Acts 11.
19-30. I am very pleased to have fellowship with you all in this way, and I
think perhaps I had better tell you that the invitation came with the
suggestion to minister some “needed truth[2]” and I
am sure we are all agreed that opens up a very large field for me, but it
brought to mind a sister I heard of near Horsham many years ago who felt she
could not have fellowship with either of the meetings in the town, she belongs
to the “Needy Truth Brethren” in Brighton[3] and as
often as her duties would allow she went there to break bread but never with
those in the town. Her kitchen maid was converted in our small meeting at
Rusper[4] and she
had clear instructions to use two small piles from the Kitchen dresser to give
to the very frequent tramps that called a pile of sixpences and another of
gospel tracts: one of each to each caller. That was practical Christian service
and if that was the needy truth taught & practiced in the meeting at
Brighton, all I can say about it is God bless them, and I would prefer to do
that than criticize their meeting[5]. Now I
would like to say that the teaching of the passage we have read together is
intensely practical and I trust we shall all gather something from it that will
help us to be practical also. No doubt it seemed a very bitter blow to the
early church to see one so very real and so highly esteemed as Stephen stoned
and removed from among them, but God never makes mistakes and the scattering of
the saints far and wide brought about a wonderful influx of blessings, and many
souls were saved and tidings reach the church which was at Jerusalem and they
sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch. No doubt it was to see
and to judge the reliability of the tidings all rumours and ultimately to
report to them[6].
I think we can gather two things from this. The wisdom of the church and the
confidence reposed in Barnabas. I think we need to ponder these two points now.
There are very many things we need to consider carefully in the church, and we
need heavenly wisdom in order to decide some of the issues that confront us.
Lay hands suddenly on no man[7] was an
exhortation given by the Apostle Paul to Timothy and we need to be very careful
to whom we give a welcome in the church and it was very necessary that this
work should be tested and that Barnabas should be chosen for this work shows
that they esteemed him very highly. This brings me to a word I read in a book
of Campbell Morgan’s[8] some
years ago “What kind of a church with my church be if all its members were just
like me. I make no comment on that to except to ask you to do as I felt
compelled to do when I first read it. Too lay it before the Lord and seek for
grace to be more faithful[9]. Now we
are brought to three things which we need to carefully consider. What he saw.
What he felt and What he did. First we are told He saw the grace of God. This
reminds me of those words we have in Eph 1. 18[10] How
privileged were those Ephesian believers to have the beloved Apostle praying
for them with such understanding of their deep need. How necessary that the
eyes of our understanding may be enlightened that we may see and know and
rightly assess spiritual blessings and their true worth. Barnabas saw what the
grace of God had done and was doing. He did not return to Jerusalem to spread abroad
the popularity of any particular evangelist He saw the grace of God[11]. As a
Jew he knew something of the law that was given by Moses. Now he knows
something of the grace that came by Jesus Christ. He had experienced the
impotency of the one and the potency of the other and was well versed in the
truth of that statement in Rom 8. 3 & 4[12]. I have
no hesitation in saying[13]. He saw
that by God’s grace the righteousness of the law was being fulfilled in them
that walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. Yes it was the grace of God
that bring us salvation that he saw. And now we ask. How did he respond to it.
He was glad. There is not a fine feature in any man’s character than the
capacity to rejoice in a neighbour’s prosperity, and more especially if it is
soul prosperity[14].
To see those who have lately been saved walking circumspectly[15]. It
brings to my mind something I heard many years ago. There had been a time of
blessing in a large gospel mission near Tunbridge Wells and several of the
young converts had given their testimony in a meeting. And the old leader of
the work exclaimed (with heart and eyes overflowing) to another Brother isn’t
it good to hear the little lambs bleat. Yes it is good to see what the grace of
God can do in the lives of men and women who hitherto have been godless &
indifferent. Now he must be practical, he must do the necessary thing for their
spiritual progress[16]. He
exhorted them all but with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord,
and let us take notice of the first word of verse 24. FOR he was a good man and
full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and by this we understand. If he was a
good man He must do good and if he is full of the Holy Ghost he must allow the
Holy Ghost to speak through him and this is the way he does it. The word cleave
is noteworthy and in scriptural use is connected with the Divine institution of
marriage, where the word is first used in connection with the creation of
woman. Now if I were asked why woman was made I would not say for the
procreation of children. I would say that the first intimation of that
all-important event is in Gen 2. 18 where God says It is not good with a man
should be alone. I will make him a help meet for him. Unfortunately the two
words help and meet are too often linked together and lose part of their
meaning. I say first and foremost woman came upon the scene for the
companionship of a husband and do we grasp the unspeakable privilege of the
church and its individual members to be first what the poet suggests Fit
companions then for Jesus[17]. And we
should cleave to Him, because He wants our companionship. I would like to
stress this especially as I feel it’s the almost a lost art. I was greatly
impressed by an illustration I read some time ago[18]. A
father and his teenage daughter were almost inseparable companions and very
abruptly the girl almost ceased to accompany him on his walks and rarely spent
any time with him at home and whenever he suggested doing anything together she
had an excuse and this caused very great anxiety to him, and he did not like to
question her about it. He did not like her to think that he questioned her
loyalty and so the days, weeks and months wore on and at last he had a birthday
and when she came down to breakfast she brought a very nicely wrapped parcel
and gave him all the old-time affection. He opened the parcel and saw a
beautifull garment that she had knitted for him, and he thanked her for it and
commented on the amount of her pocket money she must’ve spent to purchase such
a lovely present. But Daddy she explained I did not buy it. I made it. Ah he
said now the truth is out. You have spent all your spare time doing this for
me, and I do appreciate it ever so much darling. But I have been very lonely
without you. It was not the present I wanted it was you. And I sometimes
think we can spend a tremendous lot of time in service for the Lord. He knows
it is because we love Him, but how much time do we spend with Him in the secret
place. Do I cleave to Him with purpose of heart. How often I am reminded of
this sentence as I hear and read of the many purposeless lives lived by
Christian men and women. Do we ever sing the old Sankey hymn, now Dare to be a
Daniel. Dare to have purpose true[19]. Daniel
purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with Kings meat nor with
the wine which he drank. And we need to abstain from all those things which the
King’s enemies may consider good for us. Oh let us be really sincere as we sing
Keep us Lord O keep us cleaving. One of the closest of friends we read of in
God’s words was David & Jonathan but there was a time when David abode in a
wood in rejection and Jonathan went to the palace of David’s enemy[20]. How
sweet to David would have been Jonathan’s companionship at that time. And how
sweet to our rejected Lord must be the companionship of His own who cleave to
Him with purpose of heart[21].
