,the ,person and ,work of ,the ,holy ,spirit ,as ,revealed in the ,scriptures ,and in ,personal ,experience ,by ,r4 ,a4 ,torrey ,fleming ,h4 ,revell ,company ,new ,york1 ,chicago1 ,toronto1 ,london and ,edinburgh ,copyright #aiaj1 by ,r4 ,a4 ,torrey ,,contents ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,personality of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,deity of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,the ,distinction of the ,holy ,spirit from the ,father and from ,his ,son1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,the ,subordination of the ,spirit to the ,father and to the ,son4 ,chapter ,v4 ,the ,person and ,work of the ,holy ,spirit as ,revealed in ,his ,names4 ,chapter ,,vi4 ,the ,work of the ,holy ,spirit in the ,material ,universe4 ,chapter ,,vii4 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,convicting the ,world of ,sin1 of ,righteousness and of ,judgment4 ,chapter ,,viii4 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,bearing ,witness to ,jesus ,christ4 ,chapter ,,ix4 ,the ,regenerating ,work of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,chapter ,x4 ,the ,indwelling ,spirit ,fully and ,forever ,satisfying4 ,chapter ,,xi4 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,setting the ,believer ,free ,from the ,power of ,indwelling ,sin4 ,chapter ,,xii4 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,forming ,christ ,within ,us4 ,chapter ,,xiii4 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,bringing ,forth in the ,believer ,christlike ,graces of ,character4 ,chapter ,,xiv4 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,guiding the ,believer ,into a ,life as a ,son4 ,chapter ,,xv4 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,bearing ,witness to our ,sonship4 ,chapter ,,xvi4 ,the ,holy ,spirit as a ,teacher4 ,chapter ,,xvii4 ,praying1 ,returning ,thanks1 ,worshipping in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,chapter ,,xviii4 ,the ,holy ,spirit ,sending ,men ,forth to ,definite ,lines of ,work4 ,chapter ,,xix4 ,the ,holy ,spirit and the ,believer's ,body4 ,chapter ,,xx4 ,the ,baptism ,with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,chapter ,,xxi4 ,the ,work of the ,holy ,spirit in ,prophets and ,apostles4 ,chapter ,,xxii4 ,the ,work of the ,holy ,spirit ,in ,jesus ,christ4 ,footnotes ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,personality ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,before one can correctly understand the work of the ,holy ,spirit1 he must first of all know the ,spirit ,himself4 ,a frequent source of error and fanaticism about the work of the ,holy ,spirit is the attempt to study and understand ,his work without first of all coming to know ,him as a ,person4 ,it is of the highest importance from the standpoint of worship that we decide whether the ,holy ,spirit is a ,divine ,person1 worthy to receive our adoration1 our faith1 our love1 and our entire surrender to ,himself1 or whether it is simply an influence emanating from ,god or a power or an illumination that ,god imparts to us4 ,if the ,holy ,spirit is a person1 and a ,divine ,person1 and we do not know ,him as such1 then we are robbing a ,divine ,being of the worship and the faith and the love and the surrender to ,himself which are ,his due4 ,it is also of the highest importance from the practical standpoint that we decide whether the ,holy ,spirit is merely some mysterious and wonderful power that we in our weakness and ignorance are somehow to get hold of and use1 or whether the ,holy ,spirit is a real ,person1 infinitely holy1 infinitely wise1 infinitely mighty and infinitely tender who is to get hold of and use us4 ,the former conception is utterly heathenish1 not essentially different from the thought of the ,african fetich worshipper who has his god whom he uses4 ,the latter conception is sublime and ,christian4 ,if we think of the ,holy ,spirit as so many do as merely a power or influence1 our constant thought will be1 8,how can ,i get more of the ,holy ,spirit10 but if we think of ,him in the ,biblical way as a ,divine ,person1 our thought will rather be1 8,how can the ,holy ,spirit have more of me80 ,the conception of the ,holy ,spirit as a ,divine influence or power that we are somehow to get hold of and use1 leads to self-exaltation and self-sufficiency4 ,one who so thinks of the ,holy ,spirit and who at the same time imagines that he has received the ,holy ,spirit will almost inevitably be full of spiritual pride and strut about as if he belonged to some superior order of ,christians4 ,one frequently hears such persons say1 8,i am a ,holy ,ghost man10 or 8,i am a ,holy ,ghost woman40 ,but if we once grasp the thought that the ,holy ,spirit is a ,divine ,person of infinite majesty1 glory and holiness and power1 who in marvellous condescension has come into our hearts to make ,his abode there and take possession of our lives and make use of them1 it will put us in the dust and keep us in the dust4 ,i can think of no thought more humbling or more overwhelming than the thought that a person of ,divine majesty and glory dwells in my heart and is ready to use even me4 ,it is of the highest importance from the standpoint of experience that we know the ,holy ,spirit as a person4 ,thousands and tens of thousands of men and women can testify to the blessing that has come into their own lives as they have come to know the ,holy ,spirit1 not merely as a gracious influence 7emanating1 it is true1 from ,god7 but as a real ,person1 just as real as ,jesus ,christ ,himself1 an ever-present1 loving ,friend and mighty ,helper1 who is not only always by their side but dwells in their heart every day and every hour and who is ready to undertake for them in every emergency of life4 ,thousands of ministers1 ,christian workers and ,christians in the humblest spheres of life have spoken to me1 or written to me1 of the complete transformation of their ,christian experience that came to them when they grasped the thought 7not merely in a theological1 but in an experimental way7 that the ,holy ,spirit was a ,person and consequently came to know ,him4 ,there are at least four distinct lines of proof in the ,bible that the ,holy ,spirit is a person4 ,i4 ,all the distinctive characteristics of personality are ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit in the ,bible4 ,what are the distinctive characteristics1 or marks1 of personality8 ,knowledge1 feeling or emotion1 and will4 ,any entity that thinks and feels and wills is a person4 ,when we say that the ,holy ,spirit is a person1 there are those who understand us to mean that the ,holy ,spirit has hands and feet and eyes and ears and mouth1 and so on1 but these are not the characteristics of personality but of corporeity4 ,all of these characteristics or marks of personality are repeatedly ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit in the ,old and ,new ,testaments4 ,we read in #a ,cor4 ii4 #aj1 #aa1 8,but ,god hath revealed them unto us by ,his ,spirit3 for the ,spirit searcheth all things1 yea1 the deep things of ,god4 ,for what man knoweth the things of a man1 save the spirit of man which is in him8 even so the things of ,god knoweth no man1 but the ,spirit of ,god40 ,here knowledge is ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we are clearly taught that the ,holy ,spirit is not merely an influence that illuminates our minds to comprehend the truth but a ,being who ,himself knows the truth4 ,in #a ,cor4 xii4 #aa1 we read1 8,but all these worketh that one and the selfsame ,spirit1 dividing to every man severally as ,he will40 ,here will is ascribed to the ,spirit and we are taught that the ,holy ,spirit is not a power that we get hold of and use according to our will but a ,person of sovereign majesty1 who uses us according to ,his will4 ,this distinction is of fundamental importance in our getting into right relations with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is at this very point that many honest seekers after power and efficiency in service go astray4 ,they are reaching out after and struggling to get possession of some mysterious and mighty power that they can make use of in their work according to their own will4 ,they will never get possession of the power they seek until they come to recognize that there is not some ,divine power for them to get hold of and use in their blindness and ignorance but that there is a ,person1 infinitely wise1 as well as infinitely mighty1 who is willing to take possession of them and use them according to ,his own perfect will4 ,when we stop to think of it1 we must rejoice that there is no ,divine power that beings so ignorant as we are1 so liable to err1 to get hold of and use4 ,how appalling might be the results if there were4 ,but what a holy joy must come into our hearts when we grasp the thought that there is a ,divine ,person1 ,one who never errs1 who is willing to take possession of us and impart to us such gifts as ,he sees best and to use us according to ,his wise and loving will4 ,we read in ,rom4 viii4 #bg1 8,and ,he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the ,spirit1 because ,he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of ,god40 ,in this passage mind is ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,greek word translated 8mind0 is a comprehensive word1 including the ideas of thought1 feeling and purpose4 ,it is the same that is used in ,rom4 viii4 #g where we read that 8the carnal mind is enmity against ,god3 for it is not subject to the law of ,god1 neither indeed can be40 ,so then in this passage we have all the distinctive marks of personality ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we find the personality of the ,holy ,spirit brought out in a most touching and suggestive way in ,rom4 xv4 #cj1 8,now ,i beseech you1 brethren1 for the ,lord ,jesus ,christ's sake1 and for the love of the ,spirit1 that ye strive together with me in your prayers to ,god for me40 ,here we have 8love0 ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the reader would do well to stop and ponder those five words1 8the love of the ,spirit40 ,we dwell often upon the love of ,god the ,father4 ,it is the subject of our daily and constant thought4 ,we dwell often upon the love of ,jesus ,christ the ,son4 ,who would think of calling himself a ,christian who passed a day without meditating on the love of his ,saviour1 but how often have we meditated upon 8the love of the ,spirit08 ,each day of our lives1 if we are living as ,christians ought1 we kneel down in the presence of ,god the ,father and look up into ,his face and say1 8,i thank ,thee1 ,father1 for ,thy great love that led ,thee to give ,thine only begotten ,son to die upon the cross of ,calvary for me40 ,each day of our lives we also look up into the face of our ,lord and ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ1 and say1 8,oh1 ,thou glorious ,lord and ,saviour1 ,jesus ,thou ,son of ,god1 ,i thank ,thee for ,thy great love that led ,thee not to count it a thing to be grasped to be on equality with ,god but to empty ,thyself and forsaking all the glory of heaven1 come down to earth with all its shame and to take my sins upon ,thyself and die in my place upon the cross of ,calvary40 ,but how often do we kneel and say to the ,holy ,spirit1 8,oh1 ,thou eternal and infinite ,spirit of ,god1 ,i thank ,thee for ,thy great love that led ,thee to come into this world of sin and darkness and to seek me out and to follow me so patiently until ,thou didst bring me to see my utter ruin and need of a ,saviour and to reveal to me my ,lord and ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ1 as just the ,saviour whom ,i need40 ,yet we owe our salvation just as truly to the love of the ,spirit as we do to the love of the ,father and the love of the ,son4 ,if it had not been for the love of ,god the ,father looking down upon me in my utter ruin and providing a perfect atonement for me in the death of ,his own ,son on the cross of ,calvary1 ,i would have been in hell to-day4 ,if it had not been for the love of ,jesus ,christ1 the eternal ,word of ,god1 looking upon me in my utter ruin and in obedience to the ,father1 putting aside all the glory of heaven for all the shame of earth and taking my place1 the place of the curse1 upon the cross of ,calvary and pouring out ,his life utterly for me1 ,i would have been in hell to-day4 ,but if it had not been for the love of the ,holy ,spirit1 sent by the ,father in answer to the prayer of the ,son 7,john xiv4 #af7 leading ,him to seek me out in my utter blindness and ruin and to follow me day after day1 week after week1 and year after year1 when ,i persistently turned a deaf ear to ,his pleadings1 following me through paths of sin where it must have been agony for that holy ,one to go1 until at last ,i listened and ,he opened my eyes to see my utter ruin and then revealed ,jesus to me as just the ,saviour that would meet my every need and then enabled me to receive this ,jesus as my own ,saviour2 if it had not been for this patient1 long-suffering1 never-tiring1 infinitely-tender love of the ,holy ,spirit1 ,i would have been in hell to-day4 ,oh1 the ,holy ,spirit is not merely an influence or a power or an illumination but is a ,person just as real as ,god the ,father or ,jesus ,christ ,his ,son4 ,the personality of the ,holy ,spirit comes out in the ,old ,testament as truly as in the ,new1 for we read in ,neh4 ix4 #bj1 8,thou gavest also ,thy good ,spirit to instruct them1 and withheldest not ,thy manna from their mouth1 and gavest them water for their thirst40 ,here both intelligence and goodness are ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,there are some who tell us that while it is true the personality of the ,holy ,spirit is found in the ,new ,testament1 it is not found in the ,old4 ,but it is certainly found in this passage4 ,as a matter of course1 the doctrine of the personality of the ,holy ,spirit is not as fully developed in the ,old ,testament as in the ,new4 ,but the doctrine is there4 ,there is perhaps no passage in the entire ,bible in which the personality of the ,holy ,spirit comes out more tenderly and touchingly than in ,eph4 iv4 #cj1 8,and grieve not the ,holy ,spirit of ,god1 whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption40 ,here grief is ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is not a blind1 impersonal influence or power that comes into our lives to illuminate1 sanctify and empower them4 ,no1 ,he is immeasurably more than that1 ,he is a holy ,person who comes to dwell in our hearts1 ,one who sees clearly every act we perform1 every word we speak1 every thought we entertain1 even the most fleeting fancy that is allowed to pass through our minds2 and if there is anything in act1 or word or deed that is impure1 unholy1 unkind1 selfish1 mean1 petty or untrue1 this infinitely holy ,one is deeply grieved by it4 ,i know of no thought that will help one more than this to lead a holy life and to walk softly in the presence of the holy ,one4 ,how often a young man is kept back from yielding to the temptations that surround young manhood by the thought that if he should yield to the temptation that now assails him1 his holy mother might hear of it and would be grieved by it beyond expression4 ,how often some young man has had his hand upon the door of some place of sin that he is about to enter and the thought has come to him1 8,if ,i should enter there1 my mother might hear of it and it would nearly kill her10 and he has turned his back upon that door and gone away to lead a pure life1 that he might not grieve his mother4 ,but there is ,one who is holier than any mother1 ,one who is more sensitive against sin than the purest woman who ever walked this earth1 and who loves us as even no mother ever loved1 and this ,one dwells in our hearts1 if we are really ,christians1 and ,he sees every act we do by day or under cover of the night2 ,he hears every word we utter in public or in private2 ,he sees every thought we entertain1 ,he beholds every fancy and imagination that is permitted even a momentary lodgment in our mind1 and if there is anything unholy1 impure1 selfish1 mean1 petty1 unkind1 harsh1 unjust1 or in anywise evil in act or word or thought or fancy1 ,he is grieved by it4 ,if we will allow those words1 8,grieve not the ,holy ,spirit of ,god10 to sink into our hearts and become the motto of our lives1 they will keep us from many a sin4 ,how often some thought or fancy has knocked for an entrance into my own mind and was about to find entertainment when the thought has come1 8,the ,holy ,spirit sees that thought and will be grieved by it0 and that thought has gone4 ,,ii4 ,many acts that only a ,person can perform are ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if we deny the personality of the ,holy ,spirit1 many passages of ,scripture become meaningless and absurd4 ,for example1 we read in #a ,cor4 ii4 #aj1 8,but ,god hath revealed them unto us by ,his ,spirit3 for the ,spirit searcheth all things1 yea1 the deep things of ,god40 ,this passage sets before us the ,holy ,spirit1 not merely as an illumination whereby we are enabled to grasp the deep things of ,god1 but a ,person who ,himself searches the deep things of ,god and then reveals to us the precious discoveries which ,he has made4 ,we read in ,rev4 ii4 #g1 8,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches2 ,to him that overcometh will ,i give to eat of the tree of life1 which is in the midst of the paradise of ,god40 ,here the ,holy ,spirit is set before us1 not merely as an impersonal enlightenment that comes to our mind but a ,person who speaks and out of the depths of ,his own wisdom1 whispers into the ear of ,his listening servant the precious truth of ,god4 ,in ,gal4 iv4 #f we read1 8,and because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of ,his ,son into your hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father40 ,here the ,holy ,spirit is represented as crying out in the heart of the individual believer4 ,not merely a ,divine influence producing in our own hearts the assurance of our sonship but one who cries out in our hearts1 who bears witness together with our spirit that we are sons of ,god4 7,see also ,rom4 viii4 #af47 ,the ,holy ,spirit is also represented in the ,scripture as one who prays4 ,we read in ,rom4 viii4 #bf1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and in like manner the ,spirit also helpeth our infirmity2 for we know not how to pray as we ought2 but the ,spirit ,himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered40 ,it is plain from this passage that the ,holy ,spirit is not merely an influence that moves us to pray1 not merely an illumination that teaches us how to pray1 but a ,person who ,himself prays in and through us4 ,there is wondrous comfort in the thought that every true believer has two ,divine ,persons praying for him1 ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son who was once upon this earth1 who knows all about our temptations1 who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities and who is now ascended to the right hand of the ,father and in that place of authority and power ever lives to make intercession for us 7,heb4 vii4 #be2 #a ,john ii4 #a72 and another ,person1 just as ,divine as ,he1 who walks by our side each day1 yes1 who dwells in the innermost depths of our being and knows our needs1 even as we do not know them ourselves1 and from these depths makes intercession to the ,father for us4 ,the position of the believer is indeed one of perfect security with these two ,divine ,persons praying for him4 ,we read again in ,john xv4 #bf1 8,but when the ,comforter is come1 whom ,i will send unto you from the ,father1 even the ,spirit of truth1 which proceedeth from the ,father1 ,he shall testify of ,me40 ,here the ,holy ,spirit is set before us as a ,person who gives ,his testimony to ,jesus ,christ1 not merely as an illumination that enables the believer to testify of ,christ1 but a ,person who ,himself testifies2 and a clear distinction is drawn in this and the following verse between the testimony of the ,holy ,spirit and the testimony of the believer to whom ,he has borne ,his witness1 for we read in the next verse1 8,and ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with ,me from the beginning40 ,so there are two witnesses1 the ,holy ,spirit bearing witness to the believer and the believer bearing witness to the world4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is also spoken of as a teacher4 ,we read in ,john xiv4 #bf1 8,but the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in ,my name1 ,he shall teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance1 whatsoever ,i have said unto you40 ,and in a similar way1 we read in ,john xvi4 #ab-ad1 8,i have yet many things to say unto you1 but ye cannot bear them now4 ,howbeit when ,he1 the ,spirit of truth1 is come1 ,he will guide you into all truth3 for ,he shall not speak of ,himself2 but whatsoever ,he shall hear1 that shall ,he speak3 and ,he will show you things to come4 ,he shall glorify ,me3 for ,he shall receive of ,mine1 and shall show it unto you40 ,and in the ,old ,testament1 ,neh4 ix4 #bj1 8,thou gavest also ,thy good ,spirit to instruct them40 ,in all these passages it is perfectly clear that the ,holy ,spirit is not a mere illumination that enables us to apprehend the truth1 but a ,person who comes to us to teach us day by day the truth of ,god4 ,it is the privilege of the humblest believer in ,jesus ,christ not merely to have his mind illumined to comprehend the truth of ,god1 but to have a ,divine ,teacher to daily teach him the truth he needs to know 7cf4 #a ,john ii4 #bj1 #bg74 ,the ,holy ,spirit is also represented as the ,leader and ,guide of the children of ,god4 ,we read in ,rom4 viii4 #ad1 8,for as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god they are the sons of ,god40 ,he is not merely an influence that enables us to see the way that ,god would have us go1 nor merely a power that gives us strength to go that way1 but a ,person who takes us by the hand and gently leads us on in the paths in which ,god would have us walk4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is also represented as a ,person who has authority to command men in their service of ,jesus ,christ4 ,we read of the ,apostle ,paul and his companions in ,acts xvi4 #f1 #g1 8,now when they had gone throughout ,phrygia and the region of ,galatia1 and were forbidden of the ,holy ,ghost to preach the ,word in ,asia1 after they were come to ,mysia1 they assayed to go into ,bithynia3 but the ,spirit suffered them not40 ,here it is a ,person who takes the direction of the conduct of ,paul and his companions and a ,person whose authority they recognized and to whom they instantly submit4 ,further still than this the ,holy ,spirit is represented as the ,one who is the supreme authority in the church1 who calls men to work and appoints them to office4 ,we read in ,acts xiii4 #b1 8,as they ministered to the ,lord1 and fasted1 the ,holy ,ghost said1 ,separate ,me ,barnabas and ,saul for the work where unto ,i have called them40 ,and in ,acts xx4 #bh1 8,take heed therefore unto yourselves1 and to all the flock1 over the which the ,holy ,ghost hath made you overseers1 to feed the ,church of ,god1 which ,he hath purchased with ,his own blood40 ,there can be no doubt to a candid seeker after truth that it is a ,person1 and a person of ,divine majesty and sovereignty1 who is here set before us4 ,from all the passages here quoted1 it is evident that many acts that only a person can perform are ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,iii4 ,an office is predicated of the ,holy ,spirit that can only be predicated of a person4 ,our ,saviour says in ,john xiv4 #af1 #ag1 8,and ,i will pray the ,father1 and ,he shall give you another ,comforter1 that ,he may abide with you forever2 ,even the ,spirit of truth3 whom the world cannot receive1 because it seeth ,him not1 neither knoweth ,him3 but ye know ,him2 for ,he dwelleth with you1 and shall be in you40 ,our ,lord had announced to the disciples that ,he was about to leave them4 ,an awful sense of desolation took possession of them4 ,sorrow filled their hearts 7,john xvi4 #f7 at the contemplation of their loneliness and absolute helplessness when ,jesus should thus leave them alone4 ,to comfort them the ,lord tells them that they shall not be left alone1 that in leaving them ,he was going to the ,father and that ,he would pray the ,father and ,he would give them another ,comforter to take the place of ,himself during ,his absence4 ,is it possible that ,jesus ,christ could have used such language if the other ,comforter who was coming to take ,his place was only an impersonal influence or power8 ,still more1 is it possible that ,jesus could have said as ,he did in ,john xvi4 #g1 8,nevertheless ,i tell you the truth3 ,it is expedient for you that ,i go away3 for if ,i go not away1 the ,comforter will not come unto you2 but if ,i depart1 ,i will send ,him unto you10 if this ,comforter whom ,he was to send was simply an impersonal influence or power8 ,no1 one ,divine ,person was going1 another ,person just as ,divine was coming to take ,his place1 and it was expedient for the disciples that the ,one go to represent them before the ,father1 for another just as ,divine and sufficient was coming to take ,his place4 ,this promise of our ,lord and ,saviour of the coming of the other ,comforter and of ,his abiding with us is the greatest and best of all for the present dispensation4 ,this is the promise of the ,father 7,acts i4 #d71 the promise of promises4 ,we shall take it up again when we come to study the names of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,iv4 ,a treatment is predicated to the ,holy ,spirit that could only be predicated of a ,person4 ,we read in ,isa4 lxiii4 #aj1 ,r4 ,v41 8,but they rebelled and grieved ,his ,holy ,spirit3 therefore ,he was turned to be their enemy1 and ,he fought against them40 ,here we are told that the ,holy ,spirit is rebelled against and grieved 7cf4 ,eph4 iv4 #cj74 ,only a person can be rebelled against and only a person of authority4 ,only a person can be grieved4 ,you cannot grieve a mere influence or power4 ,in ,heb4 x4 #bi1 we read1 8,of how much sorer punishment1 suppose ye1 shall he be thought worthy1 who hath trodden underfoot the ,son of ,god1 and hath counted the blood of the covenant1 wherewith he was sanctified1 an unholy thing1 and hath done despite unto the ,spirit of grace80 ,here we are told that the ,holy ,spirit is 8done despite unto0 78treated with contumely0--,thayer's ,greek-,english ,lexicon of the ,new ,testament74 ,there is but one kind of entity in the universe that can be treated with contumely 7or insulted7 and that is a person4 ,it is absurd to think of treating an influence or a power or any kind of being except a person with contumely4 ,we read again in ,acts v4 #c1 8,but ,peter said1 ,ananias1 why hath ,satan filled thine heart to lie to the ,holy ,ghost1 and to keep back part of the price of the land80 ,here we have the ,holy ,spirit represented as one who can be lied to4 ,one cannot lie to anything but a person4 ,in ,matt4 xii4 #ca1 #cb1 we read1 8,wherefore ,i say unto you1 ,all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men3 but the blasphemy against the ,holy ,ghost shall not be forgiven unto men4 ,and whosoever speaketh a word against the ,son of man1 it shall be forgiven him3 but whosoever speaketh against the ,holy ,ghost1 it shall not be forgiven him1 neither in this world1 neither in the world to come40 ,here we are told that the ,holy ,spirit is blasphemed against4 ,it is impossible to blaspheme anything but a person4 ,if the ,holy ,spirit is not a person1 it certainly cannot be a more serious and decisive sin to blaspheme ,him than it is to blaspheme the ,son of man1 our ,lord and ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ ,himself4 ,here then we have four distinctive and decisive lines of proof that the ,holy ,spirit is a ,person4 ,theoretically most of us believe this but do we1 in our real thought of ,him and in our practical attitude towards ,him treat ,him as if ,he were indeed a ,person8 ,at the close of an address on the ,personality of the ,holy ,spirit at a ,bible conference some years ago1 one who had been a church-member many years1 a member of one of the most orthodox of our modern denominations1 said to me1 8,i never thought of ,it before as a ,person40 ,doubtless this ,christian woman had often sung3 8,praise ,god from whom all blessings flow1 ,praise ,him all creatures here below1 ,praise ,him above1 ye heavenly host1 ,praise ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost40 ,doubtless she had often sung3 8,glory be to the ,father1 and to the ,son1 and to the ,holy ,ghost1 ,as it was in the beginning1 is now1 and ever shall be1 ,world without end1 ,amen40 ,but it is one thing to sing words2 it is quite another thing to realize the meaning of what we sing4 ,if this ,christian woman had been questioned in regard to her doctrine1 she would doubtless have said that she believed that there were three ,persons in the ,godhead1 ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,spirit1 but a theological confession is one thing1 a practical realization of the truth we confess is quite another4 ,so the question is altogether necessary1 no matter how orthodox you may be in your creedal statements1 ,do you regard the ,holy ,spirit as indeed as real a ,person as ,jesus ,christ1 as loving and wise and strong1 as worthy of your confidence and love and surrender as ,jesus ,christ ,himself8 ,the ,holy ,spirit came into this world to be to the disciples of our ,lord after ,his departure1 and to us1 what ,jesus ,christ had been to them during the days of ,his personal companionship with them 7,john xiv4 #af1 #ag74 ,is ,he that to you8 ,do you know ,him8 ,every week in your life you hear the apostolic benediction1 8,the grace of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and the love of ,god and the communion of the ,holy ,ghost be with you all0 7#b ,cor4 xiii4 #ad71 but while you hear it1 do you take in the significance of it8 ,do you know the communion of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,the fellowship of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,the partnership of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,the comradeship of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,the intimate personal friendship of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,herein lies the whole secret of a real ,christian life1 a life of liberty and joy and power and fullness4 ,to have as one's ever-present ,friend1 and to be conscious that one has as his ever-present ,friend1 the ,holy ,spirit and to surrender one's life in all its departments entirely to ,his control1 this is true ,christian living4 ,the doctrine of the ,personality of the ,holy ,spirit is as distinctive of the religion that ,jesus taught as the doctrines of the ,deity and the atonement of ,jesus ,christ ,himself4 ,but it is not enough to believe the doctrine--one must know the ,holy ,spirit ,himself4 ,the whole purpose of this chapter 7,god help me to say it reverently7 is to introduce you to my ,friend1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,deity ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,in the preceding chapter we have seen clearly that the ,holy ,spirit is a ,person4 ,but what sort of a ,person is ,he8 ,is ,he a finite person or an infinite person8 ,is ,he ,god8 ,this question also is plainly answered in the ,bible4 ,there are in the ,scriptures of the ,old and ,new ,testaments five distinct and decisive lines of proof of the ,deity of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i4 ,each of the four distinctively ,divine attributes is ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,what are the distinctively ,divine attributes8 ,eternity1 omnipresence1 omniscience and omnipotence4 ,all of these are ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit in the ,bible4 ,we find eternity ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit in ,heb4 ix4 #ad1 8,how much more shall the blood of ,christ1 who through the eternal ,spirit offered ,himself without spot to ,god1 purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living ,god80 ,omnipresence is ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit in ,ps4 cxxxix4 #g-aj1 8,whither shall ,i go from ,thy ,spirit8 or whither shall ,i flee from ,thy presence8 ,if ,i ascend up into heaven1 ,thou art there3 if ,i make my bed in hell1 behold1 ,thou art there4 ,if ,i take the wings of the morning1 and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea2 even there shall ,thy hand lead me1 and ,thy right hand shall hold me40 ,omniscience is ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit in several passages4 ,for example1 we read in #a ,cor4 ii4 #aj1 #aa1 8,but ,god hath revealed them unto us by ,his ,spirit3 for the ,spirit searcheth all things1 yea1 the deep things of ,god4 ,for what man knoweth the things of a man1 save the spirit of man which is in him8 ,even so the things of ,god knoweth no man1 but the ,spirit of ,god40 ,again in ,john xiv4 #bf1 8,but the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in ,my name1 ,he shall teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance1 whatsoever ,i have said unto you40 ,still further we read in ,john xvi4 #ab1 #ac1 ,r4 ,v41 8,i have yet many things to say unto you1 but ye cannot bear them now4 ,howbeit when ,he1 the ,spirit of truth is come1 ,he shall guide you into all the truth3 for ,he shall not speak from ,himself2 but what things soever ,he shall hear1 these shall ,he speak3 and ,he shall declare unto you the things that are to come40 ,we find omnipotence ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit in ,luke i4 #ce1 8,and the angel answered and said unto her1 ,the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,highest shall overshadow thee3 therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the ,son of ,god40 ,,ii4 ,three distinctively ,divine works are ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,when we think of ,god and ,his work1 the first work of which we always think is that of creation4 ,in the ,scriptures creation is ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in ,job xxxiii4 #d1 8,the ,spirit of ,god hath made me1 and the breath of the ,almighty hath given me life40 ,we read still again in ,ps4 civ4 #cj1 8,thou sendest forth ,thy ,spirit1 they are created3 and ,thou renewest the face of the earth40 ,in connection with the description of creation in the first chapter of ,genesis1 the activity of the ,spirit is referred to 7,gen4 i4 #a-c74 ,the impartation of life is also a ,divine work and this is ascribed in the ,scriptures to the ,holy ,spirit1 ,we read in ,john vi4 #f1 ,a4 ,r4 ,v41 8,it is the ,spirit that giveth life3 the flesh profiteth nothing40 ,we read also in ,rom4 viii4 #aa1 8,but if the ,spirit of ,him that raised up ,jesus from the dead dwell in you1 ,he that raised up ,christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by ,his ,spirit that dwelleth in you40 ,in the description of the creation of man in ,gen4 ii4 #g1 it is the breath of ,god1 that is the ,holy ,spirit1 who imparts life to man1 and man becomes a living soul4 ,the exact words are1 8,and the ,lord ,god formed man of the dust of the ground1 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life2 and man became a living soul40 ,the ,greek word which is rendered 8spirit0 means 8breath0 and though the ,holy ,spirit as a ,person does not come out distinctly in this early reference to ,him in ,gen4 ii4 #g1 nevertheless1 this passage interpreted in the light of the fuller revelation of the ,new ,testament clearly refers to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the authorship of ,divine prophecies is also ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in #b ,pet4 i4 #ba1 ,r4 ,v41 8,for no prophecy ever came by the will of man3 but men spake from ,god1 being moved by the ,holy ,ghost40 ,even in the ,old ,testament1 there is a reference to the ,holy ,spirit as the author of prophecy4 ,we read in #b ,sam4 xxiii4 #b1 #c1 8the ,spirit of the ,,lord spake by me1 and ,his word was in my tongue4 ,the ,god of ,israel said1 the ,rock of ,israel spake to me1 ,he that ruleth over men must be just1 ruling in the fear of ,god40 ,so we see that the three distinctly ,divine works of creation1 the impartation of life1 and prophecy are ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,iii4 ,statements which in the ,old ,testament distinctly name the ,,lord or ,jehovah as their subject are applied to the ,holy ,spirit in the ,new ,testament1 i4 e41 the ,holy ,spirit occupies the position of ,deity in ,new ,testament thought4 ,a striking illustration of this is found in ,isa4 vi4 #h-aj1 8,also ,i heard the voice of the ,lord1 saying1 ,whom shall ,i send1 and who will go for us8 ,then said ,i1 ,here am ,i2 send me4 ,and ,he said1 ,go1 and tell this people1 ,hear ye indeed1 but understand not2 and see ye indeed1 but perceive not4 ,make the heart of this people fat1 and make their ears heavy1 and shut their eyes2 lest they see with their eyes1 and hear with their ears1 and understand with their heart1 and convert and be healed40 ,in verse five we are told that it was ,jehovah 7whenever the word ,,lord is spelled in capitals in the ,old ,testament1 it stands for ,jehovah in the ,hebrew and is so rendered in the ,american ,revision7 whom ,isaiah saw and who speaks4 ,but in ,acts xxviii4 #be-bg there is a reference to this statement of ,isaiah's and whereas in ,isaiah we are told it is ,jehovah who speaks1 in the reference in ,acts we are told that it was the ,holy ,spirit who was the speaker4 ,the passage in ,acts reads as follows1 8,and when they agreed not among themselves1 they departed after that ,paul had spoken one word1 ,well spake the ,holy ,ghost by ,esaias the prophet unto our fathers1 saying1 ,go unto this people1 and say1 ,hearing ye shall hear1 and shall not understand2 and seeing ye shall see and not perceive3 ,for the heart of this people is waxed gross1 and their ears are dull of hearing1 and their eyes have they closed2 lest they should see with their eyes1 and hear with their ears1 and understand with their heart1 and should be converted1 and ,i should heal them40 ,so we see that what is distinctly ascribed to ,jehovah in the ,old ,testament is ascribed to the ,holy ,spirit in the ,new3 i4 e41 the ,holy ,spirit is identified with ,jehovah4 ,it is a noteworthy fact that in the ,gospel of ,john1 the twelfth chapter and the thirty-ninth to forty-first verses where another reference is made to this passage in ,isaiah1 this same passage is ascribed to ,christ 7note carefully the forty-first verse74 ,so in different parts of ,scripture1 we have the same passage referred to ,jehovah1 referred to the ,holy ,spirit1 and referred to ,jesus ,christ4 ,may we not find the explanation of this in the threefold 8,holy0 of the seraphic cry in ,isaiah vi4 #c1 where we read1 8,and one cried unto another1 and said1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 is the ,,lord of hosts3 the whole earth is full of ,his glory40 ,in this we have a distinct suggestion of the tri-personality of the ,jehovah of ,hosts1 and hence the propriety of the threefold application of the vision4 ,a further suggestion of this tri-personality of ,jehovah of ,hosts is found in the eighth verse of the chapter where the ,lord is represented as saying1 8,whom shall ,i send1 and who will go for us80 ,another striking illustration of the application of passages in the ,new ,testament to the ,holy ,spirit which in the ,old ,testament distinctly name ,jehovah as their subject is found in ,ex4 xvi4 #g4 ,here we read1 8,and in the morning1 then ye shall see the glory of the ,,lord2 for that ,he heareth your murmurings against the ,,lord3 and what are we that ye murmur against us80 ,here the murmuring of the children of ,israel is distinctly