Planted by Water

..shine like stars in the universe as you hold out ther word of life…(Phil.2:15-16)

I’ve been inspired by reading some T.Austin-Sparks again. He writes of the need in the time of his writing (and it is still true today as ever) of there being three main influences in the world. There is firstly that which is essential anti-Christ, humanistic and man-centered (this is still an issue in our day though it often claims to be something spiritual in a vague, quasi-mystical sense but which still focuses on man, on the Self). Then there is that which is a formal, outward, institutional "man-made Christianity, an imitation life born and carried on by its own momentum." There is perhaps more of this around than we might realise and if not careful we can fall into that which has only the appearance of genuine S/spiritual life. And finally there is that which has its origin in the life of God, in the risen Christ and which is a genuine work of the Spirit.

In a book called ‘The Battle for Life,’ Austin-Sparks points out that to have any claim to represent Christ, we as individuals and in our churches, must be genuine witnesses to the life of Christ. In a dark and depraved world we are not holding out a word of condemnation, of right doctrine, of clever arguments or of neatly packaged media messages. We are to hold out a word of life!

I’ll let him speak for himself

Remember that the testimony of Jesus is always related to His being raised from the dead…..those whom the New Testament approves as witnesses to Jesus are not those who talk the truth about Him, but are witnesses of His resurrection……It is not a testimony of truth in the first place, it is a testimony of life.