FROM THE WITNESS STAND

A Word in Season C. Doug Blair, 2012

Did you catch that? I said “in season”. It is not sufficient to cast out promising words of Christ all the time and to whomsoever. There must be a special sense that the Listener is somewhere within the course of awakening. Then, oh friend of the faith, pour in the oil with ”meekness and fear”.

Ears to Hear

Would you listen,I could tell youOf the life He’s given me.Of the rudderOf His Gospel

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Taming all my wilful sea.Of the hope ofChrist’s sure callingTo His side eternally.Oh, do listen!

Would you listen,I could tell youWhat the saints have always known.Of the Manger,Seaside wonders,Of the Cross become a Throne.Of the graveForever vanquishedBy the God we call our own.Yes, do listen.

Won’t you listen?I must leave youTo the best that you can be;And the dismayDown the pathwayIn your insufficiency.While the MasterSpreads a BanquetFor His listening Family.…Had you listened!

LUKE 8:8 And other (seed) fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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Wedding Garment

I was always troubled by what Jesus said in the parable of the wedding feast found in Matthew 22:

10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14For many are called, but few are chosen.

One must realize that it was the oriental custom for the host to provide wedding garments for those invited. It was part of the generosity of the occasion. It helped boost the joy of the guests closer to the state of heart of the immediate family. No one should consider refusing such a gift.

But the man in trouble and eventually removed was one who appeared to be accepting the custom, but in his heart had resolved that his own garment was "good enough". He did not want to be indebted to the host. He was proud, hypocritical and a stranger to the joy of the event.

Of course Jesus was alluding to the fact that God our Heavenly Host is offering for the taking a righteousness which is given, not possessed or earned. The garment represented this robe of righteousness which the faithful are given by grace. An attitude of self-righteousness is forever alien to the process. It has no part in the attitudes of joy and thanksgiving which will be paramount in the gathering of the saints in glory. It is not to be admitted.

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And then of course at the end the famous quote, "many are called, but few are chosen". In this age Gospel broadcasts, materials and words of offering and encouragement are in wide circulation, but only the candidates known, chosen and softened by the Lord will be at the feast.

The Crumbling Clan

I can tell you how He helped me.I can tell you what He said.I consider each day gifted.I have lost my greatest dread.

I embrace a broader family.I have dropped my trust in self.I am focused on the treasure,Which transcends all earthly wealth.

I would love to take you with me On this Christ-embracing trek;But I know just how the SpiritFirst must leave your plans a wreck.

And the brokenness He looks forSeems a weakling's lot to you.And that list of natural talents, He will, every one, subdue.

It must rate a poor investmentWhile the game is still at hand,And the friends still pull the levers,And your house seems sure to stand.

But if Love once grabs the heart stringsAnd reveals the Cross in power,You may join the clan whose crumbling

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Has become their finest hour.

Are you sure that it won't happen?That this Gospel is a lie?Comes to mind another breaking,But the rebel, then, was I.

Al-Anon Meets the Book

The old man sat in the coffee shop, Bible in hand, reflecting on the Advent church service just concluded. Call him Charlie.

He sat alone, but delighted to "watch the race", as he put it (the human race). Happy people, in the main, sipping hot drinks and talking of exciting holiday plans.

Two tables to his right there were two men, one middle-aged, the other twenty-something in denim, tattoos and pony-tail. The subject of their conversation was the younger one's girlfriend. Obviously a drinking problem. Totally unpredictable. And there was a baby involved. At times the young woman could not be trusted at all with the child's care. What was to be done?

Obviously the middle-aged man was a seasoned Al-Anon member, and this was a scheduled session of comfort and guidance. The eaves-dropping elder heard words like "unconditional love, patience mixed with firmness, being there for her, especially at this Season". The encouragement was commendable. But as with all sessions with this organization, no reference to Jesus. This presumably was to avoid fences and boundary lines.

After about fifteen minutes, Charlie felt the urge. He opened to Habakkuk 2:15:

15Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their

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nakedness!

16Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.

Charlie sidled over to the other table. "Might I share something with you fellows?"

"Yeah, sure," said the young man. Charlie read the portion of scripture. "What do you think God's attitude is toward those who cause others trouble with booze?"

"Not too good, I guess."

"Do you think that his power is available to kick the thing?"

"Yeah, I would hope so."

"Do you think that He would come to the aid of any of his creatures on this, or just to those who have made a commitment?"

"I dunno."

"Neither do I, son, but I'll tell you...in the forty years since I accepted Jesus as my Lord, I have never found God to leave me in the lurch without good reason."

(Charlie did not testify as to his drunken times. The failures in self-help. The weekends in the clink. The jobs lost. The first wife gone. All long ago. He wanted to focus on the sympathy and power of God, and not upon the grim resolve of men.)

The old man thanked the two for hearing him out. He slid a small pocket Testament of John's Gospel to the one: "Son my name and phone number are on the inside jacket. You are welcome to call...if you like." He tucked in his scarf as he headed toward the door.