said to be against ,jehovah4 ,but in ,heb4 iii4 #g-i1 where this instance is referred to1 we read1 8,wherefore1 as the ,holy ,ghost saith1 ,to-day if ye will hear ,his voice1 harden not your hearts1 and in the provocation1 in the day of temptation in the wilderness3 ,when your fathers tempted ,me1 proved ,me1 and saw ,my works forty years40 ,the murmurings which ,moses in the ,book of ,exodus says were against ,jehovah1 we are told in the ,epistle to the ,hebrews were against the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this leaves it beyond question that the ,holy ,spirit occupies the position of ,jehovah 7or ,deity7 in the ,new ,testament 7cf4 also ,ps4 xcv4 #h-aa74 ,,iv4 ,the name of the ,holy ,spirit is coupled with that of ,god in a way it would be impossible for a reverent and thoughtful mind to couple the name of any finite being with that of the ,deity4 ,we have an illustration of this in #a ,cor4 xii4 #d-f1 8,now there are diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit4 ,and there are differences of administrations1 but the same ,lord4 ,and there are diversities of operations1 but it is the same ,god which worketh all in all40 ,here we find ,god1 and the ,lord and the ,spirit associated together in a relation of equality that would be shocking to contemplate if the ,spirit were a finite being4 ,we have a still more striking illustration of this in ,matt4 xxviii4 #ai1 8,go ye therefore1 and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,who1 that had grasped the ,bible conception of ,god the ,father1 would think for a moment of coupling the name of the ,holy ,spirit with that of the ,father in this way if the ,holy ,spirit were a finite being1 even the most exalted of angelic beings8 ,another striking illustration is found in #b ,cor4 xiii4 #ad1 8,the grace of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and the love of ,god1 and the communion of the ,holy ,ghost1 be with you all4 ,amen40 ,can any one ponder these words and catch anything like their real import without seeing clearly that it would be impossible to couple the name of the ,holy ,spirit with that of ,god the ,father in the way in which it is coupled in this verse unless the ,holy ,spirit were ,himself a ,divine ,being8 ,v4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called ,god4 ,the final and decisive proof of the ,deity of the ,holy ,spirit is found in the fact that ,he is called ,god in the ,new ,testament4 ,we read in ,acts v4 #c1 #d1 8,but ,peter said1 ,ananias1 why hath ,satan filled thine heart to lie to the ,holy ,ghost1 and to keep back part of the price of the land8 ,whiles it remained1 was it not thine own8 ,and after it was sold1 was it not in thine own power8 ,why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart8 ,thou hast not lied unto men but unto ,god40 ,in the first part of this passage we are told that ,ananias lied to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,when this is further explained1 we are told it was not unto men but unto ,god that he had lied in lying to the ,holy ,spirit1 i4 e41 the ,holy ,spirit to whom he lied is called ,god4 ,to sum it all up1 by the ascription of all the distinctively ,divine attributes1 and several distinctly ,divine works1 by referring statements which in the ,old ,testament clearly name ,jehovah1 the ,lord1 or ,god as their subject to the ,holy ,spirit in the ,new ,testament1 by coupling the name of the ,holy ,spirit with that of ,god in a way that would be impossible to couple that of any finite being with that of ,deity1 by plainly calling the ,holy ,spirit ,god1 in all these unmistakable ways1 ,god in ,his own ,word distinctly proclaims that the ,holy ,spirit is a ,divine ,person4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,distinction ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,from ,,the ,,father ,,and ,,from ,,his ,,son1 ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,we have seen thus far that the ,holy ,spirit is a ,person and a ,divine ,person4 ,and now another question arises1 ,is ,he as a ,person separate and distinct from the ,father and from the ,son8 ,one who carefully studies the ,new ,testament statements cannot but discover that beyond a question ,he is4 ,we read in ,luke iii4 #ba1 #bb1 8,now when all the people were baptized1 it came to pass that ,jesus also being baptized1 and praying1 the heaven was opened1 and the ,holy ,ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon ,him1 and a voice came from heaven1 which said1 ,thou art ,my beloved ,son2 in ,thee ,i am well pleased40 ,here the clearest possible distinction is drawn between ,jesus ,christ1 who was on earth1 and the ,father who spoke to ,him from heaven as one person speaks to another person1 and the ,holy ,spirit who descended in a bodily form as a dove from the ,father1 who was speaking1 to the ,son1 to whom ,he was speaking1 and rested upon the ,son as a ,person separate and distinct from ,himself4 ,we see a clear distinction drawn between the name of the ,father and that of the ,son and that of the ,holy ,spirit in ,matt1 xxviii4 #ai1 where we read1 8,go ye therefore1 and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,the distinction of the ,holy ,spirit from the ,father and the ,son comes out again with exceeding clearness in ,john xiv4 #af4 ,here we read1 8,and ,i will pray the ,father1 and ,he shall give you another ,comforter1 that ,he may abide with you forever40 ,here we see the one ,person1 the ,son1 praying to another ,person1 the ,father1 and the ,father to whom ,he prays giving another ,person1 another ,comforter1 in answer to the prayer of the second ,person1 the ,son4 ,if words mean anything1 and certainly in the ,bible they mean what they say1 there can be no mistaking it1 that the ,father and the ,son and the ,spirit are three distinct and separate ,persons4 ,again in ,john xvi4 #g1 a clear distinction is drawn between ,jesus who goes away to the ,father and the ,holy ,spirit who comes from the ,father to take ,his place4 ,jesus says1 8,nevertheless ,i tell you the truth2 ,it is expedient for you that ,i go away3 for if ,i go not away1 the ,comforter will not come unto you2 but if ,i depart1 ,i will send ,him unto you40 ,a similar distinction is drawn in ,acts ii4 #cc1 where we read1 8,therefore being by the right hand of ,god exalted1 and having received of the ,father the promise of the ,holy ,ghost1 ,he hath shed forth this1 which ye now see and hear40 ,in this passage1 the clearest possible distinction is drawn between the ,son exalted to the right hand of the ,father and the ,father to whose right hand ,he is exalted1 and the ,holy ,spirit whom the ,son receives from the ,father and sheds forth upon the ,church4 ,to sum it all up1 again and again the ,bible draws the clearest possible distinction between the three ,persons1 the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,father and the ,son4 ,they are three separate personalities1 having mutual relations to one another1 acting upon one another1 speaking of or to one another1 applying the pronouns of the second and third persons to one another4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,subordination ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,,to ,,the ,,father ,,and ,,to ,,the ,,son4 ,from the fact that the ,holy ,spirit is a ,divine ,person1 it does not follow that the ,holy ,spirit is in every sense equal to the ,father4 ,while the ,scriptures teach that in ,jesus ,christ dwelt all the fullness of the ,godhead in a bodily form 7,col4 ii4 #i7 and that ,he was so truly and fully ,divine that ,he could say1 8,i and the ,father are one0 7,john x4 #cj7 and 8,he that hath seen ,me hath seen the ,father0 7,john xiv4 #i71 they also teach with equal clearness that ,jesus ,christ was not equal to the ,father in every respect1 but subordinate to the ,father in many ways4 ,in a similar way1 the ,scriptures teach us that though the ,holy ,spirit is a ,divine ,person1 ,he is subordinate to the ,father and to the ,son4 ,in ,john xiv4 #bf1 we are taught that the ,holy ,spirit is sent by the ,father and in the name of the ,son4 ,jesus declares very clearly1 8,but the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in ,my name1 ,he shall teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance1 whatsoever ,i have said unto you40 ,in ,john xv4 #bf we are told that it is ,jesus who sends the ,spirit from the ,father4 ,the exact words are1 8,but when the ,comforter is come1 whom ,i will send unto you from the ,father1 even the ,spirit of truth1 which proceedeth from the ,father1 ,he shall testify of ,me40 ,just as we are elsewhere taught that ,jesus ,christ was sent by the ,father 7,john vi4 #bi2 viii4 #bi1 #db71 we are here taught that the ,holy ,spirit in turn is sent by ,jesus ,christ4 ,the subordination of the ,holy ,spirit to the ,father and the ,son comes out also in the fact that ,he derives some of ,his names from the ,father and from the ,son4 ,we read in ,rom4 viii4 #i1 8,but ye are not in the flesh1 but in the ,spirit1 if so be that the ,spirit of ,god dwell in you4 ,now if any man have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of ,his40 ,here we have two names of the ,spirit1 one derived from ,his relation to the ,father1 8the ,spirit of ,god10 and the other derived from ,his relation to the ,son1 8the ,spirit of ,christ40 ,in ,acts xvi4 #g1 ,r4 ,v41 ,he is spoken of as 8the ,spirit of ,jesus40 ,the subordination of the ,spirit to the ,son is also seen in the fact that the ,holy ,spirit speaks 8not from ,himself but speaks the words which ,he hears40 ,we read in ,john xvi4 #ac1 ,r4 ,v41 8,howbeit when ,he1 the ,spirit of truth1 is come1 ,he shall guide you into all the truth3 for ,he shall not speak from ,himself2 but what things soever ,he shall hear1 these shall ,he speak3 and ,he shall declare unto you the things that are to come40 ,in a similar way1 ,jesus said of ,himself1 8,my teaching is not ,mine1 but ,his that sent ,me40 7,john vii4 #af2 viii4 #bf1 #dj74 ,the subordination of the ,spirit to the ,son comes out again in the clearly revealed fact that it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit not to glorify ,himself but to glorify ,christ4 ,jesus says in ,john xvi4 #ad1 8,he shall glorify ,me3 for ,he shall receive of ,mine1 and shall shew it unto you40 ,in a similar way1 ,christ sought not ,his own glory1 but the glory of ,him that sent ,him1 that is the ,father 7,john vii4 #ah74 ,from all these passages1 it is evident that the ,holy ,spirit in ,his present work1 while possessed of all the attributes of ,deity1 is subordinated to the ,father and to the ,son4 ,on the other hand1 we shall see later that in ,his earthly life1 ,jesus lived and taught and worked in the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,person ,,and ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,as ,,revealed ,,in ,,his ,,names4 ,at least twenty-five different names are used in the ,old and ,new ,testaments in speaking of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,there is the deepest significance in these names4 ,by the careful study of them1 we find a wonderful revelation of the ,person and work of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i4 ,the ,spirit4 ,the simplest name by which the ,holy ,spirit is mentioned in the ,bible is that which stands at the head of this paragraph--8,the ,spirit40 ,this name is also used as the basis of other names1 so we begin our study with this4 ,the ,greek and ,hebrew words so translated mean literally1 8,breath0 or 8,wind40 ,both thoughts are in the name as applied to the ,holy ,spirit4 #a4 ,the thought of breath is brought out in ,john xx4 #bb where we read1 8,and when ,he had said this1 ,he breathed on them1 and saith unto them1 ,receive ye the ,holy ,ghost40 ,it is also suggested in ,gen4 ii4 #g1 8,and the ,,lord ,god formed man of the dust of the ground1 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life2 and man became a living soul40 ,this becomes more evident when we compare with this ,ps4 civ4 #cj1 8,thou sendest forth ,thy ,spirit1 they are created3 and ,thou renewest the face of the earth40 ,and ,job xxxiii4 #d1 8,the ,spirit of ,god hath made me1 and the breath of the ,almighty hath given me life40 ,what is the significance of this name from the standpoint of these passages8 ,it is that the ,spirit is the outbreathing of ,god1 ,his inmost life going forth in a personal form to quicken4 ,when we receive the ,holy ,spirit1 we receive the inmost life of ,god ,himself to dwell in a personal way in us4 ,when we really grasp this thought1 it is overwhelming in its solemnity4 ,just stop and think what it means to have the inmost life of that infinite and eternal ,being whom we call ,god1 dwelling in a personal way in you4 ,how solemn and how awful and yet unspeakably glorious life becomes when we realize this4 #b4 ,the thought of the ,holy ,spirit as 8the ,wind0 is brought out in ,john iii4 #f-h1 8,that which is born of the flesh is flesh2 and that which is born of the ,spirit is spirit4 ,marvel not that ,i said unto thee1 ,ye must be born again4 ,the wind bloweth where it listeth1 and thou hearest the sound thereof1 but canst not tell whence it cometh1 and whither it goeth3 so is every one that is born of the ,spirit40 ,in the ,greek1 it is the same word that is translated in one part of this passage 8,spirit0 and the other part of the passage 8wind40 ,and it would seem as if the word ought to be translated the same way in both parts of the passage4 ,it would then read1 8,that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the #8,wind' is wind4 ,marvel not that ,i said unto thee1 ,ye must be born again4 ,the wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof1 but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth3 so is every one that is born of the #8,wind4' 0 ,the full significance of this name as applied to the ,holy ,spirit 7or ,holy ,wind7 it may be beyond us to fathom1 but we can see at least this much of its meaning3 7#a7 ,the ,spirit like the wind is sovereign4 8,the wind bloweth where it listeth0 7,john iii4 #h74 ,you cannot dictate to the wind4 ,it does as it wills4 ,just so with the ,holy ,spirit--,he is sovereign--we cannot dictate to ,him4 ,he 8divides to each man0 severally even 8as ,he will0 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #aa1 ,r4 ,v474 ,when the wind is blowing from the north you may long to have it blow from the south1 but cry as clamorously as you may to the wind1 8,blow from the south0 it will keep right on blowing from the north4 ,but while you cannot dictate to the wind1 while it blows as it will1 you may learn the laws that govern the wind's motions and by bringing yourself into harmony with those laws1 you can get the wind to do your work4 ,you can erect your windmill so that whichever way the wind blows from the wheels will turn and the wind will grind your grain1 or pump your water4 ,just so1 while we cannot dictate to the ,holy ,spirit we can learn the laws of ,his operations and by bringing ourselves into harmony with those laws1 above all by submitting our wills absolutely to ,his sovereign will1 the sovereign ,spirit of ,god will work through us and accomplish ,his own glorious work by our instrumentality4 7#b7 ,the ,spirit like the wind is invisible but none the less perceptible and real and mighty4 ,you hear the sound of the wind 7,john iii4 #h7 but the wind itself you never see4 ,you hear the voice of the ,spirit but ,he ,himself is ever invisible4 7,the word translated 8sound0 in ,john iii4 #h is the word which elsewhere is translated 8voice40 ,see ,r4 ,v47 ,we not only hear the voice1 of the wind but we see its mighty effects4 ,we feel the breath of the wind upon our cheeks1 we see the dust and the leaves blowing before the wind1 we see the vessels at sea driven swiftly towards their ports2 but the wind itself remains invisible4 ,just so with the ,spirit2 we feel ,his breath upon our souls1 we see the mighty things ,he does1 but ,himself we do not see4 ,he is invisible1 but ,he is real and perceptible4 ,i shall never forget a solemn hour in ,chicago ,avenue ,church1 ,chicago4 ,dr4 ,w4 ,w4 ,white was making a farewell address before going to ,india to work among the students there4 ,suddenly1 without any apparent warning1 the place was filled with an awful and glorious ,presence4 ,to me it was very real1 but the question arose in my mind1 8,is this merely subjective1 just a feeling of my own1 or is there an objective ,presence here80 ,after the meeting was over1 ,i asked different persons whether they were conscious of anything and found that at the same point in the meeting they1 too1 though they saw no one1 became distinctly conscious of an overwhelming ,presence1 the ,presence of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,though many years have passed1 there are those who speak of that hour to this day4 ,on another occasion in my own home at ,chicago1 when kneeling in prayer with an intimate friend1 as we prayed it seemed as if an unseen and awful ,presence entered the room4 ,i realized what ,eliphaz meant when he said1 8,then a spirit passed before my face2 the hair of my flesh stood up0 7,job iv4 #ae74 ,the moment was overwhelming1 but as glorious as it was awful4 ,these are but two illustrations of which many might be given4 ,none of us have seen the ,holy ,spirit at any time1 but of ,his presence we have been distinctly conscious again and again and again4 ,his mighty power we have witnessed and ,his reality we cannot doubt4 ,there are those who tell us that they do not believe in anything which they cannot see4 ,not one of them has ever seen the wind but they all believe in the wind4 ,they have felt the wind and they have seen its effects1 and just so we1 beyond a question1 have felt the mighty presence of the ,spirit and witnessed ,his mighty workings4 7#c7 ,the ,spirit like the wind is inscrutable4 8,thou canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth40 ,nothing in nature is more mysterious than the wind4 ,but more mysterious still is the ,holy ,spirit in ,his operations4 ,we hear of how suddenly and unexpectedly in widely separated communities ,he begins to work ,his mighty work4 ,doubtless there are hidden reasons why ,he does thus begin ,his work1 but often-times these reasons are completely undiscoverable by us4 ,we know not whence ,he comes nor whither ,he goes4 ,we cannot tell where next ,he will display ,his mighty and gracious power4 7#d7 ,the ,spirit1 like the wind1 is indispensable4 ,without wind1 that is 8air in motion10 there is no life and so ,jesus says1 8,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god40 ,if the wind should absolutely cease to blow for a single hour1 most of the life on this earth would cease to be4 ,time and again when the health reports of the different cities of the ,united ,states are issued1 it has been found that the five healthiest cities in the ,united ,states were five cities located on the great lakes4 ,many have been surprised at this report when they have visited some of these cities and found that they were far from being the cleanest cities1 or most sanitary in their general arrangement1 and yet year after year this report has been returned4 ,the explanation is simply this1 it is the wind blowing from the lakes that has brought life and health to the cities4 ,just so when the ,spirit ceases to blow in any heart or any church or any community1 death ensues1 but when the ,spirit blows steadily upon the individual or the church or the community1 there is abounding spiritual life and health4 7#e7 ,closely related to the foregoing thought1 like the wind the ,holy ,spirit is life giving4 ,this thought comes out again and again in the ,scriptures4 ,for example1 we read in ,john vi4 #fc1 ,a4 ,r4 ,v41 8,it is the ,spirit that giveth life10 and in #b ,cor4 iii4 #f1 we read1 8,the letter killeth1 but the ,spirit giveth life40 ,perhaps the most suggestive passage on this point is ,ezek4 xxxvii4 #h1 #i1 #aj1 8,and when ,i beheld1 lo1 the sinews and the flesh came up upon them1 and the skin covered them above3 but there was no breath in them4 ,then said ,he unto me1 ,prophesy unto the wind1 prophesy1 son of man1 and say to the wind1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,,god2 ,come from the four winds1 ,o breath1 and breathe upon these slain1 that they may live4 ,so ,i prophesied as ,he commanded me1 and the breath came into them1 and they lived1 and stood upon their feet1 an exceeding great army0 7cf4 ,john iii4 #e74 ,israel1 in the prophet's vision1 was only bones1 very many and very dry 7vs4 #b1 #aa71 until the prophet proclaimed unto them the word of ,god2 then there was a noise and a shaking and the bones came together1 bone to his bone1 and the sinews and the flesh came upon the bones1 but still there was no life1 but when the wind blew1 the breath of ,god's ,spirit1 then 8they stood up upon their feet an exceeding great army40 ,all life in the individual believer1 in the teacher1 the preacher1 and the church is the ,holy ,spirit's work4 ,you will sometimes make the acquaintance of a man1 and as you hear him talk and observe his conduct1 you are repelled and disgusted4 ,everything about him declares that he is a dead man1 a moral corpse and not only dead but rapidly putrefying4 ,you get away from him as quickly as you can4 ,months afterwards you meet him again4 ,you hesitate to speak to him2 you want to get out of his very presence1 but you do speak to him1 and he has not uttered many sentences before you notice a marvellous change4 ,his conversation is sweet and wholesome and uplifting2 everything about his manner is attractive and delightful4 ,you soon discover that the man's whole conduct and life has been transformed4 ,he is no longer a putrefying corpse but a living child of ,god4 ,what has happened8 ,the ,wind of ,god has blown upon him2 he has received the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,holy ,wind4 ,some quiet ,sabbath day you visit a church4 ,everything about the outward appointments of the church are all that could be desired4 ,there is an attractive meeting-house1 an expensive organ1 a gifted choir1 a scholarly preacher4 ,the service is well arranged but you have not been long at the gathering before you are forced to see that there is no life1 that it is all form1 and that there is nothing really being accomplished for ,god or for man4 ,you go away with a heavy heart4 ,months afterwards you have occasion to visit the church again2 the outward appointments of the church are much as they were before but the service has not proceeded far before you note a great difference4 ,there is a new power in the singing1 a new spirit in the prayer1 a new grip in the preaching1 everything about the church is teeming with the life of ,god4 ,what has happened8 ,the ,wind of ,god has blown upon that church2 the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,holy ,wind1 has come4 ,you go some day to hear a preacher of whose abilities you have heard great reports4 ,as he stands up to preach you soon learn that nothing too much has been said in praise of his abilities from the merely intellectual and rhetorical standpoint4 ,his diction is faultless1 his style beautiful1 his logic unimpeachable1 his orthodoxy beyond criticism4 ,it is an intellectual treat to listen to him1 and yet after all as he preaches you cannot avoid a feeling of sadness1 for there is no real grip1 no real power1 indeed no reality of any kind1 in the man's preaching4 ,you go away with a heavy heart at the thought of this waste of magnificent abilities4 ,months1 perhaps years1 pass by and you again find yourself listening to this celebrated preacher1 but what a change6 ,the same faultless diction1 the same beautiful style1 the same unimpeachable logic1 the same skillful elocution1 the same sound orthodoxy1 but now there is something more1 there is reality1 life1 grip1 power in the preaching4 ,men and women sit breathless as he speaks1 sinners bowed with tears of contrition1 pricked to their hearts with conviction of sin2 men and women and boys and girls renounce their selfishness1 and their sin and their worldliness and accept ,jesus ,christ and surrender their lives to ,him4 ,what has happened8 ,the ,wind of ,god has blown upon that man4 ,he has been filled with the ,holy ,wind4 7#f7 ,like the wind1 the ,holy ,spirit is irresistible4 ,we read in ,acts i4 #h1 8,but ye shall receive power1 after that the ,holy ,ghost is come upon you3 and ye shall be witnesses unto ,me both in ,jerusalem1 and in all ,judea1 and in ,samaria1 and unto the uttermost parts of the earth40 ,when this promise of our ,lord was fulfilled in ,stephen1 we read1 8,and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the ,spirit by which he spake40 ,a man filled with the ,holy ,spirit is transformed into a cyclone4 ,what can stand before the wind8 ,when ,st4 ,cloud1 ,minn41 was visited with a cyclone years ago1 the wind picked up loaded freight cars and carried them away off the track4 ,it wrenched an iron bridge from its foundations1 twisted it together and hurled it away4 ,when a cyclone later visited ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo41 it cut off telegraph poles a foot in diameter as if they had been pipe stems4 ,it cut off enormous trees close to the root1 it cut off the corner of brick buildings where it passed as though they had been cut by a knife2 nothing could stand before it2 and so1 nothing can stand before a ,spirit-filled preacher of the ,word4 ,none can resist the wisdom and the ,spirit by which he speaks4 ,the ,wind of ,god took possession of ,charles ,g4 ,finney1 an obscure country lawyer1 and sent him through ,new ,york ,state1 then through ,new ,england1 then through ,england1 mowing down strong men by his resistless1 ,spirit-given logic4 ,one night in ,rochester1 scores of lawyers1 led by the justice of the ,court of ,appeals1 filed out of the pews and bowed in the aisles and yielded their lives to ,god4 ,the ,wind of ,god took possession of ,d4 ,l4 ,moody1 an uneducated young business man in ,chicago1 and in the power of this resistless ,wind1 men and women and young people were mowed down before his words and brought in humble confession and renunciation of sin to the feet of ,jesus ,christ1 and filled with the life of ,god they have been the pillars in the churches of ,great ,britain and throughout the world ever since4 ,the great need to-day in individuals1 in churches and in preachers is that the ,wind of ,god blow upon us4 ,much of the difficulty that many find with ,john iii4 #e1 8,jesus answered1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 ,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god10 would disappear if we would only bear in mind that 8,spirit0 means 8,wind0 and translate the verse literally all through1 8,except a man be born of water and ,wind 7there is no #8the' in the original71 he cannot enter the kingdom of ,god40 ,the thought would then seem to be1 8,except a man be born of the cleansing and quickening power of the ,spirit 7or else of the cleansing ,word--cf4 ,john xv4 #c2 ,eph4 v4 #bf2 ,jas4 i4 #ah2 #a ,pet4 i4 #bc--;and the quickening power of the ,holy ,spirit740 ,,ii4 ,the ,spirit of ,god4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is frequently spoken of in the ,bible as the ,spirit of ,god4 ,for example we read in #a ,cor4 iii4 #af1 8,know ye not that ye are the temple of ,god1 and that the ,spirit of ,god dwelleth in you40 ,in this name we have the same essential thought as in the former name1 but with this addition1 that ,his ,divine origin1 nature and power are emphasized4 ,he is not merely 8,the ,wind0 as seen above1 but 8,the ,wind of ,god40 ,,iii4 ,the ,spirit of ,jehovah4 ,this name is used of the ,holy ,spirit in ,isa4 xi4 #b1 ,a4 ,r4 ,v41 8,and the ,spirit of ,jehovah shall rest upon him40 ,the thought of the name is1 of course1 essentially the same as the preceding with the exception that ,god is here thought of as the ,covenant ,god of ,israel4 ,he is thus spoken of in the connection in which the name is found2 and1 of course1 the ,bible1 following that unerring accuracy that it always exhibits in its use of the different names for ,god1 in this connection speaks of the ,spirit as the ,spirit of ,jehovah and not merely as the ,spirit of ,god4 ,,iv4 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord ,jehovah4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of the ,lord ,jehovah in ,isa4 lxi4 #a-c1 ,a4 ,r4 ,v41 8,the ,spirit of the ,lord ,jehovah is upon ,me2 because ,jehovah hath anointed ,me to preach good tidings to the meek2 ,he hath sent ,me to bind up the broken-hearted1 to proclaim liberty to the captives1 etc40 ,the ,holy ,spirit is here spoken of1 not merely as the ,spirit of ,jehovah1 but the ,spirit of the ,lord ,jehovah because of the relation in which ,god ,himself is spoken of in this connection1 as not merely ,jehovah1 the covenant ,god of ,israel1 but as ,jehovah ,israel's ,lord as well as their covenant-keeping ,god4 ,this name of the ,spirit is even more expressive than the name 8,the ,spirit of ,god40 ,v4 ,the ,spirit of the ,living ,god4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called 8,the ,spirit of the living ,god0 in #b ,cor4 iii4 #c1 8,forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of ,christ ministered by us1 written not with ink1 but with the ,spirit of the living ,god2 not in tables of stone1 but in fleshy tables of the heart40 ,what is the significance of this name8 ,it is made clear by the context4 ,the ,apostle ,paul is drawing a contrast between the ,word of ,god written with ink on parchment and the ,word of ,god written on 8tables that are hearts of flesh0 7,r4 ,v47 by the ,holy ,spirit1 who in this connection is called 8the ,spirit of the living ,god10 because ,he makes ,god a living reality in our personal experience instead of a mere intellectual concept4 ,there are many who believe in ,god1 and who are perfectly orthodox in their conception of ,god1 but after all ,god is to them only an intellectual theological proposition4 ,it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to make ,god something vastly more than a theological notion1 no matter how orthodox2 ,he is the ,spirit of the living ,god1 and it is ,his work to make ,god a living ,god to us1 a ,being whom we know1 with whom we have personal acquaintance1 a ,being more real to us than the most intimate human friend we have4 ,have you a real ,god8 ,well1 you may have4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the ,spirit of the living ,god1 and ,he is able and ready to give to you a living ,god1 to make ,god real in your personal experience4 ,there are many who have a ,god who once lived and acted and spoke1 a ,god who lived and acted at the creation of the universe1 who perhaps lived and acted in the days of ,moses and ,elijah and ,jesus ,christ and the ,apostles1 but who no longer lives and acts4 ,if ,he exists at all1 ,he has withdrawn ,himself from any active part in nature or the history of man4 ,he created nature and gave it its laws and powers and now leaves it to run itself4 ,he created man and endowed him with his various faculties but has now left him to work out his own destiny4 ,they may go further than this3 they may believe in a ,god1 who spoke to ,abraham and to ,moses and to ,david and to ,isaiah and to ,jesus and to the ,apostles1 but who speaks no longer4 ,we may read in the ,bible what ,he spoke to these various men but we cannot expect ,him to speak to us4 ,in contrast with these1 it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,spirit of the living ,god1 to give us to know a ,god who lives and acts and speaks to-day1 a ,god who is ready to come as near to us as ,he came to ,abraham1 to ,moses or to ,isaiah1 or to the ,apostles or to ,jesus ,himself4 ,not that ,he has any new revelations to make1 for ,he guided the ,apostles into all the truth 7,john xvi4 #ac1 ,r4 ,v473 but though there has been a complete revelation of ,god's truth made in the ,bible1 still ,god lives to-day and will speak to us as directly as ,he spoke to ,his chosen ones of old4 ,happy is the man who knows the ,holy ,spirit as the ,spirit of the living ,god1 and who1 consequently1 has a real ,god1 a ,god who lives to-day1 a ,god upon whom he can depend to-day to undertake for him1 a ,god with whom he enjoys intimate personal fellowship1 a ,god to whom he may raise his voice in prayer and who speaks back to him4 ,,vi4 ,the ,spirit of ,christ4 ,in ,rom4 viii4 #i1 8,but ye are not in the flesh1 but in the ,spirit1 if so be that the ,spirit of ,god dwell in you4 ,now if any man have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of ,his40 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of ,christ4 ,the ,spirit of ,christ in this passage does not mean a ,christlike spirit4 ,it means something far more than that1 it means that which lies back of a ,christlike spirit2 it is a name of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,why is the ,holy ,spirit called the ,spirit of ,christ8 ,for several reasons3 7#a7 ,because ,he is ,christ's gift4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is not merely the gift of the ,father1 but the gift of the ,son as well4 ,we read in ,john xx4 #bb that ,jesus 8breathed on them and saith unto them1 ,receive ye the ,holy ,ghost40 ,the ,holy ,spirit is therefore the breath of ,christ1 as well as the breath of ,god the ,father4 ,it is ,christ who breathes upon us and imparts to us the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in ,john xiv4 #ae and the following verses ,jesus teaches us that it is in answer to ,his prayer that the ,father gives to us the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in ,acts ii4 #cc we read that ,jesus 8,being by the right hand of ,god exalted and having received of the ,father the promise of the ,holy ,spirit10 shed ,him forth upon believers2 that is1 that ,jesus1 having been exalted to the right hand of ,god1 in answer to ,his prayer1 receives the ,holy ,spirit from the ,father and sheds forth upon the ,church ,him whom ,he hath received from the ,father4 ,in ,matt4 iii4 #aa we read that it is ,jesus who baptizes with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in ,john vii4 #cg-ci ,jesus bids all that are thirsty to come unto ,him and drink1 and the context makes it clear that the water that ,he gives is the ,holy ,spirit1 who becomes in those who receive ,him a source of life and power flowing out to others4 ,it is the glorified ,christ who gives to the ,church the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in the fourth chapter of ,john and the tenth verse ,jesus declares that ,he is the ,one who gives the living water1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in all these passages1 ,christ is set forth as the ,one who gives the ,holy ,spirit1 so the ,holy ,spirit is called 8the ,spirit of ,christ40 7#b7 ,but there is a deeper reason why the ,holy ,spirit is called 8the ,spirit of ,christ10 i4 e41 because it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to reveal ,christ to us4 ,in ,john xvi4 #ad1 ,r4 ,v41 we read1 8,he 7that is the ,holy ,spirit7 shall glorify ,me3 for ,he shall take of ,mine1 and shall declare it unto you40 ,in a similar way in ,john xv4 #bf1 ,r4 ,v41 it is written1 8,but when the ,comforter is come1 whom ,i will send unto you from the ,father1 even the ,spirit of truth1 which proceedeth from the ,father1 ,he shall bear witness of ,me40 ,this is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to bear witness of ,christ and reveal ,jesus ,christ to men4 ,and as the revealer of ,christ1 ,he is called 8the ,spirit of ,christ40 7#c7 ,but there is a still deeper reason yet why the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of ,christ1 and that is because it is ,his work to form ,christ as a living presence within us4 ,in ,eph4 iii4 #af1 #ag1 the ,apostle ,paul prays to the ,father that ,he would grant to believers according to the riches of ,his glory to be strengthened with might by ,his ,spirit in the inner man1 that ,christ may dwell in their hearts by faith4 ,this then is the work of the ,holy ,spirit1 to cause ,christ to dwell in our hearts1 to form the living ,christ within us4 ,just as the ,holy ,spirit literally and physically formed ,jesus ,christ in the womb of the ,virgin ,mary 7,luke i4 #ce7 so the ,holy ,spirit spiritually but really forms ,jesus ,christ within our hearts to-day4 ,in ,john xiv4 #af-ah1 ,jesus told ,his disciples that when the ,holy ,spirit came that ,he ,himself would come1 that is1 the result of the coming of the ,holy ,spirit to dwell in their hearts would be the coming of ,christ ,himself4 ,it is the privilege of every believer in ,christ to have the living ,christ formed by the power of the ,holy ,spirit in his own heart and therefore the ,holy ,spirit who thus forms ,christ within the heart is called the ,spirit of ,christ4 ,how wonderful6 ,how glorious is the significance of this name4 ,let us ponder it until we understand it1 as far as it is possible to understand it1 and until we rejoice exceedingly in the glory of it4 ,,vii4 ,the ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ in ,phil4 i4 #ai1 8,for ,i know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer1 and the supply of the ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ40 ,the ,spirit is not merely the ,spirit of the eternal ,word but the ,spirit of the ,word incarnate4 ,not merely the ,spirit of ,christ1 but the ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ4 ,it is the ,man ,jesus exalted to the right hand of the ,father who receives and sends the ,spirit4 ,so we read in ,acts ii4 #cb1 #cc1 8,this ,jesus hath ,god raised up1 whereof we all are witnesses4 ,therefore being by the right hand of ,god exalted1 and having received of the ,father the promise of the ,holy ,ghost1 ,he hath shed forth this1 which ye now see and hear40 ,,viii4 ,the ,spirit of ,jesus4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of ,jesus in ,acts xvi4 #f1 #g1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and they went through the region of ,phrygia and ,galatia1 having been forbidden of the ,holy ,ghost to speak the word in ,asia2 and when they were come over against ,mysia1 they assayed to go into ,bithynia2 and the ,spirit of ,jesus suffered them not40 ,by the using of this name1 8,the ,spirit of ,jesus0 the thought of the relation of the ,spirit to the ,man ,jesus is still more clear than in the name preceding this1 the ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ4 ,,ix4 ,the ,spirit of ,his ,son4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of ,his ,son in ,gal4 iv4 #f1 8,and because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of ,his ,son into your hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father40 ,we see from the context 7vs4 #d1 #e7 that this name is given to the ,holy ,spirit in special connection with ,his testifying to the sonship of the believer4 ,it is 8the ,spirit of ,his ,son0 who testifies to our sonship4 ,the thought is that the ,holy ,spirit is a filial ,spirit1 a ,spirit who produces a sense of sonship in us4 ,if we receive the ,holy ,spirit1 we no longer think of ,god as if we were serving under constraint and bondage but we are sons living in joyous liberty4 ,we do not fear ,god1 we trust ,him and rejoice in ,him4 ,when we receive the ,holy ,spirit1 we do not receive a ,spirit of bondage again to fear but a ,spirit of adoption whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father 7,rom4 viii4 #ae74 ,this name of the ,holy ,spirit is one of the most suggestive of all4 ,we do well to ponder it long until we realize the glad fullness of its significance4 ,we shall take it up again when we come to study the work of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,x4 ,the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this name is of very frequent occurrence1 and the name with which most of us are most familiar4 ,one of the most familiar passages in which the name is used is ,luke xi4 #ac1 8,if ye then1 being evil1 know how to give good gifts unto your children3 how much more shall your heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask ,him80 ,this name emphasizes the essential moral character of the ,spirit4 ,he is holy in ,himself4 ,we are so familiar with the name that we neglect to weigh its significance4 ,oh1 if we only realized more deeply and constantly that ,he is the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we would do well if we1 as the seraphim in ,isaiah's vision1 would bow in ,his presence and cry1 8,holy1 holy1 holy40 ,yet how thoughtlessly oftentimes we talk about ,him and pray for ,him4 ,we pray for ,him to come into our churches and into our hearts but what would ,he find if ,he should come there8 ,would ,he not find much that would be painful and agonizing to ,him8 ,what would we think if vile women from the lowest den of iniquity in a great city should go to the purest woman in the city and invite her to come and live with them in their disgusting vileness with no intention of changing their evil ways4 ,but that would not be as shocking as for you and me to ask the ,holy ,spirit to come and dwell in our hearts when we have no thought of giving up our impurity1 or our selfishness1 or our worldliness1 or our sin4 ,it would not be as shocking as it is for us to invite the ,holy ,spirit to come into our churches when they are full of worldliness and selfishness and contention and envy and pride1 and all that is unholy4 ,but if the denizens of the lowest and vilest den of infamy should go to the purest and most ,christlike woman asking her to go and dwell with them with the intention of putting away everything that was vile and evil and giving to this holy and ,christlike woman the entire control of the place1 she would go4 ,and as sinful and selfish and imperfect as we may be1 the infinitely ,holy ,spirit is ready to come and take ,his dwelling in our heart if we will surrender to ,him the absolute control of our lives1 and allow ,him to bring everything in thought and fancy and feeling and purpose and imagination and action into conformity with ,his will4 ,the infinitely ,holy ,spirit is ready to come into our churches1 however imperfect and worldly they may be now1 if we are willing to put the absolute control of everything in ,his hands4 ,but let us never forget that ,he is the ,holy ,spirit1 and when we pray for ,him let us pray for ,him as such4 ,,xi4 ,the ,holy ,spirit of ,promise4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,holy ,spirit of promise in ,eph4 i4 #ac1 ,r4 ,v41 8,in whom ye also1 having heard the ,word of truth1 the ,gospel of your salvation1--in whom1 having also believed1 ye were sealed with the ,holy ,spirit of promise40 ,we have here the same name as that given above with the added thought that this ,holy ,spirit is the great promise of the ,father and of the ,son4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is ,god's great all-inclusive promise for the present dispensation2 the one thing for which ,jesus bade the disciples wait after ,his ascension before they undertook ,his work was 8the promise of the ,father10 that is the ,holy ,spirit 7,acts i4 #d1 #e74 ,the great promise of the ,father until the coming of ,christ was the coming atoning ,saviour and ,king1 but when ,jesus came and died ,his atoning death upon the cross of ,calvary and arose and ascended to the right hand of the ,father1 then the second great promise of the ,father was the ,holy ,spirit to take the place of our absent ,lord4 7,see also ,acts ii4 #cc47 ,,xii4 ,the ,spirit of ,holiness4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of holiness in ,rom4 i4 #d1 8,and declared to be the ,son of ,god with power1 according to the ,spirit of holiness1 by the resurrection from the dead40 ,at the first glance it may seem as if there were no essential difference between the two names the ,holy ,spirit and the ,spirit of holiness4 ,but there is a marked difference4 ,the name of the ,holy ,spirit1 as already said1 emphasizes the essential moral character of the ,spirit as holy1 but the name of the ,spirit of holiness brings out the thought that the ,holy ,spirit is not merely holy in ,himself but ,he imparts holiness to others4 ,the perfect holiness which ,he ,himself possesses ,he imparts to those who receive ,him 7cf4 #a ,pet4 i4 #b74 ,,xiii4 ,the ,spirit of ,judgment4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of judgment in ,isa4 iv4 #d1 8,when the ,lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of ,zion1 and shall have purged the blood of ,jerusalem from the midst thereof by the ,spirit of judgment1 and by the ,spirit of burning40 ,there are two names of the ,holy ,spirit in this passage2 first1 the ,spirit of judgment4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is so called because it is ,his work to bring sin to light1 to convict of sin 7cf4 ,john xvi4 #g-i74 ,when the ,holy ,spirit comes to us the first thing that ,he does is to open our eyes to see our sins as ,god sees them4 ,he judges our sin4 7,we will go into this more at length in studying ,john xvi4 #g-aa when considering the work of the ,holy ,spirit47 ,,xiv4 ,the ,spirit of ,burning4 ,this name is used in the passage just quoted above4 7,see ,,xiii47 ,this name emphasizes ,his searching1 refining1 dross-consuming1 illuminating and energizing work4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is like a fire in the heart in which ,he dwells2 and as fire tests and refines and consumes and illuminates and warms and energizes1 so does ,he4 ,in the context1 it is the cleansing work of the ,holy ,spirit which is especially emphasized 7,isa4 iv4 #c1 #d74 ,,xv4 ,the ,spirit of ,truth4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of truth in ,john xiv4 #ag1 8,even the ,spirit of truth2 whom the world cannot receive1 because it seeth ,him not1 neither knoweth ,him2 but ye know ,him2 for ,he dwelleth with you1 and shall be in you0 7cf4 ,john xv4 #bf2 xvi4 #ac74 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of truth because it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to communicate truth1 to impart truth1 to those who receive ,him4 ,this comes out in the passage given above1 and1 if possible1 it comes out even more clearly in ,john xvi4 #ac1 ,r4 ,v41 8,howbeit when ,he1 the ,spirit of truth1 is come1 ,he shall guide you into all the truth3 for ,he shall not speak from ,himself2 but what things soever ,he shall hear1 these shall ,he speak3 and ,he shall declare unto you the things that are to come40 ,all truth is from the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is only as ,he teaches us that we come to know the truth4 ,,xvi4 ,the ,spirit of ,wisdom and ,understanding4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of wisdom and understanding in ,isa4 xi4 #b1 8,and the ,spirit of the ,,lord shall rest upon him1 the ,spirit of wisdom and understanding1 the ,spirit of counsel and might1 the ,spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the ,,lord40 ,the significance of the name is so plain as to need no explanation4 ,it is evident both from the words used and from the context that it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to impart wisdom and understanding to those who receive ,him4 ,those who receive the ,holy ,spirit receive the ,spirit 8of power0 and 8of love0 and 8of a sound mind0 or sound sense 7#b ,tim4 i4 #g74 ,,xvii4 ,the ,spirit of ,counsel and ,might4 ,we find this name used of the ,holy ,spirit in the passage given under the preceding head4 ,the meaning of this name too is obvious1 the ,holy ,spirit is called 8the ,spirit of counsel and of might0 because ,he gives us counsel in all our plans and strength to carry them out 7cf4 ,acts viii4 #bi2 xvi4 #f1 #g2 i4 #h74 ,it is our privilege to have ,god's own counsel in all our plans and ,god's strength in all the work that we undertake for ,him4 ,we receive them by receiving the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,spirit of counsel and might4 ,,xviii4 ,the ,spirit of ,knowledge and of the ,fear of the ,lord4 ,this name also is used in the passage given above 7,isa4 xi4 #b74 ,the significance of this name is also obvious4 ,it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to impart knowledge to us and to beget in us a reverence for ,jehovah1 that reverence that reveals itself above all in obedience to ,his commandments4 ,the one who receives the ,holy ,spirit finds his delight in the fear of the ,,lord4 7,see ,isa4 xi4 #c1 ,r4 ,v47 ,the three suggestive names just given refer especially to the gracious work of the ,holy ,spirit in the servant of the ,lord1 that is ,jesus ,christ 7,isa4 xi4 #a-e74 ,,xix4 ,the ,spirit of ,life4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of life in ,rom4 viii4 #b1 8,for the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death40 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the ,spirit of life because it is ,his work to impart life 7cf4 ,john vi4 #fc1 ,r4 ,v42 ,ezek4 xxxvii4 #a-aj74 ,in the context in which the name is found in the passage given above1 beginning back in the seventh chapter of ,romans1 seventh verse1 ,paul is drawing a contrast between the law of ,moses outside a man1 holy and just and good1 it is true1 but impotent1 and the living ,spirit of ,god in the heart1 imparting spiritual and moral life to the believer and enabling him thus to meet the requirements of the law of ,god1 so that what the law alone could not do1 in that it was weak through the flesh1 the ,spirit of ,god imparting life to the believer and dwelling in the heart enables him to do1 so that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in those who walk not after the flesh but after the ,spirit4 7,see ,rom4 viii4 #b-d47 ,the ,holy ,spirit is therefore called 8the ,spirit of life10 because ,he imparts spiritual life and consequent victory over sin to those who receive ,him4 ,,xx4 ,the ,oil of ,gladness4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called the 8oil of gladness0 in ,heb4 i4 #i1 8,thou hast loved righteousness1 and hated iniquity2 therefore ,god1 even thy ,god1 hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows40 ,some one may ask what reason have we for supposing that 8the oil of gladness0 in this passage is a name of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the answer is found in a comparison of ,heb4 i4 #i1 with ,acts x4 #ch and ,luke iv4 #ah4 ,in ,acts x4 #ch we read 8how ,god anointed ,jesus of ,nazareth with the ,holy ,ghost and with power10 and in ,luke iv4 #ah1 ,jesus ,himself is recorded as saying1 8,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon ,me1 because ,he hath anointed ,me to preach the ,gospel to the poor10 etc4 ,in both of these passages1 we are told it was the ,holy ,spirit with which ,jesus was anointed and as in the passage in ,hebrews we are told that it was with the oil of gladness that ,he was anointed2 so1 of course1 the only possible conclusion is that the oil of gladness means the ,holy ,spirit4 ,what a beautiful and suggestive name it is for ,him whose fruit is1 first1 8love0 then 8joy0 7,gal4 v4 #bb74 ,the ,holy ,spirit becomes a source of boundless joy to those who receive ,him2 ,he so fills and satisfies the soul1 that the soul who receives ,him does not thirst forever 7,john iv4 #ad74 ,no matter how great the afflictions with which the believer receives the ,word1 still he will have 8the joy of the ,holy ,ghost0 7#a ,thess4 i4 #f74 ,on the ,day of ,pentecost1 when the disciples were baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 they were so filled with ecstatic joy that others looking on them thought they were intoxicated4 ,they said1 8,these men are full of new wine40 ,and ,paul draws a comparison between abnormal intoxication that comes through excess of wine and the wholesome exhilaration from which there is no reaction that comes through being filled with the ,spirit 7,eph4 v4 #ah-bj74 ,when ,god anoints one with the ,holy ,spirit1 it is as if ,he broke a precious alabaster box of oil of gladness above their heads until it ran down to the hem of their garments and the whole person was suffused with joy unspeakable and full of glory4 ,,xxi4 ,the ,spirit of ,grace4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called 8the ,spirit of grace0 in ,heb4 x4 #bi1 8,of how much sorer punishment1 suppose ye1 shall he be thought worthy1 who hath trodden underfoot the ,son of ,god1 and hath counted the blood of the covenant1 wherewith he was sanctified1 an unholy thing1 and hath done despite unto the ,spirit of grace80 ,this name brings out the fact that it is the ,holy ,spirit's work to administer and apply the grace of ,god3 ,he ,himself is gracious1 it is true1 but the name means far more than that1 it means that ,he makes ours experimentally the manifold grace of ,god4 ,it is only by the work of the ,spirit of grace in our hearts that we are enabled to appropriate to ourselves that infinite fullness of grace that ,god has1 from the beginning1 bestowed upon us in ,jesus ,christ4 ,it is ours from the beginning1 as far as belonging to us is concerned1 but it is only ours experimentally as we claim it by the power of the ,spirit of grace4 ,,xxii4 ,the ,spirit of ,grace and of ,supplication4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called 8the ,spirit of grace and of supplication0 in ,zech4 xii4 #aj1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and ,i will pour upon the house of ,david1 and upon the inhabitants of ,jerusalem1 the ,spirit of grace and of supplication2 and they shall look unto ,me whom they have pierced3 and they shall mourn for him1 as one mourneth for his only son1 and shall be in bitterness for his first-born40 ,the phrase1 8the ,spirit of grace and of supplication0 in this passage is beyond a doubt a name of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the name 8the ,spirit of grace0 we have already had under the preceding head1 but here there is a further thought of that operation of grace that leads us to pray intensely4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is so called because it is ,he that teaches to pray because all true prayer is in the ,spirit 7,jude #bj74 ,we of ourselves know not how to pray as we ought1 but it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit of intercession to make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered and to lead us out in prayer according to the will of ,god 7,rom4 viii4 #bf1 #bg74 ,the secret of all true and effective praying is knowing the ,holy ,spirit as 8the ,spirit of grace and of supplication40 ,,xxiii4 ,the ,spirit of ,glory4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called 8the ,spirit of glory0 in #a ,pet4 iv4 #ad1 8,if ye be reproached for the name of ,christ1 happy are ye2 for the ,spirit of glory and of ,god resteth upon you3 on their part ,he is evil spoken of1 but on your part ,he is glorified40 ,this name does not merely teach that the ,holy ,spirit is infinitely glorious ,himself1 but it rather teaches that ,he imparts the glory of ,god to us1 just as the ,spirit of truth imparts truth to us1 and as the ,spirit of life imparts life to us1 and as the ,spirit of wisdom and understanding and of counsel and might and knowledge and of the fear of the ,,lord imparts to us wisdom and understanding and counsel and might and knowledge and the fear of the ,,lord1 and as the ,spirit of grace applies and administers to us the manifold grace of ,god1 so the ,spirit of glory is the administrator to us of ,god's glory4 ,in the immediately preceding verse we read1 8,but rejoice1 inasmuch as ye are partakers of ,christ's sufferings3 that1 when ,his glory shall be revealed1 ye may be glad also with exceeding joy40 ,it is in this connection that ,he is called the ,spirit of glory4 ,we find a similar connection between the sufferings which we endure and the glory which the ,holy ,spirit imparts to us in ,rom4 viii4 #af1 #ag1 8,the ,spirit ,himself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are children of ,god3 and if children1 then heirs2 heirs of ,god and joint-heirs with ,christ2 if so be that we suffer with ,him1 that we may be also glorified with ,him40 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the administrator of glory as well as of grace1 or rather of the grace that culminates in glory4 ,,xxiv4 ,the ,eternal ,spirit4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called 8the eternal ,spirit0 in ,heb4 ix4 #ad1 8,how much more shall the blood of ,christ1 who through the eternal ,spirit offered ,himself without spot to ,god1 purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living ,god40 ,the eternity and the ,deity and infinite majesty of the ,holy ,spirit are brought out by this name4 ,,xxv4 ,the ,comforter4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is called 8the ,comforter0 over and over again in the ,scriptures4 ,for example in ,john xiv4 #bf1 we read1 8,but the ,comforter which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in ,my name1 ,he shall teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance1 whatsoever ,i have said unto you40 ,and in ,john xv4 #bf1 8,but when the ,comforter is come1 whom ,i will send unto you from the ,father1 even the ,spirit of truth1 which proceedeth from the ,father1 ,he shall testify of ,me40 7,see also ,john xvi4 #bg47 ,the word translated 8,comforter0 in these passages means that1 but it means much more beside4 ,it is a word difficult of adequate translation into any one word in ,english4 ,the translators of the ,revised ,version found difficulty in deciding with what word to render the ,greek word so translated4 ,they have suggested in the margin of the ,revised ,version 8advocate0 8helper0 and a simple transference of the ,greek word into ,english1 8,paraclete40 ,the word translated 8,comforter0 means literally1 8one called to another's side10 the idea being1 one right at hand to take another's part4 ,it is the same word that is translated 8advocate0 in #a ,john ii4 #a1 8,my little children1 these things write ,i unto you1 that ye sin not4 ,and if any man sin1 we have an advocate with the ,father1 ,jesus ,christ the righteous40 ,but 8advocate10 as we now understand it1 does not give the full force of the ,greek word so rendered4 ,etymologically 8advocate0 means nearly the same thing4 ,advocate is ,latin 78advocatus07 and it means 8one called to another to take his part10 but in our modern usage1 the word has acquired a restricted meaning4 ,the ,greek word translated 8,comforter0 7,parakleetos7 means 8one called alongside10 that is one called to stand constantly by one's side and who is ever ready to stand by us and take our part in everything in which his help is needed4 ,it is a wonderfully tender and expressive name for the ,holy ,one4 ,sometimes when we think of the ,holy ,spirit1 ,he seems to be so far away1 but when we think of the ,parakleetos1 or in plain ,english our 8,stand-byer0 or our 8part-taker10 how near ,he is4 ,up to the time that ,jesus made this promise to the disciples1 ,he ,himself had been their ,parakleetos4 ,when they were in any emergency or difficulty they turned to ,him4 ,on one occasion1 for example1 the disciples were in doubt as to how to pray and they turned to ,jesus and said1 8,lord1 teach us to pray40 ,and the ,lord taught them the wonderful prayer that has come down through the ages 7,luke xi4 #a-d74 ,on another occasion1 ,peter was sinking in the waves of ,galilee and he cried1 8,lord1 save me10 and immediately ,jesus stretched forth ,his hand and caught him and saved him 7,matt4 xiv4 #cj1 #ca74 ,in every extremity they turned to ,him4 ,just so now that ,jesus is gone to the ,father1 we have another ,person1 just as ,divine as ,he is1 just as wise as ,he1 just as strong as ,he1 just as loving as ,he1 just as tender as ,he1 just as ready and just as able to help1 who is always right by our side4 ,yes1 better yet1 who dwells in our heart1 who will take hold and help if we only trust ,him to do it4 ,if the truth of the ,holy ,spirit as set forth in the name 8,parakleetos0 once gets into our heart and abides there1 it will banish all loneliness forever2 for how can we ever be lonely when this best of all ,friends is ever with us8 ,in the last eight years1 ,i have been called upon to endure what would naturally be a very lonely life4 ,most of the time ,i am separated from wife and children by the calls of duty4 ,for eighteen months consecutively1 ,i was separated from almost all my family by many thousands of miles4 ,the loneliness would have been unendurable were it not for the one all-sufficient ,friend1 who was always with me4 ,i recall one night walking up and down the deck of a storm-tossed steamer in the ,south ,seas4 ,most of my family were #ah1jjj miles away2 the remaining member of my family was not with me4 ,the officers were busy on the bridge1 and ,i was pacing the deck alone1 and the thought came to me1 8,here you are all alone40 ,then another thought came1 8,i am not alone2 by my side as ,i walk this deck in the loneliness and the storm walks the ,holy ,spirit0 and ,he was enough4 ,i said something like this once at a ,bible conference in ,st4 ,paul4 ,a doctor came to me at the close of the meeting and gently said1 8,i want to thank you for that thought about the ,holy ,spirit always being with us4 ,i am a doctor4 ,oftentimes ,i have to drive far out in the country in the night and storm to attend a case1 and ,i have often been so lonely1 but ,i will never be lonely again4 ,i will always know that by my side in my doctor's carriage1 the ,holy ,spirit goes with me40 ,if this thought of the ,holy ,spirit as the ever-present ,paraclete once gets into your heart and abides there1 it will banish all fear forever4 ,how can we be afraid in the face of any peril1 if this ,divine ,one is by our side to counsel us and to take our part8 ,there may be a howling mob about us1 or a lowering storm1 it matters not4 ,he stands between us and both mob and storm4 ,one night ,i had promised to walk four miles to a friend's house after an evening session of a conference4 ,the path led along the side of a lake4 ,as ,i started for my friend's house1 a thunder-storm was coming up4 ,i had not counted on this but as ,i had promised1 ,i felt ,i ought to go4 ,the path led along the edge of the lake1 oftentimes very near to the edge1 sometimes the lake was near the path and sometimes many feet below4 ,the night was so dark with the clouds one could not see ahead4 ,now and then there would be a blinding flash of lightning in which you could see where the path was washed away1 and then it would be blacker than ever4 ,you could hear the lake booming below4 ,it seemed a dangerous place to walk but that very week1 ,i had been speaking upon the ,personality of the ,holy ,spirit and about the ,holy ,spirit as an ever-present ,friend1 and the thought came to me1 8,what was it you were telling the people in the address about the ,holy ,spirit as an ever-present ,friend80 ,and then ,i said to myself1 8,between me and the boiling lake and the edge of the path walks the ,holy ,spirit10 and ,i pushed on fearless and glad4 ,when we were in ,london1 a young lady attended the meeting one afternoon in the ,royal ,albert ,hall4 ,she had an abnormal fear of the dark4 ,it was absolutely impossible for her to go into a dark room alone1 but the thought of the ,holy ,spirit as an ever-present ,friend sank into her mind4 ,she went home and told her mother what a wonderful thought she had heard that day1 and how it had banished forever all fear from her4 ,it was already growing very dark in the ,london winter afternoon and her mother looked up and said1 8,very well1 let us see if it is real4 ,go up to the top of the house and shut yourself alone in a dark room40 ,she instantly sprang to her feet1 bounded up the stairs1 went into a room that was totally dark and shut the door and sat down4 ,all fear was gone1 and as she wrote the next day1 the whole room seemed to be filled with a wonderful glory1 the glory of the presence of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in the thought of the ,holy ,spirit as the ,paraclete there is also a cure for insomnia4 ,for two awful years1 ,i suffered from insomnia4 ,night after night ,i would go to bed apparently almost dead for sleep2 it seemed as though ,i must sleep1 but ,i could not sleep2 oh1 the agony of those two years6 ,it seemed as if ,i would lose my mind if ,i did not get relief4 ,relief came at last and for years ,i went on without the suggestion of trouble from insomnia4 ,then one night ,i retired to my room in the ,institute1 lay down expecting to fall asleep in a moment as ,i usually did1 but scarcely had my head touched the pillow when ,i became aware that insomnia was back again4 ,if one has ever had it1 he never forgets it and never mistakes it4 ,it seemed as if insomnia were sitting on the foot-board of my bed1 grinning at me and saying1 8,i am back again for another two years40 8,oh10 ,i thought1 8two more awful years of insomnia40 ,but that very morning1 ,i had been lecturing to our students in the ,institute about the ,personality of the ,holy ,spirit and about the ,holy ,spirit as an ever-present ,friend1 and at once the thought came to me1 8,what were you talking to the students about this morning8 ,what were you telling them80 and ,i looked up and said1 8,thou blessed ,spirit of ,god1 ,thou art here4 ,i am not alone4 ,if ,thou hast anything to say to me1 ,i will listen10 and ,he began to open to me some of the deep and precious things about my ,lord and ,saviour1 things1 that filled my soul with joy and rest1 and the next thing ,i knew ,i was asleep and the next thing ,i knew it was to-morrow morning4 ,so whenever insomnia has come my way since1 ,i have simply remembered that the ,holy ,spirit was there and ,i have looked up to ,him to speak to me and to teach me and ,he has done so and insomnia has taken its flight4 ,in the thought of the ,holy ,spirit as the ,paraclete there is a cure for a breaking heart4 ,how many aching1 breaking hearts there are in this world of ours1 so full of death and separation from those we most dearly love4 ,how many a woman there is1 who a few years ago1 or a few months or a few weeks ago1 had no care1 no worry1 for by her side was a ,christian husband who was so wise and strong that the wife rested all responsibility upon him and she walked care-free through life and satisfied with his love and companionship4 ,but one awful day1 he was taken from her4 ,she was left alone and all the cares and responsibilities rested upon her4 ,how empty that heart has been ever since2 how empty the whole world has been4 ,she has just dragged through her life and her duties as best she could with an aching and almost breaking heart4 ,but there is ,one1 if she only knew it1 wiser and more loving than the tenderest husband1 ,one willing to bear all the care and responsibilities of life for her1 ,one who is able1 if1 she will only let ,him1 to fill every nook and corner of her empty and aching heart2 that ,one is the ,paraclete4 ,i said something like this in ,st4 ,andrews' ,hall in ,glasgow4 ,at the close of the meeting a sad-faced ,christian woman1 wearing a widow's garb1 came to me as ,i stepped out of the hall into the reception room4 ,she hurried to me and said1 8,dr4 ,torrey1 this is the anniversary of my dear husband's death4 ,just one year ago to-day he was taken from me4 ,i came to-day to see if you could not speak some word to help me4 ,you have given me just the word ,i need4 ,i will never be lonesome again40 ,a year and a half passed by4 ,i was on the yacht of a friend on the lochs of the ,clyde4 ,one day a little boat put out from shore and came alongside the yacht4 ,one of the first to come up the side of the yacht was this widow4 ,she hurried to me and the first thing she said was1 8,the thought that you gave me that day in ,st4 ,andrews' ,hall on the anniversary of my husband's leaving me has been with me ever since1 and the ,holy ,spirit does satisfy me and fill my heart40 ,but it is in our work for our ,master that the thought of the ,holy ,spirit as the ,paraclete comes with greatest helpfulness4 ,i think it may be permissible to illustrate it from my own experience4 ,i entered the ministry because ,i was literally forced to4 ,for years ,i refused to be a ,christian1 because ,i was determined that ,i would not be a preacher1 and ,i feared that if ,i surrendered to ,christ ,i must enter the ministry4 ,my conversion turned upon my yielding to ,him at this point4 ,the night ,i yielded1 ,i did not say1 8,i will accept ,christ0 or 8,i will give up sin10 or anything of that sort1 ,i simply cried1 8,take this awful burden off my heart1 and ,i will preach the ,gospel40 ,but no one could be less fitted by natural temperament for the ministry than ,i4 ,from early boyhood1 ,i was extraordinarily timid and bashful4 ,even after ,i had entered ,yale ,college1 when ,i would go home in the summer and my mother would call me in to meet her friends1 ,i was so frightened that when ,i thought ,i spoke ,i did not make an audible sound4 ,when her friends had gone1 my mother would ask1 8,why didn't you say something to them80 ,and ,i would reply that ,i supposed ,i had1 but my mother would say1 8,you did not utter a sound40 ,think of a young fellow like that entering the ministry4 ,i never mustered courage even to speak in a public prayer-meeting until after ,i was in the theological seminary4 ,then ,i felt1 if ,i was to enter the ministry1 ,i must be able to at least speak in a prayer-meeting4 ,i learned a little piece by heart to say1 but when the hour came1 ,i forgot much of it in my terror4 ,at the critical moment1 ,i grasped the back of the settee in front of me and pulled myself hurriedly to my feet and held on to the settee4 ,one ,niagara seemed to be going up one side and another down another2 my voice faltered4 ,i repeated as much as ,i could remember and sat down4 ,think of a man like that entering the ministry4 ,in the early days of my ministry1 ,i would write my sermons out in full and commit them to memory1 stand up and twist a button until ,i had repeated it off as best ,i could and would then sink back into the pulpit chair with a sense of relief that that was over for another week4 ,i cannot tell you what ,i suffered in those early days of my ministry4 ,but the glad day came when ,i came to know the ,holy ,spirit as the ,paraclete4 ,when the thought got possession of me that when ,i stood up to preach1 there was ,another who stood by my side1 that while the audience saw me ,god saw ,him1 and that the responsibility was all upon ,him1 and that ,he was abundantly able to meet it and care for it all1 and that all ,i had to do was to stand back as far out of sight as possible and let ,him do the work4 ,i have no dread of preaching now2 preaching is the greatest joy of my life1 and sometimes when ,i stand up to speak and realize that ,he is there1 that all the responsibility is upon ,him1 such a joy fills my heart that ,i can scarce restrain myself from shouting and leaping4 ,he is just as ready to help us in all our work2 in our ,sunday-school classes2 in our personal work and in every other line of ,christian effort4 ,many hesitate to speak to others about accepting ,christ4 ,they are afraid they will not say the right thing2 they fear that they will do more harm than they will good4 ,you certainly will if you do it1 but if you will just believe in the ,paraclete and trust ,him to say it and to say it in ,his way1 you will never do harm but always good4 ,it may seem at the time that you have accomplished nothing1 but perhaps years after you will find out you have accomplished much and even if you do not find it out in this world1 you will find it out in eternity4 ,there are many ways in which the ,paraclete stands by us and helps us of which we will speak at length when we come to study ,his work4 ,he stands by us when we pray 7,rom4 viii4 #bf1 #bg72 when we study the ,word 7,john xiv4 #bf2 xvi4 #ab-ad72 when we do personal work 7,acts viii4 #bi72 when we preach or teach 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #d72 when we are tempted 7,rom4 viii4 #b72 when we leave this world 7,acts vii4 #ed-fj74 ,let us get this thought firmly fixed now and for all time that the ,holy ,spirit is ,one called to our side to take our part4 8,ever present1 truest ,friend1 ,ever near1 ,thine aid to lend40 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,in ,,the ,,material ,,universe4 ,there are many who think of the work of the ,holy ,spirit as limited to man4 ,but ,god reveals to us in ,his ,word that the ,holy ,spirit's work has a far wider scope than this4 ,we are taught in the ,bible that the ,holy ,spirit has a threefold work in the material universe4 ,i4 ,the creation of the material universe and of man is effected through the agency of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in ,ps4 xxxiii4 #f1 8,by the word of the ,,lord were the heavens made2 and all the host of them by the breath of ,his mouth40 ,we have already seen in our study of the names of the ,holy ,spirit that the ,holy ,spirit is the breath of ,,jehovah1 so this passage teaches us that all the hosts of heaven1 all the stellar worlds1 were made by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we are taught explicitly in ,job xxxiii4 #d1 that the creation of man is the ,holy ,spirit's work4 ,we read1 8,the ,spirit of ,god hath made me1 and the breath of the ,almighty hath given me life40 ,here both the creation of the material frame and the impartation of life are attributed to the agency of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in other passages of ,scripture we are taught that creation was in and through the ,son of ,god4 ,for example we read in ,col4 i4 #af1 ,r4 ,v41 8,for in ,him were all things created1 in the heavens and upon the earth1 things visible and things invisible1 whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers2 all things have been created through ,him and unto ,him40 ,in a similar way we read in ,heb4 i4 #b1 that ,god 8hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in ,his ,son1 whom ,he appointed heir of all things1 through whom also ,he made the worlds 7ages740 ,in the passage given above 7,ps4 xxxiii4 #f71 the ,word as well as the ,spirit are mentioned in connection with creation4 ,in the account of the creation and the rehabilitation of this world to be the abode of man1 ,father1 ,word and ,holy ,spirit are all mentioned 7,gen4 i4 #a-c74 ,it is evident from a comparison of these passages that the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,spirit are all active in the creative work4 ,the ,father works in ,his ,son1 through ,his ,spirit4 ,,ii4 ,not only is the original creation of the material universe attributed to the agency of the ,holy ,spirit in the ,bible but the maintenance of living creatures as well4 ,we read in ,ps4 civ4 #bi1 #cj1 8,thou hidest ,thy face1 they are troubled3 ,thou takest away their breath1 they die1 and return to their dust4 ,thou sendest forth ,thy ,spirit1 they are created3 and ,thou renewest the face of the earth40 ,the clear indication of this passage is that not only are things brought into being through the agency of the ,holy ,spirit1 but that they are maintained in being by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,not only is spiritual life maintained by the ,spirit of ,god but material being as well4 ,things exist and continue by the presence of the ,spirit of ,god in them4 ,this does not mean for a moment that the universe is ,god1 but it does mean that the universe is maintained in its being by the immanence of ,god in it4 ,this is the great and solemn truth that lies at the foundation of the awful and debasing perversions of ,pantheism in its countless forms4 ,,iii4 ,but not only is the universe created through the agency of the ,holy ,spirit and maintained in its existence through the agency of the ,holy ,spirit1 but the development of the earlier1 chaotic1 undeveloped states of the material universe into higher orders of being is effected through the agency of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in ,gen1 i4 #b1 #c1 8,and the earth was 7or became7 without form and void2 and darkness was upon the face of the deep4 ,and the ,spirit of ,god moved upon the face of the waters4 ,and ,god said1 ,let there be light3 and there was light40 ,we may take this account to refer either to the original creation of the universe1 or we may take it as the deeper students of the ,word are more and more inclining to take it1 as the account of the rehabilitation of the earth after its plunging into chaos through sin after the original creation described in v4 #a4 ,in either case we have set before us here the development of the earth from a chaotic and unformed condition into its present highly developed condition through the agency of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we see the process carried still further in ,gen4 ii4 #g1 8,and the ,,lord ,god formed man of the dust of the ground1 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life2 and man became a living soul40 ,here again it is through the agency of the breath of ,god1 that a higher thing1 human life1 comes into being4 ,naturally1 as the ,bible is the history of man's redemption it does not dwell upon this phase of truth1 but seemingly each new and higher impartation of the ,spirit of ,god brings forth a higher order of being4 ,first1 inert matter2 then motion2 then light2 then vegetable life2 then animal life2 then man2 and1 as we shall see later1 then the new man2 and then ,jesus ,christ1 the supreme ,man1 the completion of ,god's thought of man1 the ,son of ,man4 ,this is the ,biblical thought of development from the lower to the higher by the agency of the ,spirit of ,god as distinguished from the godless evolution that has been so popular in the generation now closing4 ,it is1 however1 only hinted at in the ,bible4 ,the more important phases of the ,holy ,spirit's work1 ,his work in redemption1 are those that are emphasized and iterated and reiterated4 ,the ,word of ,god is even more plainly active in each state of progress of creation4 ,god said occurs ten times in the first chapter of ,genesis4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,convicting ,,the ,,world ,,of ,,sin1 ,,of ,,righteousness ,,and ,,of ,,judgment4 ,our salvation begins experimentally with our being brought to a profound sense that we need a ,saviour4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the ,one who brings us to this realization of our need4 ,we read in ,john xvi4 #h-aa1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and ,he1 when ,he is come1 will convict the world in respect of sin1 and of righteousness1 and of judgment3 of sin1 because they believe not on ,me2 of righteousness1 because ,i go to the ,father1 and ye behold ,me no more2 of judgment1 because the prince of this world hath been judged40 ,i4 ,we see in this passage that it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to convict men of sin4 ,that is1 to so convince of their error in respect to sin as to produce a deep sense of personal guilt4 ,we have the first recorded fulfillment of this promise in ,acts ii4 #cf1 #cg1 8,therefore let all the house of ,israel know assuredly1 that ,god hath made that same ,jesus1 whom ye have crucified1 both ,lord and ,christ4 ,now when they heard this1 they were pricked in their heart1 and said unto ,peter and to the rest of the apostles1 ,men and brethren1 what shall we do80 ,the ,holy ,spirit had come just as ,jesus had promised that ,he would and when ,he came ,he convicted the world of sin3 ,he pricked them to their heart with a sense of their awful guilt in the rejection of their ,lord and their ,christ4 ,if the ,apostle ,peter had spoken the same words the day before ,pentecost1 no such results would have followed2 but now ,peter was filled with the ,holy ,spirit 7v4 #d7 and the ,holy ,spirit took ,peter and his words and through the instrumentality of ,peter and his words convicted his hearers4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the only ,one who can convince men of sin4 ,the natural heart is 8deceitful above all things and desperately wicked10 and there is