F E Raven – God never rebuilds what has failed but rather falls back on His promises

While many were claiming to have the Lord with them, I just longed for the experience through contrition and repentance, of being with Him in what He is doing currently.

Frederick Raven

The position that confronts each one of us now is what are we to do as involved in the sorrowful scattering and breakdown of a testimony we had so learned to value and love.  To find a way out of it, I cannot.  I am part of it and contributed to it.  But to find a way through it is my whole concern and that Christ may be my object and motive.  While not wishing to speak of myself, my experience found me quite alone and cut off from my brethren – my beloved wife and family…I had nothing.  But, thank God, in His sovereign mercy and exceeding grace I had Christ – my Lord and Saviour.  It is easy to say it, but it has to be proved that therein lies the precious inward secret that alone can make one superior to the most testing of circumstances.  It is just, “Thou remainest when all else is gone”…I then remembered that from the divine side there is no failure – the unity of the Spirit remains.  Does not F E Raven say that God never rebuilds what has failed but rather falls back on His promises?  While many were claiming to have the Lord with them, I just longed for the experience through contrition and repentance, of being with Him in what He is doing currently.

(Extracted from a letter by Brian Deck, NZ  1979)

Golden Nugget Number 19

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

F E Raven – Exclusiveness

what is it that will make me exclusive?  Love will do it.  I know that many people think the opposite of this and that our exclusiveness is anything but love, but I am sure of my ground when I say that nothing but divine love will enable you to be exclusive of what is in man.

Frederick Raven


I shall speak of the idea of exclusiveness.  We have been in reproach because of what has been termed our exclusiveness.  Now l want to be exclusive of all which Christ would be exclusive.  I do not think Christ is exclusive of men.  I am sure He desires to receive every man, and would save them all, but men are not willing that He should.  I am not exclusive of men, but shall I tell you what Christ excludes?  All that is of man.  What is in man?  Why, the world is in man and Christ will not tolerate it, and nor will I, by grace, go on with it, either.  I want to be exclusive of all that He excludes; lust and pride are in man’s heart, that is really the world.  Now what is it that will make me exclusive?  Love will do it.  I know that many people think the opposite of this and that our exclusiveness is anything but love, but I am sure of my ground when I say that nothing but divine love will enable you to be exclusive of what is in man.

(F E Raven, Letters p302)

Golden Nugget Number 191

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

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