Category: Golden Nuggets

J N Darby – Do all things in the Name of the Lord Jesus

This gives us a rule that goes far beyond “what is the harm of this or that?

 

J N Darby (1800-82)

Everything, whatever ye may do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (Colossians 3:17)

This gives us a rule that goes far beyond “what is the harm of this or that?”  and is so simple.  It comes into any common thing in the day, like buying a dress.  Are you doing it in the name of the Lord Jesus?  Can you go to a concert in His name?  Of course not.  The things may not be wrong, but it settles everything – hundreds of questions that might arise.  It gives me as my measure and rule to be walking in Christ, and living for Christ.  I have Christ as my life, and He cannot do it…If  I am in earnest, it is the most comfortable rule possible; but if I am not, it pinches dreadfully:  because you may say, “Am I never to do anything to please myself?”  Ah, you betray yourself!  What a comfort it is to know what He likes!

Golden Nugget Number 324

(J N Darby NS vol. 34)

 

Golden Nuggets are published by Saville Street Distribution, Venture, Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8QD UK

Walter Brown – Walk Humbly with thy God

We are to “walk humbly with thy God, (Micah 6: 8)”.  Never was the word more needed than today, when pride and ambition are even exalted as virtues.  We are to bind on humility, and, again, we are reminded of Him–our Lord and Teacher–who humbled Himself as no other ever did or could, and presents Himself as our glorious Model.  He ever glorified God in His lowly pathway here, and His word to us is, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls.”  There is truly rest and joy in following Him.

(W M Brown, Words of Grace and Comfort 1951)

Golden Nugget Number 318

Golden Nuggets are published by Saville Street Distribution, Venture, Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8QD

 

J N Darby – The Perfectness of the Love of the Saviour

Were we lying in death?  He puts himself into it.  Did we deserve the cup of wrath?  He takes and drinks it.  Was all the power of Satan against us?  He goes into it and breaks i

 

I find then the perfectness of the love of the Saviour.  His rejection only served as a means of expressing His love still further.  Mark the reality of this expression as meeting all our case.  Were we lying in death?  He puts himself into it.  Did we deserve the cup of wrath?  He takes and drinks it.  Was all the power of Satan against us?  He goes into it and breaks it.  Christ does not say, You come to Me properly, and then I will help you.  No; He comes down into it all; He does not seek to escape;  He does not turn away from the insults and violence of men, but, through them all, He offers Himself without spot to God.

 (J N Darby, CW vol. 31 p148-9)

     Golden Nugget Number 315                                                                                        

Golden Nuggets are published by Saville Street Distribution, Venture, Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8QD UK

 

James Taylor Sr – Christ’s Name

… or mine?

                                                                                                                 Chapters 3 and 4 (of Acts) show us the character of the apostles’ testimony; that is, that they were not engaged with their own reputations, but with Christ’s name. What marked the Christian unity was that His name was to be great instead of our name.  Wherever you find a man, be he Christian or not, who has his own name before him, he is Babylonish; he is virtually a Babel-builder. But

James Taylor Sr (1870-1953)

what marks the apostles is Christ’s name- “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”  Peter said he had neither gold nor silver, and he had no reputation, but Jesus of Nazareth had a name of renown.  Peter boldly states in chapter 4 that there is none other “name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  That is what marked Peter and John in their testimony.  Now, Satan was against that name. The injunction of the religious leaders in chapter 4 was not simply that they should not hold certain doctrines, but that they should not teach or preach in that name. But the divine intention is to maintain that name.

(J Taylor NS vol. 3 page 171.  Suggested by an English subscriber)

Golden Nugget Number 314

 Comment:

A few years ago, my wife and I were on vacation in Quebec City and took the boat over the St Lawrence.  We got talking to a fellow Christian who told us how well his church was doing and what he was doing to improve it, then gave us his business card – it said ‘John Smith* – Professional Church Planter’. That made me think of his priorities

  1. Himself
  2. His church – whatever sect it was
  3. Jesus

If  ‘me’ or ‘my church’ means more to me than Jesus, I think there is a problem.

* Not his real name

 

Golden Nuggets are published by Saville Street Distribution, Venture, Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8QD UK

J N Darby – There is no Place so full of Peace as Heaven

There is nothing more important, to meet the turmoil of the world, than getting into this spirit of peace.

There is no place so full of peace as heaven—no jar there; myriads of worshippers all in concord, while there are a thousand harmonies round the centre of God’s glory.  The soul in communion with God will live in the spirit of peace.  There is nothing more important, to meet the turmoil of the world, than getting into this spirit of peace.   When the spirit of peace does not rule in the heart, how can the saints walk as always having peace?  There may be uncompromising faithfulness in such a man, but he cannot walk as Jesus walked.   Nothing keeps the soul in such peace as settled confidence in God.  Without this a man will be continually excited, in haste, and full of anxiety.  If the peace of God keep your hearts, you will have the triumph of it; nothing can be heard that is distinctive from it, that does not perfectly harmonise with it.  Uncompromising firmness becomes us, yet calmness; and nothing can keep the soul so firm as a sense of grace.  This is a sign of power, and moreover, connected with humbleness.  All grace has come to us.  A sense of nothingness, with the spirit of peace, gives a power to surmount things.

(J N Darby.   Collected Writings, Vol. 16, p. 59)

Golden Nugget Number 309

 

Golden Nuggets are published by Saville Street Distribution, Venture, Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8QD UK

C A Coates – Jesus, the Blessed Vessel of Divine Grace.