nothing in which the inbred deceitfulness of our hearts comes out more clearly than in our estimations of ourselves4 ,we are all of us sharp-sighted enough to the faults of others but we are all blind by nature to our own faults4 ,our blindness to our own shortcomings is oftentimes little short of ludicrous4 ,we have a strange power of exaggerating our imaginary virtues and losing sight utterly of our defects4 ,the longer and more thoroughly one studies human nature1 the more clearly will he see how hopeless is the task of convincing other men of sin4 ,we cannot do it1 nor has ,god left it for us to do4 ,he has put this work into the hands of ,one who is abundantly able to do it1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,one of the worst mistakes that we can make in our efforts to bring men to ,christ is to try to convince them of sin in any power of our own4 ,unfortunately1 it is one of the commonest mistakes4 ,preachers will stand in the pulpit and argue and reason with men to make them see and realize that they are sinners4 ,they make it as plain as day2 it is a wonder that their hearers do not see it2 but they do not4 ,personal workers sit down beside an inquirer and reason with him1 and bring forward passages of ,scripture in a most skillful way1 the very passages that are calculated to produce the effect desired and yet there is no result4 ,why8 ,because we are trying to do the ,holy ,spirit's work1 the work that ,he alone can do1 convince men of sin4 ,if we would only bear in mind our own utter inability to convince men of sin1 and cast ourselves upon ,him in utter helplessness to do the work1 we would see results4 ,at the close of an inquiry meeting in our church in ,chicago1 one of our best workers brought to me an engineer on the ,pan ,handle ,railway with the remark1 8,i wish that you would speak to this man4 ,i have been talking to him two hours with no result40 ,i sat down by his side with my open ,bible and in less than ten minutes that man1 under deep conviction of sin1 was on his knees crying to ,god for mercy4 ,the worker who had brought him to me said when the man had gone out1 8,that is very strange40 8,what is strange80 ,i asked4 8,do you know10 the worker said1 8,i used exactly the same passages in dealing with that man that you did1 and though ,i had worked with him for two hours with no result1 in ten minutes with the same passages of ,scripture1 he was brought under conviction of sin and accepted ,christ40 ,what was the explanation8 ,simply this1 for once that worker had forgotten something that she seldom forgot1 namely1 that the ,holy ,spirit must do the work4 ,she had been trying to convince the man of sin4 ,she had used the right passages2 she had reasoned wisely2 she had made out a clear case1 but she had not looked to the only ,one who could do the work4 ,when she brought the man to me and said1 8,i have worked with him for two hours with no result10 ,i thought to myself1 8,if this expert worker has dealt with him for two hours with no result1 what is the use of my dealing with him80 and in a sense of utter helplessness ,i cast myself upon the ,holy ,spirit to do the work and ,he did it4 ,but while we cannot convince men of sin1 there is ,one who can1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he can convince the most hardened and blinded man of sin4 ,he can change men and women from utter carelessness and indifference to a place where they are overwhelmed with a sense of their need of a ,saviour4 ,how often we have seen this illustrated4 ,some years ago1 the officers of the ,chicago ,avenue ,church were burdened over the fact that there was so little profound conviction of sin manifested in our meetings4 ,there were conversions1 a good many were being added to the church1 but very few were coming with an apparently overwhelming conviction of sin4 ,one night one of the officers of the church said1 8,brethren1 ,i am greatly troubled by the fact that we have so little conviction of sin in our meetings4 ,while we are having conversions and many accessions to the church1 there is not that deep conviction of sin that ,i like to see1 and ,i propose that we1 the officers of the church1 meet from night to night to pray that there may be more conviction of sin in our meetings40 ,the suggestion was taken up by the entire committee4 ,we had not been praying many nights when one ,sunday evening ,i saw in the front seat underneath the gallery a showily dressed man with a very hard face4 ,a large diamond was blazing from his shirt front4 ,he was sitting beside one of the deacons4 ,as ,i looked at him as ,i preached1 ,i thought to myself1 8,that man is a sporting man1 and ,deacon ,young has been fishing to-day40 ,it turned out that ,i was right4 ,the man was the son of a woman who kept a sporting house in a ,western city4 ,i think he had never been in a ,protestant service before4 ,deacon ,young had got hold of him that day on the street and brought him to the meeting4 ,as ,i preached the man's eyes were riveted upon me4 ,when we went down-stairs to the after meeting1 ,deacon ,young took the man with him4 ,i was late dealing with the anxious that night4 ,as ,i finished with the last one about eleven o'clock1 and almost everybody had gone home1 ,deacon ,young came over to me and said1 8,i have a man over here ,i wish you would come and speak with40 ,it was this big sporting man4 ,he was deeply agitated4 8,oh10 he groaned1 8,i don't know what is the matter with me4 ,i never felt this way before in all my life10 and he sobbed and shook like a leaf4 ,then he told me this story3 8,i started out this afternoon to go down to ,cottage ,grove ,avenue to meet some men and spend the afternoon gambling4 ,as ,i passed by the park over yonder1 some of your young men were holding an open air meeting and ,i stopped to listen4 ,i saw one man testifying whom ,i had known in a life of sin1 and ,i waited to hear what he had to say4 ,when he finished ,i went on down the street4 ,i had not gone far when some strange power took hold of me and brought me back and ,i stayed through the meeting4 ,then this gentleman spoke to me and brought me over to your church1 to your ,yoke ,fellows' ,meeting4 ,i stayed to supper with them and he brought me up to hear you preach1 then he brought me down to this meeting40 ,here he stopped and sobbed1 8,oh1 ,i don't know what is the matter with me4 ,i feel awful4 ,i never felt this way before in all my life10 and his great frame shook with emotion4 8,i know what is the matter with you10 ,i said4 8,you are under conviction of sin2 the ,holy ,spirit is dealing with you10 and ,i pointed him to ,christ1 and he knelt down and cried to ,god for mercy1 to forgive his sins for ,christ's sake4 ,not long after1 one ,sunday night ,i saw another man sitting in the gallery almost exactly above where this man had sat4 ,a diamond flashed also from this man's shirt front4 ,i said to myself1 8,there is another sporting man40 ,he turned out to be a travelling man who was also a sporting man4 ,as ,i preached1 he leaned further and further forward in his seat4 ,in the midst of my sermon1 without any intention of giving out the invitation1 simply wishing to drive a point home1 ,i said1 8,who will accept ,jesus ,christ to-night80 ,quick as a flash the man sprang to his feet and shouted1 8,i will40 ,it rang through the building like the crack of a revolver4 ,i dropped my sermon and instantly gave out the invitation2 men and women and young people rose all over the building to yield themselves to ,christ4 ,god was answering prayer and the ,holy ,spirit was convincing men of sin4 ,the ,holy ,spirit can convince men of sin4 ,we need not despair of any one1 no matter how indifferent they may appear1 no matter how worldly1 no matter how self-satisfied1 no matter how irreligious1 the ,holy ,spirit can convince men of sin4 ,a young minister of very rare culture and ability once came to me and said1 8,i have a great problem on my hands4 ,i am the pastor of the church in a university town4 ,my congregation is largely made up of university professors and students4 ,they are most delightful people4 ,they have very high moral ideals and are living most exemplary lives4 ,now10 he continued1 8if ,i had a congregation in which there were drunkards and outcasts and thieves1 ,i could convince them of sin1 but my problem is how to make people like that1 the most delightful people in the world1 believe that they are sinners1 how to convict them of sin40 ,i replied1 8,it is impossible4 ,you cannot do it1 but the ,holy ,spirit can40 ,and so ,he can4 ,some of the deepest manifestations of conviction of sin ,i have ever seen have been on the part of men and women of most exemplary conduct and attractive personality4 ,but they were sinners and the ,holy ,spirit opened their eyes to the fact4 ,while it is the ,holy ,spirit who convinces men of sin1 ,he does it through us4 ,this comes out very clearly in the context of the passage before us4 ,jesus says in the seventh verse1 ,r4 ,v41 of the chapter1 8,nevertheless ,i tell you the truth2 ,it is expedient for you that ,i go away3 for if ,i go not away1 the ,comforter will not come unto you2 but if ,i go1 ,i will send ,him unto you40 ,then ,he goes on to say1 8,and when ,he is come 7unto you71 ,he will convict the world of sin40 ,that is1 our ,lord ,jesus sends the ,holy ,spirit unto us 7unto believers71 and when ,he is come unto us believers1 through us to whom ,he has come1 ,he convinces the world4 ,on the ,day of ,pentecost1 it was the ,holy ,spirit who convinced the #c1jjj of sin1 but the ,holy ,spirit came to the group of believers and through them convinced the outside world4 ,as far as the ,holy ,scriptures definitely tell us1 the ,holy ,spirit has no ,way of getting at the unsaved world except through the agency of those who are already saved4 ,every conversion recorded in the ,acts of the ,apostles was through the agency of men or women already saved4 ,take1 for example1 the conversion of ,saul of ,tarsus4 ,if there ever was a miraculous conversion1 it was that4 ,the glorified ,jesus appeared visibly to ,saul on his way to ,damascus1 but before ,saul could come out clearly into the light as a saved man1 human instrumentality must be brought in4 ,saul prostrate on the ground cried to the risen ,christ asking what he must do1 and the ,lord told him to go into ,damascus and there it would be told him what he must do4 ,and then ,ananias1 8a certain disciple10 was brought on the scene as the human instrumentality through whom the ,holy ,spirit should do ,his work 7cf4 ,acts ix4 #ag2 xxii4 #af74 ,take the case of ,cornelius4 ,here again was a most remarkable conversion through supernatural agency4 8,an angel0 appeared to ,cornelius1 but the angel did not tell ,cornelius what to do to be saved4 ,the angel rather said to ,cornelius1 8,send men to ,joppa1 and call for ,simon1 whose surname is ,peter1 who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved0 7,acts xi4 #ac1 #ad74 ,so we may go right through the record of the conversions in the ,acts of the ,apostles and we will see they were all effected through human instrumentality4 ,how solemn1 how almost overwhelming1 is the thought that the ,holy ,spirit has no way of getting at the unsaved with ,his saving power except through the instrumentality of us who are already ,christians4 ,if we realized that1 would we not be more careful to offer to the ,holy ,spirit a more free and unobstructed channel for ,his all-important work8 ,the ,holy ,spirit needs human lips to speak through4 ,he needs yours1 and ,he needs lives so clean and so utterly surrendered to ,him that ,he can work through them4 ,notice of which sin it is that the ,holy ,spirit convinces men--the sin of unbelief in ,jesus ,christ1 8,of sin because they believe not on ,me10 says ,jesus4 ,not the sin of stealing1 not the sin of drunkenness1 not the sin of adultery1 not the sin of murder1 but the sin of unbelief in ,jesus ,christ4 ,the one thing that the eternal ,god demands of men is that they believe on ,him whom ,he hath sent 7,john vi4 #bi74 ,and the one sin that reveals men's rebellion against ,god and daring defiance of ,him is the sin of not believing on ,jesus ,christ1 and this is the one sin that the ,holy ,spirit puts to the front and emphasizes and of which ,he convicts men4 ,this was the sin of which ,he convicted the #c1jjj on the ,day of ,pentecost4 ,doubtless1 there were many other sins in their lives1 but the one point that the ,holy ,spirit brought to the front through the ,apostle ,peter was that the ,one whom they had rejected was their ,lord and ,christ1 attested so to be by ,his resurrection from the dead 7,acts ii4 #bb-cf74 8,and when they heard this 7namely1 that ,he whom they had rejected was ,lord and ,christ7 they were pricked in their hearts40 ,this is the sin of which the ,holy ,spirit convinces men to-day4 ,in regard to the comparatively minor moralities of life1 there is a wide difference among men1 but the thief who rejects ,christ and the honest man who rejects ,christ are alike condemned at the great point of what they do with ,god's ,son1 and this is the point that the ,holy ,spirit presses home4 ,the sin of unbelief is the most difficult of all sins of which to convince men4 ,the average unbeliever does not look upon unbelief as a sin4 ,many an unbeliever looks upon his unbelief as a mark of intellectual superiority4 ,not unfrequently1 he is all the more proud of it because it is the only mark of intellectual superiority that he possesses4 ,he tosses his head and says1 8,i am an agnostic20 8,i am a skeptic20 or1 8,i am an infidel10 and assumes an air of superiority on that account4 ,if he does not go so far as that1 the unbeliever frequently looks upon his unbelief as1 at the very worst1 a misfortune4 ,he looks for pity rather than for blame4 ,he says1 8,oh1 ,i wish ,i could believe4 ,i am so sorry ,i cannot believe10 and then appeals to us for pity because he cannot believe1 but when the ,holy ,spirit touches a man's heart1 he no longer looks upon unbelief as a mark of intellectual superiority2 he does not look upon it as a mere misfortune2 he sees it as the most daring1 decisive and damning of all sins and is overwhelmed with a sense of his awful guilt in that he had not believed on the name of the only begotten ,son of ,god4 ,,ii4 ,but the ,holy ,spirit not only convicts of sin1 ,he convicts in respect of righteousness4 ,he convicts the world in respect of righteousness because ,jesus ,christ has gone to the ,father1 that is ,he convicts 7convinces with a convincing that is self-condemning7 the world of ,christ's righteousness attested by ,his going to the ,father4 ,the coming of the ,spirit is in itself a proof that ,christ has gone to the ,father 7cf4 ,acts ii4 #cc7 and the ,holy ,spirit thus opens our eyes to see that ,jesus ,christ1 whom the world condemned as an evil-doer1 was indeed the righteous ,one4 ,the ,father sets the stamp of ,his approval upon ,his character and claims by raising ,him from the dead and exalting ,him to ,his own right hand and giving to ,him a name that is above every name4 ,the world at large to-day claims to believe in the righteousness of ,christ but it does not really believe in the righteousness of ,christ3 it has no adequate conception of the righteousness of ,christ4 ,the righteousness which the world attributes to ,christ is not the righteousness which ,god attributes to ,him1 but a poor human righteousness1 perhaps a little better than our own4 ,the world loves to put the names of other men that it considers good alongside the name of ,jesus ,christ4 ,but when the ,spirit of ,god comes to a man1 ,he convinces him of the righteousness of ,christ2 ,he opens his eyes to see ,jesus ,christ standing absolutely alone1 not only far above all men but 8far above all principality and power and might and dominion1 and every name that is named1 not only in this world but also in that which is to come0 7,eph4 i4 #ba74 ,,iii4 ,the ,holy ,spirit also convicts the world of judgment4 ,the ground upon which the ,holy ,spirit convinces men of judgment is upon the ground of the fact that 8the ,prince of this world hath been judged0 7,john xvi4 #aa74 ,when ,jesus ,christ was nailed to the cross1 it seemed as if ,he were judged there1 but in reality it was the ,prince of this world who was judged at the cross1 and1 by raising ,jesus ,christ from the dead1 the ,father made it plain to all coming ages that the cross was not the judgment of ,christ1 but the judgment of the ,prince of darkness4 ,the ,holy ,spirit opens our eyes to see this fact and so convinces us of judgment4 ,there is a great need to-day that the world be convinced of judgment4 ,judgment is a doctrine that has fallen into the background1 that has indeed almost sunken out of sight4 ,it is not popular to-day to speak about judgment1 or retribution1 or hell4 ,one who emphasizes judgment and future retribution is not thought to be quite up to date2 he is considered 8medival0 or even 8archaic10 but when the ,holy ,spirit opens the eyes of men1 they believe in judgment4 ,in the early days of my ,christian experience1 ,i had great difficulties with the ,bible doctrine of future retribution4 ,i came again and again up to what it taught about the eternal penalties of persistent sin4 ,it seemed as if ,i could not believe it3 it must not be true4 ,time and again ,i would back away from the stern teachings of ,jesus ,christ and the ,apostles concerning this matter4 ,but one night ,i was waiting upon ,god that ,i might know the ,holy ,spirit in a fuller manifestation of ,his presence and ,his power4 ,god gave me what ,i sought that night and with this larger experience of the ,holy ,spirit's presence and power1 there came such a revelation of the glory1 the infinite glory of ,jesus ,christ1 that ,i had no longer any difficulties with what the ,book said about the stern and endless judgment that would be visited upon those who persistently rejected this glorious ,son of ,god4 ,from that day to this1 while ,i have had many a heartache over the ,bible doctrine of future retribution1 ,i have had no intellectual difficulty with it4 ,i have believed it4 ,the ,holy ,spirit has convinced me of judgment4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,bearing ,,witness ,,to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,when our ,lord was talking to ,his disciples on the night before ,his crucifixion of the ,comforter who after ,his departure was to come to take ,his place1 ,he said1 8,but when the ,comforter is come1 whom ,i will send unto you from the ,father1 even the ,spirit of truth1 which proceedeth from the ,father1 ,he shall bear witness of ,me3 and ye also bear witness1 because ye have been with ,me from the beginning0 7,john xv4 #bf1 #bg1 ,r4 ,v471 and the ,apostle ,peter and the other disciples when they were strictly commanded by the ,jewish ,council not to teach in the name of ,jesus said1 8,we are witnesses of these things1 and so is also the ,holy ,ghost0 7,acts v4 #cb74 ,it is clear from these words of ,jesus ,christ and the ,apostles that it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to bear witness concerning ,jesus ,christ4 ,we find the ,holy ,spirit's testimony to ,jesus ,christ in the ,scriptures1 but beside this the ,holy ,spirit bears witness directly to the individual heart concerning ,jesus ,christ4 ,he takes ,his own ,scriptures and interprets them to us and makes them clear to us4 ,all truth is from the ,spirit1 for ,he is 8the ,spirit of truth10 but it is especially ,his work to bear witness to ,him who is the truth1 that is ,jesus ,christ 7,john xiv4 #f74 ,it is only through the testimony of the ,holy ,spirit directly to our hearts that we ever come to a true1 living knowledge of ,jesus ,christ 7cf4 #a ,cor4 xii4 #c74 ,no amount of mere reading the written ,word 7in the ,bible7 and no amount of listening to man's testimony will ever bring us to a living knowledge of ,christ4 ,it is only when the ,holy ,spirit ,himself takes the written ,word1 or takes the testimony of our fellow man1 and interprets it directly to our hearts that we really come to see and know ,jesus as ,he is4 ,on the day of ,pentecost1 ,peter gave all his hearers the testimony of the ,scriptures regarding ,christ and also gave them his own testimony2 he told them what he and the other ,apostles knew by personal observation regarding ,his resurrection1 but unless the ,holy ,spirit ,himself had taken the ,scriptures which ,peter had brought together and taken the testimony of ,peter and the other disciples1 the #c1jjj would not on that day have seen ,jesus as ,he really was and received ,him and been baptized in ,his name4 ,the ,holy ,spirit added ,his testimony to that of ,peter and that of the written ,word4 ,mr4 ,moody used to say in his terse and graphic way that when ,peter said1 8,therefore let all the house of ,israel know assuredly that ,god hath made that same ,jesus1 whom ye have crucified1 both ,lord and ,christ 7,acts ii4 #cf71 the ,holy ,spirit said1 #8,amen' and the people saw and believed40 ,and it is certain that unless the ,holy ,spirit had come that day and through ,peter and the other ,apostles borne ,his direct testimony to the hearts of their hearers1 there would have been no saving vision of ,jesus on the part of the people4 ,if you wish men to get a true view of ,jesus ,christ1 such a view of ,him that they may believe and be saved1 it is not enough that you give them the ,scriptures concerning ,him2 it is not enough that you give them your own testimony1 you must seek for them the testimony of the ,holy ,spirit and put yourself into such relations with ,god that the ,holy ,spirit may bear ,his testimony through you4 ,neither your testimony1 nor even that of the written ,word alone will effect this1 though it is your testimony1 or that of the ,word that the ,holy ,spirit uses4 ,but unless your testimony and that of the ,word is taken up by the ,holy ,spirit and ,he ,himself testifies1 they will not believe4 ,this explains something which every experienced worker must have noticed4 ,we sit down beside an inquirer and open our ,bibles and give him those ,scriptures which clearly reveal ,jesus as his atoning ,saviour on the cross1 a ,saviour from the guilt of sin1 and as his risen ,saviour1 a ,saviour from the power of sin4 ,it is just the truth the man needs to see and believe in order to be saved1 but he does not see it4 ,we go over these ,scriptures which to us are as plain as day again and again1 and the inquirer sits there in blank darkness2 he sees nothing1 he grasps nothing4 ,sometimes we almost wonder if the inquirer is stupid that he cannot see it4 ,no1 he is not stupid1 except with that spiritual blindness that possesses every mind unenlightened by the ,holy ,spirit 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #ad74 ,we go over it again and still he does not see it4 ,we go over it again and his face lightens up and he exclaims1 8,i see it4 ,i see it10 and he sees ,jesus and believes and is saved and knows he is saved there on the spot4 ,what has happened8 ,simply this1 the ,holy ,spirit has borne ,his testimony and what was dark as midnight before is as clear as day now4 ,this explains also why it is that one who has been long in darkness concerning ,jesus ,christ so quickly comes to see the truth when he surrenders his will to ,god and seeks light from ,him4 ,when he surrenders his will to ,god1 he has put himself into that attitude towards ,god where the ,holy ,spirit can do ,his work 7,acts v4 #cb74 ,jesus says in ,john vii4 #ag1 ,r4 ,v41 8,if any man willeth to do ,his will1 he shall know of the teaching1 whether it be of ,god1 or whether ,i speak from ,myself40 ,when a man wills to do the will of ,god1 then the conditions are provided on which the ,holy ,spirit works and ,he illuminates the mind to see the truth about ,jesus and to see that ,his teaching is the very ,word of ,god4 ,john writes in ,john xx4 #ca1 8,but these are written 7these things in the ,gospel of ,john7 that ye might believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god2 and that believing ye might have life through ,his name40 ,john wrote his ,gospel for this purpose1 that men might see ,jesus as the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 through what he records1 and that they might believe that ,he is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 and that thus believing they might have life through ,his name4 ,the best book in the world to put into the hands of one who desires to know about ,jesus and to be saved is the ,gospel of ,john4 ,and yet many a man has read the ,gospel of ,john over and over and over again and not seen and believed that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god4 ,but let the same man surrender his will absolutely to ,god and ask ,god for light as he reads the ,gospel and promise ,god that he will take his stand on everything in the ,gospel that ,he shows him to be true and before the man has finished the ,gospel he will see clearly that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 and will believe and have eternal life4 ,why8 ,because he has put himself into the place where the ,holy ,spirit can take the things written in the ,gospel and interpret them and bear ,his testimony4 ,i have seen this tested and proven time and time again all around the world4 ,men have come to me and said to me that they did not believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 and many have gone farther and said they were agnostics and did not even know whether there was a personal ,god4 ,then ,i have told them to read the ,gospel of ,john1 that in that ,gospel ,john presented the evidence that ,jesus was the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god4 ,oftentimes they have told me they have read it over and over again1 and yet were not convinced that ,jesus was the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god4 ,then ,i have said to them1 8,you have not read it the right way10 and ,i have got them to surrender their will to ,god 7or in case where they were not sure there was a ,god1 have got them to take their stand upon the right to follow it wherever it might carry them74 ,then ,i have had them agree to read the ,gospel of ,john slowly and thoughtfully1 and each time before they read to look up to ,god1 if there were any ,god1 to help them to understand what they were to read and to promise ,him that they would take their stand upon whatever ,he showed them to be true1 and follow it wherever it would carry them4 ,and in every instance before they had finished the ,gospel they had come to see that ,jesus was the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 and have believed and been saved4 ,they had put themselves in that position where the ,holy ,spirit could bear ,his testimony to ,jesus ,christ and ,he had done it and through ,his testimony they saw and believed4 ,if you wish men to see the truth about ,christ1 do not depend upon your own powers of expression and persuasion1 but cast yourself upon the ,holy ,spirit and seek for them ,his testimony and see to it that they put themselves in the place where the ,holy ,spirit can testify4 ,this is the cure for both skepticism and ignorance concerning ,christ4 ,if you yourself are not clear concerning the truth about ,jesus ,christ1 seek for yourself the testimony of the ,holy ,spirit regarding ,christ4 ,read the ,scriptures1 read especially the ,gospel of ,john but do not depend upon the mere reading of the ,word1 but before you read it1 put yourself in such an attitude towards ,god by the absolute surrender of your will to ,him that the ,holy ,spirit may bear ,his testimony in your heart concerning ,jesus ,christ4 ,what we all most need is a clear and full vision of ,jesus ,christ and this comes through the testimony of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,one night a number of our students came back from the ,pacific ,garden ,mission in ,chicago and said to me1 8,we had a wonderful meeting at the mission to-night4 ,there were many drunkards and outcasts at the front who accepted ,christ40 ,the next day ,i met ,mr4 ,harry ,monroe1 the superintendent of the mission1 on the street1 and ,i said1 8,harry1 the boys say you had a wonderful meeting at the mission last night40 8,would you like to know how it came about80 he replied4 8,yes40 8,well10 he said1 8,i simply held up ,jesus ,christ and it pleased the ,holy ,spirit to illumine the face of ,jesus ,christ1 and men saw and believed40 ,it was a unique way of putting it but it was an expressive way and true to the essential facts in the case4 ,it is our part to hold up ,jesus ,christ1 and then look to the ,holy ,spirit to illumine ,his face or to take the truth about ,him and make it clear to the hearts of our hearers and ,he will do it and men will see and believe4 ,of course1 we need to be so walking towards ,god that the ,holy ,spirit may take us as the instruments through whom ,he will bear ,his testimony4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,regenerating ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,the ,apostle ,paul in ,titus iii4 #e1 ,r4 ,v41 writes1 8,not by works done in righteousness1 which we did ourselves1 but according to ,his mercy ,he saved us1 through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,in these words we are taught that the ,holy ,spirit renews men1 or makes men new1 and that through this renewing of the ,holy ,spirit1 we are saved4 ,jesus taught the same in ,john iii4 #c-e1 8,jesus answered and said unto him1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 ,except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 ,nicodemus saith unto ,him1 ,how can a man be born when he is old8 ,can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born8 ,jesus answered1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 ,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god40 ,what is regeneration8 ,regeneration is the impartation of life1 spiritual life1 to those who are dead1 spiritually dead1 through their trespasses and sins 7,eph4 ii4 #a1 ,r4 ,v474 ,it is the ,holy ,spirit who imparts this life4 ,it is true that the written ,word is the instrument which the ,holy ,spirit uses in regeneration4 ,we read in #a ,pet4 i4 #bc1 8,being born again1 not of corruptible seed1 but of incorruptible1 by the ,word of ,god1 which liveth and abideth forever40 ,we read in ,james i4 #ah1 8,of ,his own will begat ,he us with the ,word of truth1 that we should be a kind of first fruits of ,his creatures40 ,these passages make it plain that the ,word is the instrument used in regeneration1 but it is only as the ,holy ,spirit uses the instrument that the new birth results4 8,it is the ,spirit that giveth life0 7,john vi4 #fc1 ,a4 ,r4 ,v474 ,in #b ,cor4 iii4 #f1 we are told that 8the letter killeth1 but the ,spirit giveth life407#a7 ,this is sometimes interpreted to mean that the literal interpretation of ,scripture1 the interpretation that takes it in its strict grammatical sense and makes it mean what it says1 kills2 but that some spiritual interpretation1 an interpretation that 8gives the spirit of the passage10 by making it mean something it does not say1 gives life2 and those who insist upon ,scripture meaning exactly what it says are called 8deadly literalists40 ,this is a favourite perversion of ,scripture with those who do not like to take the ,bible as meaning just what it says and who find themselves driven into a corner and are looking about for some convenient way of escape4 ,if one will read the words in their context1 he will see that this thought was utterly foreign to the mind of ,paul4 ,indeed1 one who will carefully study the epistles of ,paul will find that he himself was a literalist of the literalists4 ,if literalism is deadly1 then the teachings of ,paul are among the most deadly ever written4 ,paul will build an argument upon the turn of a word1 upon a number or a tense4 ,what does the passage mean8 ,the way to find out what any passage means is to study in their context the words used4 ,paul is drawing a contrast between the ,word of ,god outside of us1 written with ink upon parchment or graven on tables of stone1 and the ,word of ,god written within us in tables that are hearts of flesh with the ,spirit of the living ,god 7v4 #c7 and he tells us that if we merely have the ,word of ,god outside us in a ,book or on parchment or on tables of stone1 that it will kill us1 that it will only bring condemnation and death1 but that if we have the ,word of ,god made a living thing in our hearts1 written upon our hearts by the ,spirit of the living ,god1 that it will bring us life47#b7 ,no number of ,bibles upon our tables or in our libraries will save us1 but the truth of the ,bible written by the ,spirit of the living ,god in our hearts will save us4 ,to put the matter of regeneration in another way2 regeneration is the impartation of a new nature1 ,god's own nature to the one who is born again 7#b ,pet4 i4 #d74 ,every human being is born into this world with a perverted nature2 his whole intellectual1 affectional and volitional nature perverted by sin4 ,no matter how excellent our human ancestry1 we come into this world with a mind that is blind to the truth of ,god4 78,the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god3 for they are foolishness unto him3 neither can he know them1 because they are spiritually discerned40 #a ,cor4 ii4 #ad47 ,with affections that are alienated from ,god1 loving the things that we ought to hate and hating the things that we ought to love4 78,now the works of the flesh are manifest1 which are these2 ,adultery1 fornication1 uncleanness1 lasciviousness1 idolatry1 witchcraft1 hatred1 variance1 emulations1 wrath1 strife1 seditions1 heresies1 envyings1 murders1 drunkenness1 revellings1 and such like40 ,gal4 v4 #ai1 #bj1 #ba47 ,with a will that is perverted1 set upon pleasing itself1 rather than pleasing ,god4 78,because the mind of the flesh is enmity against ,god2 for it is not subject to the law of ,god1 neither indeed can it be40 ,rom4 viii4 #g1 ,r4 ,v47 ,in the new birth a new intellectual1 affectional and volitional nature is imparted to us4 ,we receive the mind that sees as ,god sees1 thinks ,god's thoughts after ,him 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #ab-ad72 affections in harmony with the affections of ,god4 78,the fruit of the ,spirit is love1 joy1 peace1 long-suffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 faith1 meekness1 temperance3 against such there is no law40 ,gal4 v4 #bb1 #bc72 a will that is in harmony with the will of ,god1 that delights to do the things that please ,him4 7,like ,jesus we say1 8,my meat is to do the will of ,him that sent ,me1 and to finish ,his work40 ,john iv4 #cd2 cf4 ,john vi4 #ch2 ,gal i4 #aj47 ,it is the ,holy ,spirit who creates in us this new nature1 or imparts this new nature to us4 ,no amount of preaching1 no matter how orthodox it may be1 no amount of mere study of the ,word will regenerate unless the ,holy ,spirit works4 ,it is ,he and ,he alone who makes a man a new creature4 ,the new birth is compared in the ,bible to growth from a seed4 ,the human heart is the soil1 the ,word of ,god is the seed 7,luke viii4 #aa2 cf4 #a ,pet4 i4 #bc2 ,jas4 i4 #ah2 #a ,cor4 iv4 #ae71 every preacher or teacher of the ,word is a sower1 but the ,spirit of ,god is the ,one who quickens the seed that is thus sown and the ,divine nature springs up as the result4 ,there is abundant soil everywhere in which to sow the seed1 in the human hearts that are around about us upon every hand4 ,there is abundant seed to be sown1 any of us can find it in the granary of ,god's ,word2 and there are to-day many sowers3 but there may be soil and seed and sowers1 but unless as we sow the seed1 the ,spirit of ,god quickens it and the heart of the hearer closes around it by faith1 there will be no harvest4 ,every sower needs to see to it that he realizes his dependence upon the ,holy ,spirit to quicken the seed he sows and he needs to see to it also that he is in such relation to ,god that the ,holy ,spirit may work through him and quicken the seed he sows4 ,the ,holy ,spirit does regenerate men4 ,he has power to raise the dead4 ,he has power to impart life to those who are morally both dead and putrefying4 ,he has power to impart an entirely new nature to those whose nature now is so corrupt that to men they appear to be beyond hope4 ,how often ,i have seen it proven4 ,how often ,i have seen men and women utterly lost and ruined and vile come into a meeting scarcely knowing why they came1 and as they have sat there the ,word was spoken1 the ,spirit of ,god has quickened the ,word thus sown in their hearts and in a moment that man or woman1 by the mighty power of the ,holy ,spirit1 has become a new creation4 ,i know a man who seemed as completely abandoned and hopeless as men ever become4 ,he was about forty-five years of age4 ,he had gone off in evil courses in early boyhood4 ,he had run away from home1 had joined the navy and afterwards the army1 and learned all the vices of both4 ,he had been dishonourably discharged from the army because of his extreme dissipation and disorderliness4 ,he had found his companionships among the lowest of the low and the vilest of the vile4 ,when he would go up the street of a ,western town at night1 and merchants would hear his yell1 they would close their doors in fear4 ,but this man went one night into a revival meeting in a country church out of curiosity4 ,he made sport of the meeting that night with a boon companion who sat by his side1 but he went again the next night4 ,the ,spirit of ,god touched his heart4 ,he went forward and bowed at the altar4 ,he arose a new creation4 ,he was transformed into one of the noblest1 truest1 purest1 most unselfish1 most gentle and most ,christlike men ,i have ever known4 ,i am sometimes asked1 8,do you believe in sudden conversion80 ,i believe in something far more wonderful than sudden conversion4 ,i believe in sudden regeneration4 ,conversion is merely an outward thing1 the turning around4 ,regeneration goes down to the deepest depths of the inmost soul1 transforming thoughts1 affections1 will1 the whole inward man4 ,i believe in sudden regeneration because the ,bible teaches it and because ,i have seen it times without number4 ,i believe in sudden regeneration because ,i have experienced it4 ,we are sometimes told that 8the religion of the future will not teach sudden miraculous conversion40 ,if the religion of the future does not teach sudden miraculous conversion1 if it does not teach something far more meaningful1 sudden1 miraculous regeneration by the power of the ,holy ,spirit1 then the religion of the future will not be in conformity with the facts of experience and so will not be scientific4 ,it will miss one of the most certain and most glorious of all truths4 ,man-devised religions in the past have often missed the truth and man-devised religions in the future will doubtless do the same4 ,but the religion ,god has revealed in ,his ,word and the religion that ,god confirms in experience teaches sudden regeneration by the mighty power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if ,i did not believe in regeneration by the power of the ,holy ,spirit1 ,i would quit preaching4 ,what would be the use in facing great audiences in which there were multitudes of men and women hardened and seared1 caring for nothing but the things of the world and the flesh1 with no high and holy aspirations1 with no outlook beyond money and fame and power and pleasure1 if it were not for the regenerating power of the ,holy ,spirit8 ,but with the regenerating power of the ,holy ,spirit1 there is every use2 for the preacher can never tell where the ,spirit of ,god is going to strike and do ,his mighty work4 ,there sits before you a man who is a gambler1 or a drunkard1 or a libertine4 ,there does not seem to be much use in preaching to him1 but you can never tell but that very night1 the ,spirit of ,god will touch that man's heart and transform him into one of the holiest and most useful of men4 ,it has often occurred in the past and will doubtless often occur in the future4 ,there sits before you a woman1 who is a mere butterfly of fashion4 ,she seems to have no thought above society and pleasure and adulation4 ,why preach to her8 ,without the regenerating power of the ,holy ,spirit1 it would be foolishness and a waste of time2 but you can never tell1 perhaps this very night the ,spirit of ,god will shine in that darkened heart and open the eyes of that woman to see the beauty of ,jesus ,christ and she may receive ,him and then and there the life of ,god be imparted by the power of the ,holy ,spirit to that trifling soul4 ,the doctrine of the regenerating power of the ,holy ,spirit is a glorious doctrine4 ,it sweeps away false hopes4 ,it comes to the one who is trusting in education and culture and says1 8,education and culture are not enough4 ,you must be born again40 ,it comes to the one who is trusting in mere external morality1 and says1 8,external morality is not enough1 you must be born again40 ,it comes to the one who is trusting in the externalities of religion1 in going to church1 reading the ,bible1 saying prayers1 being confirmed1 being baptized1 partaking of the ,lord's supper1 and says1 8,the mere externalities of religion are not enough1 you must be born again40 ,it comes to the one who is trusting in turning over a new leaf1 in outward reform1 in quitting his meanness2 it says1 8,outward reform1 quitting your meanness is not enough4 ,you must be born again40 ,but in place of the vague and shallow hopes that it sweeps away1 it brings in a new hope1 a good hope1 a blessed hope1 a glorious hope4 ,it says1 8,you may be born again40 ,it comes to the one who has no desire higher than the desire for things animal or selfish or worldly and says1 8,you may become a partaker of the ,divine nature1 and love the things that ,god loves and hate the things that ,god hates4 ,you may become like ,jesus ,christ4 ,you may be born again40 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,indwelling ,,spirit ,,fully ,,and ,,forever ,,satisfying4 ,the ,holy ,spirit takes up ,his abode in the one who is born of the ,spirit4 ,the ,apostle ,paul says to the believers in ,corinth in #a ,cor4 iii4 #af1 ,r4 ,v41 8,know ye not that ye are a temple of ,god1 and that the ,spirit of ,god dwelleth in you80 ,this passage refers1 not so much to the individual believer1 as to the whole body of believers1 the ,church4 ,the ,church as a body is indwelt by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,but in #a ,cor4 vi4 #ai1 ,r4 ,v41 we read1 8,know ye not that your body is a temple of the ,holy ,ghost which is in you1 which ye have from ,god80 ,it is evident in this passage that ,paul is not speaking of the body of believers1 of the ,church as a whole1 but of the individual believer4 ,in a similar way1 the ,lord ,jesus said to ,his disciples on the night before ,his crucifixion1 8,and ,i will pray the ,father1 and ,he shall give you another ,comforter1 that ,he may abide with you forever2 ,even the ,spirit of truth2 whom the world cannot receive1 because it seeth ,him not1 neither knoweth ,him3 but ye know ,him2 for ,he dwelleth with you and shall be in you0 7,john xiv4 #af1 #ag74 ,the ,holy ,spirit dwells in every one who is born again4 ,we read in ,rom4 viii4 #i1 8,if any man have not the ,spirit of ,christ 7the ,spirit of ,christ in this verse1 as we have already seen1 does not mean merely a ,christlike spirit1 but is a name of the ,holy ,spirit7 he is none of ,his40 ,one may be a very imperfect believer but if he really is a believer in ,jesus ,christ1 if he has really been born again1 the ,spirit of ,god dwells in him4 ,it is very evident from the ,first ,epistle to the ,corinthians that the believers in ,corinth were very imperfect believers2 they were full of imperfection and there was gross sin among them4 ,but nevertheless ,paul tells them that they are temples of the ,holy ,spirit1 even when dealing with them concerning gross immoralities4 7,see #a ,cor4 vi4 #ae-ai47 ,the ,holy ,spirit dwells in every child of ,god4 ,in some1 however1 ,he dwells way back of consciousness in the hidden sanctuary of their spirit4 ,he is not allowed to take possession as ,he desires of the whole man1 spirit1 soul and body4 ,some therefore are not distinctly conscious of ,his indwelling1 but ,he is there none the less4 ,what a solemn1 and yet what a glorious thought1 that in me dwells this august ,person1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if we are children of ,god1 we are not so much to pray that the ,spirit may come and dwell in us1 for ,he does that already1 we are rather to recognize ,his presence1 ,his gracious and glorious indwelling1 and give to ,him complete control of the house ,he already inhabits1 and strive to so live as not to grieve this holy ,one1 this ,divine ,guest4 ,we shall see later1 however1 that it is right to pray for the filling or baptism with the ,spirit4 ,what a thought it gives of the hallowedness and sacredness of the body1 to think of the ,holy ,spirit dwelling within us4 ,how considerately we ought to treat these bodies and how sensitively we ought to shun everything that will defile them4 ,how carefully we ought to walk in all things so as not to grieve ,him who dwells within us4 ,this indwelling ,spirit is a source of full and everlasting satisfaction and life4 ,jesus says in ,john iv4 #ad1 ,r4 ,v41 8,whosoever drinketh of the water that ,i shall give him shall never thirst2 but the water that ,i shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto 7better #8into' as in ,a4 ,v47 eternal life40 ,jesus was talking to the woman of ,samaria by the well at ,sychar4 ,she had said to ,him1 8,art ,thou greater than our father ,jacob1 who gave us the well and drank thereof himself1 and his children and his cattle80 ,then ,jesus answered and said unto her1 8,whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again40 ,how true that is of every earthly fountain4 ,no matter how deeply we drink we shall thirst again4 ,no earthly spring of satisfaction ever fully satisfies4 ,we may drink of the fountain of wealth as deeply as we may1 it will not satisfy long4 ,we shall thirst again4 ,we may drink of the fountain of fame as deeply as any man ever drank1 the satisfaction is but for an hour4 ,we may drink of the fountain of worldly pleasure1 of human science and philosophy and of earthly learning1 we may even drink of the fountain of human love1 none will satisfy long2 we shall thirst again4 ,but then ,jesus went on to say1 8,but whosoever drinketh of the water that ,i shall give him shall never thirst1 but the water that ,i shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life40 ,the water that ,jesus ,christ gives is the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this ,john tells us in the most explicit language in ,john vii4 #cg-ci1 8,in the last day1 that great day of the feast1 ,jesus stood and cried1 saying1 ,if any man thirst1 let him come unto ,me and drink4 ,he that believeth on ,me1 as the ,scripture hath said1 out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water4 7,but this spake ,he of the ,spirit1 which they that believe on ,him should receive470 ,the ,holy ,spirit fully and forever satisfies the one who receives ,him4 ,he becomes within him a well of water springing up1 ever springing up1 into everlasting life4 ,it is a great thing to have a well that you can carry with you2 to have a well that is within you2 to have your source of satisfaction1 not in the things outside yourself1 but in a well within and that is always within1 and that is always springing up in freshness and power2 to have our well of satisfaction and joy within us4 ,we are then independent of our environment4 ,it matters little whether we have health or sickness1 prosperity or adversity1 our source of joy is within and is ever springing up4 ,it matters comparatively little even whether we have our friends with us or are separated from them1 separated even by what men call death1 this fountain within is always gushing up and our souls are satisfied4 ,sometimes this fountain within gushes up with greatest power and fullness in the days of deepest bereavement4 ,at such a time all earthly satisfactions fail4 ,what satisfaction is there in money1 or worldly pleasure1 in the theatre or the opera or the dance1 in fame or power or human learning1 when some loved one is taken from us8 ,but in the hours when those that we loved dearest upon earth are taken from us1 then it is that the spring of joy of the indwelling ,spirit of ,god bursts forth with fullest flow1 sorrow and sighing flee away and our own spirits are filled with peace and ecstasy4 ,we have beauty for ashes1 the oil of joy for mourning1 the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness 7,isa4 lxi4 #c74 ,if the experience were not too sacred to put in print1 ,i could tell of a moment of sudden and overwhelming bereavement and sorrow1 when it seemed as if ,i would be crushed1 when ,i cried aloud in an agony that seemed unendurable1 when suddenly and instantly this fountain of the ,holy ,spirit within burst forth and ,i knew such a rest and joy as ,i had rarely known before1 and my whole being was suffused with the oil of gladness4 ,the one who has the ,spirit of ,god dwelling within as a well springing up into everlasting life is independent of the world's pleasures4 ,he does not need to run after the theatre and the opera and the dance and the cards and the other pleasures without which life does not seem worth living to those who have not received the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he gives these things up1 not so much because he thinks they are wrong1 as because he has something so much better4 ,he loses all taste for them4 ,a lady once came to ,mr4 ,moody and said1 8,mr4 ,moody1 ,i do not like you40 ,he asked1 8,why not80 ,she said1 8,because you are too narrow40 8,narrow6 ,i did not know that ,i was narrow40 8,yes1 you are too narrow4 ,you don't believe in the theatre2 you don't believe in cards2 you don't believe in dancing40 8,how do you know ,i don't believe in the theatre80 he asked4 8,oh10 she said1 8,i know you don't40 ,mr4 ,moody replied1 8,i go to the theatre whenever ,i want to40 8,what10 cried the woman1 8you go to the theatre whenever you want to80 8,yes1 ,i go to the theatre whenever ,i want to40 8,oh10 she said1 8,mr4 ,moody1 you are a much broader man than ,i thought you were4 ,i am so glad to hear you say it1 that you go to the theatre whenever you want to40 8,yes1 ,i go to the theatre whenever ,i want to4 ,i don't want to40 ,any one who has really received the ,holy ,spirit1 and in whom the ,holy ,spirit dwells and is unhindered in ,his working will not want to4 ,why is it then that so many professed ,christians do go after these worldly amusements8 ,for one of two reasons2 either because they have never definitely received the ,holy ,spirit1 or else because the fountain is choked4 ,it is quite possible for a fountain to become choked4 ,the best well in one of our inland cities was choked and dry for many months because an old rag carpet had been thrust into the opening from which the water flowed4 ,when the rag was pulled out1 the water flowed again pure and cool and invigorating4 ,there are many in the ,church to-day who once knew the matchless joy of the ,holy ,spirit1 but some sin or worldly conformity1 some act of disobedience1 more or less conscious disobedience1 to ,god has come in and the fountain is choked4 ,let us pull out the old rags to-day that this wondrous fountain may burst forth again1 springing up every day and hour into everlasting life4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,setting ,,the ,,believer ,,free ,,from ,,the ,,power ,,of ,,indwelling ,,sin4 ,in ,rom4 viii4 #b the ,apostle ,paul writes1 8,the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death40 ,what the law of sin and death is we learn from the preceding chapter1 the ninth to the twenty-fourth verses4 ,paul tells us that there was a time in his life when he was 8alive apart from the law0 7v4 #i74 ,but the time came when he was brought face to face with the law of ,god2 he saw that this law was holy and the commandment holy and just and good4 ,and he made up his mind to keep this holy and just and good law of ,god4 ,but he soon discovered that beside this law of ,god outside him1 which was holy and just and good1 that there was another law inside him directly contrary to this law of ,god outside him4 ,while the law of ,god outside him said1 8,this good thing0 and 8this good thing0 and 8this good thing0 and 8this good thing thou shalt do10 the law within him said1 8,you cannot do this good thing that you would20 and a fierce combat ensued between this holy and just and good law without him which ,paul himself approved after the inward man1 and this other law in his members which warred against the law of his mind and kept constantly saying1 8,you cannot do the good that you would40 ,but this law in his members 7the law that the good that he would do1 he did not1 but the evil that he would not he constantly did1 v4 #ai7 gained the victory4 ,paul's attempt to keep the law of ,god resulted in total failure4 ,he found himself sinking deeper and deeper into the mire of sin1 constrained and dragged down by this law of sin in his members1 until at last he cried out1 8,oh1 wretched man that ,i am1 who shall deliver me out of the body of this death80 7v4 #bd1 ,r4 ,v474 ,then ,paul made another discovery4 ,he found that in addition to the two laws that he had already found1 the law of ,god without him1 holy and just and good1 and the law of sin and death within him1 the law that the good he would he could not do and the evil he would not1 he must keep on doing1 there was a third law1 8the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus10 and this third law read this way1 8,the righteousness which you cannot achieve in your own strength by the power of your own will approving the law of ,god1 the righteousness which the law of ,god without you1 holy and just and good though it is1 cannot accomplish in you1 in that it is weak through your flesh1 the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus can produce in you so that the righteousness that the law requires may be fulfilled in you1 if you will not walk after the flesh but after the ,spirit40 ,in other words when we come to the end of ourselves1 when we fully realize our own inability to keep the law of ,god and in utter helplessness look up to the ,holy ,spirit in ,christ ,jesus to do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves1 and surrender our every thought and every purpose and every desire and every affection to ,his absolute control and thus walk after the ,spirit1 the ,spirit does take control and set us free from the power of sin that dwells in us and brings our whole lives into conformity to the will of ,god4 ,it is the privilege of the child of ,god in the power of the ,holy ,spirit to have victory over sin every day and every hour and every moment4 ,there are many professed ,christians to-day living in the experience that ,paul described in ,rom4 vii4 #i-bd4 ,each day is a day of defeat and if at the close of the day1 they review their lives they must cry1 8,oh1 wretched man that ,i am1 who shall deliver me out of the body of this death80 ,there are some who even go so far as to reason that this is the normal ,christian life1 but ,paul tells us distinctly that this was 8when the commandment came0 7v4 #i71 not when the ,spirit came2 that it is the experience under law and not in the ,spirit4 ,the pronoun 8,i0 occurs twenty-seven times in these fifteen verses and the ,holy ,spirit is not found once1 whereas in the eighth chapter of ,romans the pronoun 8,i0 is found only twice in the whole chapter and the ,holy ,spirit appears constantly4 ,again ,paul tells us in the fourteenth verse that this was his experience as 8carnal1 sold under sin40 ,certainly1 that does not describe the normal ,christian experience4 ,on the other hand in ,rom4 viii4 #i we are told how not to be in the flesh but in the ,spirit4 ,in the eighth chapter of ,romans we have a picture of the true ,christian life1 the life that is possible to each one of us and that ,god expects from each one of us4 ,here we have a life where not merely the commandment comes but the ,spirit comes1 and works obedience to the commandment and brings us complete victory over the law of sin and death4 ,here we have life1 not in the flesh1 but in the ,spirit1 where we not only see the beauty of the law 7,rom4 vii4 #bb7 but where the ,spirit imparts power to keep it 7,rom4 viii4 #d74 ,we still have the flesh but we are not in the flesh and we do not live after the flesh4 ,we 8through the ,spirit do mortify the deeds of the body0 7v4 #ac74 ,the desires of the body are still there1 desires which if made the rule of our life1 would lead us into sin1 but we day by day by the power of the ,spirit do put to death the deeds to which the desires of the body would lead us4 ,we walk by the ,spirit and therefore do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh 7,gal4 v4 #af1 ,r4 ,v474 ,we have crucified the flesh with the passions and lusts thereof 7,gal4 v4 #bd1 ,r4 ,v474 ,it would be going too far to say we had still a carnal nature1 for a carnal nature is a nature governed by the flesh2 but we have the flesh1 but in the ,spirit's power1 it is our privilege to get daily1 hourly1 constant victory over the flesh and over sin4 ,but this victory is not in ourselves1 nor in any strength of our own4 ,left to ourselves1 deserted of the ,spirit of ,god1 we would be as helpless as ever4 ,it is still true that in us1 that is in our flesh1 dwelleth no good thing 7,rom4 vii4 #ah74 ,it is all in the power of the indwelling ,spirit1 but the ,spirit's power may be in such fullness that one is not even conscious of the presence of the flesh4 ,it seems as if it were dead and gone forever1 but it is only kept in place of death by the ,holy ,spirit's power4 ,if for one moment we were to get our eyes off from ,jesus ,christ1 if we were to neglect the daily study of the ,word and prayer1 down we would go4 ,we must live in the ,spirit and walk in the ,spirit if we would have continuous victory 7,gal4 v4 #af1 #be74 ,the life of the ,spirit within us must be maintained by the study of the ,word and prayer4 ,one of the saddest things ever witnessed is the way in which some people who have entered by the ,spirit's power into a life of victory become self-confident and fancy that the victory is in themselves1 and that they can safely neglect the study of the ,word and prayer4 ,the depths to which such sometimes fall is appalling4 ,each of us needs to lay to heart the inspired words of the ,apostle1 8,wherefore1 let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall0 7#a ,cor4 x4 #ab74 ,i once knew a man who seemed to make extraordinary strides in the ,christian life4 ,he became a teacher of others and was greatly blessed to thousands4 ,it seemed to me that he was becoming self-confident and ,i trembled for him4 ,i invited him to my room and we had a long heart to heart conversation4 ,i told him frankly that it seemed as if he were going perilously near exceedingly dangerous ground4 ,i said that ,i found it safer at the close of each day not to be too confident that there had been no failures nor defeats that day but to go alone with ,god and ask ,him to search my heart and show me if there was anything in my outward or inward life that was displeasing to ,him1 and that very often failures were brought to light that must be confessed as sin4 8,no10 he replied1 8,i do not need to do that4 ,even if ,i should do something wrong1 ,i would see it at once4 ,i keep very short accounts with ,god1 and ,i would confess it at once40 ,i said it seemed to me as if it would be safer to take time alone with ,god for ,god to search us through and through1 that while we might not know anything against ourselves1 ,god might know something against us 7#a ,cor4 iv4 #d1 ,r4 ,v471 and ,he would bring it to light and our failure could be confessed and put away4 8,no10 he said1 8he did not feel that that was necessary40 ,satan took advantage of his self-confidence4 ,he fell into most appalling sin1 and though he has since confessed and professed repentance1 he has been utterly set aside from ,god's service4 ,in ,john viii4 #cb we read1 8,ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free40 ,in this verse it is the truth1 or the ,word of ,god1 that sets us free from the power of sin and gives us victory4 ,and in ,ps4 cxix4 #aa we read1 8,thy ,word have ,i hid in my heart1 that ,i might not sin against ,thee40 ,here again it is the indwelling ,word that keeps us free from sin4 ,in this matter as in everything else what in one place is attributed to the ,holy ,spirit is elsewhere attributed to the ,word4 ,the explanation1 of course1 is that the ,holy ,spirit works through the ,word1 and it is futile to talk of the ,holy ,spirit dwelling in us if we neglect the ,word4 ,if we are not feeding on the ,word1 we are not walking after the ,spirit and we shall not have victory over the flesh and over sin4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,forming ,,christ ,,within ,,us4 ,it is a wonderful and deeply significant prayer that ,paul offers in ,eph4 iii4 #af-ai for the believers in ,ephesus and for all believers who read the ,epistle4 ,paul writes1 8,for this cause ,i bow my knees unto the ,father1 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named1 that ,he would grant you1 according to the riches of ,his glory1 that ye may be strengthened with power through ,his ,spirit in the inward man2 that ,christ may dwell in your hearts through faith2 to the end that ye1 being rooted and grounded in love1 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length1 and height and depth1 and to know the love of ,christ which passeth knowledge1 that ye may be filled unto all the fullness of ,god0 7,r4 ,v474 ,we have here an advance in the thought over that which we have just been studying in the preceding chapter4 ,it is the carrying out of the former work to its completion4 ,here the power of the ,spirit manifests itself1 not merely in giving us victory over sin but in four things3 ,i4 ,in ,christ dwelling in our hearts4 ,the word translated 8dwell0 in this passage is a very strong word4 ,it means literally1 8to dwell down10 8to settle10 8to dwell deep40 ,it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to form the living ,christ within us1 dwelling deep down in the deepest depths of our being4 ,we have already seen that this was a part of the significance of the name sometimes used of the ,holy ,spirit1 8the ,spirit of ,christ40 ,in ,christ on the cross of ,calvary1 made an atoning sacrifice for sin1 bearing the curse of the broken law in our place1 we have ,christ for us4 ,but by the power of the ,holy ,spirit bestowed upon us by the risen ,christ we have ,christ in us4 ,herein lies the secret of a ,christlike life4 ,we hear a great deal in these days about doing as ,jesus would do4 ,certainly we ought as ,christians to live like ,christ4 8,he that saith he abideth in ,him1 ought himself so to walk even as ,he walked0 7#a ,john ii4 #f74 ,but any attempt on our part to imitate ,christ in our own strength will only result in utter disappointment and despair4 ,there is nothing more futile that we can possibly attempt than to imitate ,christ in the power of our own will4 ,if we fancy that we succeed it will be simply because we have a very incomplete knowledge of ,christ4 ,the more we study ,him1 and the more perfectly we understand ,his conduct1 the more clearly will we see how far short we have come from imitating ,him4 ,but ,god does not demand of us the impossible1 ,he does not demand of us that we imitate ,christ in our own strength4 ,he offers to us something infinitely better1 ,he offers to form ,christ in us by the power of ,his ,holy ,spirit4 ,and when ,christ is thus formed in us by the ,holy ,spirit's power1 all we have to do is to let this indwelling ,christ live out ,his own life in us1 and then we shall be like ,christ without struggle and effort of our own4 ,a woman1 who had a deep knowledge of the ,word and a rare experience of the fullness that there is in ,christ1 stood one morning before a body of ministers as they plied her with questions4 8,do you mean to say1 ,mrs4 ,h----10 one of the ministers asked1 8that you are holy80 ,quickly but very meekly and gently1 the elect lady replied1 8,christ in me is holy40 ,no1 we are not holy4 ,to the end of the chapter in and of ourselves we are full of weakness and failure1 but the ,holy ,spirit is able to form within us the ,holy ,one of ,god1 the indwelling ,christ1 and ,he will live out ,his life through us in all the humblest relations of life as well as in those relations of life that are considered greater4 ,he will live out ,his life through the mother in the home1 through the day-labourer in the pit1 through the business man in his office--everywhere4 ,,ii4 ,in our being rooted and grounded in love 7v4 #ag74 ,paul multiplies figures here4 ,the first figure is taken from the tree shooting its roots down deep into the earth and taking fast hold upon it4 ,the second figure is taken from a great building with its foundations laid deep in the earth on the rock4 ,paul therefore tells us that by the strengthening of the ,spirit in the inward man we send the roots of our life down deep into the soil of love and also that the foundations of the superstructure of our character are built upon the rock of love4 ,love is the sum of holiness1 the fulfilling of the law 7,rom4 xiii4 #aj72 love is what we all most need in our relations to ,god1 to ,jesus ,christ and to one another2 and it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to root and ground our lives in love4 ,there is the most intimate relation between ,christ being formed within us1 or made to dwell in us1 and our being rooted and grounded in love1 for ,jesus ,christ ,himself is the absolutely perfect embodiment of divine love4 ,,iii4 ,in our being made strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth1 and to know the love of ,christ which passeth knowledge4 ,it is not enough that we love1 we must know the love of ,christ1 but that love passeth knowledge4 ,it is so broad1 so long1 so high1 so deep1 that no one can comprehend it4 ,but we can 8apprehend0 it1 we can lay hold upon it2 we can make it our own2 we can hold it before us as the object of our meditation1 our wonder1 and our joy4 ,but it is only in the power of the ,holy ,spirit that we can thus apprehend it4 ,the mind cannot grasp it at all1 in its own native strength4 ,a man untaught and unstrengthened by the ,spirit of ,god may talk about the love of ,christ1 he may write poetry about it1 he may go into rhapsodies over it1 but it is only words1 words1 words4 ,there is no real apprehension4 ,but the ,spirit of ,god makes us strong to really apprehend it in all its breadth1 in all its length1 in all its depth1 and in all its height4 ,,iv4 ,in our being 8filled unto ,,all the fullness of ,god40 ,there is a very important change between the ,authorized and ,revised ,version4 ,the ,authorized ,version reads 8,filled with all the fullness of ,god40 ,the ,revised ,version reads more exactly 8filled unto all the fullness of ,god40 ,it is no wonder that the translators of the ,authorized ,version staggered at what ,paul said and sought to tone down the full force of his words4 ,to be filled with all the fullness of ,god would not be so wonderful1 for it is an easy matter to fill a pint cup with all the fullness of the ocean1 a single dip will do it4 ,but it would be an impossibility indeed to fill a pint cup unto all the fullness of the ocean1 until all the fullness that there is in the ocean is in that pint cup4 ,but it is seemingly a more impossible task that the ,holy ,spirit undertakes to do for us1 to fill us 8unto all the fullness0 of the infinite ,god1 to fill us until all the intellectual and moral fullness that there is in ,god is in us4 ,but this is the believer's destiny1 we are 8heirs of ,god and joint-heirs with ,jesus ,christ0 7,rom4 viii4 #ag71 i4 e41 we are heirs of ,god to the extent that ,jesus ,christ is an heir of ,god2 that is1 we are heirs to all ,god is and all ,god has4 ,it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to apply to us that which is already ours in ,christ4 ,it is ,his work to make ours experimentally all ,god has and all ,god is1 until the work is consummated in our being 8filled unto all the fullness of ,god40 ,this is not the work of a moment1 nor a day1 nor a week1 nor a month1 nor a year1 but the ,holy ,spirit day by day puts ,his hand1 as it were1 into the fullness of ,god and conveys to us what ,he has taken therefrom and puts it into us1 and then again ,he puts ,his hand into the fullness that there is in ,god and conveys to us what is taken therefrom1 and puts it into us1 and this wonderful process goes on day after day and week after week and month after month1 and year after year1 and never ends until we are 8filled unto all the fullness of ,god40 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,bringing ,,forth ,,in ,,the ,,believer ,,christlike ,,graces ,,of ,,character4 ,there is a singular charm1 a charm that one can scarcely explain1 in the words of ,paul in ,gal4 v4 #bb1 #bc1 ,r4 ,v41 8,the fruit of the ,spirit is love1 joy1 peace1 longsuffering1 kindness1 goodness1 faithfulness1 meekness1 temperance40 ,what a catalogue we have here of lovely moral characteristics4 ,paul tells us that they are the fruit of the ,spirit1 that is1 if the ,holy ,spirit is given control of our lives1 this is the fruit that ,he will bear4 ,all real beauty of character1 all real ,christlikeness in us1 is the ,holy ,spirit's work2 it is ,his fruit2 ,he produces it2 ,he bears it1 not we4 ,it is well to notice that these graces are not said to be the fruits of the ,spirit but the fruit1 i4 e41 if the ,spirit is given control of our life1 ,he will not bear one of these as fruit in one person and another as fruit in another person1 but this will be the one fruit of many flavours that ,he produces in each one4 ,there is also a unity of origin running throughout all the multiplicity of manifestation4 ,it is a beautiful life that is set forth in these verses4 ,every word is worthy of earnest study and profound meditation4 ,think of these words one by one2 8love0--8joy0--8peace0--8longsuffering0- -8kindness0--8goodness0--8faith0 7or 8faithfulness10 ,r4 ,v42 faith is the better translation if properly understood4 ,the word is deeper than faithfulness4 ,it is a real faith that results in faithfulness7--8meekness0--8temperance0 7or a life under perfect control by the power of the ,holy ,spirit74 ,we have here a perfect picture of the life of ,jesus ,christ ,himself4 ,is not this the life that we all long for1 the ,christlike life8 ,but this life is not natural to us and is not attainable by us by any effort of what we are in ourselves4 ,the life that is natural to us is set forth in the three preceding verses3 8,now the works of the flesh are manifest1 which are these1 fornication1 uncleanness1 lasciviousness1 idolatry1 sorcery1 enmities1 strife1 jealousies1 wraths1 factions1 divisions1 heresies1 envyings1 drunkenness1 revellings and such like0 7,gal4 v4 #ba1 ,r4 ,v474 ,all these works of the flesh will not manifest themselves in each individual2 some will manifest themselves in one1 others in others1 but they have one common source1 the flesh1 and if we live in the flesh1 this is the kind of a life that we will live4 ,it is the life that is natural to us4 ,but when the indwelling ,spirit is given full control in the one ,he inhabits1 when we are brought to realize the utter badness of the flesh and give up in hopeless despair of ever attaining to anything in its power1 when1 in other words1 we come to the end of ourselves1 and just give over the whole work of making us what we ought to be to the indwelling ,holy ,spirit1 then and only then1 these holy graces of character1 which are set forth in ,gal4 v4 #bb1 #bc1 are ,his fruit in our lives4 ,do you wish these graces in your character and life8 ,do you really wish them8 ,then renounce self utterly and all its strivings after holiness1 give up any thought that you can ever attain to anything really morally beautiful in your own strength and let the ,holy ,spirit1 who already dwells in you 7if you are a child of ,god7 take full control and bear ,his own glorious fruit in your daily life4 ,we get very much the same thought from a different point of view in the second chapter and twentieth verse1 ,a4 ,r4 ,v41 8,i have been crucified with ,christ2 and it is no longer ,i that live1 but ,christ liveth in me3 and that life which ,i now live in the flesh ,i live in faith1 the faith which is in the ,son of ,god1 who loved me and gave ,himself up for me40 ,we hear a great deal in these days about 8,ethical ,culture10 which usually means the cultivation of the flesh until it bears the fruit of the ,spirit4 ,it cannot be done2 no more than thorns can be made to bear figs and the bramble bush grapes 7,luke vi4 #dd2 ,matt4 xii4 #cc74 ,we hear also a great deal about 8character building40 ,that may be all very well if you bear constantly in mind that the ,holy ,spirit must do the building1 and even then it is not so much building as fruit bearing4 7,see1 however1 #b ,pet4 i4 #e-g47 ,we hear also a great deal about 8cultivating graces of character10 but we must always bear it clearly in mind that the way to cultivate true graces of character is by submitting ourselves utterly to the ,spirit to do ,his work and bear ,his fruit4 ,this is 8sanctification of the ,spirit0 7#a ,pet4 i4 #b2 #b ,thess4 ii4 #ac74 ,there is a sense1 however1 in which cultivating graces of character is right3 viz41 we look at ,jesus ,christ to see what ,he is and what we therefore ought to be2 then we look to the ,holy ,spirit to make us this that we ought to be and thus1 8reflecting as a mirror the glory of the ,lord1 we are transformed into the same image from glory to glory1 even as from the ,lord the ,spirit0 7#b ,cor4 iii4 #ah1 ,r4 ,v474 ,settle it1 however1 clearly and forever that the flesh can never bear this fruit1 that you can never attain to these things by your own effort that they are 8the fruit of the ,spirit40 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,guiding ,,the ,,believer ,,into ,a ,,life ,,as ,a ,,son4 ,the ,apostle ,paul writes in ,rom4 viii4 #ad1 ,r4 ,v41 8,for as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 these are the sons of ,god40 ,in this passage we see the ,holy ,spirit taking the conduct of the believer's life4 ,a true ,christian life is a personally conducted life1 conducted at every turn by a ,divine ,person4 ,it is the believer's privilege to be absolutely set free from all care and worry and anxiety as to the decisions which we must make at any turn of life4 ,the ,holy ,spirit undertakes all that responsibility for us4 ,a true ,christian life is not one governed by a long set of rules without us1 but led by a living and ever-present ,person within us4 ,it is in this connection that ,paul says1 8,for ye received not the spirit of bondage again to fear40 ,a life governed by rules without one is a life of bondage4 ,there is always fear that we haven't made quite rules enough1 and always the dread that in an unguarded moment we may have broken some of the rules which we have made4 ,the life that many professed ,christians lead is one of awful bondage2 for they have put upon themselves a yoke more grievous to bear than that of the ancient ,mosaic law concerning which ,peter said to the ,jews of his time1 that neither they nor their fathers had been able to bear it 7,acts xv4 #aj74 ,many ,christians have a long list of self-made rules1 8,thou shalt do this10 and 8,thou shalt do this10 and 8,thou shalt do this10 and 8,thou shalt not do that10 and 8,thou shalt not do that10 and 8,thou shalt not do that02 and if by any chance they break one of these self-made rules1 or forget to keep one of them1 they are at once filled with an awful dread that they have brought upon themselves the displeasure of ,god 7and they even sometimes fancy that they have committed the unpardonable sin74 ,this is not ,christianity1 this is legalism4 8,we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear10 we have received the ,spirit who gives us the place of sons 7,rom4 viii4 #ae74 ,our lives should not be governed by a set of rules without us but by the loving ,spirit of ,adoption within us4 ,we should believe the teaching of ,god's ,word that the ,spirit of ,god's ,son dwells within us and we should surrender the absolute control of our life to ,him and look to ,him to guide us at every turn of life4 ,he will do it if we only surrender to ,him to do it and trust ,him to do it4 ,if in a moment of thoughtlessness1 we go our own way instead of ,his1 we will not be filled with an overwhelming sense of condemnation and of fear of an offended ,god1 but we will go to ,god as our ,father1 confess our going astray1 believe that ,he forgives us fully because ,he says so 7#a ,john i4 #i7 and go on light and happy of heart to obey ,him and be led by ,his ,spirit4 ,being led by the ,spirit of ,god does not mean for a moment that we will do things that the written ,word of ,god tells us not to do4 ,the ,holy ,spirit never leads men contrary to the ,book of which ,he ,himself is the ,author4 ,and if there is some spirit which is leading us to do something that is contrary to the explicit teachings of ,jesus1 or the ,apostles1 we may be perfectly sure that this spirit who is leading us is not the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this point needs to be emphasized in our day1 for there are not a few who give themselves over to the leading of some spirit1 whom they say is the ,holy ,spirit1 but who is leading them to do things explicitly forbidden in the ,word4 ,we must always remember that many false spirits and false prophets are gone out into the world 7#a ,john iv4 #a74 ,there are many who are so anxious to be led by some unseen power that they are ready to surrender the conduct of their lives to any spiritual influence or unseen person4 ,in this way1 they open their lives to the conduct and malevolent influence of evil spirits to the utter wreck and ruin of their lives4 ,a man who made great professions of piety once came to me and said that the ,holy ,spirit was leading him and 8a sweet ,christian woman10 whom he had met1 to contemplate marriage4 8,why10 ,i said1 in astonishment1 8you already have one wife40 8,yes10 he said1 8but you know we are not congenial1 and we have not lived together for years40 8,yes10 ,i replied1 8,i know you have not lived together for years1 and ,i have looked into the matter1 and ,i believe that the blame for that lies largely at your door4 ,in any event1 she is your wife4 ,you have no reason to suppose she has been untrue to you1 and ,jesus ,christ explicitly teaches that if you marry another while she lives you commit adultery0 7,luke xvi4 #ah74 8,oh1 but10 the man said1 8the ,spirit of ,god is leading us to love one another and to see that we ought to marry one another40 8,you lie1 and you blaspheme10 ,i replied4 8,any spirit that is leading you to disobey the plain teaching of ,jesus ,christ is not the ,spirit of ,god but some spirit of the devil40 ,this perhaps was an extreme case1 but cases of essentially the same character are not rare4 ,many professed ,christians seek to justify themselves in doing things which are explicitly forbidden in the ,word by saying that they are led by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,not long ago1 ,i protested to the leaders in a ,christian assembly where at each meeting many professed to speak with tongues in distinct violation of the teaching of the ,holy ,spirit through the ,apostle ,paul in #a ,cor4 xiv4 #bg1 #bh 7that not more than two or at the most1 three1 shall speak in a tongue in one gathering and that not even one shall speak unless there was an interpreter1 and that no two shall speak at the same time74 ,the defense that they made was that the ,holy ,spirit led them