Assembly was the power of the Spirit:there the Spirit reigned while outside
darkness and the devil reigned. Today in the divided state of things which
marks Christendom, it is very different and I think an evangelist ought to be
very careful in urging reception of his converts by the Assembly. For myself I
am very careful how I seek to introduce any who profess to have been blessed by
my ministry. I think my brethren are far better able to judge than I am myself
of my work. This is a most important principle and I think I see it in
Scripture, that is, in Acts 8 where Philip went down to Samaria. Philip is the
only man in Scripture called "the evangelist," and a fine
warm-hearted fellow he was, a real fisher of men. He caught a great many fish
in Samaria, and he thought he had caught a great fish when Simon the sorcerer
professed to believe and was baptized. Philip would have brought him into the
Assembly if the Lord in His grace had not sent down Peter and John to detect
him and keep him out.

 

It is a
great thing for the Assembly to be exercised about the reception of souls who
confess the Lord. I would like to add a little word with regard to the
responsibility of the saints generally in regard to the reception of souls
desiring fellowship in the breaking of bread. This is far too often left to the
two or three who may commend such. It is necessary, and very nice that they
should be commended, but we ought to have in our souls more distinctly the
sense that it is the Assembly that receives, as it is the Assembly who may have
to dismiss or put away. If the saints were more exercised as to this it would
be greatly for the profit of the Assembly, and tend toward practical
fellowship. Let us remember it is God’s Assembly, and may all things be done
"decently and in order," for His name’s sake.

The Church is waiting for her
Lord

When He comes to claim His own.

His return to the air is our
"Blessed Hope,

His glory will then be shown.

 

Even death cannot touch that
"Blessed Hope;”

It is sure and steadfast and
true,

Because on the cross His blood
was shed

When He died there for me and
you.

 

While some wait there with the
Blessed Lord

The others wait here below;

His soon return is the Church’s
hope:

What proof that He loves her so!

 

He will come from heaven to the
clouds

To gather His ransomed host;

Not one redeemed by His precious
blood

Will be counted among the lost.

 

The saints will be caught up to
meet the Lord

In the air, our meeting place;

With wonder, rejoicing, and glad
surprise

Will we see His blessed face.

 

Thus Christ will present us to
Himself,

His Bride, all spotless and
clean;

She’ll be without wrinkle or any
stain,

In her no sin will be seen.

 

Throughout eternity’s endless
age

His loved ones will sing His
praise;

Our "Blessed Hope"
will then be fulfilled

Through
the riches of His grace.

"Now the Spirit speaketh
expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits …" (1 Tim. 4:1).

 

Although modern man may believe
he has outgrown his need of God, he has not outgrown his need of understanding
"the unseen" or the supernatural. Instead of turning to God through
the Lord Jesus Christ to satisfy spiritual needs, increasing numbers are
turning to the old occult (mysterious, unseen) sciences. Various of these
occult arts are gaining reception as they are explained in intellectual
language and masked by such terms as parapsychology and extrasensory perception
(ESP). The Bible uses a number of terms for those who practice various phases
of these wicked supernatural arts:necromancer, soothsayer, witch, charmer,
wizard, astrologer, enchanter, magician, and sorcerer.

 

Since the outbreak of idolatry
after the flood, these occult sciences have ever been the scourge of nations.
They are not new. The practice of these magical arts was forbidden in Israel and violators were to be punished by death (Ex. 22:18; Deut. 18:10). All these forms
of spiritual wickedness are condemned by God and branded the abominations of
the heathen nations. Even in apostolic times, those bearing the gospel message
met opposition by sorcerers, magicians, etc. (See Acts 8:1-24, 13:6-8, 16:16, 19:19.)
Today, however, the renewed interest in these areas of contact with the unseen
world and the supernatural is appalling.

 

Radio stations have recently
found overwhelming audience response to call-in programs on which various
witches, palm readers, mediums, and specialists in ESP are interviewed. When a Chicago radio station recently interviewed a specialist in ESP, it was swamped with over
30,000 call attempts while the station phones were busy. The program was
reported to have been one of their most responsive ever.

