"It came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren, and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall" (Neh.4:l-3).

What does Nehemiah say in response to this? At once he turns to the Lord:"Hear, O our God, for we are despised" (verse’4). So it was also in the early days of the Church of God. The apostles were beaten and threatened, but what did they do? They spread it out before the Lord, and the Lord answered. He answered with His own power. The Spirit shook the building where they were, and with great power He gave them to witness for Him (Acts 4:23-31).

Yes, but here in Nehemiah’s day was a day of weakness, and what I would impress upon your mind and my own is that we are no longer in the day when the Spirit shakes the building. We are no longer in the day of power and glory. We are no longer in the day when signs and wonders are wrought. But are we, therefore, without God? What do we value most? the powers and wonders God works, or God Himself? This is the great question. Have we confidence in the presence of God with us, and do we value the presence of God above all the powers and miracles that ever were wrought?

It is a very simple question; so it was for Nehemiah. There was no such thing as the Red Sea opened for the people, no such thing as the Jordan crossed. There was no manna that fell down from heaven; but there was the evident word of God accomplished, and the way was open for them. There was an open door, an open door to that place where the Lord’s eyes were continually_the land of God for the people of God. They had lost it as a matter of outward power, but not for faith. For the men of faith clung to God, even when God could not outwardly own them before all the world. This made it a trial, no doubt, but faith would find the trial most profitable.

And I would further impress upon you that there is very often in thought, and sometimes in expression, a kind of complaint of the want of power. Now I distrust that. I never came out to power, and I should be sorry for anybody else to do it. But am I come out to the Lord? Am I come out because it is His will? because it is His word? Let us be ever so weak, there He would have us to be. There is nothing so sure as that; and, allow me to say, there is nothing that keeps us so true and so steady. Whereas, on the contrary, we may fall into the snare of clericalism if we are too much occupied with power.

Suppose a meeting, an assembly of God’s people, where, by the remarkable gift of one, or two, or three individuals, everything went on with apparent beauty_every prayer thoroughly according to the truth. Suppose, too, that everything that was done was done with intelligence. Yet if the action and presence of the Spirit of God were ignored, I should feel that this was the most miserable meeting possible. It would be hollow, and we ought not to be deceived by the two or three persons that hide the shame and weakness of the assembly.

The all-important thing, beloved brethren, is that God’s children should be gathered around His name, and that the Spirit of God should be left in freedom to act. Consequently, as sure as we are acting with truth, weakness will appear, neither will the state of the assembly be the same thing from week to week. And it is far more important that we should be in the truth than that there should be a manifestation of power. A manifestation of power might be only a veil thrown over the true state of the assembly, and only the improper and unspiritual activity of two or three men of gift that would falsify the true state of that assembly. I believe it is far better to have all the pains and penalties and sorrows of weakness than a state that is not true in the sight of God. Above all things, we ought to be in the truth of our condition. I am persuaded that anything is bad that would cause us to forget that, after all, we are only a remnant; and that the more we enjoy the truth, the more deeply are we called to feel the broken state of the Church of God.

Another thing, too. There is often the idea that if we could only get the most spiritual and the most intelligent of all Christians together, what a happy meeting it would be! Yes, but beloved friends, it would be all wrong, because that is not what we are called to. What warrants us to pick and choose among the people of God? Who gave us the title even to wish such a thing? I feel quite the contrary, and believe it to be of God. If indeed, my brethren, we have the mind of the Lord and desire the liberty of the Spirit of God, I believe we would rather look out for the lame and for the weak. We would try and get those who are in want, those who are feeble, those, who are in danger. The strong ones, or at any rate, those that think themselves strong, we must leave in the hands of the Lord. But surely the weak ones are those that the true, the real, the Good Shepherd cares for most; and we ought to feel like the Good Shepherd.

The theory of gathering together only the best and the most intelligent is, therefore, a false theory. It is utterly contrary to the true principle of grace and truth. No, beloved friends, the only right thing is this:we do not pretend, we do not look for, we do not expect that God will gather all His saints; but the moment we are in a position that we are not free and open to all the saints of God, we are false. It is not that I look for their coming, but the question is whether my heart is toward them all. If it is not toward them all, then I am sectarian.