to speak several at a time and many in a single meeting and that they must obey the ,holy ,spirit1 and in such a case as this were not subject to the ,word4 ,the ,holy ,spirit never contradicts ,himself4 ,he never leads the individual to do that which in the written ,word ,he has commanded us all not to do4 ,any leading of the ,spirit must be tested by that which we know to be the leading of the ,spirit in the ,word4 ,but while we need to be on our guard against the leading of false spirits1 it is our privilege to be led by the ,holy ,spirit1 and to lead a life free from the bondage of rules and free from the anxiety that we shall not go wrong1 a life as children whose ,father has sent an unerring ,guide to lead them all the way4 ,those who are thus led by the ,spirit of ,god are 8sons of ,god10 that is1 they are not merely children of ,god1 born it is true of the ,father1 but immature1 but they are the grown children1 the mature children of ,god2 they are no longer babes but sons4 ,the ,apostle ,paul draws a contrast in ,gal4 iv4 #a-g between the babe under the tutelage of the law and differing nothing from a servant1 and the full grown son who is no more a servant but a son walking in joyous liberty4 ,it sometimes seems as if comparatively few ,christians to-day had really thrown off the bondage of law1 rules outside themselves1 and entered into the joyous liberty of sons4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,bearing ,,witness ,,to ,,our ,,sonship4 ,one of the most precious passages in the ,bible regarding the work of the ,holy ,spirit is found in ,rom4 viii4 #ae1 #af1 ,r4 ,v41 8,for ye received not the spirit of bondage again to fear2 but ye received the spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry ,abba1 ,father4 ,the ,spirit ,himself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god40 ,there are two witnesses to our sonship1 first1 our own spirit1 taking ,god at ,his ,word 78,as many as received ,him1 to them gave ,he power to become the sons of ,god10 ,john i4 #ab71 bears witness to our sonship4 ,our own spirit unhesitatingly affirms that what ,god says is true that we are sons of ,god because ,god says so4 ,but there is another witness to our sonship1 namely1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he bears witness together with our spirit4 8,together with0 is the force of the ,greek used in this passage4 ,it does not say that ,he bears witness to our spirit but 8together with0 it4 ,how ,he does this is explained in ,gal iv4 #f1 8,because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of ,his ,son into your hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father40 ,when we have received ,jesus ,christ as our ,saviour and accepted ,god's testimony concerning ,christ that through ,him we have become sons1 the ,spirit of ,his ,son comes into our hearts filling them with an overwhelming sense of sonship1 and crying through our hearts1 8,abba1 ,father40 ,the natural attitude of our hearts towards ,god is not that of sons4 ,we may call ,him ,father with our lips1 as when for example we repeat in a formal way1 the prayer that ,jesus taught us1 8,our ,father1 which art in heaven10 but there is no real sense that ,he is our ,father4 ,our calling ,him so is mere words4 ,we do not really trust ,him4 ,we do not love to come into ,his presence2 we do not love to look up into ,his face with a sense of wonderful joy and trust because we are talking to our ,father4 ,we dread ,god4 ,we come to ,him in prayer because we think we ought to and perhaps we are afraid of what might happen if we did not4 ,but when the ,spirit of ,his ,son bears witness together with our spirit to our sonship1 then we are filled and thrilled with the sense that we are sons4 ,we trust ,him as we never even trusted our earthly ,father4 ,there is even less fear of ,him than there was of our earthly father4 ,reverence there is1 awe1 but oh6 such a sense of wonderful childlike trust4 ,notice when it is that the ,spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of ,god4 ,we have the order of experience in the order of the verses in ,rom4 viii4 ,first we see the ,holy ,spirit setting us free from the law of sin and death1 and consequently1 the righteousness of the law fulfilled in us who walk not after the law but after the ,spirit 7vs4 #b-d72 then we have the believer not minding the things of the flesh but the things of the ,spirit 7v4 #e72 then we have the believer day by day through the ,spirit putting to death the deeds of the body 7v4 #ac72 then we have the believer led by the ,spirit of ,god2 then and only then1 we have the ,spirit bearing witness to our sonship4 ,there are many seeking the witness of the ,spirit to their sonship in the wrong place4 ,they practically demand the witness of the ,spirit to their sonship before they have even confessed their acceptance of ,christ1 and certainly before they have surrendered their lives fully to the control of the indwelling ,spirit of ,god4 ,no1 let us seek things in their right order4 ,let us accept ,jesus ,christ as our ,saviour1 and surrender to ,him as our ,lord and ,master1 because ,god commands us to do so2 let us confess ,him before the world because ,god commands that 7,matt4 x4 #cb1 #cc2 ,rom4 x4 #i1 #aj72 let us assert that our sins are forgiven1 that we have eternal life1 that we are sons of ,god because ,god says so in ,his ,word and we are unwilling to make ,god a liar by doubting ,him 7,acts x4 #dc2 xiii4 #ch1 #ci2 #a ,john v4 #aj-ac2 ,john v4 #bd2 ,john i4 #ab72 let us surrender our lives to the control of the ,spirit of ,life1 looking to ,him to set us free from the law of sin and death2 let us set our minds1 not upon the things of the flesh but the things of the ,spirit2 let us through the ,spirit day by day put to death the deeds of the body2 let us give our lives up to be led by the ,spirit of ,god in all things2 and then let us simply trust ,god to send the ,spirit of ,his ,son into our hearts filling us with a sense of sonship1 crying1 8,abba1 ,father10 and ,he will do it4 ,god1 our ,father1 longs that we shall know and realize that we are ,his sons4 ,he longs to hear us call ,him ,father from hearts that realize what they say1 and that trust ,him without a fear or anxiety4 ,he is our ,father1 ,he alone in all the universe realizes the fullness of meaning that there is in that wonderful word 8,father10 and it brings joy to ,him to have us realize that ,he is our ,father and to call ,him so4 ,some years ago there was a father in the state of ,illinois1 who had a child who had been deaf and dumb from her birth4 ,it was a sad day in that home when they came to realize that that little child was deaf and would never hear and1 as they thought1 would never speak4 ,the father heard of an institution in ,jacksonville1 ,ill41 where deaf children were taught to talk4 ,he took this little child to the institution and put her in charge of the superintendent4 ,after the child had been there some time1 the superintendent wrote telling the father that he would better come and visit his child4 ,a day was appointed and the child was told that her father was coming4 ,as the hour approached1 she sat up in the window1 watching the gate for her father to pass through4 ,the moment he entered the gate she saw him1 ran down the stairs and ran out on the lawn1 met him1 looked up into his face and lifted up her hands and said1 8,papa40 ,when that father heard the dumb lips of his child speak for the first time and frame that sweet word 8,papa10 such a throb of joy passed through his heart that he literally fell to the ground and rolled upon the grass in ecstasy4 ,but there is a ,father who loves as no earthly father1 who longs to have ,his children realize that they are children1 and when we look up into ,his face and from a heart which the ,holy ,spirit has filled with a sense of sonship call ,him 8,abba0 7papa71 8,father10 no language can describe the joy of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,as ,a ,,teacher4 ,our ,lord ,jesus in ,his last conversation with ,his disciples before ,his crucifixion said1 8,but the ,comforter which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in ,my name1 ,he shall teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance1 whatsoever ,i have said unto you0 7,john xiv4 #bf74 ,here we have a twofold work of the ,holy ,spirit1 teaching and bringing to remembrance the things which ,christ had already taught4 ,we will take them in the reverse order4 ,i4 ,the ,holy ,spirit brings to remembrance the words of ,christ4 ,this promise was made primarily to the ,apostles and is the guarantee of the accuracy of their report of what ,jesus said2 but the ,holy ,spirit does a similar work with each believer who expects it of ,him1 and who looks to ,him to do it4 ,the ,holy ,spirit brings to our mind the teachings of ,christ and of the ,word just when we need them for either the necessities of our life or of our service4 ,many of us could tell of occasions when we were in great distress of soul or great questioning as to duty or great extremity as to what to say to one whom we were trying to lead to ,christ or to help1 and at that exact moment the very ,scripture we needed--some passage it may be we had not thought of for a long time and quite likely of which we had never thought in this connection--was brought to mind4 ,who did it8 ,the ,holy ,spirit did it4 ,he is ready to do it even more frequently1 if we only expect it of ,him and look to ,him to do it4 ,it is our privilege every time we sit down beside an inquirer to point him to the way of life to look up to the ,holy ,spirit and say1 8,just what shall ,i say to this inquirer8 ,just what ,scripture shall ,i use80 ,there is a deep significance in the fact that in the verse immediately following this precious promise ,jesus says1 8,peace ,i leave with you1 ,my peace ,i give unto you40 ,it is by the ,spirit bringing ,his words to remembrance and teaching us the truth of ,god that we obtain and abide in this peace4 ,if we will simply look to the ,holy ,spirit to bring to mind ,scripture just when we need it1 and just the ,scripture we need1 we shall indeed have ,christ's peace every moment of our lives4 ,one who was preparing for ,christian work came to me in great distress4 ,he said he must give up his preparation for he could not memorize the ,scriptures4 8,i am thirty-two years old10 he said1 8and have been in business now for years4 ,i have gotten out of the habit of study and ,i cannot memorize anything40 ,the man longed to be in his ,master's service and the tears stood in his eyes as he said it4 8,don't be discouraged10 ,i replied4 8,take your ,lord's promise that the ,holy ,spirit will bring ,his words to remembrance1 learn one passage of ,scripture1 fix it firmly in your mind1 then another and then another and look to the ,holy ,spirit to bring them to your remembrance when you need them40 ,he went on with his preparation4 ,he trusted the ,holy ,spirit4 ,afterwards he took up work in a very difficult field1 a field where all sorts of error abounded4 ,they would gather around him on the street like bees and he would take his ,bible and trust the ,holy ,spirit to bring to remembrance the passages of ,scripture that he needed and ,he did it4 ,his adversaries were filled with confusion1 as he met them at every point with the sure ,word of ,god1 and many of the most hardened were won for ,christ4 ,,ii4 ,the ,holy ,spirit will teach us all things4 ,there is a still more explicit promise to this effect two chapters further on in ,john xvi4 #ab1 #ac1 #ad1 ,r4 ,v4 ,here ,jesus says1 8,i have yet many things to say unto you1 but ye cannot bear them now4 ,howbeit when ,he1 the ,spirit of truth1 is come1 ,he shall guide you into all the truth3 for ,he shall not speak from ,himself2 but what things soever ,he shall hear1 these shall ,he speak3 and ,he shall declare unto you the things that are to come4 ,he shall glorify ,me3 for ,he shall take of ,mine1 and shall declare it unto you40 ,this promise was made in the first instance to the ,apostles1 but the ,apostles themselves applied it to all believers 7#a ,john ii4 #bj1 #bg74 ,it is the privilege of each believer in ,jesus ,christ1 even the humblest1 to be 8taught of ,god40 ,each humblest believer is independent of human teachers--8,ye need not that any teach you0 7#a ,john ii4 #bg1 ,r4 ,v474 ,this1 of course1 does not mean that we may not learn much from others who are taught of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if ,john had thought that he would never have written this epistle to teach others4 ,the man who is the most fully taught of ,god is the very one who will be most ready to listen to what ,god has taught others4 ,much less does it mean that when we are taught of the ,spirit1 we are independent of the written ,word of ,god2 for the ,word is the very place to which the ,spirit1 who is the ,author of the ,word1 leads ,his pupils and the instrument through which ,he instructs them 7,eph4 vi4 #ag2 ,john vi4 #cc2 ,eph4 v4 #ah1 #ai2 cf4 ,col4 iii4 #af74 ,but while we may learn much from men1 we are not dependent upon them4 ,we have a ,divine ,teacher1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we shall never truly know the truth until we are thus taught directly by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,no amount of mere human teaching1 no matter who our teachers may be1 will ever give us a correct and exact and full apprehension of the truth4 ,not even a diligent study of the ,word either in the ,english or in the original languages will give us a real understanding of the truth4 ,we must be taught directly by the ,holy ,spirit and we may be thus taught1 each one of us4 ,the one who is thus taught will understand the truth of ,god better even if he does not know one word of ,greek or ,hebrew1 than the one who knows ,greek and ,hebrew thoroughly and all the cognate languages as well1 but who is not taught of the ,spirit4 ,the ,spirit will guide the one whom ,he thus teaches 8into all the truth40 ,the whole sphere of ,god's truth is for each one of us1 but the ,holy ,spirit will not guide us into all the truth in a single day1 nor in a week1 nor in a year1 but step by step4 ,there are two especial lines of the ,spirit's teaching mentioned3 7#a7 8,he shall declare unto you the things that are to come40 ,there are many who say we can know nothing of the future1 that all our thoughts on that subject are guesswork4 ,it is true that we cannot know everything about the future4 ,there are some things which ,god has seen fit to keep to ,himself1 secret things which belong to ,him 7,deut4 xxix4 #bi74 ,for example1 we cannot 8know the times1 or the seasons0 of our ,lord's return 7,acts i4 #g71 but there are many things about the future which the ,holy ,spirit will reveal to us4 7#b7 8,he shall glorify ,me 7that is1 ,christ7 for ,he shall take of ,mine and shall declare it unto you40 ,this is the ,holy ,spirit's especial line of teaching with the believer1 as with the unbeliever1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,it is ,his work above all else to reveal ,jesus ,christ and to glorify ,him4 ,his whole teaching centres in ,christ4 ,from one point of view or the other1 ,he is always bringing us to ,jesus ,christ4 ,there are some who fear to emphasize the truth about the ,holy ,spirit lest ,christ ,himself be disparaged and put in the background1 but there is no one who magnifies ,christ as the ,holy ,spirit does4 ,we shall never understand ,christ1 nor see ,his glory until the ,holy ,spirit interprets ,him to us4 ,no amount of listening to sermons and lectures1 no matter how able1 no amount of mere study of the ,word even1 would ever give us to see 8the things of ,christ02 the ,holy ,spirit must show us and ,he is willing to do it and ,he can do it4 ,he is longing to do it4 ,the ,holy ,spirit's most intense desire is to reveal ,jesus ,christ to men4 ,on the day of ,pentecost when ,peter and the rest of the company were 8filled with the ,holy ,spirit10 they did not talk much about the ,holy ,spirit1 they talked about ,christ4 ,study ,peter's sermon on that day2 ,jesus ,christ was his one theme1 and ,jesus ,christ will be our one theme1 if we are taught of the ,spirit2 ,jesus ,christ will occupy the whole horizon of our vision4 ,we will have a new ,christ1 a glorious ,christ4 ,christ will be so glorious to us that we will long to go and tell every one about this glorious ,one whom we have found4 ,jesus ,christ is so different when the ,spirit glorifies ,him by taking of ,his things and showing them unto us4 ,,iii4 ,the ,holy ,spirit reveals to us the deep things of ,god which are hidden from and are foolishness to the natural man4 ,we read in #a ,cor4 ii4 #i-ac1 8,eye hath not seen1 nor ear heard1 neither have entered into the heart of man1 the things which ,god hath prepared for them that love ,him4 ,but ,god hath revealed them unto us by ,his ,spirit3 for the ,spirit searcheth all things1 yea1 the deep things of ,god4 ,for what man knoweth the things of a man1 save the spirit of man which is in him8 ,even so the things of ,god knoweth no man1 but the ,spirit of ,god4 ,now we have received1 not the spirit of the world1 but the spirit which is of ,god2 that we might know the things that are freely given to us of ,god4 ,which things also we speak1 not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth1 but which the ,holy ,ghost teacheth2 comparing spiritual things with spiritual40 ,this passage1 of course1 refers primarily to the ,apostles but we cannot limit this work of the ,spirit to them4 ,the ,spirit reveals to the individual believer the deep things of ,god1 things which human eye hath not seen1 nor ear heard1 things which have not entered into the heart of man1 the things which ,god hath prepared for them that love ,him4 ,it is evident from the context that this does not refer solely to heaven1 or the things to come in the life hereafter4 ,the ,holy ,spirit takes the deep things of ,god which ,god hath prepared for us1 even in the life that now is1 and reveals them to us4 ,,iv4 ,the ,holy ,spirit interprets ,his own revelation4 ,he imparts power to discern1 know and appreciate what ,he has taught4 ,in the next verse to those just quoted we read1 8,but the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god3 for they are foolishness unto him3 neither can he know them1 because they are spiritually discerned0 7#a ,cor4 iii4 #ad74 ,not only is the ,holy ,spirit the ,author of revelation1 the written ,word of ,god3 ,he is also the ,interpreter of what ,he has revealed4 ,any profound book is immeasurably more interesting and helpful when we have the author of the book right at hand to interpret it to us1 and it is always our privilege to have the author of the ,bible right at hand when we study it4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the ,author of the ,bible and ,he stands ready to interpret its meaning to every believer every time he opens the ,book4 ,to understand the ,book1 we must look to ,him1 then the darkest places become clear4 ,we often need to pray with the ,psalmist of old1 8,open ,thou mine eyes1 that ,i may behold wondrous things out of ,thy law0 7,ps4 cxix4 #ah74 ,it is not enough that we have the revelation of ,god before us in the written ,word to study1 we must also have the inward illumination of the ,holy ,spirit to enable us to apprehend it as we study4 ,it is a common mistake1 but a most palpable mistake1 to try to comprehend a spiritual revelation with the natural understanding4 ,it is the foolish attempt to do this that has landed so many in the bog of so-called 8,higher ,criticism40 ,in order to understand art a man must have sthetic sense as well as the knowledge of colours and of paint1 and a man to understand a spiritual revelation must be taught of the ,spirit4 ,a mere knowledge of the languages in which the ,bible was written is not enough4 ,a man with no sthetic sense might as well expect to appreciate the ,sistine ,madonna1 because he is not colour blind1 as a man who is not filled with the ,spirit to understand the ,bible1 simply because he understands the vocabulary and the laws of grammar of the languages in which the ,bible was written4 ,we might as well think of setting a man to teach art because he understood paints as to set a man to teach the ,bible because he has a thorough understanding of ,greek and ,hebrew4 ,in our day we need not only to recognize the utter insufficiency and worthlessness before ,god of our own righteousness1 which is the lesson of the opening chapters of the ,epistle to the ,romans1 but also the utter insufficiency and worthlessness in the things of ,god of our own wisdom1 which is the lesson of the ,first ,epistle to the ,corinthians1 especially the first to the third chapters4 7,see for example #a ,cor4 i4 #ai-ba1 #bf1 #bg47 ,the ,jews of old had a revelation by the ,spirit but they failed to depend upon the ,spirit ,himself to interpret it to them1 so they went astray4 ,so ,christians to-day have a revelation by the ,spirit and many are failing to depend upon the ,holy ,spirit to interpret it to them and so they go astray4 ,the whole evangelical church recognizes theoretically at least the utter insufficiency of man's own righteousness4 ,what it needs to be taught in the present hour1 and what it needs to be made to feel1 is the utter insufficiency of man's wisdom4 ,that is perhaps the lesson which this twentieth century of towering intellectual conceit needs most of any to learn4 ,to understand ,god's ,word1 we must empty ourselves utterly of our own wisdom and rest in utter dependence upon the ,spirit of ,god to interpret it to us4 ,we do well to lay to heart the words of ,jesus ,himself in ,matt4 xi4 #be1 8,i thank thee1 ,o ,father1 ,lord of heaven and earth1 because ,thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent1 and hast revealed them unto babes40 ,a number of ,bible students were once discussing the best methods of ,bible study and one man1 who was in point of fact a learned and scholarly man1 said1 8,i think the best method of ,bible study is the baby method40 ,when we have entirely put away our own righteousness1 then and only then1 we get the righteousness of ,god 7,phil4 iii4 #d-g1 #i2 ,rom4 x4 #c74 ,and when we have entirely put away our own wisdom1 then1 and only then1 we get the wisdom of ,god4 8,let no man deceive himself10 says the ,apostle ,paul4 8,if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world1 let him become a fool1 that he may be wise0 7#a ,cor4 iii4 #ah74 ,and the emptying must precede filling1 the self poured out that ,god may be poured in4 ,we must daily be taught by the ,spirit to understand the ,word4 ,we cannot depend to-day on the fact that the ,spirit taught us yesterday4 ,each new time that we come in contact with the ,word1 it must be in the power of the ,spirit for that specific occasion4 ,that the ,holy ,spirit once illumined our mind to grasp a certain truth is not enough4 ,he must do it each time we confront that passage4 ,andrew ,murray has well said1 8,each time you come to the ,word in study1 in hearing a sermon1 or reading a religious book1 there ought to be as distinct as your intercourse with the external means1 the definite act of self-abnegation1 denying your own wisdom and yielding yourself in faith to the ,divine teacher0 78,the ,spirit of ,christ10 page #bba74 ,v4 ,the ,holy ,spirit enables the believer to communicate to others in power the truth he himself has been taught4 ,paul says in #a ,cor4 ii4 #a-e1 8,and ,i1 brethren1 when ,i came to you1 came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom1 declaring unto you the testimony of ,god4 ,for ,i determined not to know anything among you1 save ,jesus ,christ1 and ,him crucified4 ,and ,i was with you in weakness1 and in fear1 and in much trembling4 ,and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom1 but in demonstration of the ,spirit and of power3 ,that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men1 but in the power of ,god40 ,in a similar way in writing to the believers in ,thessalonica in #a ,thess4 i4 #e1 8,for our ,gospel came not unto you in word only1 but also in power1 and in the ,holy ,ghost1 and in much assurance2 as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake40 ,we need not only the ,holy ,spirit to reveal the truth to chosen apostles and prophets in the first place1 and the ,holy ,spirit in the second place to interpret to us as individuals the truth ,he has thus revealed1 but in the third place1 we need the ,holy ,spirit to enable us to effectually communicate to others the truth which ,he ,himself has interpreted to us4 ,we need ,him all along the line4 ,one great cause of real failure in the ministry1 even when there is seeming success1 and not only in the regular ministry but in all forms of service as well1 comes from the attempt to teach by 8enticing words of man's wisdom0 7that is1 by the arts of human logic1 rhetoric1 persuasion and eloquence7 what the ,holy ,spirit has taught us4 ,what is needed is ,holy ,ghost power1 8demonstration of the ,spirit and of power40 ,there are three causes of failure in preaching to-day4 ,first1 ,some other message is taught than the message which the ,holy ,spirit has revealed in the ,word4 7,men preach science1 art1 literature1 philosophy1 sociology1 history1 economics1 experience1 etc41 and not the simple ,word of ,god as found in the ,holy ,spirit's ,book1--the ,bible47 ,second1 ,the ,spirit-taught message of the ,bible is studied and sought to be apprehended by the natural understanding1 that is1 without the ,spirit's illumination4 ,how common that is1 even in institutions where men are being trained for the ministry1 even institutions which may be altogether orthodox4 ,third1 ,the ,spirit-given message1 the ,word1 the ,bible studied and apprehended under the ,holy ,ghost's illumination is given out to others with 8enticing words of man's wisdom10 and not in 8demonstration of the ,spirit and of power40 ,we need1 and we are absolutely dependent upon the ,spirit all along the line4 ,he must teach us how to speak as well as what to speak4 ,his must be the power as well as the message4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,praying1 ,,returning ,,thanks1 ,,worshipping ,,in ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,two of the most deeply significant passages in the ,bible on the subject of the ,holy ,spirit and on the subject of prayer are found in ,jude #bj and ,eph4 vi4 #ah4 ,in ,jude #bj we read1 8,but ye1 beloved1 building up yourselves on your most holy faith1 praying in the ,holy ,ghost10 and in ,eph4 vi4 #ah1 8,praying always with all prayer and supplication in the ,spirit1 and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints40 ,these passages teach us distinctly that the ,holy ,spirit guides the believer in prayer4 ,the disciples did not know how to pray as they ought so they came to ,jesus and said1 8,lord1 teach us to pray0 7,luke xi4 #a74 ,we to-day do not know how to pray as we ought--we do not know what to pray for1 nor how to ask for it--but there is ,one who is always at hand to help 7,john xiv4 #af1 #ag7 and ,he knows what we should pray for4 ,he helps our infirmity in this matter of prayer as in other matters 7,rom4 viii4 #bf1 ,r4 ,v474 ,he teaches us to pray4 ,true prayer is prayer in the ,spirit 7i4 e41 the prayer that the ,holy ,spirit inspires and directs74 ,the prayer in which the ,holy ,spirit leads us is the prayer 8according to the will of ,god0 7,rom4 viii4 #bg74 ,when we ask anything according to ,god's will1 we know that ,he hears us and we know that ,he has granted the things that we ask 7#a ,john v4 #ad1 #ae74 ,we may know it is ours at the moment when we pray just as surely as we know it afterwards when we have it in our actual possession4 ,but how can we know the will of ,god when we pray8 ,in two ways3 ,first of all1 by what is written in ,his ,word2 all the promises in the ,bible are sure and if ,god promises anything in the ,bible1 we may be sure it is ,his will to give us that thing2 but there are many things that we need which are not specifically promised in the ,word and still even in that case it is our privilege to know the will of ,god1 for it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to teach us ,god's will and lead us out in prayer along the line of ,god's will4 ,some object to the ,christian doctrine of prayer2 for they say that it teaches that we can go to ,god in our ignorance and change ,his will and subject ,his infinite wisdom to our erring foolishness4 ,but that is not the ,christian doctrine of prayer at all2 the ,christian doctrine of prayer is that it is the believer's privilege to be taught by the ,spirit of ,god ,himself to know what the will of ,god is and not to ask for the things that our foolishness would prompt us to ask for but to ask for things that the never-erring ,spirit of ,god prompts us to ask for4 ,true prayer is prayer 8in the ,spirit10 that is1 the prayer which the ,spirit inspires and directs4 ,when we come into ,god's presence1 we should recognize our infirmity1 our ignorance of what is best for us1 our ignorance of what we should pray for1 our ignorance of how we should pray for it and in the consciousness of our utter inability to pray aright look up to the ,holy ,spirit to teach us to pray1 and cast ourselves utterly upon ,him to direct our prayers and to lead out our desires and guide our utterance of them4 ,there is no place where we need to recognize our ignorance more than we do in prayer4 ,rushing heedlessly into ,god's presence and asking the first thing that comes into our minds1 or that some other thoughtless one asks us to pray for1 is not praying 8in the ,holy ,spirit0 and is not true prayer4 ,we must wait for the ,holy ,spirit and surrender ourselves to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the prayer that ,god1 the ,holy ,spirit1 inspires is the prayer that ,god1 the ,father1 answers4 ,the longings which the ,holy ,spirit begets in our hearts are often too deep for utterance1 too deep apparently for clear and definite comprehension on the part of the believer himself in whom the ,spirit is working--8,the ,spirit ,himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered0 7,rom4 viii4 #bf1 ,r4 ,v474 ,god ,himself 8must search the heart0 to know what is 8the mind of the ,spirit0 in these unuttered and unutterable longings4 ,but ,god does know what is the mind of the ,spirit2 ,he does know what these ,spirit-given longings which we cannot put into words mean1 even if we do not1 and these longings are 8according to the will of ,god10 and ,god grants them4 ,it is in this way that it comes to pass that ,god is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think1 according to the power that worketh in us 7,eph4 iii4 #bj74 ,there are other times when the ,spirit's leadings are so clear that we pray with the ,spirit and with the understanding also 7#a ,cor4 xiv4 #ae74 ,we distinctly understand what it is that the ,holy ,spirit leads us to pray for4 ,,ii4 ,the ,holy ,spirit inspires the believer and guides him in thanksgiving as well as in prayer4 ,we read in ,eph4 v4 #ah-bj1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and be not drunken with wine1 wherein is riot1 but be filled with the ,spirit2 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs1 singing and making melody with your heart to the ,lord2 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ to ,god1 even the ,father40 ,not only does the ,holy ,spirit teach us to pray1 ,he also teaches us to render thanks4 ,one of the most prominent characteristics of the ,spirit-filled life is thanksgiving4 ,on the ,day of ,pentecost1 when the disciples were filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and spoke as the ,spirit gave them utterance1 we hear them telling the wonderful works of ,god 7,acts ii4 #d1 #aa71 and to-day when any believer is filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 he always becomes filled with thanksgiving and praise4 ,true thanksgiving is 8to ,god1 even the ,father10 through1 or 8in the name of0 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,iii4 ,the ,holy ,spirit inspires worship on the part of the believer4 ,we read in ,phil4 iii4 #c1 ,r4 ,v41 8,for we are the circumcision1 who worship by the ,spirit of ,god1 and glory in ,christ ,jesus1 and have no confidence in the flesh40 ,prayer is not worship2 thanksgiving is not worship4 ,worship is a definite act of the creature in relation to ,god4 ,worship is bowing before ,god in adoring acknowledgment and contemplation of ,himself and the perfection of ,his being4 ,some one has said1 8,in our prayers1 we are taken up with our needs2 in our thanksgiving we are taken up with our blessings2 in our worship1 we are taken up with ,himself40 ,there is no true and acceptable worship except that which the ,holy ,spirit prompts and directs4 8,god is a ,spirit and they that worship ,him must worship ,him in ,spirit and truth2 for such doth the ,father seek to be ,his worshippers0 7,john iv4 #bd1 #bc74 ,the flesh seeks to intrude into every sphere of life4 ,the flesh has its worship as well as its lusts4 ,the worship which the flesh prompts is an abomination unto ,god4 ,in this we see the folly of any attempt at a congress of religions where the representatives of radically different religions attempt to worship together4 ,not all earnest and honest worship is worship in the ,spirit4 ,a man may be very honest and very earnest in his worship and still not have submitted himself to the guidance of the ,holy ,spirit in the matter and so his worship is in the flesh4 ,oftentimes even when there is great loyalty to the letter of the ,word1 worship may not be 8in the ,spirit10 i4 e41 inspired and directed by ,him4 ,to worship aright1 as ,paul puts it1 we must have 8no confidence in the flesh10 that is1 we must recognize the utter inability of the flesh 7our natural self as contrasted to the ,divine ,spirit that dwells in and should mould everything in the believer7 to worship acceptably4 ,and we must also realize the danger that there is that the flesh intrude itself into our worship4 ,in utter self-distrust and self-abnegation we must cast ourselves upon the ,holy ,spirit to lead us aright in our worship4 ,just as we must renounce any merit in ourselves and cast ourselves upon ,christ and ,his work for us upon the cross for justification1 just so we must renounce any supposed capacity for good in ourselves and cast ourselves utterly upon the ,holy ,spirit and ,his work in us1 in holy living1 knowing1 praying1 thanking and worshipping and all else that we are to do4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,sending ,,men ,,forth ,,to ,,definite ,,lines ,,of ,,work4 ,we read in ,acts xiii4 #b-d1 8,as they ministered to the ,lord1 and fasted1 the ,holy ,ghost said1 ,separate ,me ,barnabas and ,saul for the work whereunto ,i have called them4 ,and when they had fasted and prayed1 and laid their hands on them1 they sent them away4 ,so they1 being sent forth by the ,holy ,ghost1 departed into ,seleucia2 and from thence they sailed to ,cyprus40 ,it is evident from this passage that the ,holy ,spirit calls men into definite lines of work and sends them forth into the work4 ,he not only calls men in a general way into ,christian work1 but selects the specific work and points it out4 ,many a one is asking to-day1 and many another ought to ask1 8,shall ,i go to ,china1 to ,africa1 to ,india80 ,there is only one ,person who can rightly settle that question for you and that ,person is the ,holy ,spirit4 ,you cannot settle the question for yourself1 much less can any other man settle it rightly for you4 ,not every ,christian man is called to go to ,china2 not every ,christian man is called to go to ,africa2 not every ,christian man is called to go to the foreign field at all4 ,god alone knows whether ,he wishes you in any of these places1 but ,he is willing to show you4 ,in a day such as we live in1 when there is such a need of the right men and the right women on the foreign field1 every young and healthy and intellectually competent ,christian man and woman should definitely offer themselves to ,god for the foreign field and ask ,him if ,he wants them to go4 ,but they ought not to go until ,he1 by ,his ,holy ,spirit1 makes it plain4 ,the great need in all lines of ,christian work to-day is men and women whom the ,holy ,ghost calls and sends forth4 ,we have plenty of men and women whom men have called and sent forth4 ,we have plenty of men and women who have called themselves1 for there are many to-day who object strenuously to being sent forth by men1 by any organization of any kind1 but1 in fact1 are what is immeasurably worse1 sent forth by themselves and not by ,god4 ,how does the ,holy ,spirit call8 ,the passage before us does not tell us how the ,holy ,spirit spoke to the group of prophets and teachers in ,antioch1 telling them to separate ,barnabas and ,saul to the work to which ,he had called them4 ,it is presumably purposely silent on this point4 ,possibly it is silent on this point lest we should think that the ,holy ,spirit must always call in precisely the same way4 ,there is nothing whatever to indicate that ,he spoke by an audible voice1 much less is there anything to indicate that ,he made ,his will known in any of the fantastic ways in which some in these days profess to discern ,his leading--as for example1 by twitchings of the body1 by shuddering1 by opening of the ,bible at random and putting his finger on a passage that may be construed into some entirely different meaning than that which the inspired author intended by it4 ,the important point is1 ,he made ,his will clearly known1 and ,he is willing to make ,his will clearly known to us to-day4 ,sometimes ,he makes it known in one way and sometimes in another1 but ,he will make it known4 ,but how shall we receive the ,holy ,spirit's call8 ,first of all1 by desiring it2 second1 by earnestly seeking it2 third1 by waiting upon the ,lord for it2 fourth1 by expecting it4 ,the record reads1 8,as they ministered to the ,lord1 and fasted40 ,they were waiting upon the ,lord for ,his direction4 ,for the time being they had turned their back utterly upon worldly cares and enjoyments1 even upon those things which were perfectly proper in their place4 ,many a man is saying to-day in justification for his staying home from the foreign field1 8,i have never had a call40 ,but how do you know that8 ,have you been listening for a call8 ,god usually speaks in a still small voice and it is only the listening ear that can catch it4 ,have you ever definitely offered yourself to ,god to send you where ,he will8 ,while no man or woman ought to go to ,china or ,africa or other foreign field unless they are clearly and definitely called1 they ought each to offer themselves to ,god for this work and be ready for the call and be listening sharply that they may hear the call if it comes4 ,let it be borne distinctly in mind that a man needs no more definite call to ,africa than to ,boston1 or ,new ,york1 or ,london1 or any other desirable field at home4 ,the ,holy ,spirit not only calls men and sends them forth into definite lines of work1 but ,he also guides in the details of daily life and service as to where to go and where not to go1 what to do and what not to do4 ,we read in ,acts viii4 #bg-bi1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and he 7,philip7 arose and went3 and behold1 a man of ,ethiopia1 a eunuch of great authority under ,candace1 queen of the ,ethiopians1 who was over all her treasure1 who had come to ,jerusalem for to worship2 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot1 and was reading the prophet ,isaiah4 ,and the ,spirit said unto ,philip1 ,go near1 and join thyself to this chariot40 ,here we see the ,spirit guiding ,philip in the details of service into which ,he had called him4 ,in a similar way1 we read in ,acts xvi4 #f1 #g1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and they went through the region of ,phrygia and ,galatia1 having been forbidden of the ,holy ,ghost to speak the word in ,asia2 and when they were come over