212. A Conference To Be Avoided.

Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. - Galatians 1:16.

THE conversion of Paul is a memorable proof of the truth of Christianity. A consideration of it has been the means of the conversion of many thoughtful persons.

His case is a noble instance of the gospel's power over men of mark, men of learning, men of zealous mind, and men of energetic character.

Paul, being converted, took an independent course.

Being taught of God ---

· He did not consult those who were already believers, lest he should seem to have received his religion secondhand.

· He did not consult his relatives, who would have advised caution.

· He did not consult his own interests, which all lay in the opposite direction. These he counted loss for Christ.

· He did not consult his own safety, but risked life itself for Jesus. In this independent course, he was justified and should be imitated.

I. FAITH NEEDS NO WARRANT BUT THE WILL OF GOD.

1. Good men in all ages have acted upon this conviction.

· Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samson, David, Elijah, Daniel, the three who were cast into the furnace, etc.

2. To ask more is virtually to renounce the Lord as our Commander and Guide and to lift man into his place.

3. To hesitate from self-interest is openly to defy the Lord.

4. To submit the claims of duty to the judgment of the flesh is diametrically opposed to the character and claims of the Lord Jesus, who gave himself to us and expects us to give ourselves to him without question or reserve.

5. To delay duty until we have held such consultation almost always ends in not doing the right thing at all. Too often it is sought after that an excuse may be found for avoiding an unpleasant duty.

II. THE PRINCIPLE HAS A WIDE RANGE OF APPLICATION.

1. To known duties ---

· In forsaking sin, we are not to consult society.

· In upright dealing, we are not to consult the custom of trade.

· In consecration to Christ, we are not to follow the lower standard so common among our fellow Christians.

· In service, we are not to consult personal liking, ease, honor, prospect of advancement, or remuneration.

2. To needful sacrifices. We are not to shrink from—

· Losses of situation through honesty or holiness.

· Losses in trade through religion.

· Losses of friendships and kindly feeling through faithfulness.

· Losses of position and worldly honor through inability to lie, bribe, cringe, flatter, compromise, conceal, or change.

We had better not confer with flesh and blood, for—

· Good men may be self-indulgent, and so consult their own flesh.

· Bad men may practically be consulted by our fearing that they will ridicule us and by our acting on that fear.

· Our own flesh and blood may be consulted by unduly considering wife, husband, brother, child, friend, etc.

3. To special service. We are not to be held back from this by—

· Considerations of personal weakness.

· Considerations of want of visible means.

· Considerations of how others will interpret our actions.

Consult not even your brethren here, for ---

· Good men may not have your faith.

· They cannot judge your call.

· They cannot remove your responsibility.

4. To an open avowal of Christ. We must not be deterred from it by—

· The wishes of others, who think themselves involved in our act.

· The dread of contempt from those who deride godliness.

· The fear of not holding on and of thus disgracing religion.

· Reluctance to give up the world and a secret clinging to its ways. This is a very perilous vice. "Remember Lot's wife."

III. THE PRINCIPLE COMMENDS ITSELF TO OUR BEST JUDGMENT.

It is justified by ---

1. The judgment which we exercise upon others.

· We blame them if they have no mind of their own.

· We applaud them if they are bravely faithful.

2. The judgment of an enlightened conscience.

3. The judgment of a dying bed.

4. The judgment of an eternal world.

Let us be in such communion with God that we need not confer with flesh and blood.

Let us not wait for second thoughts, but at once carry out convictions of duty and obey calls for help or impulses of love.