(From Lecture on the Book of Nehemiah.)

In the "present evil world" with covetousness being so prevalent, do we not as Christians need a continual self-examination that we do not fall into the world’s trap? What characterizes this generation seems to be "me," "my," and "mine" to such a degree. How many appear to be egocentric! In view of this condition I would like to refer to some scriptures to guide our thinking.

First of all, God owns all money. Haggai 2:8 says, "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of Hosts." Also, 1 Corinthians 4:7 says, "And what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" We really own nothing. So then, since all that we have is a gift from God and belongs to Him, should we not use care in handling what He has put into our hands as stewards of these material things?

Not only "money," but all was created by and for Christ. "For by Him were all things created … by Him and for Him" (Col. 1:16). We are not our own, but "are bought with a price" (1 Cor. 6:20). How could we then live selfishly and treat anything as though it belonged to us?

This brings to mind the question of giving "of our substance." Some have adopted the principle of tithing_of restricting what is given to the Lord to 10 percent. What about the other 90 percent? Is that not His also? Scripture teaches us that we are to fulfill our responsibilities in the support of our own (1 Tim. 5:8). We should do this as unto the Lord. We are to live modestly, without fleshly display, for we are in a wilderness and this is not our home. The Corinthians were reprimanded for living as kings. Surely the Lord gives varied abilities in accumulating money. It seems that some can be trusted with more than others.

The Lord knows the motives of our hearts. We may hoard riches with the excuse that we should do this for a "rainy day." Perhaps the Lord will send many rainy days to detach us from "things" and attach our hearts more to Him, Can it not be said, "It is not so much the amount God has been pleased to give us as it is what we do with what we have"? The widow in the temple is a good example. She had only two mites, all her living. Her heart was such that she gave them both. Later in 2 Corinthians 8 the apostle Paul commends the Macedonians, "How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." So, again, it is a question of the heart.

The tendency to love money is such a subtle thing. We need to be exercised in the Lord’s presence that we be not self-deceived. Oh, it is so possible to be hypocritical in this. How often we can hear people say, "Well, if I had a million dollars I’d give a lot to the Lord." Would they? If we are not faithful in little, we will not be faithful in much.

The question arises as to whom this ministry of material goods should be given. In Romans 15:26 we read of the saints helping the poor saints in Jerusalem. In Acts 6 we are shown how the daily ministrations were handled as regards those in need. 1 John 3:17 (JND) says, "But whoso may have the world’s substance, and see his brother having need, and shut up his bowels from him, how abides the love of God in him?" And the Word tells us to do good to all, and especially to the household of faith. These are general exhortations and instructions which can be obeyed as an individual exercise or through the ministry of the assembly. Sometimes we may know of an individual need which is not the mind of the local assembly to supply. There is no reason that we cannot minister privately as the Lord lays it on our heart.

The supply of temporal ministry to those who go out in faith in a full time way needs to be given serious consideration. When there is one who announces that he feels that he is called to the Lord’s work in this way it is surely the responsibility of the assemblies to support such a one, with the following provisions:

1. If the gift claimed is teaching – are we edified by the ministry?

2. If a pastoral gift_are souls "shepherded"?

3. If the gift claimed is an evangelist_are souls saved through the ministry?

It is our responsibility before the Lord to support any whom we can discern as having a distinct gift from the Lord and living consistently. Conversely, we are not to support someone who obviously is going out on his own volition without an obvious gift. Surely, we should all encourage any who are seeking to serve the Lord. Perhaps in a future day the God-given gift will be developed and seen.

In Philippians 4:15 Paul responds to the Philippian assembly for the gift they gave him:"And know also ye, O Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I came out of Macedonia, no assembly communicated anything to me in the way of giving and receiving, save ye alone" (JND). First we see how the apostle’s heart was warmed by their giving from the beginning- Secondly, he says "ye alone." Are we to understand from this that other assemblies were derelict in their care for the Lord’s servant? When there are those who serve the Lord "full time" should not all the assemblies minister to them whether they are able or led of the Lord to visit them or not? If we would read the epistles of Paul on this subject I believe we would be guided into what is the mind of the Lord. It is so easy to rationalize when it comes to handling money, but simply human logic has no place in the Lord’s things.