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Fish Got Away

I remember a Revival Crusade in an auditorium in Windsor. Much advertised. Many churches on board. Big American Prophet-Evangelist to speak with an exceptional praise team accompanying. We had visited a Windsor Pentecostal church that morning and had decided to stick around.

As the crowd developed, I took special note of a "young twenties something" dating couple who had brought along a male friend, seemingly unchurched. As the praise began, the couple appeared to get quickly into the choruses, hand clapping, arm raising etc. Their friend seemed to remain eyes forward and rigid. Periodically his buddy would place his hand on his back, give him the full frontal smile and wink knowingly, all the while singing at near top volume. The gestures seemed to say,"Isn't this great? Are you getting it? Praise the Lord!"

I felt that I was watching a tragedy. No sensitivity to the stranger; no understanding as to where he was at. Just a carnal desire 'to get him under the spout and watch the glory happen'. It didn't.

The poor struggling young man half turned in the direction of his friends, lowered his eyes, mumbling something, and then spun on his heels bolting for the back door. As I watched his retreating back framed by raised hands and glowing and somewhat dazed faces, I sensed the Spirit whispering, "Know the man. Know the time. Know the place."

If we have been called to be fishers of men, then we must manifest the same moxy as a good angler. What do they enjoy to eat? Where do they prefer to hang out? What time of day is to their best advantage? Are they accustomed to the school or to the lone depth? Are they patient or skittish? Must they be allowed to nibble for a while?

But remember, no cheap plastic baits. Only the allurement of that legitimate and timely portion of scripture. Pray for the gentle word in season. Your part is to be sensitive and sincere. The Word will beget new life, not some formula or pitch or atmosphere. Not even some striking personal testimony. Humbly give your contribution. It is, after all, the Lord's business.

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Thanks for the Flag

Thanks for the flag, saints.You ran once with Him.Touched His clothes.Placed hands of camaraderieUpon those shoulders.Saw the lame walk,The outcast relieved,The fretful calmed,The dead raised,The deaf ears opened.

To His message of loveAnd of Father'sConstant reaching.Of the prize inAbsorbing the blow;Going two miles;Listening with grace;Facing the grave.Proclaiming at hand-off,'Him, Risen Indeed!'

To other keen runners,In different times,In different struggles,In different climes.But all withThe Spirit and Joy reinforced,To herald the messageAnd finish their course.The flag still clean.

And true to its purpose.No never gone stale,Nor broken, nor bested,

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Nor picayune, nor pale.Maintaining rich colour,Its drapery white,And crimson its message,'Begone dreadful nightOf death and despairing.Our Lord makes things right!'

So carry the standardWhen passed on to you.Its olive-wood handleSo straight and so true.And look for new runnersWho reverence God's Son,Who range to the by-waysAs you just have done.Carry it high, saints.For soon He will come.

Palm Tree Gospel

John Williams was dispatched by the London Missionary Society to French Polynesia in the Pacific (@1827). Eventually he died at the hands of cannibals.

He relates one incident where he came across a farmer peasant, named Buteve, who through trauma had lost both his legs. Garden farming was a tedious matter of crawling around with the aid of some rudimentary assist. When assemblies were called by Williams, Buteve could only make it as far as the pathway by his lot, where he would inquire of passers-by as to a song, a scripture or any short message shared.

Williams heard of this simple, devoted man and paid him a visit in which he asked of the nature of his faith exercises:Answer: “Oh yes, I very frequently pray as I weed my ground and plant my

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food, but always three times a day, besides praying with my family every morning and evening.”Question: “What do you say when you pray?”Answer: “I say, Oh Lord, I am a great sinner; May Jesus take my sins away by His good blood; Give me the righteousness of Jesus to adorn me, and give me the good spirit of Jesus to instruct me and make my heart good, to make me a man of Jesus, and take me to Heaven when I die.” (John Williams, The Martyr Missionary of Polynesia, by James J. Ellis, 1889, S.W. Partridge and Company)

The gardener got it! Simply by prayer, song, bits of scripture, meditation and dialogue. How much other “stuff” seems to occupy our pulpits these days. How many commentaries, testimonies and DVD’s keep us from the purity of this man’s experience of Christ?

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Of Andrew’s Spirit

We have found Him And know that He is truth Distilled and pure. A Certain Spring, 'Though damp and slush Delay the budding. A Prince with yarns Of fields and flowers And feathered trust. Unspoiled by gold Or other trappings Of convention. Unmoved by rank Or rule of present powers. But moved by Smallest cry of Pain or shame Or lonely lot. A Man whose every Waking step displays Assurance, equity, Mercy, patience, hope Direct from Heaven. Whose gaze commands. The Promised One. Re-charging nightly On hills of prayer, (With His Father, So He says.) As we have slept. Brother, drop your net. Come meet this One. Come meet your future.

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