Consolidation

by F. MCCORMICK, St. Helens | Category: General | May 1964

(This article was found amongst the papers of our late brother F. McCormick - "he being dead yet speaketh")

Those who are in churches of God, which compose the house of God on earth today, are in the greatest movement of a spiritual kind existent upon the earth. It is not the greatest by reason of numerical strength, but because God Himself has designed and called it into existence for His habitation and pleasure.

Throughout Scriptural history God has deigned to choose and to dwell among a numerically small people. Such was the people of Israel. God did not choose them because of their numerical strength, "for ye were the fewest of all peoples" (Deuteronomy 7. 7), nevertheless He wrought with them in grace and for His great Name's sake (Ezekiel 20.9). In the days when a Remnant of the people came out of Babylon, God was in the small movement, among those whose spirits were stirred, and whose hearts were obedient to His word. Of the great temples of Babylon, of Assyria and of other nations God took no account. The zenith of Israel's prosperity and glory was reached in the days of Solomon, but, alas, those days were comparatively short-lived. The temple was destroyed, the people led into captivity, and it would almost seem that God's purposes had been frustrated; but God's eye was upon the land, the city of Jerusalem, and the people, and there were those of His captive people who yearned for the highways to Zion. They remembered Zion and wept; they were those who preferred Jerusalem above their chief joy, and when by divine providence the way was open for their return, they betook themselves to the highway which led to Zion. Their experience was no doubt like that of others of an earlier time of whom it is written, "Passing through the valley of weeping they make it a place of springs". Many seekers after God have passed along the way to reach the place of the Name. Back in Jerusalem and in Judah, they gathered themselves as one man to Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple and to re-establish divine service and worship. When the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, all the people shouted with a great shout and praised the LORD. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, the old men that had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy. By comparison it was a small thing, but God was in the movement, and that made it great. The enemies around may taunt and sneer at the apparent weakness and insignificance of the work and the Remnant are caused to pray, "Hear, 0 our God; for we are despised".

But God said, "Who hath despised the day of small things?" "I am with you, saith the LORD of Hosts." "Build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD" (Zechariah 4. 10; Haggai 2.4, 1.8). So they wrought with an inward joy not experienced by others, for "the joy of the LORD" was their strength. They wrought in a dark day to accomplish something for God which

It is crystal clear that while there is no record found anywhere that churches of God existed during long centuries of spiritual darkness and chaos, "the Church which is His body", "My Church" of which Christ alone is the Builder and Preserver, never ceased to exist, and individual believers were baptized in One Spirit into the One Body by the living Christ throughout these centuries of spiritual darkness; the gates of Hades could not prevail against that Church.

We repeat, therefore, that the greatest spiritual movement in the world today is connected with what is termed in Scripture "The Fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1.9), not because of its numerical strength, but because it exists by divine sanction and constitution according to the word, and here we would ask every child of God to whom our words come to examine closely the implications of Acts 2.41-42. We would point out the seriousness of spending one's life in something which has no divine sanction, to do so, while you have an open Bible in your hand, is to spend a wasted life and suffer loss at the judgement-seat of Christ.

It may be thought by some that we are making lofty and presumptuous claims. The fact is we make no claims at all. If by divine revelation and grace we are found being gathered together according to God's will, carrying out those things proper to divine service and worship in a collective capacity, it is God who describes such as "the church of God" in a given place, and "the house of God" in the aggregate of such churches. We have not coined these names, they are scriptural designations of a people occupying a divine position in obedience to God's word. We have in substance said, like Israel of old- "All that the LORD hath spoken will we do, and be obedient" (Exodus 24.7).

It is our responsibility therefore to hold fast and consolidate the position we have taken up. We have a priceless heritage of truth to hold and to pass on, and that is our business in this world until the Lord comes. We live in perilous times when lawlessness is abounding in the world increasingly. The same may be said of religious lawlessness; some say the Bible is out-dated, and modernism in multitudinous forms is invading the present-day religious organizations to an astounding degree. Popularity and numerical advancement are paid for by sacrificing the truth.

"For truth is fallen in the street ... yea, truth is lacking ; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey" (Isaiah 59.14-15).

There is little quarter given to the out and out separated Christian today. One generation goeth and another cometh, but it is difficult to find the same godly desire for spiritual things that once existed. We speak in general, for there are a few who undoubtedly are in preparation by the Lord for the days ahead. God always has His men, and women too. It was so in a past day, that there was declension by the many as we read:

"All that generation were gathered unto their fathers : and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the work which He had wrought for Israel. And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD" (Judges 2.10, 11).

In coming out from sectarianism to separation unto the Lord at the commencement of the present testimony there were great searchings of heart and great resolves of heart in a spirit of self sacrifice. With David they could say:

"One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple"

(Psalm 21.4).

Precious nuggets of truth were dug from the word of God, which are now the heritage of those in God's house in collective testimony and worship, and if we are to know a consolidation of that which has been wrought, it can only be as the result of deep soul exercise before the Lord. May the cry of our hearts ever be:

"Strengthen, 0 God, that which Thou hast wrought for us"

(Psalm 68.28).

How many of a new generation have had soul experiences with God about the position they occupy? Is it not well for all to examine themselves as to why they are in the house of God? We think of those who have attained maturity as men and women, are all such able to give a clear answer to the question, "Why am I in a church of God?" We know younger ones require instruction, but there comes a time when persons should know why they are where they are relative to their ecclesiastical position. We would that all might face these issues personally and seriously, and examine afresh the scriptural foundations upon which we build. We feel assured that all whose faith is confirmed and strengthened will find added joy and confidence in their own souls by the assurance of the truth, and consequently each will be a means of consolidating the church of God to which he or she belongs, while those without would, perchance, be stirred up to seek the highways to Zion. "To the law and to the testimony" must be our watchword!

Let all go to their Bibles, and to prayer, young and old alike. Take nothing for granted. Read the Scriptures, search the Scriptures, believe the Scriptures. Place your feet firmly upon this immovable rock; ponder and meditate therein, and know for yourself "concerning those matters which have been fulfilled (R.V.M., fully established) among us" (Luke 1.1), "that ye may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Colossians 1.9), and thereby be able "to approve the things that are excellent (prove the things that differ, R.V.M.)" (Philippians 1.10).

F. MCCORMICK, St. Helens | May 1964
General