As to ministry to others, I have been impressed with Paul’s discourse in 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (JND). Especially impressive at this time are verses lOb and lla:"For this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago. But now also complete the doing of it.. . ."In other words, if the Lord has laid it upon your heart to minister to those who have gone out in faith, do it. Let us not handle the funds meant for the Lord’s servants in a haphazard way. It is the Lord’s money, and they are the Lord’s servants, with daily needs. I often think, "How would I appreciate it if my employer "forgot" to pay me for a month beyond "payday"? Brethren, this is a practical thing we need to consider. "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it" (Prov. 3:27).

May we ever remember that the use of the money entrusted to our care is a privilege the Lord has given to us. It seems to be indicated in Hebrews 13:15,16 that our worship of the Lord (the fruit of our lips) is also connected with the practical use of our goods as a service of praise. Let us then "Be not weary in well doing" (2 Thess. 3:13).

FRAGMENT The Jews were required to give a tenth of their income, but the believer in Christ is privileged to give more than a tenth. The measure of our giving is to be "as God hath prospered" (1 Cor. 16:2). It is not so much a question of how much we are to give to God, but how much of what He has given us dare we spend upon ourselves.

(All scripture quotations in this article are from the New American Standard Bible.)

"And the angel of the Lord appeared to [Moses] in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, ‘I must turn aside now, and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.’ When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground’ " (Exod. 3:2-5).

My purpose in writing is to review from several perspectives this scene and draw from it a few principles that may refresh us as we consider them. I will discuss applications first to Israel, then to the Lord Jesus, and finally to ourselves.

In the burning bush God revealed to Moses His plan of salvation for captive Israel. It is remarkable to me that God conversed with Moses for some length of time (Exod. 3:4-4:17). This was God’s grace as He revealed to Moses His desires and allowed Moses to question and learn. This was the first revelation of God to Moses who was about 80 years old.

There is a distinct contrast between the fire and the bush. The fire owned an energy of its own as it did not consume the bush on which it rested. I see the glory of God in this, for His glory likewise has an energy of its own. However, we know that this was only a glimpse of God’s glory. Israel would await a fuller revelation of His glory in Christ, "the radiance of His glory" (Heb. 1:3). We too await His coming to see His fullest glory.

In contrast, the bush sprang from the ground, and had its nourishment from it. The lowly bush, a thorn bush, which otherwise was insignificant, was chosen by God as an object upon which to rest His glory. Of what value was the bramble bush but to ensnare Moses’ sheep? I am sure he despised thorn bushes and had rescued many a sheep from entanglement in them. The thorn bush is connected with the curse:"Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you" (Gen. 3:18).

Israel, too, had been captive and ensnared, yet God had promised to preserve them for the sake of the seed that was promised to Abraham until the Messiah came (Gen. 3:15; 17:1-8). This was His unconditional purpose for Israel’s salvation. "And thus all Israel will be saved, just as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion. He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins’ " (Rom. 11:26,27). Therefore, whatever obstacle or enemy that was committed to their enslavement or extermination could not prevail. In addition, as the bush was not consumed, so Israel was not consumed in spite of their sinfulness. God in His holiness and righteousness could well have fallen upon them in judgment, but in His grace He looked forward to their being redeemed by the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus. What a wonderful type of the glory of God resting upon the feeble nation of Israel!

The burning bush is also a unique picture of Christ, who was_and is_perfect deity and perfect humanity. However, we must view the bush differently than we have in connection with Israel. Let me begin by explaining an important point as to the humanity of Christ. Humanity exists in three forms:innocent, as Adam and Eve were in the garden; fallen, as the corrupted nature of self-will is expressed; and holy, as the nature of God in the person of Christ is revealed. We could describe the human nature of Christ as like ours but sin apart. "In Him there is no sin" (1 John 3:5). In speaking of the Lord’s nature we can only think of it as incorruptible. Some have thought that the Lord, while here, could have been tempted and sinned. Hebrews 4:15 states specifically that He had been "tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." His humanity was indeed holy. He was announced as the "holy offspring" (Luke 1:35). For myself it would seem a most miserable situation to be saved and inherit a nature from God that was corruptible. I would be no better off. However, this is not the case, and we can trust that what is of God in us is pure, powerful, and unyielding to sin.

