173: Dennis Gillett - Friendship and Fellowship

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:13

   Welcome to good for selfie and talks. I’m Levi and I’m Chris and I’m Brian, thank you for joining us this week. On this podcast, we select one taco week to help us get the Bible in our daily news feed. We post a new episode of the start of each week with a short intro. Hand to kind of set the stage for the talk. You’re about to listen to and now let’s talk more about this week’s talk.

2. 0:49

   This was talk is title fellowship and friendship by brother Dennis, Dennis galette. I really, really loved this talk. I thought it was absolutely an excellent study on the ideas of friendship and fellowship at more friendship. He spends about the first half or so really diving into verses that relate to Friendship, some of the root words there and you’ll hear right at the start, he starts with the argument that Ship is the highest form of fellowship and goes on to kind of defend that case.

3. 1:24

   And then it really spins on its head when he says that we know from multiple scriptures that we are commanded to be friends in a way with the Lord Jesus. And what does that challenge actually? Mean, I just loved his just the words that he uses his masterful phrases so many one-liners, really, to me that came out of this talk, I’m going to be Re listening. And this was a an interesting find for us. The, this is a series of 3.

4. 1:57

   This is the third one. Although there’s no real relation that I can tell between the first two, which are related and this third class, which really stands alone. And these were uploaded to Crystal. King Bible talks just a couple months ago and I listen to them and emailed the brother who runs the website and said, can you tell me who uploaded these? Because I want some more information on where they’re from.

5. 2:21

   When was this recorded? You know, we know brother, Dennis from his writings and he’s been on this show before episode 136. But you know when when and where was this given because I like to post that information and the brother responded to me with a fun story, he the short answer is he didn’t actually have any information on when and where it was presented, but this is a series of tapes that he had come into owning 30 years ago. And had been looking for them more recently, online was able to finally find his own set again, he’d found two and then he knew that he’d landed lent one out and that was returned to him.

6. 3:01

   And so he went through the effort of uploading these tapes because he’s very, he thinks, it’s such a great series and I totally agree. I’m excited to share. So thank you to the two, that brother for the work that he did and getting these talks on the internet for us and I can only guess the talk is from the 70s. I mean, maybe this CS.

7. 3:19

   But likely sometime in the 70s, the quality of the recording is pretty bad and you’ll hear the tape flips, the tape of the tape sides flip. So there’s three, three or four. Paws has through the talk and that’s where the tape is flipping. And I’m happy now to share it in the podcast. This is a great one, friendship and fellowship by brother, Dennis Colette.

8. 3:43

   Another president, I’m better than sisters. And as I beginning to this evenings, Adoration, I would like to make to this meeting a proposition. I know, of course that it won’t be seconded. And I know that we shouldn’t be asking you to vote upon it. I understand that, but nevertheless, I would still like to make the proposition for this meeting for your consideration.

9. 4:20

   And the proposition is this. That the highest form of Fellowship is friendship. Shall I say it again? The highest form of Fellowship is friendship.

10. 4:42

    They’re quite properly. I know what you are doing. As you usually do, when you have to face propositions, you are pondering it, you are beginning to look at it and thinking. Well now let’s see where the faults lie. Let’s be critical about it. Buddy properly, that’s what you ought to be critical of the proposition. and you are thinking, ah, Now, there are plenty of people in the world in our community associated in the very realist, and most genuine way in True Fellowship. Who’ve never had the opportunity to meet, who are therefore unknown to each other and who therefore cannot experience friendship but they are in the very closest Fellowship Perfectly true.

11. 5:31

    I accept your criticism but notice this when the proposition says that friendship is the highest form of Fellowship, it does not in any way, cast any doubt at all, upon the value and the reality of that Fellowship which does not on the Practical level Embrace friendship. It’s claiming that where Fellowship does embrace friendship, then the fellowship is enhanced. On the other hand, you may be thinking that there are plenty of people who have the most sincere form of friendship and yet really, they are not in Fellowship, that’s true as well. Of course, it is.

12. 6:11

    I accept that. What can I say? You know, if we go on like this, we shall be submerged in what has come to be known in, in, in sort of discussion circles as the apple and fruit argument, that is to say all apples are fruit, therefore, all fruit is Apple’s. Now, one of the reasons we don’t accept that is that we know for sure that some of them are plums and summer peaches and some are apricots and we do detect the in that argument there is a flaw and we are, right? So Fellowship is friendship but not all friendship is fellowship.

13. 6:54

    We know in our deepest heart, don’t we? That no amount of friendship can create fellowship. If the Divine element is missing no don’t don’t let don’t let’s misunderstand the proposition. It means that given the existence of True Fellowship which is based on Sound fundamentals, they comes to its highest realization on the level of true friendship when that properly understood and really, I don’t propose to beat about the bush any longer because Bush beating does no good really. So I’m going to come to the point now straight away and say, the idea, the proposition is provoked in my mind and I hope in yours by the fifteenth verse of the fifteenth chapter. Our of the Gospel of John our Lord. Speaking his Apostle says no longer do I call you servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doing but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard from my father I have made known unto you.

