Loins Girt and Lamps Burning — Gottfried A. Waldvogel

The Spirit’s Fullness and God’s Provision

Child of the Kingdom, be filled with the Spirit. Nothing but fullness thy longing can meet. Tis the endowment for life and for service. Thine is the promise, so precious, so sweet. I will pour water on him that is thirsty.

I will pour floods upon the dry ground. Open your heart to the gift I am bringing. While ye are seeking me, I will be found. Hallelujah! All that Jesus demands from us, he gives to us. He certainly demands a great deal from his disciples.

But every grace we need is provided, purchased, provided in Christ. Hallelujah! I want to read a few words from Luke 12. The 12th of Luke. I begin with the 29th verse. Seek not ye what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink.

Neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after. And your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. That ought to satisfy us if Father knows. And he does know.

He's our Father. The Lord Jesus says in another place. I think it's in the preceding chapter. If ye then in evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father, which is in heaven, give good gifts.

Or as it says in Luke, give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. My, he's our Father. He loves us. And wherever he sees a need, he is ready to supply that need. Seek ye the kingdom of God. And all these things, things you need for your earthly life, shall be added unto you.

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have and give alms. Provide yourselves backs which wax not old. A treasure in the heavens that faileth not.

Where no thief, now let me see what does it say here. My glasses are not very good. Where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupt. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girt about and your lamps burning.

Watchfulness for Christ’s Return

And ye yourselves lie contemned and wait for the Lord. When he will return from the wedding. That when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching.

Verily I say unto you that he shall girt himself and make them to sit down to meet. And will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch or come in the third watch and find them, so blessed are those servants.

This know that if the good man of the house had known what our deceit would come. He would have watched and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be therefore ready also for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

It's a wonderful thing to be a disciple of Jesus. The word Christian has been applied in such a wrong way that we almost hesitate to use that term. It's the most beautiful name that was given, we are told, to the disciples.

1st of Antioch. It's the name of the disciples. But nowadays that name has been dissolved. But I say it's a wonderful thing to be a disciple. Only the disciples who bear the name Christian are right. A disciple of Jesus.

The Lord Jesus speaks here to his disciples. And he tells them what he expects of them. For one thing he says to them that they are to be separated from the world. They are not to worry about earthly needs.

And they are not to become tied up with earthly things in their inner life. Their heart is to remain free. Why that's a very, very present danger, isn't it? We are in this world. But disciples of Jesus are saved out of this world.

They belong to the kingdom of Christ. They belong to his little flock. Hallelujah. Oh what a privilege it is to belong to Jesus. To be his disciple. And here in these verses which I read last. Verse 35 and the following.

The Lord Jesus describes the right attitude of the disciples. Let your loins be girded about. Let your lamps be, your lights be burning. And ye, be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the waiting.

That when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching. Now here we have a word which we find repeatedly with reference to the coming again of Jesus.

What I say unto you I say unto all. Be watching. Watch. Be watching. And so here we are told what it means to be watching. For the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The disciple is a Christian. A Christian who is serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is following him. And who is waiting. And watching for his return. That's what the Lord here tells us. To be watching for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. To be waiting for him to come. Means that we keep our loins girt about.

And our lamps burning. Let your loins be girded about. And let your lights be burning. And thus be ye like unto men who are waiting for their Lord. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching.

Now certainly we have often heard that admonition haven't we? But you know that's still the greatest danger for God's people. It is the danger that they lose that watchful attitude. Or misinterpret it.

Watching for the coming of Jesus. Waiting for him. Looking for him. The end of all things is at hand. Therefore be sober. And watch. And if you are sober. And if you are watching. You will be sober. And you will be watching unto prayer.

My God help us that. The hope shall not become to us just a doctrine. The hope of the coming of Jesus. Why you say that's impossible. And yet beloved that's the great strategy of the day. We may have the doctrine of the coming of the Lord Jesus.

And yet not be truly watching for his coming. Certainly if we are filled with the Holy Spirit we will be watching for his coming. For the Holy Ghost gives us that spirit of watchfulness. Let your loins be girded above.

Let your lights be burning. Of course we understand that picture quite well don't we? A man going out to a wedding feast. And he says now I don't know when I'll return. Before or after midnight. But I want you to keep your loins girded.

And I want you to keep the lamps burning. I want you to be ready any hour. To open unto him. To serve him. Don't you go to sleep. In 1 Thessalonians 3 are called. The disciples are called the children of light.

The others. Children of the world. They are children of the night. They sleep. They are drunk. But you are children of the light. That day is not to overtake you as a thief. Now the Lord says I don't want you to be overtaken.

By that day. As one is overtaken by a thief. I want you to stay awake. He uses a very peculiar figure it is true. But this is the thought. We are to be awake. Because we know not the hour. When the Lord comes.