Returning now to the discussion of the picture of Christ, consider how God used the components of natural and supernatural to reveal His salvation. Just as Moses’ attention was attracted by the sight, people living in Jesus’ day were often in awe of the Lord. "Never did a man speak the way this man speaks" (John 7:46). From this, many were persuaded further to know who Jesus was and His purpose in incarnation.

The Lord did not draw His nourishment from the ground, as a bush, but drew His strength from above. "I have food to eat that you do not know about" (John 4:32). And in John 17:14 the Lord states, "I am not of the world." Although the Lord took part in the world here, He did not take part of the world’s corrupt nature. "In Him there is no sin."

In the most solemn of types we have the burning bush showing the Lord’s suffering on the cross where the wrath of God was poured out against sin (1 Pet. 2:24). The Lamb of God, as a perfect sacrifice, was not consumed, but made propitiation for sin once for all (Heb. 10).

In application to ourselves (I speak to the saved), we have Moses to consider. Repeatedly as the Lord spoke to Moses his weakness was exposed. Finally the anger of the Lord burned against him (Exod. 4:14). Moses was yet to realize that although he was a weak vessel, the power of God would be able to help him lead Israel out of Egyptian hands. God does not delight in our self-abasement or false humility. This is easy for us to fall into as opportunity for service to God is met with excuses like those Moses gave. But God has met our thorn bush condition, and given us power by virtue of new birth to be of service to Him. When we realize His power is resting on our weak and fallible nature we can and will be victorious! This is our source of power for overcoming trials and having victory over sin in our lives. "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline" (2 Tim. 1:7). "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves" (2 Cor. 4:7).

How do you feel about being in God’s presence? Moses was afraid to look at God (Exod. 3:6). But we can behold "as in a mirror the glory of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18). God forbid that this privilege should be taken lightly. May our response to this truth be a practical holiness that respects one’s Christian position. "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1 Pet. 1:16).

And now a word to the unsaved before I conclude. The testimony of God reaching out to man is as old as man’s fall in the Garden of Eden. God was reaching out to communicate to Moses; and Christ came from glory to reach out to us. The Lord Jesus is truly a marvelous sight to behold. Do not let this opportunity pass by, but allow God to take your thorn bush life and make it a marvelous thing to behold.

FRAGMENT
We are in a world of criticism When one is injured or misjudged he can do one of four things:(1) Flare up and answer back; (2) be too refined to do this, but harbor and hold it; (3) be so Christlike as to forgive it; or (4) not only forgive, but forget! It takes a magnanimous person to be able to say, "I am too busy minding God and winning souls to remember an insult."

FRAGMENT
A little seed lay on the ground and soon began to sprout.
"Now which of all the flowers around," it mused, "shall I
come out?
The lily’s face is fair and proud, but just a trifle cold;
The rose, I think, is rather loud, and then, its fashion’s
old;
The violet does very well, but not a flower I’d choose;
Nor yet the Canterbury bell_I never cared for blues."
And so it criticized each flower, this supercilious seed,
Until it woke one summer morn and found itself_a weed.

"Overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21).

In the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 we have seven promises to the "overcomer"; and at the close of the book, after describing the eternal state, again the promise is given, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things" (21:7). We are in a race which only ends when we take our seats on high; we are in a warfare, a "good fight," which ceases when we leave this scene. Blessed it is to know that we "run, not as uncertainly," that the end is sure, though there be conflict on the way. We follow a Victor, one who has conquered for us, and this nerves us for the conflict, gives patience in all toil. Still, it is well to remember that there is a conflict, a race, and that grace, while making the end sure, has not obliterated the wilderness.

We can look at this overcoming, however, not as the final outcome of our life, but also as that which should characterize each day of that life. Taken as a whole, the life of each believer is a victory (in some in a very small degree); but taken in detail the lives of many show more defeat than victory, and in every life there are some defeats. It is rather at the details than at the final outcome we would look now, remembering, however, that details make up the total, and that "saved as by fire," and, "an abundant entrance" are in contrast.

