Tags
desert, discerning the spirits, dying in the wilderness, dying to self, eternal fire, experience, fellowship, fire, flesh, following Jesus, God's love, honesty, living water, Moses, natural life, revelation, Roger T. Forster, T.A. Sparks, true ministry
Roger T. Forster, whose article “Making History with God” I found in T. Austin Sparks’ library online, would write,
“God is writing history, but He is drawing men into fellowship with Himself as He does so, making them the occasion for a chapter in His book of the story of humanity. There is a chapter for Noah, a chapter for Abraham, a chapter for Moses and many others, and a chapter for you and me. He calls us to share in His great declaration, ‘I am bringing to pass what I am bringing to pass’, encouraging us to be like Moses, a hole in the ground filled with His living water, or a common bush, aflame with the unquenchable fire of His love, so that He can use us in His great movement of liberation.” (1)
That sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? 😊 But we might wonder here what the prerequisites of being ‘used’ by God could be? If you allow me the following comparison, dear reader, we could imagine a small child that tells us about driving a car alone emphatically, “Oh yes, I can do this!!” We might smile and tell them it might need some time to grow up and to learn a lot until it is time to drive a car on their own. Yet we know how children are; they cannot wait. Everything must happen right now. If not, big time crying! Yet, aren’t we in our fleshly ways of thinking and acting sometimes just the same? 🙄 However, God has His own ways of preparing us for His ‘kingdom work’ on earth. I offer you some more excerpts from Forster’s article here since he provided a good and detailed explanation of how God prepared Moses.
“We see, as Moses did, a world in which men are enslaved in a terrible bondage; a world in which there is something basically wrong; and we feel convinced that God is going to do something about it, and this means that we ourselves must abandon mere theorising and be ready to act.”
“MOSES was prepared to do something about what he saw. Wrong as his first action was, it sprang from the right motive, from a concern burning deep down in his heart which insisted that the world had got to be changed. It was as though he said, ‘There is something wrong with society as I know it, and I want to be on the side which is prepared to put it right.’ At that time he did not know how to be on God’s side, but at least he wanted to start to right things — he wanted to act. He bungled the whole affair, and so was soon on the run into the Sinai peninsular.”
[…]
“Moses had to learn that the problems of humanity were not to be solved by his high-handedness, nor by his strong-mindedness, but by his ability to convey the living waters of Christ’s love to quench their heart thirst. This is God’s world-changing programme; this is what God is doing for mankind. He does not change men by force, nor relieve their oppression by new ideas or political remedies; His answer is a living ministry of Jesus Christ which will do the work of transformation.”
“WE all know this. But how do we bring it about? How can the Lord Jesus flow out from us as from a well of living water? Perhaps the example of Moses can help us. What happened there in the wilderness was that the bottom was knocked out of his natural life. Moses was an honest man and, as he sat by that well, tired and dispirited, he must have been saying to himself, ‘Perhaps I was not as righteous as I thought I was when I struck the Egyptian down; there was a mighty lot of self wrapped up in that action. I thought that I was better, not only than him, but also than the Israelites. And I was shifty, too; I looked this way and that to make sure that I wasn’t being watched. Of course, I pretended to myself that I was doing it all for God, but I was rash and impetuous, and I did not wait to be checked by the Spirit. And then, when the Israelites turned on me, I did not like it, for I was a patronizing prig, feeling so superior to them.’ As Moses mused, God was digging a well in him, digging away the self life which had hindered the flowing of the Spirit.”
“Perhaps God speaks to us in the same way, and we find ourselves agreeing that perhaps we were looking for men’s commendation when we were preaching, or perhaps our motives in trying to help others were far from unmixed. Even in our most zealous activities for God we find complications of our ego and pride of heart. We must guard, of course, against allowing such heart-searching to become unhealthy introspection, but our safeguard will be to recognise that God is only knocking the bottom out of our life in order to use us in His activities. The really honest person whom God is using to minister Christ will always have to acknowledge that in his best moments there are impure motives; in his highest and most devoted service there are times of self-congratulation and conceit. We are not meant to try to get to the bottom of ourselves, for there is no bottom except as we are on the cross. Calvary is the end of us. If we accept this, and have a bottomless life, then He can make us into wells of living water. When Moses saw himself as a bottomless hole, then God was able to make him into a well.”
