• Spiritual Ascendancy

    by T. Austin-Sparks

    First published in "A Witness and A Testimony" magazines, 1950-1951, Vol. 28-5 - 29-5.

    The whole of the Word of God from beginning to end sets forth the necessity for spiritual, inner ascendancy on the part of God’s people, and that carries with it the fact that there is something to get over; for ascendancy has no meaning if there is nothing above which to ascend, if there is no challenge, nothing to overcome. We have no need, I think, to be told that there is quite a lot that demands absolute ascendancy in our hearts, in our spirits, and we learn afresh almost every hour that there is a great realm, a universe, in which our lives are set, which will press us down and under, and hold us there, unless we know how to get on top of it. That is patent to us all. Do you think the name of the Lord is glorified by divisions and strivings and conflicts, which come about because of natural conditions of temperament, disposition, and so on? No, there has been more dishonour brought to the Name of the Lord in that way than perhaps in any other. The Name of the Lord has to be glorified in Zion; that means spiritual ascendancy, the taking of higher ground.

  • Chapters
  • Chapter 1 - "Who Shall Ascend?"
    The Question Answered - A Company in Oneness With the Son on Mount Zion - The End in Glory Already Secured in the Lord Jesus - The End Will Justify the Way - The Lamb Standing on Mount Zion - The Company With the Lamb - A Settled Confidence in God
  • Chapter 2 - Attainment by Discipline
    Israel as An Illustration of Spiritual Ascendancy - Israel’s Twelve Tribes A Governing People - Israel Lost What God Intended - Israel’s Folly: Clinging to the Letter, Not Open to the Spirit - Ascendancy To Be Gained Through Challenging Experiences - Need and Challenge Both Met Through a Disciplined People
  • Chapter 3 - Its Present Bearing on Life
    The Hill of the Lord: Christ in Absolute Ascendancy - Ascendancy: The Normal Outworking of Implanted Divine Life - Israel’s Failure: Egypt, Not Zion, in Their Hearts - Egypt Flatters Self, Zion Slays It - Ambition Right If Selfless - Holy Ambition: To Attain to Zion
  • Chapter 4 - The Nature and Motive of Spiritual Ascendancy
    The Challenge of Ascendancy - Ascendancy A Right Ambition - Testing of Motive, The Lord or Self? - Ascendancy Demands Spiritual Stamina - Ascendancy Acquired in Common Affairs - Service the Motive of Ascendancy - Ascendancy Persistently Assailed
  • Chapter 5 - Ascension Union With Christ
    A New Order Introduced With the Ascension of Christ - The Ascension of Christ, His Enthronement - The Church in Ascension Union With Christ - Some in Israel a Testimony for Israel - A Testimony to the Greatness of Redemption - A Testimony to the Lord’s Persistent Working - A Testimony to the Glorious Consummation
  • Chapter 6 - The Holiness of Zion's Hill
    Ascendancy Over the Enemy - Ascendancy Over Our Own Souls - Power with God - Zion the Place of Spiritual Power - Holiness Basic to Spiritual Power - The Defilement of Self-interest - The Defilement of an Earth Touch - Encouragement to Perseverance
  • Chapter 7 - The Name of the Lord in Zion
    A Present Foretaste of Glory - A Process Begun - Zion the Embodiment of the Name - The Need to Recover the Authority of the Name - The Need to Get On to Higher Ground - God Governs by Spiritual Maturity - The Power of the Name
  • Chapter 8 - God's King in Zion
    "No King in Israel" - (a) Chaos - (b) Variableness - (c) Unrest - "A King Like all the Nations" - A Corrupt Priesthood - Disillusionment - God's King on His Holy Hill - (a) Unity - (b) Power - (c) Fulness