Editor's Letters

by T. Austin-Sparks

December 1928

Beloved of God,

We would greet you very cordially in the Lord at this time and make this letter and issue of the paper an instrument of interchange of love between all who receive it, near and far. To those afar off - not spiritually but geographically - we would say that the company of your fellow-labourers in Christ here continually have you in prayerful remembrance. The recipients of the WITNESS AND TESTIMONY in every land are prayed for without ceasing. May the Christmas and New Year time be the occasion of a very special visitation of the Prince of Peace and of the manifestation of the "Alpha and Omega." It might be well for us to remind ourselves once more that that word "Peace" may quite correctly be translated "Harmony," and this is really its essence.

Peace is the elimination of discord and chaos, and peace within is the arrest of that conflict between our wills and the will of God; the establishment of the sovereignty of Christ in our hearts. "In the world we shall have tribulation, but in Him peace." Discord shot through the universe by the revolt of Satan and its later success in man's complicity. The Lord Jesus came and met the rebel and cast him out, and now there is a sphere where Satan's reign has ended and the harmony or "peace of God garrisons the heart and mind through Christ Jesus." Here there are no longer rival claimants and an endless war. What war there is for the believer should be without not within, and it should be, so far as the believer's spirit is concerned - fighting IN a victory not FOR one.

The Lord would have us receive "the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls," and "hope unto the end." This means that by faith we are to now accept the consummation of God's work of grace and power, and never have any doubt and thereby defeat, by reason of fearing that the realisation is questionable or uncertain. The life upon which we have entered in all its phases is no speculation, but one which has already been consummated in Christ, "The file-leader of our salvation," and the perfected thing is being meted out to us on a basis of faith and obedience.

We would ask all our fellows in "the testimony of Jesus" to be with us much in prayer in these coming days as the Lord seems to be saying "Lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes," that is, "expand and consolidate." The demands for ministry are greatly increasing and the spiritual needs of the Lord's people everywhere are very great. The meeting of these needs does require a deep and very clear knowledge of the Lord gained through experience and revelation, and we must ask the Lord to produce ministries of this quality. Such cannot be trained by man, but we are sure that He has in secret many who have been deeply in His "chastisement," that is, "child-training." We feel that 1929 may see great developments in this spiritual work, and thus we ask your fellowship in prayer. For this paper also we seek your prayer. It is intended for the hungry, and truly needy, and can never be made a "popular journal." There are many ways in which its helpfulness can be increased and we hope to follow these as we are able. Many who think it "heavy" ask for popularising methods, but they know not of the deep and grateful appreciation of many lonely and isolated children of God in numerous parts of the world. Beloved, pray with us, for we are in a living thing and the very life sometimes creates the embarrassment.

The Lord Himself be with you at all times in all ways; the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Yours in the fellowship of the Spirit,

T. Austin-Sparks.
T. Madoc Jeffreys.