So we are to keep in readiness. And in the attitude of watchfulness. I think when we remember other Bible passages. We understand the spiritual meaning. Of this kind of watchfulness. It is certainly interesting how the disciples of the Lord Jesus.

Bondservants Bought by Christ

Are very frequently called bond servants. Of the Lord Jesus. Slaves. Slaves. So here again. He admonishes his slaves. That's the word that is used. Hallelujah. Do you realize that you are a slave of Jesus.

That is that you are bought. A bought servant. He becomes the property of his master. The master has a right. To command him. And that slave cannot belong to the union either. Eight hours a day. He cannot demand higher wages.

We are. The Lord Jesus makes some of these servants say. These slaves in a place. We are just bond servants. We have done our duty. By obeying our master. We belong to. Beloved. But isn't that a glorious.

Position to be in. I'm a bond servant of Jesus. He bought me with his blood. I'm not my own. I belong to him. And now. Because he has redeemed me and bought me. I'm his love slave. It doesn't mean that I am under the law.

And have received. The spirit. Of fear. Again onto bondage. No. I have received the spirit of friendship. Whereby I call. Father. All the spirit of the love of God. Dwells in me. I love him who first loved me.

It's only that kind of. Service that Jesus accepts anyway. That has any value. And if we look carefully into this word. Seems to me it makes very plain. That a watchful disciple. Is serving the Lord Jesus in a twofold way.

We read here about the lions being girded. Now that of course speaks of readiness. For service. To do the master's bidding. But we also read about the lights being burned. And being kept burning. And the New Testament tells us.

Just what I quoted in that word. He the Holy Ghost. Is the equipment for life. And for service. The Holy Spirit. Is provided for us. Oh how wonderful it is. And isn't the Holy Spirit. The all inclusive gift of the blessings of salvation.

It's the Holy Spirit. That's why. The Lord Jesus says in one gospel. That the Heavenly Father gives good gifts. To them that ask. And in the other he gives the Holy Spirit. To them that ask. When we have received.

The remission of our sins. We are in an attitude. And in a condition. Where we can receive the Holy Spirit. And we are to pray. And ask our Heavenly Father. To give us the Holy Spirit. And we are to seek to lay hold of this marvelous gift.

For life. And for service. The expression in the New Testament being filled with the Spirit. I know. Refers. To the endowment with power. To the manifestation of his power. When we look at these passages.

That speak about the experience of being filled with the Spirit. Why that has to do with the manifestation of his power. The initial experience of being filled with the Spirit. The first such experience.

We call the baptism receiving the baptism. Well we have received the beginning of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has come to us and he says here I am. I want you to know. Hallelujah.

Jesus says. I want you to know that I will be with you. I want to use you. I can let my power. Be manifested in you and through you. But beloved the Holy Spirit is given not only. For the manifestation.

Of Christ in the gifts and powers of the Spirit. But he is given primarily. To make us holy. To make us well pleasing. In our conduct. Oh how wonderful is that prayer in Colossians 1. Fill us with the knowledge of thy will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

That we might walk worthy of the Lord. That we might walk. Worthy of the Lord. Unto all. That's first. And then. Being fruitful. In every good work. But isn't it a comforting thought. That the essential service.

Holiness as the Essential Service

Which we disciples. Are to render. Is a holy life. Living a holy life. When we read in the word of God. About being ready for the coming of the Lord. Why it is always this that is emphasized. The holy life.

Holy conduct. And conversation. That's the thing. That's the essential. Yes the other. Is promised and provided. And necessary. God wants to renew us. Again and again. With power from on high. The kingdom of God is not in word.

But in power. The ministry of the kingdom. The testimony. Unto Christ. Prayer of intercession. In his name. Every. Servant. In the kingdom. Must be wrought in the power of the Holy Ghost. Yet. Beloved.

Let your loins be girded about. Unto service. You are called to be his servants. He wants to send you. He wants to use you. He wants to charge you. With a ministry. Of one kind or of another kind. Be always ready.

Be equipped. You must know. The power of the spirit. You must know. What it is to be filled. And empowered. By the spirit unto service. Even in the meeting like this. Oh the power of the Holy Spirit. Comes upon us.

And the power of the Holy Spirit. Produces. That spiritual song. That spiritual praise. Praise and worship. Yes. Oh how wonderful it is. But. Let your lights be burning. Let your lights be burning. It is God.

That is working in you. To will and to do of his good pleasure. So work out. According to God's working within. Your own salvation. And do all things. Without murmuring. We must cooperate with God's spirit.

In obedience and faith. And if you do all things without murmuring. And without doubting. Ye shall be. Harmless. Blameless. Ye shall be the sons of God. In the midst. Of a crooked and perverse generation.

Among whom. Ye shine. As light. Or literally. Light bearers. In this world. Oh beloved. Are we watching for the coming of Jesus. Are you watching. We belong to those who are looking. For his appearing.