against ,mysia1 they assayed to go into ,bithynia2 and the ,spirit of ,jesus suffered them not40 ,here we see the ,holy ,spirit directing ,paul where not to go4 ,it is possible for us to have the unerring guidance of the ,holy ,spirit at every turn of life4 ,take1 for example1 our personal work4 ,it is manifestly not ,god's intention that we speak to every one we meet4 ,to attempt to do so would be to attempt the impossible1 and we would waste much time in trying to speak to people where we could do no good that might be used in speaking to people where we could accomplish something4 ,there are some to whom it would be wise for us to speak4 ,there are others to whom it would be unwise for us to speak4 ,time spent on them would be taken from work that would be more to ,god's glory4 ,doubtless as ,philip journeyed towards ,gaza1 he met many before he met the one of whom the ,spirit said1 8,go near1 and join thyself to this chariot40 ,the ,spirit is as ready to guide us as ,he was to guide ,philip4 ,some years ago1 a ,christian worker in ,toronto had the impression that he should go to the hospital and speak to some one there4 ,he thought to himself1 8,whom do ,i know at the hospital at this time80 ,there came to his mind one whom he knew was at the hospital1 and he hurried to the hospital1 but as he sat down by his side to talk with him1 he realized it was not for this man that he was sent4 ,he got up to lift a window4 ,what did it all mean8 ,there was another man lying across the passage from the man he knew and the thought came to him that this might be the man to whom he should speak4 ,and he turned and spoke to this man and had the privilege of leading him to ,christ4 ,there was apparently nothing serious in the man's case4 ,he had suffered some injury to his knee and there was no thought of a serious issue1 but that man passed into eternity that night4 ,many instances of a similar character could be recorded and prove from experience that the ,holy ,spirit is as ready to guide those who seek ,his guidance to-day as ,he was to guide the early disciples4 ,but ,he is ready to guide us1 not only in our more definite forms of ,christian work but in all the affairs of life1 business1 study1 everything we have to do4 ,there is no promise in the ,bible more plainly explicit than ,james i4 #e-g1 ,r4 ,v41 8,but if any of you lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1 who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not2 and it shall be given him4 ,but let him ask in faith1 nothing doubting3 for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed4 ,for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the ,lord40 ,this passage not only promises ,god's wisdom but tells us specifically just what to do to obtain it4 ,there are really five steps stated or implied in the passage3 #a4 ,that we 8lack wisdom40 ,we must be conscious of and fully admit our own inability to decide wisely4 ,here is where oftentimes we fail to receive ,god's wisdom4 ,we think we are able to decide for ourselves or at least we are not ready to admit our own utter inability to decide4 ,there must be an entire renunciation of the wisdom of the flesh4 #b4 ,we must really desire to know ,god's way and be willing at any cost to do ,god's will4 ,this is implied in the word 8ask40 ,the asking must be sincere1 and if we are not willing to do ,god's will1 whatever it may be1 at any cost1 the asking is not sincere4 ,this is a point of fundamental importance4 ,there is nothing that goes so far to make our minds clear in the discernment of the will of ,god as revealed by ,his ,spirit as an absolutely surrendered will4 ,here we find the reason why men oftentimes do not know ,god's will and have the ,spirit's guidance4 ,they are not willing to do whatever the ,spirit leads at any cost4 ,it is he that 8willeth to do ,his will0 who shall know1 not only of the doctrine1 but he shall know his daily duty4 ,men oftentimes come to me and say1 8,i cannot find out the will of ,god10 but when ,i put to them the question1 8,are you willing to do the will of ,god at any cost80 they admit that they are not4 ,the way that is very obscure when we hold back from an absolute surrender to ,god becomes as clear as day when we make that surrender4 #c4 ,we must definitely 8ask0 guidance4 ,it is not enough to desire2 it is not enough to be willing to obey2 we must ask1 definitely ask1 ,god to show us the way4 #d4 ,we must confidently expect guidance4 8,let him ask in faith nothing doubting10 ,there are many and many who cannot find the way1 though they ask ,god to show it to them1 simply because they have not the absolutely undoubting expectation that ,god will show them the way4 ,god promises to show it if we expect it confidently4 ,when you come to ,god in prayer to show you what to do1 know for a certainty that ,he will show you4 ,in what way ,he will show you1 ,he does not tell1 but ,he promises that ,he will show you and that is enough4 #e4 ,we must follow step by step as the guidance comes4 ,as said before1 just how it will come1 no one can tell1 but it will come4 ,oftentimes only a step will be made clear at a time2 that is all we need to know--the next step4 ,many are in darkness because they do not know and cannot find what ,god would have them do next week1 or next month or next year4 ,a college man once came to me and told me that he was in great darkness about ,god's guidance1 that he had been seeking1 to find the will of ,god and learn what his life's work should be1 but he could not find it4 ,i asked him how far along he was in his college course4 ,he said his sophomore year4 ,i asked1 8,what is it you desire to know80 8,what ,i shall do when ,i finish college40 8,do you know that you ought to go through college80 8,yes40 ,this man not only knew what he ought to do next year but the year after but still he was in great perplexity because he did not know what he ought to do when these two years were ended4 ,god delights to lead ,his children a step at a time4 ,he leads us as ,he led the children of ,israel4 8,and when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle1 then after that the children of ,israel journeyed3 and in the place where the cloud abode1 there the children of ,israel pitched their tents4 ,at the commandment of the ,,lord the children of ,israel journeyed1 and at the commandment of the ,,lord they pitched3 as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents4 ,and when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days1 then the children of ,israel kept the charge of the ,,lord1 and journeyed not4 ,and so it was1 when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle2 according to the commandment of the ,,lord they journeyed4 ,and so it was1 when the cloud abode from even unto the morning1 and that the cloud was taken up in the morning then they journeyed3 whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up1 they journeyed4 ,or whether it were two days1 or a month1 or a year1 that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle1 remaining thereon1 the children of ,israel abode in their tents1 and journeyed not3 but when it was taken up1 they journeyed4 ,at the commandment of the ,,lord they rested in the tents1 and at the commandment of the ,,lord they journeyed3 they kept the charge of the ,,lord1 at the commandment of the ,,lord by the hand of ,moses0 7,num4 ix4 #ag-bc74 ,many who have given themselves up to the leading of the ,holy ,spirit get into a place of great bondage and are tortured because they have leadings which they fear may be from ,god but of which they are not sure4 ,if they do not obey these leadings1 they are fearful they have disobeyed ,god and sometimes fancy that they have grieved away the ,holy ,spirit1 because they did not follow ,his leading4 ,this is all unnecessary4 ,let us settle it in our minds that ,god's guidance is clear guidance4 8,god is light1 and in ,him is no darkness at all0 7#a ,john i4 #e74 ,and any leading that is not perfectly clear is not from ,him4 ,that is1 if our wills are absolutely surrendered to ,him4 ,of course1 the obscurity may arise from an unsurrendered will4 ,but if our wills are absolutely surrendered to ,god1 we have the right as ,god's children to be sure that any guidance is from ,him before we obey it4 ,we have a right to go to our ,father and say1 8,heavenly ,father1 here ,i am4 ,i desire above all things to do ,thy will4 ,now make it clear to me1 ,thy child4 ,if this thing that ,i have a leading to do is ,thy will1 ,i will do it1 but make it clear as day if it be ,thy will40 ,if it is ,his will1 the heavenly ,father will make it as clear as day4 ,and you need not1 and ought not to do that thing until ,he does make it clear1 and you need not and ought not to condemn yourself because you did not do it4 ,god does not want ,his children to be in a state of condemnation before ,him4 ,he wishes us to be free from all care1 worry1 anxiety and self-condemnation4 ,any earthly parent would make the way clear to his child that asked to know it and much more will our heavenly ,father make it clear to us1 and until ,he does make it clear1 we need have no fears that in not doing it1 we are disobeying ,god4 ,we have no right to dictate to ,god how ,he shall give ,his guidance--as1 for example1 by asking ,him to shut up every way1 or by asking ,him to give a sign1 or by guiding us in putting our finger on a text1 or in any other way4 ,it is ours to seek and to expect wisdom but it is not ours to dictate how it shall be given4 ,the ,holy ,spirit divides to 8each man severally as ,he will0 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #aa74 ,two things are evident from what has been said about the work of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,first1 how utterly dependent we are upon the work of the ,holy ,spirit at every turn of ,christian life and service4 ,second1 how perfect is the provision for life and service that ,god has made4 ,how wonderful is the fullness of privilege that is open to the humblest believer through the ,holy ,spirit's work4 ,it is not so much what we are by nature1 either intellectually1 morally1 physically1 or even spiritually1 that is important4 ,the important matter is1 what the ,holy ,spirit can do for us and what we will let ,him do4 ,not infrequently1 the ,holy ,spirit takes the one who seems to give the least natural promise and uses him far beyond those who give the greatest natural promise4 ,christian life is not to be lived in the realm of natural temperament1 and ,christian work is not to be done in the power of natural endowment1 but ,christian life is to be lived in the realm of the ,spirit1 and ,christian work is to be done on the power of the ,spirit4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is willing and eagerly desirous of doing for each one of us ,his whole work1 and ,he will do in each one of us all that we will let ,him do4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,and ,,the ,,believer',s ,,body4 ,the ,holy ,spirit does a work for our bodies as well as for our minds and hearts4 ,we read in ,rom4 viii4 #aa1 ,r4 ,v41 8,but if the ,spirit of ,him that raised up ,jesus from the dead dwelleth in you1 ,he that raised up ,christ ,jesus from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies through ,his ,spirit that dwelleth in you40 ,the ,holy ,spirit quickens the mortal body of the believer4 ,it is very evident from the context that this refers to the future resurrection of the body 7vs4 #ba-bc74 ,the resurrection of the body is the ,holy ,spirit's work4 ,the glorified body is from ,him2 it is 8a spiritual body40 ,at the present time1 we have only the first fruits of the ,spirit and are waiting for the full harvest1 the redemption of our body 7v4 #bc74 ,there is1 however1 a sense in which the ,holy ,spirit even now quickens our bodies4 ,jesus tells us in ,matt4 xii4 #bh that ,he cast out devils by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,and we read in ,acts x4 #ch1 8,how ,god anointed ,jesus of ,nazareth with the ,holy ,ghost and with power1 who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil40 ,in ,james v4 #ad1 the ,apostle writes1 8,is any sick among you8 ,let him call for the elders of the church2 and let them pray over him1 anointing him with oil in the name of the ,lord40 ,the oil in this passage 7as elsewhere7 is the type of the ,holy ,spirit1 and the truth is set forth that the healing is the ,holy ,spirit's work4 ,god by ,his ,holy ,spirit does impart new health and vigour to these mortal bodies in the present life4 ,to go to the extremes that many do and take the ground that the believer who is walking in fellowship with ,christ need never be ill is to go farther than the ,bible warrants us in going4 ,it is true that the redemption of our bodies is secured by the atoning work of ,christ but until the ,lord comes1 we only enjoy the first fruits of that redemption2 and we are waiting and sometimes groaning for our full place as sons manifested in the redemption of our body 7,rom4 viii4 #bc74 ,but while this is true1 it is the clear teaching of ,scripture and a matter of personal experience on the part of thousands that the life of the ,holy ,spirit does sweep through these bodies of ours in moments of weakness and of pain and sickness1 imparting new health to them1 delivering from pain and filling them with abounding life4 ,it is our privilege to know the quickening touch of the ,holy ,spirit in these bodies as well as in our minds and affections and will4 ,it would be a great day for the ,church and for the glory of ,jesus ,christ1 if ,christians would renounce forever all the devil's counterfeits of the ,holy ,spirit's work1 ,christian ,science1 ,mental ,healing1 ,emmanuelism1 ,hypnotism and the various other forms of occultism and depend upon ,god by the power of ,his ,holy ,spirit to work that in these bodies of ours which ,he in ,his unerring wisdom sees that we most need4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,the ,,baptism ,,with ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,one of the most deeply significant phrases used in connection with the ,holy ,spirit in the ,scriptures is 8baptized with the ,holy ,ghost40 ,john the ,baptist was the first to use this phrase4 ,in speaking of himself and the coming ,one he said1 8,i indeed baptize you with water unto repentance3 but ,he that cometh after me is mightier than ,i1 whose shoes ,i am not worthy to bear3 ,he shall baptize you with the ,holy ,ghost and with fire0 7,matt4 iii4 #aa74 ,the second 8with0 in this passage is in italics4 ,it is not found in the ,greek4 ,there are not two different baptisms spoken of1 the one with the ,holy ,ghost and one with fire1 but one baptism with the ,holy ,wind and ,fire4 ,jesus afterwards used the same expression4 ,in ,acts i4 #e1 ,he says1 8,for ,john truly baptized with water2 but ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence40 ,when this promise of ,john the ,baptist and of our ,lord was fulfilled in ,acts ii4 #c1 #d1 ,r4 ,v41 we read1 8,and there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder1 like as of fire2 and it sat upon each one of them4 ,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,spirit40 ,here we have another expression 8filled with the ,holy ,spirit0 used synonymously with 8baptized with the ,holy ,spirit40 ,we read again in ,acts x4 #dd-df1 8,while ,peter yet spake these words1 the ,holy ,ghost fell on all them which heard the word4 ,and they of the circumcision which believed were astonished1 as many as came with ,peter1 because that on the ,gentiles also was poured out the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,for they heard them speak with tongues1 and magnify ,god40 ,peter himself afterwards describing this experience in ,jerusalem tells the story in this way1 8,and as ,i began to speak1 the ,holy ,ghost fell on them1 as on us at the beginning4 ,then remembered ,i the word of the ,lord1 how that ,he said1 ,john indeed baptized with water2 but ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,forasmuch then as ,god gave them the like gift as ,he did unto us who believed on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 what was ,i1 that ,i could withstand ,god80 7,acts xi4 #ae-ag74 ,here ,peter distinctly calls the experience which came to ,cornelius and his household1 being baptized with the ,holy ,ghost1 so we see that the expression 8the ,holy ,ghost fell0 and 8the gift of the ,holy ,ghost0 are practically synonymous expressions with 8baptized with the ,holy ,ghost40 ,still other expressions are used to describe this blessing1 such as 8receive the ,holy ,ghost0 7,acts ii4 #ch2 xix4 #b-f72 8the ,holy ,ghost came on them0 7,acts xix4 #b-f72 8gift of the ,holy ,ghost0 7,heb4 ii4 #d2 #a ,cor4 xii4 #d1 #aa1 #ac72 8,i send the promise of ,my ,father upon you20 and 8endued with power from on high0 7,luke xxiv4 #di74 ,what is the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit8 ,in the first place the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is a definite experience of which one may and ought to know whether he has received it or not4 ,this is evident from our ,lord's command to ,his disciples in ,luke xxiv4 #di and in ,acts i4 #d1 that they should not depart from ,jerusalem to undertake the work which ,he had commissioned them to do until they had received this promise of the ,father4 ,it is also evident from the eighth chapter of ,acts1 fifteenth and sixteenth verses1 where we are distinctly told1 8the ,holy ,spirit had not as yet fallen upon any of them40 ,it is evident also from the nineteenth chapter of the ,acts of the ,apostles1 the second verse1 ,r4 ,v41 where ,paul put to the little group of disciples at ,ephesus the definite question1 8,did ye receive the ,holy ,ghost when ye believed80 ,it is evident that the receiving of the ,holy ,ghost was an experience so definite that one could answer yes or no to the question whether they had received the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in this case the disciples definitely answered1 8,no10 that they did not so much as hear whether the ,holy ,ghost was given4 ,they did not say what our ,authorized ,version makes them say1 that they did not so much as hear whether there was any ,holy ,ghost4 ,they knew that there was a ,holy ,ghost2 they knew furthermore that there was a definite promise of the baptism with the ,holy ,ghost1 but they had not heard that that promise had been as yet fulfilled4 ,paul told them that it had and took steps whereby they were definitely baptized with the ,holy ,spirit before that meeting closed4 ,it is equally evident from ,gal4 iii4 #b that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is a definite experience of which one may know whether he has received it or not4 ,in this passage ,paul says to the believers in ,galatia1 8,this only would ,i learn of you1 ,received ye the ,spirit by the works of the law1 or by the hearing of faith80 ,their receiving the ,spirit had been so definite as a matter of personal consciousness1 that ,paul could appeal to it as a ground for his argument4 ,in our day there is much talk about the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit and prayer for the baptism with the ,spirit that is altogether vague and indefinite4 ,men arise in meeting and pray that they may be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 and if you should go afterwards to the one who offered the prayer and put to him the question1 8,did you receive what you asked8 ,were you baptized with the ,holy ,spirit80 it is quite likely that he would hesitate and falter and say1 8,i hope so02 but there is none of this indefiniteness in the ,bible4 ,the ,bible is clear as day on this1 as on every other point4 ,it sets forth an experience so definite and so real1 that one may know whether or not he has received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 and can answer yes or no to the question1 8,have you received the ,holy ,ghost80 ,in the second place it is evident that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is an operation of the ,holy ,spirit distinct from and additional to ,his regenerating work4 ,this is evident from ,acts i4 #e1 8,for ,john truly baptized with water2 but ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence40 ,it is clear then that the disciples had not as yet been baptized with the ,holy ,ghost1 that they were to be thus baptized not many days hence4 ,but the men to whom ,jesus spoke these words were already regenerate men4 ,they had been so pronounced by our ,lord ,himself4 ,he had said to them in ,john xv4 #c1 8,now ye are clean through the word which ,i have spoken unto you40 ,but what does clean through the word mean8 #a ,peter i4 #bc answers the question1 8,being born again1 not of corruptible seed1 but of incorruptible1 by the word of ,god1 which liveth and abideth forever40 ,a little earlier on the same night ,jesus had said to them in ,john xiii4 #aj1 ,r4 ,v41 8,he that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet1 but is clean every whit3 and ye are clean but not all40 ,the ,lord ,jesus had pronounced that apostolic company clean--i4 e41 regenerate men--with the exception of the one who never was a regenerate man1 ,judas ,iscariot who should betray ,him 7see verse #aa74 ,the remaining eleven ,jesus ,christ had pronounced regenerate men4 ,yet ,he tells these same men in ,acts i4 #e1 that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit was an experience that they had not as yet realized1 that still lay in the future4 ,so it is evident that it is one thing to be born again by the ,holy ,spirit through the ,word and something distinct from this and additional to it to be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the same thing is evident from ,acts viii4 #ab1 ,r4 ,v41 compared with the fifteenth and sixteenth verses of the same chapter4 ,in the twelfth verse we read that a large company of disciples had believed the preaching of ,philip concerning the kingdom of ,god and the name of ,jesus ,christ1 and 8had been baptized into the name of the ,lord ,jesus0 7v4 #af1 ,r4 ,v474 ,certainly in this company of baptized believers there were at least some regenerate persons4 ,whatever the true form of water baptism may be1 they undoubtedly had been baptized by the true form1 for the baptizing had been done by a ,spirit-commissioned man1 but in the fifteenth and sixteenth verses we read1 8,when they 7that is ,peter and ,john7 were come down1 they prayed for them1 that they might receive the ,holy ,ghost3 for as yet ,he was fallen upon none of them3 only they had been baptized into the name of the ,lord ,jesus40 ,baptized believers they were2 baptized into the name of the ,lord ,jesus they had been2 regenerate men some of them most assuredly were1 and yet not one of them as yet had received1 or been baptized with1 the ,holy ,ghost4 ,so again1 it is evident that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is an operation of the ,holy ,spirit distinct from and additional to ,his regenerating work4 ,a man may be regenerated by the ,holy ,spirit and still not be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in regeneration1 there is the impartation of life by the ,spirit's power1 and the one who receives it is saved3 in the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 there is the impartation of power1 and the one who receives it is fitted for service4 ,the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 however1 may take place at the moment of regeneration4 ,it did1 for example1 in the household of ,cornelius4 ,we read in ,acts x4 #dc1 that while ,peter was preaching1 he came to the point where he said concerning ,jesus1 8,to ,him bear all the prophets witness1 that through ,his name whosoever believeth in ,him shall receive remission of sins10 and at that point ,cornelius and his household believed and we read immediately1 8,while ,peter yet spake these words1 the ,holy ,ghost fell on all them which heard the word4 ,and they of the circumcision which believed were astonished1 as many as came with ,peter1 because that on the ,gentiles also was poured out the gift of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,the moment they believed the testimony about ,jesus1 they were baptized with the ,holy ,ghost1 even before they were baptized with water4 ,regeneration and the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit took place practically at the same moment1 and so they do in many an experience to-day4 ,it would seem as if in a normal condition of the church1 this would be the usual experience4 ,but the church is not in a normal condition to-day4 ,a very large part of the church is in the place where the believers in ,samaria were before ,peter and ,john came down1 and where the disciples in ,ephesus were before ,paul came and told them of their larger privilege--baptized believers1 baptized into the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 baptized unto repentance and remission of sins1 but not as yet baptized with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,nevertheless the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is the birthright of every believer4 ,it was purchased for us by the atoning death of ,christ1 and when ,he ascended to the right hand of the ,father1 ,he received the promise of the ,father and shed ,him forth upon the church1 and if any one to-day has not the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit as a personal experience1 it is because he has not claimed his birthright4 ,potentially1 every member of the body of ,christ is baptized with the ,holy ,spirit 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #ac71 8,for in one ,spirit1 we were all baptized into one body1 whether we be ,jews or ,gentiles1 whether we be bond or free2 and have been all made to drink into one ,spirit40 ,but there are many believers with whom that which is potentially theirs has not become a matter of real1 actual1 personal experience4 ,all men are potentially justified in the atoning death of ,jesus ,christ on the cross1 that is justification is provided for them and belongs to them 7,rom4 v4 #ah1 ,r4 ,v471 but what potentially belongs to every man1 each man must appropriate to himself by faith in ,christ2 then justification is actually and experimentally his and just so1 while the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is potentially the possession of every believer1 each individual believer must appropriate it for himself before it is experimentally his4 ,we may go still further than this and say that it is only by the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit that one becomes in the fullest sense a member of the body of ,christ1 because it is only by the baptism with the ,spirit that he receives power to perform those functions for which ,god has appointed him as a part of the body4 ,as we have already seen every true believer has the ,holy ,spirit 7,rom4 viii4 #i71 but not every believer has the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit 7though every believer may have as we have just seen74 ,it is one thing to have the ,holy ,spirit dwelling within us1 perhaps dwelling within us way back in some hidden sanctuary of our being1 back of definite consciousness1 and something far different1 something vastly more1 to have the ,holy ,spirit taking complete possession of the one whom ,he inhabits4 ,there are those who press the fact that every believer potentially has the baptism with the ,spirit1 to such an extent that they clearly teach that every believer has the baptism with the ,spirit as an actual experience4 ,but unless the baptism with the ,spirit to-day is something radically different from what the baptism with the ,spirit was in the early church1 indeed unless it is something not at all real1 then either a very large proportion of those whom we ordinarily consider believers are not believers1 or else one may be a believer and a regenerate man without having been baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,certainly1 this was the case in the early church4 ,it was the case with the ,apostles before ,pentecost2 it was the case with the church in ,ephesus2 it was the case with the church in ,samaria4 ,and there are thousands to-day who can testify to having received ,christ and been born again1 and then afterwards1 sometimes long afterwards1 having been baptized with the ,holy ,ghost as a definite experience4 ,this is a matter of great practical importance1 for there are many who are not enjoying the fullness of privilege that they might enjoy because by pushing individual verses in the ,scriptures beyond what they will bear and against the plain teaching of the ,scriptures as a whole1 they are trying to persuade themselves that they have already been baptized with the ,holy ,spirit when they have not4 ,and if they would only admit to themselves that they had not1 they could then take the steps whereby they would be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit as a matter of definite1 personal experience4 ,the next thing which is clear from the teaching of ,scripture is that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is always connected with1 and primarily for the purpose of testimony and service4 ,our ,lord in speaking of this baptism which they were so soon to receive in ,luke xxiv4 #di said1 8,and behold ,i send the promise of ,my ,father upon you3 but tarry ye in the city of ,jerusalem1 until ye be endued with power from on high40 ,and again ,he said in ,acts i4 #e1 #h1 8,for ,john truly baptized with water2 but ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence4444 ,but ye shall receive power after that the ,holy ,ghost is come upon you3 and ye shall be witnesses unto ,me1 both in ,jerusalem1 and in all ,judea1 and in ,samaria1 and unto the uttermost part of the earth40 ,in the record of the fulfillment of this promise of our ,lord in ,acts ii4 #d1 we read1 8,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the ,spirit gave them utterance40 ,then follows the detailed account of what ,peter said and of the result4 ,the result was that ,peter and the other ,apostles spoke with such power that three thousand persons that day were convicted of sin1 renounced their sin and confessed their acceptance of ,jesus ,christ in baptism and continued steadfastly in the ,apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in the breaking of bread and in prayers ever afterwards4 ,in the fourth chapter of ,acts1 the thirty-first to the thirty-third verses1 we read that when the ,apostles on another occasion were filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 the result was that they 8spake the word of ,god with boldness0 and that 8with great power gave the ,apostles their witness to the resurrection of the ,lord ,jesus40 ,and in the ninth chapter of the ,acts of the ,apostles1 we have a description of ,paul's being baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in the seventeenth to the twentieth verses1 8,and ,ananias went his way1 and entered into the house2 and putting his hands on him said1 ,brother ,saul1 the ,lord1 even ,jesus1 that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest1 hath sent me1 that thou mightest receive thy sight1 and be filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales3 and he received sight forthwith1 and arose1 and was baptized4 ,and when he had received meat1 he was strengthened4444 ,and straightway1 he preached ,christ in the synagogues1 that ,he is the ,son of ,god10 and in the twenty-second verse we read that he 8confounded the ,jews which dwelt at ,damascus1 proving that this is the ,christ0 7,r4 ,v474 ,in #a ,cor4 xii4 we have the fullest discussion of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit found in any passage in the ,bible4 ,this is the classical passage on the whole subject4 ,and the results there recorded are gifts for service4 ,the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is not primarily intended to make believers happy1 but to make them useful4 ,it is not intended merely for the ecstasy of the individual believer1 it is intended primarily for his efficiency in service4 ,i do not say that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit will not make the believer happy2 for as part of the fruit of the ,spirit is 8joy10 if one is baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 joy must inevitably result4 ,i have never known one to be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit into whose life there did not come1 sooner or later1 a new joy1 a higher and purer and fuller joy than he had ever known before4 ,but this is not the prime purpose of the baptism nor the most important and prominent result4 ,great emphasis needs to be laid upon this point1 for there are many ,christians who in seeking the baptism with the ,spirit are seeking personal ecstasy and rapture4 ,they go to conventions and conferences for the deepening of the ,christian life and come back and tell what a wonderful blessing they have received1 referring to some new ecstasy that has come into their heart1 but when you watch them1 it is difficult to see that they are any more useful to their pastors or their churches than they were before1 and one is compelled to think that whatever they have received1 they have not received the real baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,ecstasies and raptures are all right in their places4 ,when they come1 thank ,god for them--the writer knows something about them--but in a world such as we live in to-day where sin and self-righteousness and unbelief are so triumphant1 where there is such an awful tide of men1 women and young people sweeping on towards eternal perdition1 ,i would rather go through my whole life and never have one touch of ecstasy but have power to witness for ,christ and win others for ,christ and thus to save them1 than to have raptures #cfe days in the year but no power to stem the awful tide of sin and bring men1 women and children to a saving knowledge of my ,lord and ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,the purpose of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is not primarily to make believers individually holy4 ,i do not say that it is not the work of the ,holy ,spirit to make believers holy1 for as we have already seen1 ,he is 8the ,spirit of ,holiness10 and the only way we shall ever attain unto holiness is by ,his power4 ,i do not even say that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit will not result in a great spiritual transformation and uplift and cleansing1 for the promise is1 8,he shall baptize you with the ,holy ,spirit and fire0 7and the thought of fire as used in this connection is the thought of searching1 refining1 cleansing1 consuming74 ,a wonderful transformation took place in the ,apostles at ,pentecost1 and a wonderful transformation has taken place in thousands who have been baptized with the ,holy ,spirit since ,pentecost1 but the primary purpose of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is efficiency in testimony and service4 ,it has to do rather with gifts for service than with graces of character4 ,it is the impartation of spiritual power or gifts in service and sometimes one may have rare gifts by the ,spirit's power and yet manifest few of the graces of the ,spirit4 7,see #a ,cor4 xiii4 #a-c2 ,matt4 vii4 #bb1 #bc47 ,in every passage in the ,bible in which the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is mentioned1 it is connected with testimony or service4 ,we shall perhaps get a clearer idea of just what the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is1 if we stop to consider what are the results of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,what ,,are ,,the ,,results ,,of ,,the ,,baptism ,,with ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit8 #a4 ,the specific manifestations of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit are not precisely the same in all persons4 ,this appears very clearly from #a ,cor4 xii4 #d-ac1 8,now there are diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit4 ,and there are differences of administrations1 but the same ,lord4 ,and there are diversities of operations1 but it is the same ,god which worketh all in all4 ,but the manifestation of the ,spirit is given to every man to profit withal4 ,for to one is given by the ,spirit the word of wisdom2 to another the word of knowledge by the same ,spirit2 to another faith by the same ,spirit2 to another the gifts of healing by the same ,spirit2 to another the working of miracles2 to another prophecy2 to another discerning of spirits2 to another divers kind of tongues2 to another the interpretation of tongues3 but all these worketh that one and the selfsame ,spirit1 dividing to every man severally as ,he will4 ,for as the body is one1 and hath many members1 and all the members of that one body1 being many1 are one body3 so also is ,christ4 ,for by one ,spirit are we all baptized into one body1 whether we be ,jews or ,gentiles1 whether we be bond or free2 and have been all made to drink into one ,spirit40 ,here we see one baptism but a great variety of manifestations of the power of that baptism4 ,there are diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit4 ,the gifts vary with the different lines of service to which ,god calls different persons4 ,the church is a body1 and different members of the body have different functions and the ,spirit imparts to the one who is baptized with the ,spirit those gifts which fit him for the service to which ,god has called him4 ,it is very important to bear this in mind4 ,through the failure to see this1 many have gone entirely astray on the whole subject4 ,in my early study of the subject1 ,i noticed the fact that in many instances those who were baptized with the ,holy ,spirit spake with tongues 7e4 g41 ,acts ii4 #d2 x4 #df2 xix4 #f7 and ,i wondered if every one who was baptized with the ,holy ,spirit would not speak with tongues4 ,i did not know of any one who was speaking with tongues to-day and so ,i wondered still further whether the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit were for the present age4 ,but one day ,i was studying #a ,cor4 xii4 and noticed how ,paul said to the believers in that wonderfully gifted church in ,corinth1 all of whom had been pronounced in the thirteenth verse to be baptized with the ,spirit1 8,and ,god hath set some in the church1 first apostles1 secondarily prophets1 thirdly teachers1 after that miracles1 then gifts of healing1 helps1 governments1 diversities of tongues4 ,are all apostles8 ,are all prophets8 ,are all teachers8 ,are all workers of miracles8 ,have all the gift of healing8 ,do all speak with tongues8 ,do all interpret80 ,so ,i saw it was clearly taught in the ,scriptures that one might be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit and still not have the gift of tongues4 ,i saw furthermore that the gift of tongues1 according to the ,scripture1 was the last and the least important of all the gifts1 and that we were urged to desire earnestly the greater gifts 7#a ,cor4 xiii4 #ca2 #a ,cor4 xiv4 #e1 #ab1 #ad1 #ah1 #ai1 #bg1 #bh74 ,a little later ,i was tempted to fall into another error1 more specious but in reality just as unscriptural as this1 namely1 that if one were baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 he would receive the gift of an evangelist4 ,i had read the story of ,d4 ,l4 ,moody1 of ,charles ,g4 ,finney and of others who were baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 and of the power that came to them as evangelists1 and the thought was suggested that if any one is baptized with the ,holy ,spirit will not he also obtain power as an evangelist8 ,but this was also unscriptural4 ,if ,god has called a man to be an evangelist and he is baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 he will receive power as an evangelist1 but if ,god has called him to be something else1 he will receive power to become something else4 ,three great evils come from the error of thinking that every one who is baptized with the ,holy ,spirit will receive power as