“AFTER many years Moses came to the second great crisis in his experience, and that was at the burning bush. In the loneliness of the desert, with the sheep all around him, he met God in a new way; one of the desert bushes burst into flames, and then went on burning without being burnt out. Moses knew that there had been a time when he, too, was on fire to change the world, but his fire had not lasted. This bush however, burned on and on, so much so that Moses felt that he had to go out and look at it. He went, and God spoke to him out of the burning bush, telling him that the second fundamental for those who are going to be of use to Him must be their willingness to turn aside and listen to His voice. At that moment Moses received the greatest Old Testament revelation of God, and it came to him because he was spending time alone with God. The fire which burns without ceasing is the fire of love, and the basic requirement for such love is time spent alone with the Heavenly Lover. Moses was an honest man, exposing himself to God; not trying to hide his falsities, his wrong motives, his pride and his conceit but baring his heart to God so that there was nothing between them. This was essential, for love must practise heart-to-heart communion if it is to meet God and receive His revelation of Himself. As Moses looked around the desert, he saw the God of creation, but as he spent time by the bush he discovered the God of revelation, as he humbly waited for God to speak to him.”
“Soon after I was converted and was at Cambridge University I used to get up early in the morning, go out into the countryside to sit under some bushes or on the grass and there, with a New Testament in my hand, I would first enjoy the God of creation and then open the book to discover more of the Lord Jesus Christ. So for me Elohim, the Creator, became Jehovah, Jesus, the Redeemer, and I learned much of Him because I met him alone. Later I was in the Royal Air Force and again, on Saturday afternoons, I would go out on to the hillside with my [87/88] New Testament in my pocket to walk and walk and be alone with God, the Creator of heaven and earth who became known to me in living reality through the Lord Jesus; and so I could read of Him in the book and we could walk together. Be sure of this, no man truly ministers Christ who does not fulfil the basic principle of love, which is to spend time with his Lover. He never will. He must get alone with God and be absolutely honest with Him.” (1) [Emphasis added]
I hope it is not too much to read and I don’t want to add something here except for pasting what I already highlighted in Forster’s entry just before.
Be sure of this, no man truly ministers Christ who does not fulfil the basic principle of love, which is to spend time with his Lover. He never will. He must get alone with God and be absolutely honest with Him.
(1) https://www.austin-sparks.net/mags/ttm01-5.html
“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 statment included.”
Ken Dawson said:
Very true–It does take two spending time together in love with each other for the one to bear the fruit of the other.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Well put, Ken. 👍🏻 Thanks.
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Michael said:
Thanks, Susanne. I have read and pondered about the story of Moses and his own wilderness experience and what led up to it. Moses relied on the arm of his flesh to deal with the captivity and abuse of his people by the Egyptian task masters. He found out in short order that his strength could not hold a candle to that power and might of Pharaoh and was soon exiled to the wilderness. After being humbled as his father-in-law’s sheep for forty years, he was ready to learn that in the economy of our Father it is, “Not by might or by power, but by My Spirit.” I have pondered the meaning of the burning bush for years, but it came to me what it meant in your article. The bush that he encountered that was not consumed in the fire was a prophesy of what God would do with Moses. He would make him a Light that could not be extinguished or consumed no matter what resistance he would encounter. He would live to be 120 years old and would not die of old age, but would have an ever glowing light within him… the light of Life until God took him.
“Be sure of this, no man truly ministers Christ who does not fulfil the basic principle of love, which is to spend time with his Lover. He never will. He must get alone with God and be absolutely honest with Him.”
I know that this is true, but what a fearful thought. To see our Father as my Lover is what I still lack. Pray for me, dear sister.
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Michael said:
By the way, I love your photography, especially the burning bush at the top and the fountain at the bottom. You touched my heart with your blog. ❤
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
I am glad your heart was touched, my dear brother. 🙂 And thanks for the compliment! ❤
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
You are so welcome, Michael.
As for me, I can always only speak or write about God as my Lover as I have been experiencing Him that way. Not so in all these dry times of the wilderness where trials seem to have taken control. There is only the memory of God’s love left. So, I guess Forster wrote about it as He had just experienced God’s love at that time.
Of course, I will keep praying for you, my dear brother!