14. 8:07

    Now we need to notice the words carefully in the Bible, every word is important, but we need to notice these words, especially careful. Lee because you will observe a change in, the relationship is taking place. The word suggests that these men in some way are passing into something, which is deeper and closer, no longer do I call you servants, as you will know, more accurately slaves, bonds flavors

15. 8:38

    At first, the king called them disciples and sure they are disciple. If he be a true one is in fellowship with his Lord. And then later on, he called them the same men. He called them Apostles. And an apostle is one cent in the name of another with authority, and if they went forth in his name and hit with his authority, then surely the fellowship was in hands and intensified but now there is a change taking place.

16. 9:06

    No Longer do I call you servants? I have called you friends now. We don’t have to be careful, not to make a mistake. It does not mean that in some sense they have not been his friend.

17. 9:19

    Nor does it mean that being friends they had in some way she’s to be disciples. Nor does it mean that in some way they are no longer Apostles. As a matter of fact, the the greatest part of their apostleship was still future. Nor does it mean that in any way they had ceased to be servants?

18. 9:37

    Because, did you notice verse 20? In verse 20? He said, Remember the word that I said, unto you a servant is not greater than his Lord. Now that referred to something, he said to them, evidently before. But as he now urges them to remember it, quite clearly, it’s indicated that that relationship was to be maintained, so they were still his servants, the all this being true, it They came here is distinctly and definitely marking a change in his relationship, with his disciples, with his Apostles, with his servants, no longer.

19. 10:14

    That’s the vital thing to note is no longer the very words mean A change is taking place. If it is to be no longer than something is in the process of alteration, no longer do I call you slaves and then the very character of the change is revealed. In the words, I have called Did you friends? And I am saying to you that at once we are taken on to a different level.

20. 10:42

    Discipleship is one thing, it is essential and vital. Apostleship is another thing, it is Central. And the fun of the deaf servant, it servanthood is one thing. It is Central, it is devoted and obedient now, all these relationships Express, an idea of Fellowship they do. But then as it were, the final conception is in the words, I have called you friends. All the other relationships are part of the process of Fellowship, but then, as it were centrally and finally I have called you friends.

21. 11:24

    And we ought to understand that that sentence does not one Whit in any way diminish or – or in any way, harm, any of the other relationships. But instead, it takes their values and makes them even more intimate, more beautiful, and more glorious. And so brother president, It was for that reason that I proposed to you, that friendship is the highest form of Fellowship. It seemed to me and I hope it seems to you that the 15th verse of the 15th chapter of John properly, understood is saying that very thing to us, that friendship is the highest form of Fellowship.

22. 12:00

    But in order to take a measurement in order to see whether it is true or not, or whether are interpretation of it is true or not. Russia. Now we shall need now to ponder the idea. Of Fellowship. Perhaps more penetrating Lee. I don’t want to take up time going over terrain which is already well trodden and I’m very conscious and in speaking to you tonight I am speaking to people who are exceedingly well tutored in biblical Exposition and therefore I’m going to take it for granted that there’s no need for me to go into the relative values of the various Words which are used in the New Testament to describe the idea of Fellowship because you know them. Well Fellowship contribution distribution communication communion And if we turn from the abstract noun to the common noun, we have words like Partners partakers companions. All those words emphasized in a way how rich the idea of Fellowship really is but for the purposes of this consideration, I shall leave all those words which you know well expect you’ll be through them with a toothed comb already and I’m going to leave them and look at something in the Acts of the Apostles something which is revealed in the experience of the infant Ecclesia which gives us an illustration of fellowship and we may say it’s an illustration and in its very simplest.

23. 13:24

    Terms. But at it’s very nobilis definition. I’m thinking of the fourth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles A memory that fourth chapter of Acts it tells us, but in the days of the pure and uncorrupted, faith in the days when the disciples were impulse buy love in the days. When the Ecclesia was utterly Mastered by the truth. But in those days, when Fellowship came to each finest realization, I think you would concede that, in those early days of that infant church, that the, the men and women in Jesus were closely knit together and week, I think we could say that in those days Fellowship, whatever it means came to its finest realization.

24. 14:11

    It says in verse 32 of actual, they had all things common, they had all things common and the word which is translated, common is the root word from which comes the word, translated Fellowship, so that gives us an idea. Gives us something to go on when we are pursuing the idea of fellowship and if we pursue the idea at that level and supposing, we do for the time being pursue it at that level.

25. 14:43

    Where if we ask the question, what is fellowship with men? Well, that it is having all things common with them. And if we pursue it even further and say what is fellowship with God? Then if we take the idea further and ask that question, what is fellowship with God while of course, immediately it becomes startling amazing and well it holds us in our tracks but never mind let us go on with reverence and godly fear and say, It is having all things common with him. And when I think of that, I am different to think of friendship because as it appears to me the basis of true friendship is really having all things common.

26. 15:30

    That is to say it is reciprocal and self-emptying love resulting in a kind of mutual interest. It is always and forever to be seeking the interests of my friend, whoever he is to the forgetful of for lesser myself and he the same with me.

27. 15:48

    And if you go back to John 15, you can notice the reason why the King was calling these men who are servants and was now calling them to be friends. He said in verse 15 henceforth, I call you not servants and he gives his reason for the servant knoweth not what his Lord do it, but I have called you friends for all things that I’ve heard of my father, I have made known unto you. That is to say he had shared with them. The things that he had received consequently, they had all things.