 

Last fall a certain self-styled
witch from England, Dame Sybil Leak, toured the U.S. and was interviewed on
radio. The interest was amazing as local stations were flooded with calls from
listeners, some "junior witches" comparing notes as to trances,
projecting spirits, etc. Dame Leak also pointed out how the study of these
occult sciences is lagging in the U.S. She added that Europe has eight colleges
and universities offering study in these occult sciences while so far not a
single U.S. university or college offers courses in this field. From what we
can gather, campus life is full enough these days without adding witchcraft!

 

These magical arts are supposed
to help the adherents feel the past, sense the future, bolster against shock,
and sense death in advance. They also claim to be in touch with the
"universal mind" and in search of "universal truth."
Miraculous healings are supposedly dispensed without charge. These claims,
together with re-incarnation and a hodgepodge of other hokum, are the basic
elements of these forbidden practices. Many of these witches and ESP artists
are associated with Theosophical Societies which some have said "attempt
to popularize Buddhism in western lands." (For a brief examination of
Theosophy we commend a small pamphlet by A. J. Pollock available through our
bookseller.)

 

In this country a Mrs. Jeane
Dixon has professed some of these supernatural powers and received nationwide
fame for her predictions and their fulfillments. News media have given her
extensive coverage. Some of her past predictions in connection with plane
wrecks, international affairs, and even the death of President Kennedy have
amazed many. Some of her future predictions, if interpreted in the light of
Bible prophecy, have even led some Christians to wonder. Several of our readers
have sent articles about her for our attention.

 

We understand that Mrs. Dixon
professes Christian belief as a member of the Roman Catholic Church. No doubt
she is a lady of many social graces and much poise, yet if the reports are
true, does she not at least practice one of the condemned occult arts? What
shall we say of the condition of things when one practicing these occult
sciences is received in the "Christian fold"? God spoke through Moses
saying, "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and
giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass,
whereof he spake unto thee, saying. Let us go after other gods, which thou hast
not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that
prophet, or that dreamer of dreams:for the LORD your God proveth you, to know
whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments,
and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that
prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath
spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the
land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out
of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put
the evil away from the midst of thee" (Deut. 13:l-5).

 

Thus was the prescribed
treatment for prophets or dreamers whose prophesies, even though fulfilled,
were not of God.

 

We believe the stupefying
effects of these magical arts will but ripen all those taken in by them to more
readily believe the lie which will seal their eternal doom—"that they all
might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:12). Woe unto the professed wisdom of this
age which is placing itself more and more under the influence of Satan. "Professing
themselves to be wise they became fools" (Rom. 1:22).

 

We thank God for the gospel of
Christ which is still His power unto salvation to everyone that believes. But,
we ask with Isaiah and the Apostle Paul, "Who hath believed our
report?" (Rom. 10:16). Though it was applied to Israel as God spoke
through the prophets, we believe it is still applicable to folks of this age.
"All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and
gainsaying people" (Rom. 10:21).

 

The day of grace has nearly run
its course. The Lord’s coming is very near. Signs of our times are truly
foreboding. Salvation through Jesus Christ as Saviour and His finished atoning
work on the cross is still proclaimed. "Who hath believed our
report?" Have you? We beg you to consider well this question. If you have
not yet received life, pardon, and peace through faith in His name, do so today
without further delay. For those who have believed,

 

"We are bound to give
thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of Lord, because God hath from
the beginning chosen, you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and
belief of the truth:whereunto He called you by our gospel to the obtaining of
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold
the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now
our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us,
and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort
your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work" (2 Thess.
2:13-17).

 

Now after these things, in the
reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of
Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of
Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of
Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:this Ezra went
up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD
God of Israel had given:and the king granted him all his request, according to
the hand of the LORD his God upon him. And there went up some of the children
of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the
porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes
the king. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh
year of the king. For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up
from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart
to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in
Israel statutes and judgments (Ezra 7:1-10).