I like this short verse that says, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.” (Zech 4:6) The whole verse reads,
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. (Zech 4:6 ESV)
I just found a short commentary on this verses I’d like to share here. Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible says,
This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel – This prince was in a trying situation, and he needed especial encouragement from God; and here it is: Not by might, (of thy own), nor by power, (authority from others), but by my Spirit – the providence, authority, power, and energy of the Most High. In this way shall my temple be built; in this way shall my Church be raised and preserved. No secular arm, no human prudence, no earthly policy, no suits at law, shall ever be used for the founding, extension, and preservation of my Church. But the spirit of the world says, “These are all means to which as we must have recourse; otherwise the cause of God may be ruined.” Satan, thou liest!
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Michael said:
Thank you for sharing this quote from Adam Clarke, Susanne. ⭐ ⭐ He really nails the difference between the true ekklesia of God that relies on His Spirit, and today’s backslidden church system that depends totally on the arm of the flesh, “Not by might, (of thy own), nor by power, (authority from others),”
Paul said, “No other foundation can be laid other than Jesus Christ.”
Peter declared, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
To which Jesus replied, “Upon THIS Rock I WILL BUILD my church.”
It is all so simple when the human element of the flesh has been crucified and the Spirit has preeminence in the church.
Thank you, Father for bringing Susanne and making her a member of Christ’s body and for the insight you have given her IN Him. Amen.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
You are most welcome, Michael. I found this quote ‘accidentally’, as it is always the case when the Spirit nudges me. 😉
Thank you, Daddy, for this treasure you have given the Body of Christ through our dear brother Michael. ⭐ ❤ ⭐
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Michael said:
Susanne, it seems that abiding in Christ makes many things that are of His Spirit appear as if they are coincidental or accidental. As we grow in Christ, it is the things that we do intentionally “for Him” or out of legalism that become suspect. Here are some examples of the disciples learning this lesson:
And John answered him, saying, Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in your name, and he followed not us: and we forbade him, because he followed not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man who shall do a miracle in my name, that can soon after speak evil of me. (Mark 9:38-39, KJ2000)
And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, You know not what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them… (Luke 9:53-56, KJ2000)
“And [Peter] saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” (Acts 10:11-15, ESV2011)
Sister, your abiding in Christ has been an inspiration to me as He leads you and speaks through you and I thank Him for you. You are a gift from our Father. ❤
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
That was sweet, Michael! ❤ Thank you very much! 🙂
These Scriptures are great examples of how our old nature wants to do the work of God through its own reasoning. But no way! Trusting in Him, we see that the works He has prepared beforehand are most often not logical, almost always not predicatable, yet they are able to fill our hearts with joy. The works of the flesh, instead, cannot provide peace nor joy, only the rising of pride.
I am always so happy when I can hear God’s voice through yours, Michael! You are a BIG blessing to me!! ⭐
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Anna Waldherr said:
A profound and striking passage. That phrase “a common bush, aflame with the unquenchable fire of His love” could be used to describe all saints, whatever form their lives may take here on earth.
While I agree that belief in Jesus Christ is far more powerful than any mere political theory, Christians must not take a passive attitude toward social injustice. It can be tempting to turn a blind eye to evil, telling ourselves that God will surely deal with it. That way we avoid confrontation and danger to ourselves. But He placed us here on earth for a reason. Christ, Himself, drove out the money changers from the temple.
This is not to say that we should act out of self-righteousness or that we should not love our enemies. The civil rights movement was based on biblical teaching. I think it was Edmund Burke who said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
With love,
Anna ❤
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Thank you, Anna.
Well, I guess you might have suspected how I answer you here. 😉 For me, it always depends on God’s leading whether I begin to move or not. Our soul can be so strong in doing “righteous” things and good works. I do not trust myself and thus I am being cautious.
Love ❤
Susanne
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Anna Waldherr said:
I agree completely. ❤
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Thank you, Anna. ❤
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Michael said:
Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Jesus Christ said, “Why do you call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” This is why the flesh of men, no matter how well meaning, profits nothing and the Spirit doing the work is everything. Unless God originates the work and energizes it through His Spirit, it is nothing and will come to naught.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Amen, Michael. Well said! ⭐
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Anna Waldherr said:
Wishing you a Happy Easter, Susanne! ❤ ❤ ❤
Much love,
Anna
xxxxx
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Thank you so much, dear Anna! 💕😊💕
Enjoy a Happy and Blessed Easter, too!! 🌷🐔🍩🥚🐣🐇🍬🍫🍰☕🌷
Much love to you!! 💗💗💗
Susanne
XXXXX
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