28. 16:18

    Was common. And because of this, they became his friends. Is he a slave must give unquestioning unquestioning obedience to his master. That is to say it is blind, obedience. He did nothing on his own initiative. He was unable to possess anything himself. He was unable to elect he. He acted out of fear.

29. 16:40

    He did eat it all things fearfully without understanding. Now, let’s be careful not to go wrong here. There is a sense, of course in which disciples who our friends are also still bondslaves. Let’s not make that mistake indeed. There was one Apostle who said he was born out of due time, but you said also that he was not one Whit behind the very chiefest of the Apostles, he loves to call himself the bond slave of Jesus Christ.

30. 17:06

    But in the change relationship, the bond slave relationship is also changed. The bond. Slave is still the property of his Lord. But now when he elects, he does it under the loving compulsion of his friends choice and when he possesses, he shares the good gifts which comes from his friends Bounty. For instance, he has heard this all things are yours and you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s. And when he acts, he acts to advance the very cause in which in some way he himself has become a partner. That is having become a fellow laborer with God. You see the master principle of slavery is unquestioning obedience or unquestioning submission and blind obedience but that’s not the master principle of Friendship with the King.

31. 17:50

    Never the friends of Jesus asked submissive but they are not on questioning. The friends of Jesus are obedient but not blindly. He has told them all things and they have asked him many things. And when he had answered their doubts and when he had illuminated their minds and when he had shattered their blindness, then he said no longer do I call you slaves, I have called you friends but is I have admitted you into the secret things.

32. 18:22

    You are coming into the Inner Circle I have told you all things. We have all things, common. And so, at last, they gave him intelligent obedience and they give they give him satisfied. Submission course. We understand what we ought to understand that it didn’t happen. It didn’t happen. Suddenly like magic overnight. It never does you see?

33. 18:49

    Although he has answered all their questions that nevertheless, here is a man asking. Lord, with a goest thou here is a man asking. Lord, why can’t I follow thee now? Here is a man asking Lord show us the father and it sufficeth us. Sufficeth us all these men still slaves, then. Yes, yes, still slaves, but they are slaves. Getting ready to be friends.

34. 19:17

    It doesn’t happen like magic. It may be imperceptible but it’s real enough. They are beginning to have all things common. And by that, he made them his friends, they did not make Make him their friend. He said, you did not choose me. I have chosen you. He took that doubts and eventually made them the bastions of Faith. He took their weakness and eventually made it the foundation of strength.

35. 19:41

    And so as they come more fully as it develops and as they come more fully into the newer relationship. They are, they are not slaves. Dragging themselves after him in misery and thinking that somehow in the wedding misery, there is some virtue not that never For example, you never find the Apostle Paul saying Brethren. This is a bad business, I can promise, you know, amelioration I’m afraid what cannot be cured will have to be endured. I cannot give you chapter and verse that brother president because there was no such quotation. These men follow the lord gaily.

36. 20:21

    If I may say so with reverence they followed him gaily gladly. They suffered in his name thinking themselves in some way to be privileged and they did it for love of him because they were his friends, they were seeking his interests as he was certainly seeking. There’s and putting all they had it, his disposal as he had, but all he had at theirs and they had all things common. They are not slaves, but friends, And yet, in a sense. Slaves as never before.

37. 20:56

    Well, of course it sounds Splendid but like you I am conscious of the fact that when we when we begin to speak of Friendship with the Son of God, we are faced at once with the problem of unreality. I will not, it’s so easy to say it, but really, to believe it. As a practical thing, it is another matter. It is unreal.

38. 21:23

    In a sense, friendship of this kind with the Son of God having all things, common Touch of unreality about it. So what we got to do now then we thought about Fellowship, we’ve got an event next about friendship.

39. 21:44

    And as I start, I’m going to read you somebody else’s definition of friendship. With me. Somebody else’s definition of friendship. Now, it may help us. That’s all the only reason I raise do. It may help us and this is it. I’ll tell you who it. If you like afterwards, all the Comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person having neither to way thoughts, nor measure words, but pour them out. Just as they are chaff and Grain Together. Knowing that the faithful hand will take and sift them. Keep, what is worth keeping?

40. 22:28

    And with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. A definition of friendship. We offer the oppressed I should say, well, those of you who have had some experience of English literature will, perhaps remember a lady named mrs. Craig mrs. Craig lived at the end of the 19th century beginning of this Century.

41. 22:56

    Wrote a lot of work, some of them religious but especially a I think, perhaps the most the best known of a Works was a book called. John Halifax, gentlemen, I see a note of recognition on some of your faces. This is great. The inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person having to having not to waive, thoughts, nor measure words, but pour them out.

42. 23:25

    Just as they are chaff and Grain Together and knowing that the faithful hand will take them and sit them and keep that, which is worth keeping and with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away. Now, if you think of those words brothers and sisters, I I think you will have to agree that at that level that makes friendship a very valuable thing.

43. 23:48

    It’s not every day that you have friends measured by that standard someone with whom there is no need to wear a mask. Someone with whom there is no need to play the hypocrite, but there’s no need to make believe you can be yourself without fear. You can feel safe. You may speak out of the honesty of your own heart, knowing that your friends will blow away the chaff and keep only the grain.

44. 24:17

    If when you leave this house tonight and you go home and before you go to bed, you sit down and make out a list of people with whom you can have that kind of friendship. Can I say to you? I do not think you will be going to bed very late. Or if you like, can I put it to you another way? I don’t think you’re likely to get writer’s cramp. Course will have a big list of people with whom you are able to have a polite conversation.

