by T. Austin-Sparks
Beloved of our coming Lord,
"Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,
that thou fulfil it" for to each one of us is given grace according
to the measure of the gift of the Christ. And lest any should faint
under this charge, observe it is "in the Lord". Take but your place
in Him, your inheritance in His Body, and the Anointing upon the
Head will flow down to such as seem the most humble and remote of
His members.
Thank God, all our salvation is in Christ, even our salvation in
service. "Every branch that beareth but a little fruit He purgeth it
that it may bring forth more fruit". Perhaps "salvation in service"
may meet a challenge; but we are undoubtedly saved to serve, and in
our serving are being saved. "Wherefore work out your salvation with
fear and trembling, for it is God that energizeth you both to will
and to do of His good pleasure - working in you that which is well
pleasing in His sight".
Let this matter of service in God's House - His Temple-Body - now
become of great concern to you. Cry, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me
to do"; and "whatsoever He saith unto you, do it". It is only
obedience He requires of you. The gracious miracle-working power is
His. Yours but to obey very simple commands: His to transform, the
water unto wine, the dead things into the living manifestation of
His Grace.
It is in, and thus through, the Spirit-life of His Body He seeks to
use you. Ask not, "Am I an apostle, a prophet, a teacher, an
evangelist?" but inquire of Him whether thou art a saint, for to the
ministry of the saints are we all called:- "called saints".
And what is the ministry of every saint? It is to build-up,
to edify the Body. It is to become a living spiritual organ in this
increasing Spirit-organism (but it has an end, a fulfilment)
of God, the Christ. It is to see to it that by obedience daily to
the Spirit there is the effectual-working in your measure as an
individual part of the Body, for so the Body maketh increase of
itself in Love. But God is this Love, and such increase therefore is
the increase of God. Now this may seem mystical to a carnal mind,
but very practical is it to the heavenly calling, to the eternal
destiny of each member, and to the great Purpose and Will of God in
the church.
Let God work in you. Yield in active co-operation your faculties to
the Holy Ghost. For He would work in you: He would energize
you: He would move you to fellowship with our Head in glory, and
stir your heart to love and passion for His service - thus groanings
because of desire too deep to articulate will begin to surge in your
spirit, and you will begin to pray the "all-prayer" of the Spirit.
The Eternal Desire will break through your natural torpor and
lethargy, and God will arise within the shrine of your spirit to
make war against His enemies through the Blood of His Passion, and
you will pray in the Holy Ghost all-conquering, prevailing
prayer - and in that praying all the saints will be included, with
specific ministries for such as God brings to heart and remembrance.
"Take heed to the ministry in the Body of Christ which thou hast
received in the Lord."
And so may we likewise be found faithful.
Yours in this supreme service,
T. Austin-Sparks,
T. Madoc Jeffreys.
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 statement included.