Editor's Letters

by T. Austin-Sparks

April 1928

Beloved of our Lord,

Nothing can replace the lack of a true fellowship in the Body of Christ. And this is not conditioned by time or place, for it is a fellowship in the Holy Ghost, not in the flesh. Our access to God, the Father, is in the fellowship of One Spirit. And this is the Spirit of the Christ. First, of Him, Who is the Head of the Body, even Jesus; but then, the One Spirit in all the members. We meet the members through the Head: not the Head through the members. This is a vital law of His life. Therefore we can always meet the members if we truly meet the Head.

This is not a visionary word, but a very practical one for lonely members. Does this meet the eye of some isolated member, cut off by the circumstance of distance, adversity, or sickness, from seeming fellowship in Christ? Beloved, we meet in Him. Doubt it not. Cherish this thought, nay, this fact of His Life in you and in us. He is God's Sanctuary, and we in Him. We are members of His Flesh, His Holy Flesh, the Rent Veil into God's Presence. We all pass alike through into the Divine Glory. We are all baptised into that Cloud. We meet there, a great congregation of the Blood-purchased, in the Spirit.

There is a true and substantial communion of His saints: but in Christ. Seek not any manner of individual communications, the supernatural manifestations that the flesh covets. Nevertheless enjoy richly and deeply of His Cup, for it is a Cup of Blessing, our common participation in the Blood of the Christ, a Life-Covenant between the Father and the Son whereby we also have a common participation in the spiritual Body of the Christ of God. But this will be heart-sense, therefore heart's ease and deep content. It is a spiritual knowledge, Divinely given, that we are all under One Roof, so to speak, One Covering of His Glory in the Father's House.

But this requires a Christ discernment, to know and to love all saints in Him. If they be reachable at all you will seek them out and enjoy meeting with them on these earth levels, for there the Cloud descends according to His promise. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in these days of thickening darkness and oppression. But none are unreachable, for we only meet at all as we meet in Him, and thus the qualification includes the loneliest member on the earth. Surely the net is spread in vain, saith the Psalmist, in the sight of any one that hath a wing. Brother, sister, thou hast wings. The Holy Spirit in thee would cause thee to ascend and meet with us, thy brethren in the Lord. Your life is hid with Christ in God, and so is ours. We meet therefore in that One Life.

Thus would we greet every member of His Body in His embracing Name, Jesus, the Head of the Christ of God.

Yours in that replete Fellowship,
T. Austin-Sparks,
T. Madoc-Jeffreys.