 

Ezra is introduced by tracing
his genealogy back to Aaron (w. 1-5). He was one therefore entitled to all the
rights and privileges of the priesthood (see chap. 2:62). Moreover, he was a
ready scribe in the law of his God and thereby was qualified to be the
instructor of the people in the statutes of Jehovah. (See Lev. 10:8-11; Mal.
2:4-7.) He became a priest by birth and consecration; but he became “a ready
scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given," only
by personal study of the Word. Inherited office therefore, even among the Jews,
could not bestow the qualifications for its exercise. These could come only
from individual acquaintance with God through the Scriptures; for, while by
virtue of consecration the priest was entitled by grace to minister before God,
he could minister acceptably only when all was done in obedience to the Word,
and it was impossible for him to teach unless he himself were acquainted with
the mind of God. It was neglect of this second part of its office that led to
the failure and corruption of the priesthood; for so completely was the Word of
God forgotten in the days of Josiah, that the finding of a copy of the law in
the temple became an epoch in his reign.

 

It is therefore of surpassing
interest—like finding a beautiful flower in the midst of a sandy desert—to
discover in Ezra one who, while he cherished his priestly descent, found his
joy and strength in the law of his God. In verse 10 the secret of his
attainments is unfolded:he had "prepared his heart to seek the law of the
LORD, and to do it." Let the reader ponder this significant and
instructive statement— "Ezra had prepared his heart." To this end the
Apostle prayed for the Ephesian believers, that the eyes of their heart
(heart is the right reading) might be enlightened, that they might know
what is the hope of His calling, etc. (chap. 1:18). Yes, it is to the heart
that the revelations of God are made, even as it was to the heart of the
Magdalene that the Lord manifested Himself at the sepulcher, rather than to the
intelligence of His disciples. Nor can we attach too much importance to this
truth. Preparation of heart (and this also comes from the Lord) is everything,
whether for the study of the Word, for prayer, or for worship. (See 1 Cor.
8:1-3; Heb. 10:22; 1 John 3:20-23.)

 

There is yet another thing. If
Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, it was first and foremost
that he might do it. It was not, therefore, to increase his knowledge or to add
to his repute as a teacher, but it was that his heart, life, and ways might be
formed by it—that his own walk might be the embodiment of the truth, and thus
well-pleasing to the Lord. Then followed teaching:"and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." This order can never be neglected with impunity, for
where teaching does not flow out of a heart that is itself subject to the
truth, it is not only powerless to influence others, but it will also harden
the heart of the teacher himself. This is the secret of many a failure in the Church of God. The saints are time and again startled by the sudden departure from the
truth of, or by the fall of, those who had occupied the place of teachers; but
whenever the state of the heart is overlooked, and the activity of mind is
permitted upon divine things, the soul is exposed to some of Satan’s most
subtle temptations. A true teacher should be able in measure to point like
Paul, to his own example and to say, as he did to the Thessalonians, "Ye
know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." (See also Acts
20 and Phil. 3.)

 

It is evident, moreover, that
Ezra was in communion with the mind of God as to His people. His heart was upon
them, for we learn that he had sought permission of the king to go up to Jerusalem, and that "the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of
the LORD his God upon him" (v. 6). What he desired, therefore, was the welfare,
the blessing of his people, the people of his God, but being under subjection
to the king, he had to obtain his leave; for the Lord will not have us,
even for His own service, slight the authority under which we are placed. If,
however, the Lord put the desire to serve Him in the heart of Ezra, He would
influence the king to answer His servant’s request.

 

How good it is to leave
ourselves in His hands! We are tempted often to overleap the barriers which man
may place in our path, to force open the doors which the hand of man may have
closed; but it is for our comfort and strength to remember that the Lord can
make His way plain before our face whenever He wills, and that our part is to
quietly wait on Him, ready to go forward when He shall speak the word. The
recognition of the hand of God upon him was a characteristic of this devoted
servant (see v. 9; chap. 8:18, 22, 31, etc.), and it was at once the source
both of his patience and of his courage.

 

FRAGMENT
  No doubt the best way to correct defects in the lives of others is to be
before that person the living expression of the power of Christ in the very
thing in which he fails. You see a vain person:well, walk before him without a
bit of vanity. You see a proud person:walk before him in humility. You need
not tell him that he is proud:let him see what grace can do in you, and thus
you will become a voice to him that will be better than any rebuke.