The One who was there! (on the cross). Think of Jesus, the blessed Vessel of divine grace…He was God’s salvation for sinful men

 

Charles Coates

Think of the One who was there! (on the cross). Think of Jesus, the blessed Vessel of divine grace…He was God’s salvation for sinful men; the One anointed to preach glad tidings to the poor; the One who said that He came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance! He was indeed the Creditor, but here to announce a frank forgiveness to all His debtors! The Samaritan freely expending divine wealth and resources in compassion on the misery of man ruined by sin and Satan! The One who told of the great supper of grace, and of the blessed inviting and compelling of divine love! The Shepherd who would go after the sheep which was lost until He found it! The One who as the Vessel of all the grace of heaven told of the joy of God in receiving a repenting prodigal! The One who by the grace of God tasted death so that the river of that grace might flow forth for worldwide blessing through a channel of divine righteousness.

Golden Nugget Number 305

(C A Coates, Letters, pp384-5)

Just a thought.  This morning (our time) I was at what they call the South Pacific Zoom Reading.  Jeremy from Auckland set the reading on, on various scriptures on sight.  One was Bartimeus (Mark 10).  He said ‘It was a greater thought that the Creator of the Universe could stop in mercy to give sight to a blind beggar, than that the sun could stop for a day.’

 

Golden Nuggets are published by Saville Street Distribution, Venture, Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8QD UK

J N Darby – Shall I forget the Humiliation of Christ?

Shall I ever forget the humiliation of Christ?

Shall I ever forget the humiliation of Christ? . . . Never! Never! Through all eternity. I shall never forget His humiliation on earth. While seeing Him in glory animates the soul to run after Him, what feeds the soul is the bread come down. That produces a spirit that thinks of everything but itself. . . . Go and study Him, and live by Him, and you will come out in His likeness, in all His grace and gentleness and loveliness. . . . The Lord give us to be so occupied with Him who was so full of love . . . . so full of lowliness, that we shall manifest the same.

(J.N.Darby Pilgrim Portions)

Golden Nugget Number 304

Golden Nuggets are published by Saville Street Distribution, Venture, Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8QD UK

C H Mackintosh – God’s Large Loving Heart

God enters into all our little trials and sorrows, conflicts and exercises, as if He had nothing else to think of.

 

C.H.Mackintosh

He enters into all our little trials and sorrows, conflicts and exercises, as if He had nothing else to think of.  Each one has the undivided attention and sympathy of that large loving heart, in all that may arise in our passage through this scene of trial and sorrow.  He has gone through it all.  He knows, as we say, every step of the road.  We can discern His blessed footprints all across the desert; and look up to the opened heavens and see Him, a glorified Man, but the same Jesus who was down here upon earth — His circumstances changed, but not His tender, loving, sympathising heart; “The same yesterday, today, and for ever”.

Golden Nugget Number 297

(C H Mackintosh)

Golden Nuggets are published by Saville Street Distribution, Venture, Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8QD  UK

Arthur House – An Ambassador Bound with a Chain

But, I would have you know brethren, that the circumstances in which I am have turned out rather to the furtherance of the glad tidings.

 

Now a word as to Philippians. Paul is writing to the saints at Philippi from prison an ambassador bound with a chain.  He, as we all know, had moved in service amongst the saints in the fullest way, more than any other servant or apostle of his day.  Now he is in prison, the bondman of Jesus Christ.  Nevertheless, he may have reflected in prison over the Spirit’s voice to him when moving up to Jerusalem, also the known feelings of the brethren as to it. But the Scripture read is full of the greatest encouragement that, even in these restricted circumstances Paul says, “But, I would have you know brethren, that the circumstances in which I am have turned out rather to the furtherance of the glad tidings.”  Again in 2 Timothy 2: 9 he says, ”in which I suffer even unto bonds as an evil-doer but the word of God is not bound.”  Therefore, we are to recognize with Paul that no external limitation can hamper or hinder the development and prosperity of the work of God.

At the end of the book of the Acts it is stated that Paul remained two whole years in Rome “in his own hired lodging, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all freedom unhinderedly.”  We may feel very concerned that those who may be specially used of the Lord are not now able to move about as heretofore, but any movement on our side to interfere with the limitations the Lord is permitting may have very serious consequences.

(Arthur House, Auckland, N.Z., 1941  “Words of Grace and Comfort”  Suggested by an American subscriber)

Golden Nugget Number 295

 

Golden Nuggets are published by Saville Street Distribution, Venture, Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8QD  UK

J N Darby – Psalm 13:  God is for us

The Soul Trusts on God’s Mercy

John Nelson Darby

Not only in the midst of heartless and conscienceless enemies, but apparently forgotten of God, the soul trusts in His mercy, counts on Himself in goodness and faithfulness of mercy so as to rejoice in deliverance by His power before it comes.  So we thank God, when we pray, before we receive the answer, because knowing in our hearts by faith that God has heard and answered us, we bless Him before His answer comes outwardly; and this is just the proof of faith.  Such confidence gives wonderful peace in the midst of trials — we may not know how God will deliver, but we are sure He will, and rightly.  He has all at His disposal.  It is Himself we trust, and in looking to Him the heart receives a real answer on which it relies.  The circumstances and the word try the heart.  Confidence and divine deliverance rejoice the spirit.  One knows, even before the deliverance comes, that God is for us.  The taking counsel in the heart is very natural, but not faith.  It wears and distresses the spirit.  The sorrow tends to work death.  The soul, even though submitting, preys on itself; it is turning to the Lord which lightens the soul.  The consciousness that it is the enemy who works against us helps the soul to confidence.

(JND Collected Writings  Volume 17,  Practical Reflections on the Psalms,  Page 13.  Suggested by an English subscriber.)

 

Golden Nugget Number 294

 

Golden Nuggets are published by Saville Street Distribution, Venture, Princes Esplanade, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8QD  UK

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