45. 24:47

    Of course, you can have a very pleasant evening and enjoyable hour, but there is a sense in which you are having to be careful. You are outwardly at your best with them, can I dare I put it like that brother president without seeming to be offensive in any way. We are at our best, with some people Yes, I am.

46. 25:12

    You never dare take them really into the into the private chamber. When you are speaking, there is a sense in which you, you are having silent reservations.

47. 25:25

    But not with your friends. You see, not with your friend, with your friends, you can think aloud, you are true to yourself, such as you are. So you are and because of the Affinity between you so, is he and there is no fear and no apprehension and that is utter peace between you.

48. 25:47

    Now. This is what I want to propose to you. It is not irreverent to put that measurement on your friendship with the son of God.

49. 26:02

    And I am fortified in that view by thinking of something. In Psalm 32, you remember, Psalm 32 is a song which was written by King David. To celebrate the Wonder and relief of the pain which had come to him after his great sin. Course, when we read it, we read it rather prosaically why nobody can complain about that. We say, blessed is the man in whose sin is Forgiven. And whose iniquity is covered, that’s how we say it. But when he wrote it, no doubt it was written as it were with a great grasp of really blessed.

50. 26:42

    Is the man whose sin is Forgiven, the gospel, Leaf on his iniquity is coming and then he goes on to say and in whose Spirit, there is no guile. That’s important.

51. 26:57

    That sentence came out of his own experience. No doubt dial is putting on a performance. Guile is being outwardly. What? We are not inwardly guile is window, dressing guile is pretense and you wouldn’t believe it. But sometimes we practice it with God. David did he says so in the psalm and his conscience gave him no rest and he had no peace of mind.

52. 27:30

    Guile is calling bad things by good names. Guile is making plausible the things we ought not to have, or we ought to share. and this is what we do, I think, for this, you what I do as I said to you before, I think I am not So here is the measurement if there is some Secret.

53. 27:57

    I’m putting it. Here are the planet Lee. Now if there is some secret, which ought to be acknowledged but is not and if there is some Indulgence with your to be repudiated, which instead is nurse and if there is some room up private from which the King has to be excluded, and if there is some half hour in the day, when, you know, his presence makes you embarrassed, Then can I say to you with a very deep respect? Although your relationship maybe Fellowship, it is not friendship.

54. 28:31

    Not at this high level because with a friend you do not practice guile. David said, blessed is the man who is guileless with a friend you are honest and you are open and in The Fellowship of friendship you are able to confess your full heart and your false soul and in The Fellowship of friendship you may tell your doubts and your fears and your griefs and your restlessness. You may even come praying, perhaps about how God is Is dealing with you.

55. 29:12

    And I say it with a defect deepest reverence, he will take out the Grain and with the breath of gentle understanding will blow away the chart. I read this once in the Roman letter, we know not how we ought to pray, but the spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. You see, if you force yourself tonight in this house to sing the hymn of submission and resignation. And in the Deep part of you, it is against your will. I doubt very much whether it rises any higher than the ceiling of this place, but if on the other hand, you pull out your anxiety tonight and your fear, even your indignation, if you like as Martha, did I think when she said I know that he will be raised again in the resurrection at the last day, the king will hear it.

56. 30:04

    If we have understood this, right? The king will hear it. It will blow away the chaff and he will retain that, which is true. And According to his will he was give you an answer of peace. Remember, we are trying to understand how it is, genuinely possible for failing and broken men, such as we are to have friendship with the exalted Son of God.

57. 30:27

    Now in pursuing that thought I’m never going to ask you to think of the shortest biography in the Bible for words to tell a man’s life. Enoch walked with God, the shortest biography in the Bible Genesis 5. Enoch walked with God in a civilization, which was disintegrating, which was descending, and which at last was utterly doomed. This one lonely man walk with his creator and have you ever thought how impossible that really is? The wheat faltering, steps of a man walking with the great Yahweh Lord of Heaven and Earth.

58. 31:08

    Think of the great word of Amos can two walk together except they be in agreement, we should do that sentence. No violence brother and sisters to translate it. Can two walk together except they be in fellowship with her. Do it. No violence to change the word because you remember in the New Testament, we read this.

59. 31:27

    What Fellowship has light with Darkness? What agreement hath the temple of God with Idols. So we could say, can two walk together except they be in Fellowship. Assha now. Walking implies three things if you think about it. But let’s think of this Enoch walked with God, walking now, let’s think about walking for a bit.

60. 31:48

    But Tim I’m suggesting to you that it implies three things will effort and Direction. Now, every time you walk anywhere, it is an act of your will Just to cover every possible argument. When a pleasant I’ll enter in that statement, I will end at one qualification. I said every time you walk anywhere, it’s an act of you’re welcome, one qualification it unless you happen to be sleepwalking, I’ll give you that.

61. 32:16

    But apart from sleepwalking every time you walk, it’s an act of will that is to say, I’m not even if that’s an act of desire. You may not want to go. But if you go, you will be. I mean you may not want to walk to the dentist. And if there’s any dentist here, can I say I have the deepest respect for your profession? You may not want to walk to the dentist, but if you walk there while you’ve willed it, So walking first of all implies will and act of Will and then it implies effort. I know it comes so easily to us normally, but if we lie in bed for three months and then try to walk, we shall know that walking implies effort and then walking implies Direction because even walking backwards are in a circle you’re going somewhere. You may not make a lot of progress but you’re going somewhere.