[1] Farncombe was about half an hour away from Witley by bicycle and forms a small town with Godalming. The Farncombe (Open Brethren) meeting was attended by his two youngest sons David and Ray in the late 40s and early 50s while he built up the Witley meeting. There was an active evangelical youth ministry in the town involving Crusaders and Kings Own Bible Class which my father remembers well.
[2] As the reference to the "Needy Truth Brethren" in Brighton suggests this is a reference to the "Needed Truth" division in the Open Brethren of the 1890s which created a breakaway grouping who called themselves "Churches of God". See Grass 186-194 for a full history of the movement. The issue at stake was how open Brethren assemblies should be to outsiders, the position taken by the mainstream and which is very clearly evident in the work of Lloyd Ashdown is that all believers should be welcomed to the Breaking of Bread whilst the Churches of God believed this should be restricted only to full members of the assembly – they thus created a more centralized authority with some similarities to Presbyterianism. This moved Churches of God closer to the exclusive Brethren and their thoroughly centralized model. Lloyd's life can be seen as a classic example of the Open Brethren model which was happy to work with other evangelical Christians and gradually expose them to what was seen as full biblical truth. This was exactly what happened with Witley gospel mission which was originally a Congregational village mission but was transformed by Lloyd into what it still is an Open Brethren assembly. This talk, therefore, gives a useful description of his practical ecclesiology which is focused on evangelical effectiveness rather than ecclesiastical purity. Presumably issues had arisen within the Farncombe assembly touching on the 'Needed Truth' controversy and Lloyd was invited to speak as someone who was practically involved in the Open Brethren approach of inclusive evangelism who could give a sound defence of this position.
[3] For the contemporary Church of God see http://www.churchesofgod.info/index.php then no longer seems to be a Brighton church.
[4] Lloyd was a gardener at Ghyll Manor during the 1920s and 1930s. David and Ray were born here see Life in Rusper by Raymond Ashdown
[5] According to Grass the 'Needed Truth' controversy caused the Open Brethren much concern in the early 20th century – it is typical of Lloyd's to avoid criticizing other Christians, but in so doing demonstrates why he disagreed with the secessionists. Interestingly his eldest son Bert was a great controversialist but for the cause of Protestant truth rather than Brethren ecclesiology.
[6] This is very germane to the disagreement between the Open Brethren and the Churches of God. The Churches of God are concerned with 'guarding the deposit of truth' and making sure all the churches associated with the movement are doing so.
[7] Do not ordain anyone hastily is the NRSV translation of one Timothy 5: 22 interpreting the Greek as some kind of ritual of recognizing church officials. The passage goes on to say 'and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure' which was exactly the concern of Churches of God. Thus Lloyd is giving due notice to their concerns. You can't have an anything goes attitude to ministry in the church.
[8] Campbell Morgan was a favourite author and, I believe, something of a model for Lloyd. The fact that he was a Congregational minister is not insignificant.
[9] Having affirmed some of the 'Needed Truth' concerns, now, in a noncontroversialist way, he appears to be encouraging people to feel comfortable with others who are different and may have different beliefs around things which are inessential.
[10] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
[11] That is it is not for us to judge our fellow Christians but welcomed the grace of God wherever we see it. There is a hint here, perhaps, of an uncomfortableness with celebrity evangelists such as Billy Graham.
[12] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh. God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[13] That is he considers the 'Needed Truth' position to be legalistic rather than truly living in the Spirit
[14] 3 John 2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth cf Matthew Henry's commentary "Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing on this side heaven"
[15] That is prudently
[16] The 'Churches of God' did not flourish especially in southern England. Lloyd appears to be arguing that the important thing is not doctrinal purity but practical effectiveness in evangelism and spiritual growth.
[17] The poet being referred to is unclear, I could not find the source for this apparent quote
[18] From Campbell Morgan he had also used it on April 5 at Woodside Church, Chiddingfold
[19] Hymn written by Philip Bliss 1873
Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God’s command,
Honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!
Refrain
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.
Many mighty men are lost
Daring not to stand,
Who for God had been a host
By joining Daniel’s band.
Refrain
Many giants, great and tall,
Stalking through the land,
Headlong to the earth would fall,
If met by Daniel’s band.
Refrain
Hold the Gospel banner high!
On to vict’ry grand!
Satan and his hosts defy,
And shout for Daniel’s band.
[20] 1 Samuel 23:8
[21] i.e. This is the needed truth which is really important. We should not judge others who are sincerely committed Christians