271. The Light of the Righteous Shines Brightly

Over the years, we have spoken a lot about practicing righteousness. Nonetheless, we see that unrighteousness is still present. It is as if it is etched into people’s souls and minds. We can only become masters over unrighteousness by seeking what is above, because Jesus Christ has been raised up for our justification.

“The righteous guides his neighbor; but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Prov. 12:26 [Norw.]

All those who seek to be guides in the church must be righteous, and if not, they remove themselves because their works testify against them. To the angel of the church in Sardis it was written: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” Rev. 3:1. And then to the angel of the church in Laodicea: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Rev. 3:15-16.

What does it mean to be vomited out of Jesus’ mouth? Just this, that God will send men who have the Word, power, and life, so what is dead, lifeless, and powerless can be swept away; all of it will be vomited out of His mouth. If the angel of the church did not immediately repent and judge himself, he would be spewed out together with all that is without life and power.

How can a servant in the church become dead and powerless? Quite simply by no longer loving God above all else. Instead he gets a desire for the things of the earth and starts striving for the food that perishes. He is driven by an anxiety for the things of this earth. This is covetousness, which, again, is idolatry. John says: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21. Anything that we love more than the commandments of God is an idol. “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.” 2 John 6. So love is to walk in the commandments.

Everything in the church is to be done unto edification, and if the church is to be edified, every member must contribute and not have demands on anyone. The ones who have fallen away make demands on behalf of themselves and their own. “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above.” Prov. 14:14. Satisfaction from above comes when we no longer regard anyone according to the flesh. If someone wants to live in the flesh, then any good man keeps his distance from him. This confirms the Word that says we cannot have fellowship with others unless they walk in the light. 1 John 1:7.

But how can someone be a guide in a church where every good man keeps him at a distance? If he is not prepared to walk in the light himself, how can he possibly lead others into the light, and then into even greater light? Impossible! Life is indeed more than death, and light is greater than darkness.

“When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Prov. 16:7. Here we are talking about an invisible and radiating power and a shining light that closes the mouths of all his enemies. Such a light is fitting for an angel of the church, one who is prepared to defend the church. His enemies keep within their own borders. But if the leader of the church is ungodly, his enemies will come like locusts, from unimaginable corners, and there will be no peace. Cast this “Jonah” into the sea, and you will experience a dead calm. Jonah 1:15.

All unrighteousness is sin. It lies in the depths of the heart and is idolatry at its very core. There is something within the human spirit that counts earthly things more dear than God. This can remain hidden for a time, but it eventually becomes evident, revealing sin in the midst of the church of God. The sinner cannot remain standing, and the brighter the light shines in an assembly, the sooner this leprosy of sin will be exposed.

“Test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” 1 John 4:1-2.

While Jesus walked on this earth in the days of His flesh, He constantly infuriated the Pharisees by calling Himself the Son of God. They denied Christ manifested in the flesh, and the same is also true today. People would rather die than accept Christ manifested in the flesh. They prefer to have Him up in heaven, far away from the flesh, so they can continue to live their lives without being under His control and crucifixion. Nonetheless the Scriptures cannot be abolished: “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” Those that have this confession have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. A person who allows the lusts of the flesh to rule in him has neither seen Him nor known Him.

“Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” Prov. 12:1. Correction causes the light to shine brightly and knowledge to become manifold. The Spirit is given to us to the degree that we embrace chastisement, and if we love the chastisement without measure, we will receive the Spirit without measure; for God dwells in unapproachable light.

Sinners cannot remain standing in a light that shines brightly before God. This is the light that must shine in the church. Get all flesh on the cross, and then Christ will be able to dwell in this crucified flesh. Test the spirits and see whether the flesh is crucified. If the flesh is not crucified, then the spirits are not of God. But if the flesh is crucified, then the Spirit of Christ dwells in this flesh. We can be certain that those Spirits are of God.

When we are baptized by one Spirit into one body (the church), then we are a church that is crucified according to the flesh—an enlightened church—a church that is one flesh with Christ. We are striving now to present such a pure church to Christ. This is indeed the bride.