62. 33:08

    So we’ll effort and Direction. Now you think of those three things in come the country in the context of think of those three things in the context of Walking with God.

63. 33:33

    A man and God willing the same thing that is to say United in volition a man and God putting out strength towards the same end. That is united in effort. A man and God moving in the same path towards the same. Ultimate destination that is united in Direction.

64. 33:53

    That’s what it means. When we talk about walking with God and you can see it again in the lonely, man, who went out from chaldea. To the land, which he had never seen and which he didn’t know about, but to what, which have been promised to him. That lonely, man, Abraham, as I said to you on Sunday measured by the wisdom of the world, they would be counted. A foolish man to do such a thing but He went out with confidence because he was utterly sure of the god with whom he was walking.

65. 34:31

    He went out because he was convinced Beyond any shout of the Integrity of the invisible. God will effort and direction. That is to say they had all things common. Have I overstated it. Thank you, Abraham. And God, they had all things. Common is that an overstatement Well. I read this in the 22nd chapter of Genesis, they went both of them.

66. 35:01

    Together. And then there’s a sentence in Isaiah 41, which ought to seal our conviction. If we need ceiling verse 8 of Isaiah 41 reads like this, but there is a real art, my servant Jacob whom I am the Seed of Abraham, my friend. So there’s a clear statement that God and Abraham were friends, they had all things common. Doubt it.

67. 35:32

    Let’s look all the nature of the Friendship. Then as it’s revealed to us in Genesis video, Genesis 15, verse 1. God said fear, not Abraham. I am thy shield and my exceeding great reward. And then in chapter 18 verse 17, it says and the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham? The thing which I do.

68. 35:52

    The servant knoweth not what his Lord do it, but I have called you friends for all things that I’ve heard of my father, I have made known unto you. That is the measure of friendship. And then, shall I hide from Abraham? The thing, which I do Abraham was called to fellowship with God, and as a result of the Revelation, he came into that inner circle of God’s friendship, remember? We’re trying to understand how it can be true. That faltering failing men.

69. 36:22

    Such as we are, can walk with Yahweh, the great God. The there is something in the New Testament, which is a kind of counterpart which can help us. I’m thinking of Matthew, 11 verse 29, Lord’s words, take my yoke upon you and learn of me for. I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Take my yoke upon.

70. 36:50

    You think of that for a minute? Take my yoke upon you. Paul said. Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Now, if you put those two things together, it gives you a clear idea of what a yoke is full. It joins together, those who are burdened bearers and dare, I say it to you. That being yoked with the king is being unequally yoked. In that, yoking the burden has been cast upon him and you are rested.

71. 37:26

    And is that not on equal? But in your favor, it’s a picture of two yoked together the strong one and the week, when, and because of the strong one, the yoke is easy and my burden is light for the other, that’s what he means.

72. 37:43

    Over the rough places. The week one is sustained. He says my burden is light and my yoke is easy but sometimes we feel it is not. It is hard. It binds the Polish. That’s what he means.

73. 38:02

    Such burdens of have to be born a born together. Over the rough places. The weak one is sustained the strong one waits encouragingly for the other who fought as I’m using figures. Now, you understand, learn of me, he said what he means is that as we are yoked together with him, all be it on equally. Bit by bit, there is a kind of Harmony created betwixt the to our step becomes his step.

74. 38:33

    His effort becomes our effort, our step, our purpose becomes his purpose, his Direction becomes our Direction. This is the effect of the truth Upon Us bit by bit. All things I have received. He said I’ve made known unto you learn of me. Now this is the highest and the sublimest law of life. It seems to me and the realization of is at its best and its noblest is Is perfect Fellowship. And so brother president.

75. 39:02

    I make my proposition this time. A little more optimistic form of Fellowship is friendship. Well, now, the final part of this meditation takes us back to John 15. to what might be called the The outcome of this relationship because remember the address was called fellowship and fruit-bearing. Now let’s see what else. Our lord said no longer do I call you servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord do it? That I have called you friends for all things that I’ve heard from my father.

76. 39:50

    I have made known unto you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. And that your fruit should abide that what? Whatever you shall ask of my of the father in my name. He may give it to you. So that the new relationship, according to that statement was not a static and academic thing a theory only, but as a result of the Revelation, they these men had found God in a way perhaps in which they never found him before. And resulting from that Revelation, there ought to be created a new capacity for service. That’s what Jesus is saying.

77. 40:34

    You saying that that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide? Jesus wants said to Philip he that hath seen me. Hath seen the father and you see underneath that sentence brother and sisters. There is a great principle. We are now without doubt dealing with deep biblical principles and here we are confronted with one in this part of John. He that hath seen me.

78. 41:06

    Hath seen the father. He said to Philip And when that Revelation strikes, a man a principle is at work and the principle is this that men become like the god, they worship. How Lord said clip. When you look at me, you see my father. In other words, your see God. You see, my God.

