Numbers 10:29-32 And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying to the place of which the LORD said… I. First, then, WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRUE CHURCH AS IT IS PICTURED BY ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS? We might prolong the answer to this question with many minute features, but it will be unnecessary to do more than give you a simple broad outline. 1. The people in the wilderness were a redeemed people. They had been redeemed by blood and redeemed by power. So, all the true members of God's Church understand what the blood of sprinkling means. They have enjoyed a passover through it. And the Holy Spirit has entered into their hearts, and made them hate their former sins, has delivered them from the dominant power of their inward corruptions, has set them free and brought them out of the bondage of sin. Thus they have also been redeemed by power, and no one has any right to think himself a member of Christ's Church unless by faith he has seen himself redeemed by blood, and in his experience has also been redeemed by the power of the Holy Spirit. 2. The Israelites were a people who were passing through a land wherein they found no rest, neither did they desire any, for they were journeying to another country, the promised land, the Canaan. Now, here is another description of the true Church of God. They are not of the world, even as Christ is not of the world. This is not their rest. Here they have no continuing city. 3. Israel in the wilderness was a people walking by faith as to the future, for if you remember, the words are, "They were going to the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you." And such are God's people now. As for joys to come, they have not tasted them, but they are looking for them, because God has promised them. 4. These people, also, as to their present circumstances were walking by faith. It was not merely faith which sang to them of Canaan, but it was faith that told them of the manna which fell day by day, and the water which flowed from the rock, which stream followed them in their journeyings. So also in this world the Christian man has to live by faith upon God as to present things. As to temporal necessities he must cast all his care on Him who careth for us, but especially as to all spiritual supplies the Christian has no stock of grace. 5. These people found, wherever they went, that they were surrounded by foes. So will you find it if you are a child of God. All places are full of snares. Events, prosperous or adverse, expose you to temptation. All things that happen to you, though God makes them work for good, in themselves would work for evil. While here on this earth the world is no friend to grace to help you on to God. II. IT IS THE DUTY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO INVITE SUITABLE PERSONS TO JOIN WITH IT. 1. As you read — "Come thou with us, and we will do thee good" — say if these are not the terms in which any Church should invite a suitable pastor to unite with it? 2. Take the words as significant of the manner in which Churches should invite suitable persons to come among them as private members. Are there not those who go in and out merely as visitors worshipping with you, who have never joined hands with you in covenant? They meet with you as mere hearers, under the same ministry, but they have not identified themselves with the brotherhood to sit down and feast with you at the table of the Lord. To such as these the proposal may be made, and the welcome proffered. 3. Let me call your attention to a certain sense in which Christian men may address this invitation to all that they meet with, "Come thou with us, and we will do thee good." Not "come and join our Church," not "come and be members," not "come and put on a profession of faith." You cannot say that to any but to those in whom you see the fruits of the Spirit, but you may say, and you ought to say, to all persons of all classes on all sides," Come away from the seed of evil doers, cast in your lot with the people of God; leave the world, come on pilgrimage to the better country; forsake the pursuit of vanities, lay hold on eternal life; waste not all your thoughts upon the bootless cares of time, think about the momentous matters of eternity. Why will you be companions of those who are upon the wrong side, and whose cause is the cause of evil? Why will you remain an enemy to God? We, by God's grace, have cast in our lot with Christ and with His cause; we desire to live to His glory. Come and cast in your lot with us — that is, believe; that is, trust a Saviour slain; that is, put your soul into the custody of Christ the Intercessor; that is, press forward through a life of holiness on earth to a home of happiness in heaven. "Come thou with us, and we will do thee good." III. THE MAIN ARGUMENT — THE MOST POWERFUL INCENTIVE WE CAN EVER USE IS — THAT ASSOCIATION WITH THE CHURCH OF CHRIST WILL DO THOSE WHO ENTER IT GOOD. I am sure it will, for I speak from experience; and if I were to call upon many hundreds in this house they would all bear the same testimony, that union with the people of God has done them good. 1. The Church of God may say this, first, because she can offer to those who join with her good company. 2. "Come with us," the Church of God may say, "and you shall have good instruction," for it is in the true Church of God that the doctrines of grace are preached, the Person of Christ is extolled, the work of the Spirit is magnified, &c. 3. "Come thou with us, and we will do thee good," in the best sense, for thou shalt feel in our midst the good presence of God. 4. "Come with us" again, for you shall participate in all the good offices of the Church. That is to say, if thou wilt cast in thy lot with us, if there be prayer thou shalt have thy share in it. We will pray for thee in thy trouble, and trial, and anguish. 5. But the good that Hobab was to get was not only on the road. The main good he got was this — he went into the promised land with God's people. So, the main blessing that you get from being united with the invisible Church of Christ, through being part and parcel of the body of Christ, is reserved for the hereafter. IV. Lest we should be found mere pretenders, LET ALL OF US WHO BELONG TO CHRIST'S CHURCH TAKE CARE TO MAKE THIS ARGUMENT TRUE. I speak to many who have long been joined to the visible Church of God, and I put this interrogatory to them — How have you carried out this silent compact which has been made with the friends of Christ? You have promised to do them good; have you fulfilled your pledges? I am afraid few of us have done good to our fellow Christians up to the measure that we might have done, or that we ought to have done. Some professors, I fear, have forgotten the compact altogether. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. |
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