The Spiritual Life # 6

Helps and Hindrances


The Call of the Spiritual Life


The statements of God's Word confirm the fact, that there are abundant supplies in the resources of God's grace to meet the need of the believer. The mercy which sought and found us is abundant in the bestowment of its blessings (1 Peter 1:3); as the prodigal found when he came back to his father's heart and hearth. The grace which saves, secures and sanctifies, is abounding in the fullness of its resource (Romans 5;20), even as the waters of the flood covered every high mountain. The life which quickens from the death of sin, is not only that which makes us one with Christ, but it is an abundant life to make us fruitful in all the graces of the Spirit (John 10:10), even as Ezekiel's river brings life and fruitfulness wherever it flows. The peace which calms amid every trial, and stills in every tempest of temptation, is unceasing and effective in its ministry (Psalm lxxii: 7), even as Christ said to the tempest-tossed lake, "Peace, be still," and there was a great calm. The joy which is unspeakable in its nature, and independent of circumstances, is one which is described as being "abundant in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:26), even as the inhabitants of Samaria found through the ministry of Philip the Evangelist. The goodness of the promises of God's house, and the cheer of His presence, are satisfying to those who are found abiding in Christ, for like the Psalmist they are "abundantly satisfied" (Psalm36:8), even as the five thousand found more than enough, when Christ fed them, and the promise of the Lord in answer to our prayer, as His power works unhindered in us, is that He will "do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20), even as Ruth found when Boaz, the mighty man of wealth, not only supplied all her need, but made her to share all his riches.


As we stand before the assurances of God's unlimited supply, are we not conscious that we do not know a tithe of these things in our own personal experiences? It seems to me there are three great hindrances which back the inflow of God's power in our hearts to our joy, and the outflow of that same power to others' blessing: and these are worldliness, selfishness and prayerlessness. These three hindrances lead our thought in three different directions: outward, there is the hurtful bane of worldliness; inward, there is the possibility of the blight of selfishness; and Godward, there may be the curse of prayerlessness, which bolts up the doors of heaven. Let us look at these three hindrances.


Separation From the World


Demas was one who was honored in sending friendly salutation with the Apostle Paul to the church at Colosse and to Philemon (Col. 4:14; Phil. 24); and yet of him the apostle had to say sadly, in the later days, in writing to Timothy: "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2 Tim. 4:10). No sadder statement could be made of anyone; yet, alas! too often it has to be said, and more often it would be said, if the truth were known, that those who profess to love the Saviour, love this present world.


Let us briefly note some of the things which God says about the world; for if we know the Lord's mind about it, we must surely avoid those thing of which He says, "Be separate."


Worldliness is evil in its nature. The world is described as this "present evil world" (Gal. 1:4), and we are told tat its evil is a trinity, namely, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (John 2:16). It was the lust of the flesh which tripped up Balaam to his destruction. It was the lust of the eyes which led Achan astray, when he saw and took the Babylonish garment and the gold, and thus he came under the swift judgment of God. It was the pride of life which filled the heart of Haman with avarice and ambition, and which caused him to be hanged upon the gallows he had erected for Mordecai. Generally  speaking, worldliness is anything which takes our heart away from God, and erects therein anything or anyone in the place of Christ.


Worldliness is downward in its tendency.  We read of "the course of this world" (Eph. 2:2). That "course" is away from God, for it is "according to the prince of the power of the air".  "When Henry IV, of France asked the Duke of Alva's opinion respecting some of the astronomical mysteries of heaven, he said, "Sire, I have so much to do on earth, that I have no leisure to think of heaven.'" How many there are who might say the same thing, if they would but give a true statement as to the tendency of their lives; yea, even some of God's professing children are so occupied all the week with the much-rake of their own concerns, that they have no time to think of the heavenly things above them.


~F. E. Marsh~


(continued with # 7)