79. 41:36

    And can I say to you Brennan sisters? If you are able to look at any man truly and penetratingly you will see his God you know that Because every man Reveals His God in what he is in himself. In other words, that is an inexorable principle that you become like the gods. You serve, whether you want it or not, and whether you will it or not, you will become like the god, you serve proof, they well Psalm 115 Have a look at Psalm 150.

80. 42:26

    Psalm 115 begins not endorse. Oh Lord not unto us but unto thy name, give glory for thy mercy in thy truth. Say wherefore should the nation’s say where is now their God, our God is in the heavens. He hath done whatsoever. He pleased. Their Idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not eyes, have they? But they see not, they have ears but they hear not. Not noses, have they?

81. 42:53

    But they smell not. They have hands, but they handle nut feed have they but they walk not neither speak they through their throat and they that make them shall be like unto them.

82. 43:05

    They that make them shall be like unto them. If a man’s God is insensate at last that man who worships him will himself become insensate. That’s what that Psalm writer is telling us, ultimately, as a man’s Soul response to his God, whoever they got is. So, is he and if the God be lost and greed and carnality, so that man would reveal at last in his class The lust and greed. In carnality, it is an inexorable principle. I tell you.

83. 43:41

    And if that man’s God is Yahweh, the god of Israel then. So it lasts that man becomes truth. Governed and love. Mastered proof 1 John 3 verse 2.

84. 44:01

    To love John 3:2. 1. John 3, verse 2 beloved now. Are we the children of God? It is not yet made manifest what we shall be, but we know that when he is manifested, we shall be like him for. We shall see him as he is. They that make them shall be like unto them. We shall be like him.

85. 44:43

    Those two statements in their final realization are poles apart, but underneath them, that is a common principle men, become like the gods, they worship, whichever way it is. Now these men had seen their God in the man of Nazareth. They had seen in his sinlessness. The Holiness of God, they had seen in his Compassion the love of God and living within the orbit of that Revelation, they were to bring forth the fruit of Holiness and compassion that is to say they were to become like the god.

86. 45:20

    They are discovered in this one. Lonely concentric man in an eccentric world. And all this of course is connected in a vital way, with the very first words, which began this discourse, I am the True Vine. If you want it more literally and it as it happens the that the literal is is a blessed Thing by the president.

87. 45:43

    In this case that more accurate to I am the vine the true. That’s what he actually said. And if you think it’s kind of Distinction without a difference, if you think I’m splitting hairs, the reason I draw attention to it is this that when he said I am the True Vine, he did not mean to imply, that all other Vines were there for false.

88. 46:07

    Not that I am the vines the true is saying all other Vines are replicas not false but replicas patterned upon the first the True Vine. I am the vine, the true and all other Vines are patterned upon him in the True Vine, the branch bears fruit and does so by gaining, from the vine, the very life, which enables it to be fruitful.

89. 46:31

    And in a way, that the cluster of fruit is the branches answer the branches response to the force, which is given from, Um, the stop the parent stock and you don’t have to be a genius to you. To realize that our Lord’s use of this figure of the vine in John 15, has its roots deep in the Old Testament because the figure of the vine wrong through the Psalms and through prophecy. And then out of that deep conception of the vine in the Old Testament, one day, this man of Nazareth stood in the midst of Israel and said Annie was Back. As, you know, looking back to the old economy and said, I am the vine, the truth.

90. 47:16

    And by contrast, your minds will have already gone to Isaiah chapter 5. I know you’ve done that. I trouble. You say it tight. I can’t keep up with the audience. That’s my problem. Isaiah 5, you’ve been taking off. You remember, Isaiah fi, let me sing for my well-beloved, a song of my beloved touching his Vineyard. My well-beloved had a Vineyard in a very fruitful Hill. And he made a trench about it in gathered at the stones that are implanted it with the choices.

91. 47:55

    Fine. And built a tower in the midst of it and also huge out of wine press. They’re in and he looked but it shall bring forth grapes and it brought forth wild grapes. You looked and it was balanced. What was he hoping to find? Weathers 7 tells us what he was hoping to find. Well, verse 7 tells us what he was hoping to find for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah.

92. 48:52

    His Pleasant plant and he looked for judgment and behold, oppression, and you look for righteousness, but behold an empty cry. He was looking for judgement when it says judgment. Behold oppression. Look for righteousness and behold the cry judgment is government, which is true and righteous and just and righteousness is Holiness, which is pure and undefiled uncompassionate. And when the king said I am the vine that true, he meant that, what once was look for and was found wanting had come at last to Israel. the men threw him the things, which the What did he call it?

93. 49:54

    The choicest vine. Verse to the choicest, vine had been planted in Israel. I am the vine, the true. He meant that that fruit which God had sought at last. Tom threw him. There was to be judgment, and righteousness, and they were coming into the world judgment, which was true and righteous and just righteousness, which was holy pure, undefiled and compassionate.

94. 50:21

    Now that is the fruit bearing. Airing of the vine. And he said, I am the vine and ye are what did he call it? The choicest vine. Verse to the choicest vine have been planted in Israel. I am the find the truth. He meant that that fruit which God had sought at last to come through him. There was to be judgment and righteousness, and they were coming into the world judgment, which was true and righteous and just righteousness, which was holy pure, undefiled and compassionate.

95. 50:59

    Now that is the fruit bat. Of the vine. He said, I am the vine and ye are the branches. And he is saying to us. And may God help us to realize it for our souls sake. He was saying to us as he was so his friends are called to be somehow by his friends.

