The Spiritual Life # 1

The Spiritual Life or Helps and Hindrances


Introduction


Phases of the Spiritual Life


An old man in the South of England often used a suggestive sentence in prayer. He would say, "Help us, O Lord, to deeper sink, that we may higher rise." Consciously or unconsciously he was indicating a deep spiritual axiom of the Christian life; for it is only as we get into the deeper things of the Spirit that we begin to rise into the heights of that lie which is life indeed.


Every one knows the importance of a deep foundation to a high building. In looking at the Times Building in Broadway, New York, the first impression we get is, that this structure of over twenty stories would hardly stand the blast of some terrific cyclone, but when it is known there are some five or six stories beneath the surface as foundation, it is realized that its foundation is its stability and therefore its security. When God speaks of bringing His judgment upon Edom, He tells the inhabitants of Dedan to turn back and "dwell deep" (Jeremiah xlix. 8). Their separation from Edom and their dwelling in some secret place of safety would be their security. The same holds good in the Christian life. There is a needs be for clear and definite separation from everything that is not in the line of God's will, and to dwell in the secret place of the presence of the most High. In the old days when there were constant feuds between the English and the Scots, those who lived on the borders of either country were in anything but a happy situation. Those too, who live as near as possible to the world, and yet hold on to Christ are in no happier position. There  is a necessity not only to come out and be separate from the world, but also to come into the banqueting house of full fellowship with the Lord.


There were at least four circles of those who came in contact with Christ. There were the seventy disciples who were actively engaged in the Lord's work, in going at His bidding to preach to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and who were eminently successful, for the devils were subject to them (Luke 10:17).  There were the twelve who were chosen by Him, and who knew in some measure what it was to have fellowship with Him, for they are said o be "with Him." Then there were the three out of the twelve who were especially privileged to see the manifestation of His glory, and suffering, and power (Luke 9:32; Matthew 16:37; Mark 5:37); and, lastly, there was one who came nearer to Him than any other and entered into the secret purpose of His coming into the world, and that one was Mary of Bethany, for she anointed Him for His burial. These have their correspondence among the Lord's people today. There are those who have their names written in heaven and who are busily engaged in the Lord's work; there are those who know something of communion with the Lord in having left all and followed Him; there is yet another section who have a larger experience, in suffering with Christ, in seeing the manifestation of His power, and in beholding the shining forth of His personal glory; while there is yet another circle who, through sitting at the feet of Jesus, are quite enough for Him to make known to them His secret purposes.


Years ago, in the days of the American slavery, there came to the lead mines on the Iowa side of the Mississippi river, a slave who had been entrusted by his master to make an effort to earn sufficient to free himself, his wife and children. After a little, he found a partner to work with him. They sunk a shaft to the average depth of eighty feet, but found no paying deposit of ore. This brought them to the end of their resources, and exhausted the partner's endurance. The slave was able to work at his shaft occasionally, while doing odd jobs for the other miners. For awhile he went on cheerfully, but hope  at last began to grow dim in him. He therefore made up his mind to make one last effort, in drilling a hole as deep into the rock as he could, and as he was doing so the drill suddenly fell through. He then knew that his efforts were successful. It was not long before he had made an orifice through which he let himself down into the cavern, when to his unspeakable delight, upon striking a light, he was fairly dazzled by the brilliance of the crystalline ore around him,and was gladdened by the fact that he stood in the presence of the illuminated price that was to buy his freedom. When he had gained the value of his freedom, he was confronted by the fact that his wife and children were still in bondage. What should he do? There were two ways presented to him. He could either drift along the crevice at the same level of his first discovery, or he could go deeper down for a second store of mineral wealth. The old miners advised him to follow the former course, but his own heart seemed to say, "Go down." And down he began to drill again. His own intuition was soon rewarded, for he struck another opening much larger and richer than the first. This time his hopes were abundantly surpassed, and it was not long before his wife and children were emancipated, a good house erected and furnished, and a large farm purchased and stocked, besides which he had an ample capital left over for business transactions.


This incident is a parable. All believers know what it is to receive the Redeemer, Who has procured redemption for them by His atoning death, which redemption means freedom from condemnation and deliverance from sin's power; but too many are content to follow the "drift" of a negative salvation, instead of going into the deeper experience of a positive salvation, in possessing the fullness of the Spirit's power, for their own sufficient equipment and in blessing others. It is well that we should with Jacob see the way cast up to heaven in the mediatorial work of Christ, and the angels of blessing coming to us in consequence; but i is better to be conquered by the Lord at Peniel, for it is there that the joint of self is displaced and power is obtained through faith's clinging. It is well to be protected from judgment in the Egypt of the world's condemnation, by the blood of the Lamb, but it is better to come out of Egypt and to be delivered from our enemies by means of the Red Sea of the Lord's delivering grace; and better still to be led through the wilderness of sin into the Land of Promise, for God deals with us according to the riches of His grace, in giving us every spiritual blessing in Christ.


~F. E. Marsh~


(continued with # 2)