He who has this hope in him. Purifies himself. Even as he is pure. It will not be a matter of carelessness to you. To listen to the word of God. To read. The admonitions of the scriptures. The commands of Jesus.

It will not be a matter of. Carelessness to you. What others think about your conduct. Whether or not. You bring glory to Jesus. Or dishonor him. You will desire as the apostle Paul says. To be well pleasing unto him.

You will be ambitious. That's the word which the apostle uses in 2nd Corinthians 5. This is my ambition. To be always well pleasing unto him. Why who gave him that ambition. The love of Christ constraints.

If one died for all. Then they are all dead. He died for all that they which live. Should not henceforth live unto themselves. But unto him. Hallelujah. Ah that's a disciple. That's a bond servant. I'm living unto Jesus.

Not only when I'm in meeting. Or when I do something special. For him. No. In the performance of my daily duty. At my work. In the factory. The office. In school. In the kitchen. Wherever it is. I'm living for Jesus.

Living for Jesus in Daily Work

Whatsoever he do. Do it from the heart. As unto the Lord. And not unto men. Ye are. The bond servants. The slaves of Christ. The apostle writes to the Colossians and Ephesians. Yes beloved. Living for Jesus.

Oh. It's a practical thing. It's so wonderfully practical. Isn't it? And as my brother said. How we ought to learn. To redeem the time. To redeem every day. Why the meanest job. Is sanctified. By that truth.

That we are his bond servants. And that all. We can do. In order to please him. Put on. Have put on. The whole armor. And then pray. With all prayer. And supplication in the spirit. With all perseverance.

For all the saints. Oh our conflict is not against. Pleasure. Beloved. Are we awake? Jesus is coming. Hallelujah. The time is short. And he calls upon us to be. Awake. For eternal reality. When he comes.

Follow after holiness. Without which shall no man see the Lord. Does he really mean that? Thou hast a few names in Sardis. They have not defied their garments. They. Shall walk with me in white. But what about others?

There are many in Sardis who have their garments defied. They have lost that touch. What about them? There is no promise given to them is there? They shall walk with me in white. Oh God help us. Waiting.

Watching. Waiting. For his coming. Jesus. My it implies exactly this that we have heard. That we give room to the Holy Spirit. That we receive the Holy Spirit. Wonderful the Holy Spirit is here. The Holy Spirit is provided for you.

For me. This wonderful gift. A gift. Given to me. And in that gift Christ the living one. Given. To me. To minister to me. Always. Some time ago we spoke from this chapter I believe. Maybe it was in a general meeting.

How important it is. That we walk in the presence of him. Who sees us. Who sees right through us. Who hears every word we speak. Who knows our every thought. And this one beloved. Loves us. And he desires to work in us that which is well pleasing.

Oh that's it. The baptism with the Holy Spirit unites me. With this living Christ. Child of the King. Be. Filled with the Spirit. Nothing but fullness thy longing can meet. He is the indubit. For life.

And for service. Thine is the promise. Seems to me that this is very much like the parable of the virgins isn't it? Oil. In the vessel. But beloved we are without excuse if we. Don't get oil. Provided.

Hallelujah. Oh this wonderful Jesus. Gives himself to us. And the apostle Peter says if we really acknowledge him. Why there is given unto us. Everything we need. For life. To attain to that life. And for God.

Right now he. All is provided. All is given. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. But we must come. We must bestir ourselves. We must. Arouse our soul. And we may not sleep. We must quicken our vision.

By. Looking into the word of God and listening to the voice of the Lord. By fixing our gaze upon that glorious. Wonderful goal. To which we are. To use an expression of Peter. Hastening. Yes he's coming again.

My when the. Shepherds. Had received the message from the angel. And heard the angelic choir it says. They hasten. To Bethlehem. Some of them were getting pretty old but they. They got there maybe five minutes later anyway and.

You know. But they hasten. Oh we ought to hasten to the day of the Lord. My Lord. Deliver us from all sleep he makes. One day. I received a telephone call it was I think in Peoria. The man didn't tell me who he was but he says say.

Spiritual Slumber and the Fire of the Holy Spirit

What is the cure? Tempidity. Luke one. Of course the answer. Is right at hand. Fire. That's the cure. The fire of the Holy Ghost. Oh God send us an outpouring of thy spirit. That will kindle in us the fire.

Of a holy watchfulness. Will make real to us. That event is coming again. Beloved. The day is at hand. Are we living holy lives? Have we oiled in the vessel? Are our garments unspotted? The day is at hand and he will call his servants.

Give them their reward. And it will be different. If you get there. To stand before the Son of Man. Still. He will reward you. According. To the measure in which you have. Served him. The measure of faithfulness and devotion.

My Lord help us tonight. You alone can. Gird our loins. And fill our lambs with that oil. And we pray that thou wilt help us. Oh God where we have. Come under a spell. Of spiritual lukewarmness. We pray my God.

Send the fire. Upon us. Send it into our hearts.