96. 51:23

    The value of his friendship is to be manifested in the world. They are the Great Master principles of the kingdom of God, truth, and righteousness. And through the fellowship of those who are redeemed through the house of God, through the incorporation of those who are newborn through the Ecclesia of Christ in the world, the Great Master principles of the kingdom of God, are to be revealed among men and proclaimed among men because soon-coming is that Kingdom.

97. 51:57

    Ye are a city he said set on a hill and to it. You see man you are seeking sucker and salvation and Sanctuary. They come to that City seeking it and within its Fellowship that is or that ought to be truth and compassion that ought to be warmth and love its citizens as those who are impulse by a master passion and their Master passion is to reveal the person.

98. 52:22

    The Shining Light, the word made flesh the vine, the true You are the branches. I am the Vine. And when you pass into the New Testament conception of Fellowship, I mean, real Fellowship, when you try to look at the New Testament conception of Fellowship, burn sisters, and when you breathe it for wear and spacious atmosphere, as it were, you know, some open /, have to say that sometimes, the triviality is Rich seem to divide us.

99. 52:55

    Do really become poor tree when you think of what True Fellowship, really means. The fruit of the branches is the revelation of the internal life of the line. That’s the real issue. There is a person, the world needs to see. I think you would have to concede that. I know it’s dark outside.

100. 53:17

     I know that, but there is a person, the world needs to see and the question therefore, which really comes to us is are we showing him to the little world in which we are moving in our society outside? The waters are dark and stone dust and the Mariners such as they are. They need a light? Are we Illuminating the way in the little world in which we move?

101. 53:42

     That’s what he meant. Ye are the salt of the earth you are the light of the world is that Are we in some sense, halting the spread of corruption has the accepting influence of her life in the truth. Had its effect in the little world, in which we move. You see outside there is a famine of hearing the word of God.

102. 54:04

     Men are dying outside. I know. But are you finding and feeding somebody just a few here and there, I know that, but are you finding and feeding somebody? Because you are his friends, you know, the method of his fruit bearing? There’s a great New Testament word will which no doubt you will be familiar.

103. 54:27

     Which is often is often spoken in its in its first film, I mean, in the Greek, the kenosis expect, you’ve heard of that. Many times, the kind of sees the self-emptying it’s in Philippians chapter 2, he emptied himself and became obedient unto death. That’s the kenosis, the Southampton. It was essentially, it was done essentially for the sake of others is where it was utterly remedial. I know he benefited from his own sacrifice, don’t get me involved in that argument.

104. 54:58

     Now I know that. but it was essentially remedial Throat is not that fruit, which is born for selfish reasons, it’s not fair. Own, spiritual selfishness is not for just for some blessing upon ourselves to consume upon our own desires, even as spiritual desires services, not rendered. So that the big Harvest may be ours in the world to come. That might be resolved.

105. 55:23

     I don’t doubt that may be the result. Certainly you may have a big harvest in the world to come, but that is not the motive. He went to discover the motive you If only to read carefully, the seventh chapter of Judges, once more to read their of 10,000 men of Israel who under Gideon lapped at the Waterside, and 9700 were sent home with men, all of them. 9700 drank to satisfy themselves when they did it, they were forgetful in their satisfaction for themselves of the Commonwealth. They were forgetful of the common good and the need for constant Readiness.

106. 56:05

     That is to say in their drinking. This is how I read it in their drinking. They took unnecessary time over necessary things and they were already in the act of their drinking for the need and God sent them home and may God bless them everyone and we, everyone be in his kingdom, but they were not Judgment at that moment. 300 lap to refresh themselves. What they did it for one supreme motive that they would be ready for the battle.

107. 56:30

     They refresh themselves for the sake of others, and they were in constant Readiness as they drank they drank for the Commonwealth for the common good. And so, it being refreshed, they could spend themselves in saving their brethren.

108. 56:45

     What a great victory over the midianites, the fruit we bear is for the sake of others, and if we are his fruit bailing friends, then that kenosis I referred to as got in some way to be repeated to us for Love’s sake. We do what we do. The Apostle Paul said Christ liveth in me, meant the Life of Christ was being repeated in his own life. So the in proportion as we know what it is to have true friendship with him.

109. 57:12

     True Fellowship, bearing in mind, the proposition, which began this meditation. Then in a sense, we shall be able by God’s grace to Bear the fruit that he is seeking. The only May mean, you know let’s face it brother and sisters. I spoke about the Yoke being easy and the burden being lidar. Yes, indeed the burden is shared but it may well be that it may mean sacrificing us.

110. 57:37

     Instabilities. If we mean business it may mean sacrificing our refinements and our preferences, it may mean pocketing our pride and confessing that perhaps may help us God we might have been wrong. Perhaps up to now how about this? All that it may mean going on when any sane person would say. Man spare thyself it may mean putting what seems to be dead seed into cold ground and having to wait a long time for the emerald Sheen, over the Golden Footage of harvest. It may mean getting closer to spoil Humanity if by God’s grace out there somewhere.