The conflict is with the evil one and his emissaries. His devices are manifold, suited to those whom he assaults; and hidden that he may better ensnare. We meet evil in ourselves, our brethren, the unsaved, and in the world as a whole. The question is, "How are we to overcome it?"

We do not fight evil for the sake of fighting. "Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Pet. 2:11). It is when evil has usurped some of our possession as believers that we are to thrust it out. With Edom Israel would have no conflict, for God would judge it in His time; but with the inhabitants of the land of Canaan the case was different. They were occupying what belonged to Israel, and therefore must be expelled. So it is with us. With the flesh, the sinful nature as such, we are to have no conflict, knowing that sentence has been passed upon it on the cross, and that in a little while it will be obliterated when "this mortal shall put on immortality." But when this flesh, used of Satan, would intrude into our spiritual life, occupy our time, demand our attention, interfere with communion and service, and dim our conception of the portion that is ours in Christ, then we must overcome the intruder and cast him out. Otherwise, like Israel, the good land will soon be out of our hands and we will be driven to dwell in caves, figuratively speaking.

Conflict, then, there must be, and that until the foe is completely conquered. But how are we to fight? Our text tells us how. "Overcome evil with good." Israel was to occupy the land they conquered. Mere victory over the foe was but a negative advantage, preliminary to that practical appropriation of the land to their own use which God had designed. So important was this that God made the elimination of the enemy to be as gradual as their power to occupy the land. "And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little; thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee" (Deut. 7:22). The empty house of Matthew 12 is a solemn explanation of this. We sometimes see persons (even Christian persons) who have given up "worldly" activities such as drinking, smoking, dancing, and the movies, whose lives, instead of being filled with good, are filled with self-centeredness, criticism, and gossip. The giving up of the "worldly" activities has not resulted in a real improvement in their lives or Christian testimonies; Our life is a positive thing; it must not only be not evil but actually good.

And this is what our verse teaches us. Good will overcome evil. To him that hath shall be given. If our possessions are well cultivated and fully occupied, we will encroach on and drive out the next evil, in order that we may gain more of our inheritance. It is the good that we want, and we are to be occupied with evil only to see how it hinders us, to judge it, and in the energy of faith overcome it by good. How does the farmer rid his field of weeds? Not by plowing and leaving the ground bare, for new weeds would soon sprout and grow. He plants the field in wheat or grass, fertilizing it well. The wheat or grass grow thickly enough to give no room for weeds to grow. Let us learn from this in our private lives and in our relationships to others. We know evil is there. We do not shut our eyes to it, but we know it can be truly overcome in only one way_by the substitution of something better. There will be sorrow over sin and folly, firm judgment of evil and straightforward obedience, but these in themselves are powerless to overcome evil. They but prepare the way for the good.

It is important to remember this principle in our relationships in the family, the assembly, and even in the world. In the home, love and encouragement of spouses and children is as much or more needed for the promotion of good behavior as is criticism. How many an assembly of God’s people is kept feeble by a constant spirit of criticism. The good we see is forgotten and neglected. Love is the only power by which evil can be overcome. "Worldliness" will disappear when the person’s affections, time, and attention are so taken up with Christ and His service that he or she has no time or attention left to squander on empty pleasures, fashions, and attitudes.

But what is the good which overcomes evil? The answer is Christ in grace, known and loved. This embraces everything that concerns Him_His Word, work, Person, and Church. It is the occupation with Him who is perfect goodness that is the secret of power and joy. May He whose perfect goodness, patience, and love are dealing with all our waywardness teach us the full meaning of "Overcome evil with good."

(From Help and Food, Vol. 11.)

FRAGMENT It is said that Abraham Lincoln tried to pluck the briar and plant a rose wherever he thought a rose would grow. Commenting on this statement, someone observed, "And how few places there are where a rose will not grow!"

FRAGMENT This is my resolve:First, to attain the grace of SILENCE; second, to deem all fault-finding that does no good a SIN; third, to practice the virtue of PRAISE.