"For ye died, and your
life is hid with Christ in God" Col 3:3.
"Where I am, there shall also My servant be"
John 12:26.
"Where I am, they... with Me" John 17:24.
God is teaching many of His children today
the mysteries of the kingdom, as pictures in the
seed-grain buried out of sight yet living with Christ in
God, in the power of an indissoluble life. Just so far as
they have "hated" their "own life,"
to share in the life of the Lord, do they taste the
"power of the age to come", Heb 6:5, and have
the earnest of their inheritance - a handful of the very
same life that shall be theirs in all its fullness, when
"what is mortal" shall be "swallowed up of
life", 2 Cor 5:4. United to Christ, and hidden in
God, they dwell at the source of every precious thing,
and in intercession at the Throne exercise even now
"authority over the nations," and power
"over all the power of the enemy," for
"out of the mouth of babes... hast Thou established
strength .. that Thou mightest still the enemy and the
avenger," Psa 8:2. They bring forth "much
fruit" by abiding in living and hidden union with
the Ascended Lord. They hide in Him, whilst, according to
His promise, He abides in them, and glorifies His Father
through them, producing fruit that shall remain and bear
the test of the fire at the judgment seat. In Matt 6 the
characteristics of the hidden life in the aspect of
prayer are unfolded by Him Who was the very embodiment of
all He taught. It is prayer with no thought of what
others think. Matt 6:5,2. It is prayer shut in with God,
whether in private or public, for God's hidden ones are
in the inner chamber of His Presence the moment they
approach Him anywhere, and they see and hear none but
God. Matt 6:6,3. It is prayer, not so much of language as
of heart. They do not need to use "vain
repetitions," for if they know that He heareth, they
know that they have the petitions asked of Him. Matt
6:7,4. It is prayer sure of response, for they speak to a
Father Who knows their need, and, "how much more
shall your Father... give good things to them that ask
Him?" Matt 6:8,5. It is prayer definite and to the
point, for the Son of God knew His Father's heart, and
taught His children how few were the words requisite to
bring response. "After this manner pray ye."
Matt 6:9,6. It is the prayer of a child to a Father, and
in union with the other children, "Our Father... in
heaven." Matt 6:9. 7. It is prayer that puts God's
glory and God's kingdom first, and before all personal
interest. "Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom
come." Matt 6:9,10,8. It is prayer with a
surrendered will for the will of God to be done in them
as implicitly, and as rapidly, as it is done in heaven.
Matt 6:10,9. It is prayer, not for luxuries, but for
necessities. "Our bread for the coming day",
which means a life of simplicity, and contentment with
"such things as ye have." Matt 6:11,10. It is
prayer in the spirit of forgiving love, "we also
have forgiven our debtors" - therefore we can ask
Thee to forgive us our debts. Matt 6:12,11. It is prayer
in conscious dependence upon God's keeping and in
knowledge of the terrible forces of evil, and the evil
one, arrayed against the children of the heavenly Father
in the world of "the world rulers of this
darkness." Matt 6:13.
In short the hidden life is just the life of a little
child, and a little child living in its Father's
presence, desiring his Father's will, depending upon its
Father for protection from all its foes, and showing its
Father's spirit to all around. Moreover, the soul abiding
with Christ in God, is given: "Hidden manna"
for the sustenance of the inner life. "To him that
overcometh. will I give of the hidden manna" Rev
2:17. "He that eateth Me. he also shall live because
of Me" John 6:57. "Hidden wisdom" that is
withholden from the wise. "The wisdom of God... the
hidden wisdom revealed... by His Spirit" 1 Cor
2:7-10. "Hid... from the wise and prudent, revealed
unto babes" Matt 11:25 "Hidden riches"
only gained in times of testing. "I will give thee
the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret
places" Isa 45:3. "I know thy... tribulation...
but thou art rich" Rev 2:9.
Fed with the hidden manna provided at the Father's table
alone; taught the hidden wisdom that the princes of this
World do not know; given the hidden wisdom that can only
be gained in times of trial and darkness, surely it is
true that to them that love God, "God worketh all
things with them for good", Rom 8:28, even to them
that He has foreordained to be made like to the image of
His Son, the first among many brethren. Only through the
testings can we enter into deep and full life in God. We
can only know our God and His abundant grace as He brings
us through circumstances that are a "good deal
beyond the possible point," as someone once said.
Each "impossible" point simply casts us upon
the God in Whom we hide. "Deep" - "Dwell
deep," said Ezekiel, the prophet. How can we unless
we have no resource but God, no refuge but in Him?
Dwelling deep in the heart of their God the hidden souls
are then - "Hidden" from the strife of tongues.
Psa 31:20. "Hidden" in time of trouble. Psa
27:5. "Hidden" from the storm. Isa 4:6.
"Hidden" in the secret presence of God. Psa
31:20. "Hidden" under His wings. Psa 17:8.
"Hidden" yes, hidden "behind the
Lord" Psa 91:1. These passages tell of a life
environed by God Himself, for " In Him we live, and
move, and have our being."
Finally, as regards the outward service of these hidden
ones. They no longer "run" without being
"sent," for their service as well as their life
is changed. Their place is now in the hand of God.
"In the shadow of His hand hath He hid me; and He
hath made me a polished shaft, in His quiver hath He kept
me close", Isa 49:2. The souls who are hid with
Christ in God are thus under His full control. He keeps
them close until the right moment arrives for sending
them forth as "polished shafts," silent and
sure. When God wields the weapon He strikes the mark, for
He knows the spot to aim at in the city of Mansoul. When
not in active use they are kept hidden in His quiver,
always ready at His hand. Polished shafts, ah, they need
much polishing to get the roughness off them, but the
Master Workman knows how to prepare His instruments for
His use. The "polished shafts" are kept for
hidden work, awaiting in the sanctuary, entering into the
counsels of God, ready to fulfil His will. "Verily
Thou art a God that hidest Thyself", Isa 45:15 There
was the "hiding of His power", Hab 3:4 tells us
that God's deepest work is hidden work. He is preparing a
hidden kingdom, whilst permitting the kingdoms of this
world to stand until all is ready. "In the days of
those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom
which shall never be destroyed... it shall break in
pieces and consume all these kingdoms." Dan 2:44.
He is also building a hidden temple, for a habitation of
God through the Spirit, and preparing a hidden Bride to
share the throne of His Son. Yes, in this dispensation He
is still a God that hideth Himself, and there is the
hiding of His power as He silently works out His
purposes, until the day when - "Christ Who is our
life, shall be manifested, then shall (we) also with Him
be manifested in glory", Col 3:4. "How
unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past tracing
out" Rom 11:33. "Thou didst hide these things
from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them
unto babes" Matt 11:25. "Even so, Father: for
so it seemed good in Thy sight" Matt 11:26.
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