111. 58:17

     There is somebody yet to be saved. It made me having infinite patience with our Brethren and sisters will gods of the children with their fables, and their failings, and their ways. And it may mean shedding the things perhaps, which hitherto will justify with plausible arguments, but which in our deepest heart, we know we ought to If you donate repudiate and it may mean being utterly loyal to the truth when in this place all that, it is being assaulted and assailed and we have to stand right Rock in its defense and it may mean being faithful at all when faith in other people is growing demon When Love is waxing cold.

112. 58:57

     But nevertheless, that’s what it may mean. But I think we could go away from this house tonight. Pondering Fellowship. We could go away with humble confidence. Nevertheless, although it may mean all those things and in a sense that what was a terrible, lisp brother president, was it? Not even a, don’t us. It may don’t us, but I think we may go away with humble confidence because we can notice Jesus said his friends were to ask the father and his name for the things which will enable them to be fruit bearers. Because they are his friends that is drawing from the vine the forces which make for Fruitful fruitfulness and he wouldn’t deceive his friends now, Woody, let’s be honest, if it isn’t true that we’ve been grossly deceived, if it isn’t true.

113. 59:45

     Some part of that Bible is false but we’ve come tonight under the Mystic influence of the truth because we believe in our deepest heart, he was telling us the truth and he would Not deceive his friends. Fruit bearing is not magic. It presupposes. Life it indicates, Grove it demands, cultivation. It comes essentially from the word of God, that is no great, shaft of light from Heaven, into your heart, or mine, apart from this, holy word of God.

114. 1:00:12

     It comes from our understanding and the conviction of that the changing of our Consciousness. So that we become fruitful people. It comes from Commerce with having through the power of prayer. It comes from The Fellowship of the Ecclesia. And the effect of the brothers and sisters Upon Our Lives. All these things bring forces to Bear upon us, which make us fruitful the tender gracious worth of the vinedresser upon such as are his friends and always his servants.

115. 1:00:40

     That is upon those who have with him, all things common and with him, not only with him but with themselves. I’ve only two little references, cannot go on for three minutes to little references to leave you with which may interest. You, you can think about them. We’re thinking about not doing things fruitfully for Love’s sake, for the sake of others.

116. 1:01:09

     I’m going to take you back a long way now to the tenth chapter of numbers, I wonder if you’ve ever pondered this man before I expect you have but of course you have how bad?

117. 1:01:28

     How bad? Numbers Kent. An interesting case. Verse 29. And Moses said unto her o baba, some of who L the midianite, Moses father-in-law, we are junior until the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you. Come there with us and we will do the good for the Lord hath spoken. Good concerning Israel.

118. 1:02:04

     And ho, Bob said unto Moses, I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my kindred Moses said, leave us not. I pray thee for as much as thou, knowest, how we are to encamp in the wilderness and thou shalt be to us instead of eyes and it’s will be, if I go with us, J, it will be that.

119. 1:02:27

     What, Good’s, wherever the Lord shall do unto us the same, will he do unto thee? And they set forward from the Mount of the Lord, 3j’s Day’s Journey, Etc. And that’s an interesting case, Moses said to her by brocco Bob go with us and we will do thee good. We will do thee good. I’m old.

120. 1:02:46

     How bad was? We’ve met? Who had said something we haven’t? We met hold up since those independent characters and he was one of those, an independent character and he replied to Moses in effect. No, thanks of Moses. I do not care to go with you. I will do my own way.

121. 1:03:06

     And then those, he said, hello, Bob, come with us and thou shalt be to us instead of eyes. Now, here’s an interesting thing, how bad would not go in response to the excitation that it would be to his own advantage to go or be for his own benefit. But when he realized that his going would be for the benefit of others that is for the common good for the Commonwealth.

122. 1:03:29

     When he realized that he can do good for some of the Soul, he went and did his duty. And then the last thing I wanted to say to you is this and I promise you. It is the last We noticed already from verses 15 and 16 that the final and the ultimate purpose of this friendship is flute Bay and it means that the Kings next of kin in a sense, take on the identity of the Kings, man, we’ve ever said this already. Paul said Christ, liveth in me, means that, in some sense Paul was taking on the life and the Entity of of his Lord and his master and his King.

123. 1:04:22

     And I say it means therefore that his next of kin take on the identity of the king’s man, the fruit bearing friends of Jesus become like him. It means that the Life of Christ in some senses being repeated in them.

124. 1:04:39

     I just want to tell you a little story. That’s all I heard it. Not long ago about a lady of went This won’t impinge on any of the truth or went to find anybody. I hope the lady went into a far country where a well educated, but they didn’t know anything about this word of God. Educated people able to read but they didn’t know anything about this and she dealt with them and wound up. She took out her Bible in the little school where she was, she took out their Bible in their language and read the young to read the gospel narrative.

125. 1:05:26

     And as she read the on, and on the character and the nature and lie. The Life of Christ emerge from the pages. His compassion is justice. His kindness, the money was emerged as she read and there was one little girl in the group who was excited and got more and more excited. She couldn’t keep still until the lady stopped her reading and said, Mary, what is the matter with you? And she said, nice.

126. 1:06:05

     I know that man of whom you speak. He lives in a street. Thank you for listening to the good christadelphians talks podcast. We hope this talk helped you in your walk. If you would like to hear more, please subscribe for new episodes and leave a review and apple podcast or whatever service you are using to help more people find the show.

127. 1:06:45

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128. 1:07:01

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129. 1:07:26

     Thank you for listening. God, bless and talk to you next week.