The Minister and the Message
1. From Christ to Know God’s Word
T. Austin-Sparks was essentially a speaking minister of the Lord. He spoke not only with his lips, but within was the revelation of knowing Christ as the Son of the living God. Brother Sparks’ words translated Christ into the Bible, and the Holy Spirit worked in them to translate the Bible into Christ. The principle of Brother Sparks’ message was “from Christ to see God’s Word.”
Brother Sparks had many series of messages in this vein. For example, in the message, To Know The Lord, he said, “The purpose of the Lord is that His children can know Him.
To know the Lord is the secret of power, stability, and consecration. |
This point is very important. God’s children should all know Him. This is the purpose of His dealings with us. This purpose arranges everything. Moreover, this is our greatest need. To know the Lord is the secret of power, stability, and consecration. This is what determines our capacity to experience His effectual working. This was the central and governing point of His epistle to the Hebrews. It was also the secret of the Lord Jesus’ life in the flesh, His service, endurance, and faith.”
In addition, he spoke on such topics as We Beheld His Glory, The Centrality and Transcendency of the Lord Jesus Christ, In Christ, Christ Is All and in All, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, and The Greatness and Excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. The Possession of Vision
Brother Sparks emphasized the importance of seeing a vision. He stated this in various ways:
“Vision gives purpose to human life.”
“Vision is the factor of knitting together.”
“Vision is the ability of defense.”
“Vision strengthens growth and stability.”
“Vision gives God’s people a transcendent position.”
“Vision is the capacity of ministry.”
“Vision is the explosive power of life.”
“Vision is the cohesive power of life.”
“The vision God gives is sure before God.”
“The vision given by God is inclusive of all details.”
“The vision given by God is continually expanding.”
“The vision given by God is continually going up (becoming higher).”
“God-given vision is a proof of our receiving training.”
“God-given vision produces a prayerful person.”
Not only so, but Brother Sparks also once said that for a Christian to have a proper and rich daily life with the Lord, there are three necessary conditions. First of all, he must realize God’s will and what is God’s heart’s desire. If we lack this kind of realization and its control over us, it is hard for our Christian life not to be shallow, and our life with the Lord will not come unto fullness. Secondly, once a person has come to know God’s will and heart’s desire, he will be moved by this, causing him to cooperate with God with actions. Thirdly, after knowing the desire hidden in God’s heart and cooperating with it, one will be brought into very serious and grim battles. God’s people must face warfare and be ready to pay the necessary price.
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3. Use of Terms
Brother Sparks always used a set of weighty terms.
a. Related to Time
Eternal—In God’s eternal plan, He chose the church as His Body to be the vessel and the instrument to be filled abundantly with Him.
Ultimate—The Lord Jesus tasted death for the sake of man. In doing so, He encountered the ultimate power that Satan possessed and sought to destroy the one who had the might of death, that is, the Devil.
Initiation and Consummation—The cross is not only the initiation, but also the consummation.
b. Related to Space
Infinitely—Only when we allow the cross to apply God’s thought upon us, producing an adjustment and enlargement in us, can we progress infinitely with God.
Universally—One day, all things will be brought fully into oneness practically and universally.
Fullest—Pray that the Lord will show you what, in His fullest thought, is the meaning of the cross.
Vast—Only those who have fully understood the precariousness of the cross can have the vast heart to love all people.
From above—The calling from above in the New Testament, being born from above, is a testimony of life overcoming death.
Fills all in all—When God’s will is fulfilled, the church will be the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
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c. Related to Quality
Excellency—The way of spiritual growth is by means of receiving the revelation in spirit to see the excellency of Christ. Our obedience to the principle of Christ determines whether we will, in our lifetime, reach the excellent goal God has predestined for us.
New—Being justified shows that the saints have been brought into a new standing in Christ.
Heavenly—The wilderness was a place to show and prove to the children of Israel that they were heavenly.
Surpassing—Because of this growth, we reach Christ’s surpassing fullness, and enter into Christ’s surpassing riches.
Precious—Because of unbelief, Adam violated God’s precious commandment.
d. Related to Effect
Unique—Through life, the church becomes Christ’s unique practical expression.
Transcendent—When Paul was writing the book of Ephesians, he was enthralled by a transcendent glory.
Basic—One can say that life is joy, strength, beauty, or liveliness, but its basic worth and highest function is actually propagation.
Highest—(See above.)
Noble—Man was originally a most noble thought of God, a perfect creature.
Peerless—The human race is a peerless creation.
Suddenly—At the end, Christ will suddenly descend with a great multitude.
Zero point—The cross is the zero point of the old creation, naturalness, and ability.
Mysterious— 'How great a salvation': such a short phrase rings with a mysterious and vastly inclusive quality.
Fatal—There are several fatal errors that have brought about the degradation of Christianity; one of them is individualism.
Climactic—All the deaths of the past ages were adumbrated in the climactic moment of Christ’s death on the cross.
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