an evangelist4 7#a7 ,the evil of disappointment4 ,there are many who seek the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit expecting power as an evangelist1 but ,god has not called them to that work1 and though they really meet the conditions of receiving the baptism with the ,spirit1 and do receive the baptism with the ,spirit1 power as an evangelist does not come4 ,in many cases this results in bitter disappointment and sometimes even in despair4 ,the one who has expected the power of an evangelist and has not received it sometimes even questions whether he is a child of ,god4 ,but if he had properly understood the matter1 he would have known that the fact that he had not received power as an evangelist is no proof that he has not received the baptism with the ,spirit1 and much less is it a proof that he is not a child of ,god4 7#b7 ,the second evil is graver still1 namely1 the evil of presumption4 ,a man whom ,god has not called to the work of an evangelist or a minister oftentimes rushes into it because he has received1 or imagines he has received1 the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he thinks all a man needs to become a preacher is the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this is not true4 ,in order to succeed as a minister a man needs a call to that specific work1 and furthermore1 he needs that knowledge of ,god's ,word that will prepare him for the work4 ,if a man is called to the ministry and studies the ,word until he has something to preach1 if then he is baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 he will have success as a preacher1 but if he is not called to that work1 or if he has not the knowledge of the ,word of ,god that is necessary1 he will not succeed in the work1 even though he receives the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 7#c7 ,the third evil is greater still1 namely1 the evil of indifference4 ,there are many who know that they are not called to the work of preaching4 ,if then they think that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit simply imparts power as an evangelist1 or power to preach1 the matter of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is one of no personal concern to them4 ,for example1 here is a mother with a large family of children4 ,she knows perfectly well1 or at least it is hoped that she knows1 that she is not called to do the work of an evangelist4 ,she knows that her duty lies with her children and her home4 ,if she reads or hears about the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 and gets the impression that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit simply imparts power to do the work of an evangelist1 or to preach1 she will think 8,the evangelist needs this blessing1 my minister needs this blessing1 but it is not for me02 but if she understands the matter as it is taught in the ,bible1 that while the baptism with the ,spirit imparts power1 the way in which the power will be manifested depends entirely upon the line of work to which ,god calls us1 and that no efficient work can be done without it1 and sees still further that there is no function in the church of ,jesus ,christ to-day more holy and sacred than that of sanctified motherhood1 she will say1 8,the evangelist may need this baptism1 my minister may need this baptism2 but ,i must have it to bring up my children in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord40 #b4 ,while there are diversities of gifts and manifestations of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 there will be some gift to every one thus baptized4 ,we read in #a ,cor4 xii4 #g1 ,r4 ,v41 8,but to each one is given the manifestation of the ,spirit to profit withal40 ,every most insignificant member of the body of ,christ has some function to perform in that body4 ,the body grows by that 8which every joint supplieth0 7,eph4 iv4 #af71 and to each least significant joint1 the ,holy ,spirit imparts power to perform the function that belongs to him4 #c4 ,it is the ,holy ,spirit who decides how the baptism with the ,spirit shall manifest itself in any given case4 ,as we read in #a ,cor4 xii4 #aa1 8,but all these worketh the one and the selfsame ,spirit dividing to each one severally1 even as ,he will40 ,the ,holy ,spirit is absolutely sovereign in deciding how1 that is1 in what special gift1 operation1 or power1 the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit shall manifest itself4 ,it is not for us to pick out some field of service and then ask the ,holy ,spirit to qualify us for that service4 ,it is not for us to select some gift and then ask the ,holy ,spirit to impart to us this self-chosen gift4 ,it is for us to simply put ourselves entirely at the disposal of the ,holy ,spirit to send us where ,he will1 to select for us what kind of service ,he will and to impart to us what gift ,he will4 ,he is absolute sovereign and our position is that of unconditional surrender to ,him4 ,i am glad that this is so4 ,i rejoice that ,he1 in ,his infinite wisdom and love1 is to select the field of service and the gifts1 and that this is not to be left to me in my short-sightedness and folly4 ,it is because of the failure to recognize this absolute sovereignty of the ,spirit that many fail of the blessing and meet with disappointment4 ,they are trying to select their own gift and so get none4 ,i once knew an earnest child of ,god in ,scotland1 who hearing of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit and the power that resulted from it1 gave up at a great sacrifice his work as a ship plater1 for which he was receiving large wages4 ,he heard that there was a great need of ministers in the northwest in ,america4 ,he came to the northwest4 ,he met the conditions of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit and ,i believe was really baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 but ,god had not chosen him for the work of an evangelist1 and the power as an evangelist did not come to him4 ,no field seemed to open1 and he was in great despondency4 ,he even questioned his acceptance before ,god4 ,one morning he came into our church in ,minneapolis and heard me speak upon the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 and as ,i pointed out that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit manifested itself in many different ways1 and the fact that one had not power as an evangelist was no proof that he had not received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 light came into his heart4 ,he put himself unreservedly into ,god's hands for ,him to choose the field of labour and the gifts4 ,an opening soon came to him as a ,sunday-school missionary1 and then1 when he had given up choosing for himself and left it with the ,holy ,spirit to divide to him as ,he would1 a strange thing happened2 he did receive power as an evangelist and went through the country districts in one of our northwestern states with mighty power as an evangelist4 #d4 ,while the power may be of one kind in one person and of another kind in another person1 there will always be power1 the very power of ,god1 when one is baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in ,acts i4 #e1 #h1 8,for ,john truly baptized with water2 but ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence4444 ,but ye shall receive power1 after that the ,holy ,ghost is come upon you3 and ye shall be witnesses unto ,me both in ,jerusalem1 and in all ,judea1 and in ,samaria1 and unto the uttermost part of the earth40 ,as truly as any one who reads these pages1 who has not already received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 seeks it in ,god's way1 he will obtain it1 and there will come into his service a power that was never there before1 power for the very work to which ,god has called him4 ,this is not only the teaching of ,scripture2 it is the teaching of religious experience throughout the centuries4 ,religious biographies abound in instances of men who have worked along as best they could1 until one day they were led to see that there was such an experience as the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit and to seek it and obtain it and1 from that hour1 there came into their service a new power that utterly transformed its character4 ,in this matter1 one thinks first of such men as ,finney1 and ,moody1 and ,brainerd1 but cases of this character are not confined to the few exceptional men4 ,they are common4 ,the writer has personally met and corresponded with hundreds and thousands of persons around the globe1 who could testify definitely to the new power that ,god has granted them through the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,these thousands of men and women were in all branches of ,christian service2 some of them are ministers of the ,gospel1 some evangelists1 some mission workers1 some ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a4 secretaries1 ,sunday-school teachers1 fathers1 mothers1 personal workers4 ,nothing could possibly exceed the clearness and the confidence and the joyfulness of many of these testimonies4 ,i shall not soon forget a minister whom ,i met some years ago at a ,state ,convention of the ,young ,people's ,society of ,christian ,endeavour at ,new ,britain1 ,conn4 ,i was speaking upon the subject of personal work and as ,i drew the address to a close1 ,i said that in order to do effective personal work1 we must be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 and in a very few sentences explained what ,i meant by that4 ,at the close of the address1 this minister came to me on the platform and said1 8,i have not this blessing you have been speaking about1 but ,i want it4 ,will you pray for me80 ,i said1 8,why not pray right now80 ,he said1 8,i will40 ,we put two chairs side by side and turned our backs upon the crowd as they passed out of the ,armoury4 ,he prayed and ,i prayed that he might be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,then we separated4 ,some weeks after1 one who had witnessed the scene came to me at a convention in ,washington and told me how this minister had gone back to his church a transformed man1 that now his congregations filled the church1 that it was largely composed of young men1 and that there were conversions at every service4 ,some years after1 this minister was called to another field of service4 ,his most spiritually-minded friends advised him not to go1 as all the ruling elements in the church to which he had been called were against aggressive evangelistic work1 but for some reason or other1 he felt it was the call of ,god and accepted it4 ,in six months1 there were sixty-nine conversions1 and thirty-eight of them were business men of the town4 ,after attending in ,montreal some years ago an ,inter-provincial ,convention of the ,young ,men's ,christian ,association of the ,provinces of ,canada1 ,i received a letter from a young man4 ,he wrote1 8,i was present at your last meeting in ,montreal4 ,i heard you speak upon the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i went to my rooms and sought that baptism for myself and received it4 ,i am chairman of the ,lookout ,committee of the ,christian ,endeavour ,society of our church4 ,i called together the other members of the committee4 ,i found that two of them had been at the meeting and had already been baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,then we prayed for the other members of the committee and they were baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,now we are going out into the church and the young people of the church are being brought to ,christ right along40 ,a lady and gentleman once came to me at a convention and told me how1 though they had never seen me before1 they had read the report of an address on the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit delivered in ,boston at a ,christian ,workers' ,convention and that they had sought this baptism and had received it4 ,the man then told me the blessing that had come into his service as superintendent of the ,sunday-school4 ,when he had finished1 his wife broke in and said1 8,yes1 and the best part of it is1 ,i have been able to get into the hearts of my own children1 which ,i was never able to do before40 ,here were three distinctly different lines of service1 but there was power in each case4 ,the results of that power may not1 however1 be manifest at once in conversions4 ,stephen was filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 but as he witnessed in the power of the ,holy ,spirit for his risen ,lord1 he saw no conversions at the time4 ,all he saw was the gnashing of the teeth1 the angry looks and the merciless rocks1 and so it may be with us4 ,but there was a conversion1 even in that case1 though it was a long time before it was seen1 and that conversion1 the conversion of ,saul of ,tarsus1 was worth more than hundreds of ordinary conversions4 #e4 ,another result of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit will be boldness in testimony and service4 ,we read in ,acts iv4 #ca1 8,and when they had prayed1 the place was shaken where they were assembled together2 and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and they spake the word of ,god with boldness40 ,the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit imparts to those who receive it new liberty and fearlessness in testimony for ,christ4 ,it converts cowards into heroes4 ,peter upon the night of our ,lord's crucifixion proved himself a craven coward4 ,he denied with oaths and curses that he knew the ,lord4 ,but after ,pentecost1 this same ,peter was brought before the very council that had condemned ,jesus to death1 and he himself was threatened1 but filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 he said1 8,ye rulers of the people1 and elders of ,israel1 if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man1 by what means he is made whole2 be it known unto you all1 and to all the people of ,israel1 that by the name of ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1 whom ye crucified1 whom ,god raised from the dead1 even by ,him doth this man stand here before you whole4 ,this is the stone which was set at nought of you builders1 which is become the head of the corner4 ,neither is there salvation in any other3 for there is none other name under heaven given among men1 whereby we must be saved0 7,acts iv4 #h-ab74 ,a little later when the council commanded him and his companion1 ,john1 not to speak or teach in the name of ,jesus1 they answered1 8,whether it be right in the sight of ,god to hearken unto you more than unto ,god1 judge ye4 ,for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard0 7,acts iv4 #ai1 #bj74 ,on a still later occasion1 when they were threatened and commanded not to speak and when their lives were in jeopardy1 ,peter told the council to their faces1 8,we ought to obey ,god rather than men4 ,the ,god of our fathers raised up ,jesus1 whom ye slew and hanged on a tree4 ,him hath ,god exalted with ,his right hand to be a ,prince and a ,saviour1 for to give repentance to ,israel1 and forgiveness of sins4 ,and we are ,his witnesses of these things2 and so is also the ,holy ,ghost1 whom ,god hath given to them that obey ,him0 7,acts v4 #bi-cb74 ,the natural timidity of many a man to-day vanishes when he is filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 and with great boldness and liberty1 with utter fearlessness of consequences1 he gives his testimony for ,jesus ,christ4 #f4 ,the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit causes the one who receives it to be occupied with ,god and ,christ and spiritual things4 ,in the record of the day of ,pentecost1 we read1 8,they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the ,spirit gave them utterance4 ,and they were all amazed and marvelled1 saying one to another1 ,behold1 are not these which speak ,galileans8 ,and how hear we every man in our own tongue1 wherein we were born8 ,cretes and ,arabians1 we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of ,god0 7,acts ii4 #d1 #g1 #h1 #aa74 ,then follows ,peter's sermon1 a sermon that from start to finish is entirely taken up with ,jesus ,christ and ,his glory4 ,on a later day we read1 8,and when they had prayed1 the place was shaken where they were assembled together2 and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and they spake the word of ,god with boldness4 ,and with great power gave the ,apostles witness of the resurrection of the ,lord ,jesus3 and great grace was upon them all4444 ,then ,peter1 filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 said unto them1 ,ye rulers of the people1 and elders of ,israel1 if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man1 by what means he is made whole2 be it known unto you all1 and to all the people of ,israel1 that by the name of ,jesus of ,nazareth1 whom ye crucified1 whom ,god raised from the dead1 even by ,him doth this man stand here before you whole0 7,acts iv4 #ca1 #cc1 #h-aj74 ,we read of ,saul of ,tarsus1 that when he had been filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 8,straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed ,jesus0 7,acts ix4 #ag1 #bj1 ,r4 ,v474 ,we read of the household of ,cornelius1 8,while ,peter yet spake these words1 the ,holy ,ghost fell on them who heard the ,word4 ,and they of the circumcision which believed were astonished1 as many as came with ,peter1 because that on the ,gentiles also was poured out the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,for they heard them speak with tongues1 and magnify ,god40 ,here we see the whole household of ,cornelius as soon as they were filled with the ,holy ,spirit magnifying ,god4 ,in ,eph4 v4 #ah1 #ai1 we are told that the result of being filled with the ,spirit is that those who are thus filled will speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs1 singing and making melody in their hearts to the ,lord4 ,men who are filled with the ,holy ,spirit will not be singing sentimental ballads1 not comic ditties1 nor operatic airs while the power of the ,holy ,ghost is upon them4 ,if the ,holy ,ghost should come upon any one while listening to one of the most innocent of the world's songs1 he would not enjoy it1 he would long to hear something about ,christ4 ,men who are baptized with the ,holy ,spirit do not talk much about self but much about ,god1 and especially much about ,christ4 ,this is necessarily so1 as it is the ,holy ,spirit's office to bear witness to the glorified ,christ 7,john xv4 #bf2 xvi4 #ad74 ,to sum up everything that has been said about the results of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit2 the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is the ,spirit of ,god coming upon the believer1 filling his mind with a real apprehension of truths1 especially of ,christ1 taking possession of his faculties1 imparting to him gifts not otherwise his but which qualify him for the service to which ,god has called him4 ,,the ,,necessity ,,of ,,the ,,baptism ,,with ,,the ,,spirit4 ,the ,new ,testament has much to say about the necessity for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,when our ,lord was about to leave ,his disciples to go to be with the ,father1 ,he said1 8,and1 behold1 ,i send the promise of ,my ,father upon you3 but tarry ye in the city of ,jerusalem1 until ye be endued with power from on high0 7,luke xxiv4 #di74 ,he had just commissioned them to be ,his witnesses to all nations1 beginning at ,jerusalem 7vs4 #dg1 #dh71 but ,he here tells them that before they undertake this witnessing1 they must wait until they receive the promise of the ,father1 and were thus endued with power from on high for the work of witnessing which they were to undertake4 ,there is no doubt as to what ,jesus meant by 8the promise of ,my ,father10 for which they were to wait before beginning the ministry that ,he had laid upon them2 for in ,acts i4 #d1 #e1 we read1 8,and being assembled together with them 7,he71 commanded them that they should not depart from ,jerusalem1 but wait for the promise of the ,father1 which1 saith ,he1 ye have heard of ,me4 ,for ,john truly baptized with water2 but ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence40 ,it is evident then that 8the promise of the ,father0 through which the enduement of power was to come was the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he went on to tell ,his disciples 8,ye shall receive power after that the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon you3 and ye shall be witnesses unto ,me both in ,jerusalem1 and in all ,judea1 and in ,samaria1 and unto the uttermost part of the earth0 7,acts i4 #h74 ,now who were the men to whom ,jesus said this8 ,the disciples whom ,he ,himself had trained for the work4 ,for more than three years1 they had lived in the closest intimacy with ,himself2 they had been eye-witnesses of ,his miracles1 of ,his death1 of ,his resurrection1 and in a few moments were to be eye-witnesses of ,his ascension as ,he was taken up right before their eyes into heaven4 ,and what were they to do8 ,simply to go and tell the world what their own eyes had seen and what their own ears had heard from the lips of the ,son of ,god4 ,were they not equipped for the work8 ,with our modern ideas of preparation for ,christian work1 we should say that they were thoroughly equipped4 ,but ,jesus said1 8,no1 you are not equipped4 ,there is another preparation in addition to the preparation already received1 so absolutely necessary for effective work that you must not stir one step until you receive it4 ,this other preparation is the promise of the ,father1 the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit40 ,if the ,apostles with their altogether exceptional fitting for the work which they were to undertake needed this preparation for work1 how much more do we8 ,in the light of what ,jesus required of ,his disciples before undertaking the work1 does it not seem like the most daring presumption for any of us to undertake to witness and work for ,christ until we also have received the promise of the ,father1 the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit8 ,there was apparently imperative need that something be done at once4 ,the whole world was perishing and they alone knew the saving truth1 nevertheless ,jesus strictly charged them 8wait40 ,could there be a stronger testimony to the absolute necessity and importance of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit as a preparation for work that should be acceptable to ,christ8 ,but this is not all4 ,in ,acts x4 #ch we read1 8,how ,god anointed ,jesus of ,nazareth with the ,holy ,ghost and power2 who went about doing good1 and healing all that were oppressed of the devil2 for ,god was with ,him40 ,to what does this refer in the recorded life of ,jesus ,christ8 ,if we will turn to ,luke iii4 #ba1 #bb1 and ,luke iv4 #a1 #d1 #ag1 #ah1 we will get our answer4 ,in ,luke iii4 #ba1 #bb1 ,r4 ,v41 we read that after ,jesus had been baptized and was praying1 8,the heaven was opened1 and the ,holy ,spirit descended in a bodily form1 as a dove1 upon ,him1 and a voice came out of heaven1 ,thou art ,my beloved ,son2 in ,thee ,i am well pleased40 ,then the next thing that we read1 with nothing intervening but the human genealogy of ,jesus1 is 8,and ,jesus1 full of the ,holy ,spirit1 returned from the ,jordan1 and was led by the ,spirit in the wilderness0 7,luke iv4 #a74 ,then follows the story of ,his temptation2 then in the fourteenth verse we read1 8,and ,jesus returned in the power of the ,spirit into ,galilee3 and a fame went out concerning ,him through all the region round about40 ,and in the seventeenth and eighteenth verses1 8,and there was delivered unto ,him the book of the prophet ,isaiah4 ,and ,he opened the book1 and found the place where it was written1 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon ,me1 because ,he hath anointed ,me to preach1 etc40 ,evidently then1 it was at the ,jordan in connection with ,his baptism that ,jesus was anointed with the ,holy ,spirit and power1 and ,he did not enter upon ,his public ministry until ,he was thus baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,and who was ,jesus8 ,it is the common belief of ,christendom that ,he had been supernaturally conceived through the ,holy ,spirit's power1 that ,he was the only begotten ,son of ,god1 that ,he was ,divine1 very ,god of very ,god1 and yet truly man4 ,if such an ,one 8leaving us an example that we should follow ,his steps0 did not venture upon ,his ministry1 for which the ,father had sent ,him1 until thus definitely baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 what is it for us to dare to do it8 ,if in the light of these recorded facts we dare to do it1 does it not seem like the most unpardonable presumption8 ,doubtless it has been done in ignorance by many of us1 but can we plead ignorance any longer8 ,it is evident that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is an absolutely necessary preparation for effective work for ,christ along every line of service4 ,we may have a very clear call to service1 as clear it may be as the ,apostles had1 but the charge is laid upon us as upon them1 that before we begin that service we must tarry until we are clothed with power from on high4 ,this enduement of power is through the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,but this is not all even yet4 ,we read in ,acts vii4 #ad-af1 8,now when the ,apostles which were at ,jerusalem heard that ,samaria had received the ,word of ,god1 they sent unto them ,peter and ,john3 who1 when they were come down1 prayed for them1 that they might receive the ,holy ,ghost 7for as yet ,he was fallen upon none of them3 only they were baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus740 ,there was a great company of happy converts in ,samaria1 but when ,peter and ,john came down to inspect the work1 they evidently felt that there was something so essential that these young disciples had not received that before they did anything else1 they must see to it that they received it4 ,in a similar way we read in ,acts xix4 #a1 #b1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and it came to pass1 that1 while ,apollos was at ,corinth1 ,paul having passed through the upper country came to ,ephesus1 and found certain disciples3 and he said unto them1 ,did ye receive the ,holy ,ghost when ye believed80 ,when he found that they had not received the ,holy ,spirit1 the first thing that he saw to was that they should receive the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he did not go on with the work with the outsiders until that little group of twelve disciples had been equipped for service4 ,so we see that when the ,apostles found believers in ,christ1 the first thing that they always did was to demand whether they had received the ,holy ,spirit as a definite experience and if not1 they saw to it at once that the steps were taken whereby they should receive the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is evident then that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is absolutely necessary in every ,christian for the service that ,christ demands and expects of him4 ,there are certainly few greater mistakes that we are making to-day in our various ,christian enterprises than that of setting men to teach ,sunday-school classes and do personal work and even to preach the ,gospel1 because they have been converted and received a certain amount of education1 including it may be a college and seminary course1 but have not as yet been baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we think that if a man is hopefully pious and has had a college and seminary education and comes out of it reasonably orthodox1 he is now ready that we should lay our hands upon him and ordain him to preach the ,gospel4 ,but ,jesus ,christ says1 8,no40 ,there is another preparation so all essential that a man must not undertake this work until he has received it4 8,tarry ye 7literally #8sit ye down'7 until ye be endued with power from on high40 ,a distinguished theological professor has said that the question ought to be put to every candidate for the ministry1 8,have you met ,god80 ,yes1 but we ought to go farther than this and be even more definite2 to every candidate for the ministry we should put the question1 8,have you been baptized with the ,holy ,spirit80 and if not1 we should say to him as ,jesus said to the first preachers of the ,gospel1 8,sit down until you are endued with power from on high40 ,but not only is this true of ordained ministers1 it is true of every ,christian1 for all ,christians are called to ministry of some kind4 ,any man who is in ,christian work1 who has not received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 ought to stop his work right where he is and not go on with it until he has been 8clothed with power from on high40 ,but what will our work do while we are waiting8 ,the question can be answered by asking another1 8,what did the world do during these ten days while the early disciples were waiting80 ,they knew the saving truth1 they alone knew it2 yet in obedience to the ,lord's command they were silent4 ,the world was no loser4 ,beyond a doubt1 when the power came1 they accomplished more in one day than they would have accomplished in years if they had gone on in self-confident defiance and disobedience to ,christ's command4 ,we too after that we have received the baptism with the ,spirit will accomplish more of real work for our ,lord in one day than we ever would in years without this power4 ,even if it were necessary to spend days in waiting1 they would be well spent1 but we shall see later that there is no need that we spend days in waiting1 that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit may be received to-day4 ,some one may say that the ,apostles had gone on missionary tours during ,christ's lifetime1 even before they were baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this is true1 but that was before the ,holy ,spirit was given1 and before the command was given1 8,tarry ye until ye be clothed with power from on high40 ,after that it would have been disobedience and folly and presumption to have gone forth without this enduement1 and we are living to-day after the ,holy ,spirit has been given and after the charge has been given to tarry until clothed4 ,,who ,,can ,,be ,,baptized ,,with ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit8 ,we come now to the question of first importance1 namely1 ,who can be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit8 ,at a convention some years ago1 a very intelligent ,christian woman1 a well-known worker in educational as well as ,sunday-school work1 sent me this question1 8,you have told us of the necessity of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 but who can have this baptism8 ,the church to which ,i belong teaches that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit was confined to the apostolic age4 ,will you not tell us who can have the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit80 ,fortunately this question is answered in the most explicit terms in the ,bible4 ,we read in ,acts ii4 #ch1 #ci1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and ,peter said unto them1 ,repent ye1 and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ unto the remission of your sins2 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,for to you is the promise1 and to your children1 and to all that are afar off1 even as many as the ,lord our ,god shall call unto ,him40 ,what is the promise to which ,peter refers in the thirty-ninth verse8 ,there are two interpretations of the passage2 one is that the promise of this verse is the promise of salvation2 the other is that the promise of this verse is the promise of the gift of the ,holy ,spirit 7or the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit2 a comparison of ,scripture passages will show that the two expressions are synonymous74 ,which is the correct interpretation8 ,there are two laws of interpretation universally recognized among ,bible scholars4 ,these two laws are the law of usage 7or 8usus loquendi0 as it is called7 and the law of context4 ,many a verse in the ,bible standing alone might admit of two or three or even more interpretations1 but when these two laws of interpretation are applied1 it is settled to a certainty that only one of the various possible interpretations is the true interpretation4 ,the law of usage is this1 that when you find a word or phrase in any passage of ,scripture and you wish to know what it means1 do not go to a dictionary but go to the ,bible itself1 look up the various passages in which the word is used and especially how the particular writer being studied uses it1 and especially how it is used in that particular book in which the passage is found4 ,thus you can determine what the precise meaning of the word or phrase is in the passage in question4 ,the law of context is this2 that when you study a passage1 you should not take it out of its connection but should look at what goes before it and what comes after it2 for while it might mean various things if it stood alone1 it can only mean one thing in the connection in which it is found4 ,now let us apply these two laws to the passage in question4 ,first of all1 let us apply the law of usage4 ,we are trying to discover what the expression 8the promise0 means in ,acts ii4 #ci4 ,turning back to ,acts i4 #d1 #e1 ,r4 ,v41 we read1 8,he charged them not to depart from ,jerusalem1 but to wait for the promise of the ,father1 which1 said ,he1 ye heard from ,me3 for ,john indeed baptized with water1 but ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence40 ,it is evident then1 that here the promise of the ,father means the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,turn now to the second chapter and the thirty-third verse1 ,r4 ,v41 8,being therefore by the right hand of ,god exalted1 and having received of the ,father the promise of the ,holy ,ghost1 ,he hath poured forth this1 which ye see and hear40 ,in this passage we are told in so many words that the promise is the promise of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if this peculiar expression means the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit in ,acts i4 #d1 #e1 and the same thing in ,acts ii4 #cc1 by what same law of interpretation can it possibly mean something entirely different six verses farther down in ,acts ii4 #ci8 ,so the law of usage establishes it that the promise of ,acts ii4 #ci is the promise of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,now let us apply the law of context1 and we shall find that1 if possible1 this is even more decisive4 ,turn back to the thirty-eighth verse1 8,and ,peter said unto them1 ,repent ye1 and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ unto the remission of your sins2 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost2 for the promise is unto you1 etc40 ,so it is evident here that the promise is the promise of the gift or baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is settled then by both laws that the promise of ,acts ii4 #ci is that of the gift of the ,holy ,spirit1 or baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,let us then read the verse in that way1 substituting this synonymous expression for the expression 8the promise10 8,for the baptism with the ,spirit is unto you1 and to your children and to all that are afar off1 even as many as the ,lord our ,god shall call40 8,it is unto you10 says ,peter1 that is to the crowd assembled before him4 ,there is nothing in that for us4 ,we were not there1 and that crowd were all ,jews and we are not ,jews2 but ,peter did not stop there1 he goes further and says1 8,and to your children10 that is to the next generation of ,jews1 or all future generations of ,jews4 ,still there is nothing in it for us1 for we are not ,jews2 but ,peter did not stop even there1 he went further and said1 8,and to all them that are afar off40 ,that does take us in4 ,we are the ,gentiles who were once 8afar off10 but now 8made nigh by the blood of ,christ0 7,eph4 ii4 #ac1 #ag74 ,but lest there be any mistake about it whatever1 ,peter adds 8even as many as the ,lord our ,god shall call unto ,him40 ,so on the very day of ,pentecost1 ,peter declares that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit is for every child of ,god in every coming age of the church's history4 ,some years ago at a ministerial conference in ,chicago1 a minister of the ,gospel from the ,southwest came to me after a lecture on the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit and said1 8,the church to which ,i belong teaches that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit was for the apostolic age alone40 8,i do not care10 ,i replied1 8what the church to which you belong teaches1 or what the church to which ,i belong teaches4 ,the only question with me is1 ,what does the ,word of ,god teach80 8,that is right10 he said4 ,i then handed him my ,bible and asked him to read ,acts ii4 #ci1 and he read1 8,for the promise is unto you1 and unto your children and to all them that are afar off even as many as the ,lord our ,god shall call unto ,him0 7,r4 ,v474 8,has ,he called you80 ,i asked4 8,yes1 ,he certainly has40 8,is the promise for you then80 8,yes1 it is40 ,he took it and the result was a transformed ministry4 ,some years ago at a students' conference1 the gatherings were presided over by a prominent ,episcopalian minister1 a man greatly honoured and loved4 ,i spoke at this conference on the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 and dwelt upon the significance of ,acts ii4 #ci4 ,that night as we sat together after the meetings were over1 this servant of ,god said to me1 8,brother ,torrey1 ,i was greatly interested in what you had to say to-day on the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if your interpretation of ,acts ii4 #ci is correct1 you have your case1 but ,i doubt your interpretation of ,acts ii4 #ci4 ,let us talk it over40 ,we did talk it over4 ,several years later1 in ,july1 #ahid1 ,i was at the students' conference at ,northfield4 ,as ,i entered the back door of ,stone ,hall that day1 this ,episcopalian minister entered the front door4 ,seeing me he hurried across the hall and held out his hand and said1 8,you were right about ,acts ii4 #ci at ,knoxville1 and ,i believe ,i have a right to tell you something better yet1 that ,i have been baptized with the ,holy ,spirit40 ,i am glad that ,i was right about ,acts ii4 #ci1 not that it is of any importance that ,i should be right1 but the truth thus established is of immeasurable importance4 ,is it not glorious to be able to go literally around the world and face audiences of believers all over the ,united ,states1 in the ,sandwich ,islands1 in ,australia and ,tasmania and ,new ,zealand1 in ,china and ,japan and ,india1 in ,england and ,scotland1 ,ireland1 ,germany1 ,france and ,switzerland and to be able to tell them1 and to know that you have ,god's sure ,word under your feet when you do tell them1 8,you may all be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit08 ,but that unspeakably joyous and glorious thought has its solemn side4 ,if we may be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit then we must be4 ,if we are baptized with the ,holy ,spirit then souls will be saved through our instrumentality who will not be saved if we are not thus baptized4 ,if then we are not willing to pay the price of this baptism and therefore are not thus baptized we shall be responsible before ,god for every soul that might have been saved who was not saved because we did not pay the price and therefore did not obtain the blessing4 ,i often tremble for myself and for my brethren in the ministry1 and not only for my brethren in the ministry but for my brethren in all forms of ,christian work1 even the most humble and obscure4 ,why8 ,because we are preaching error8 ,no1 alas1 there are many in these dark days who are doing that1 and ,i do tremble for them2 but that is not what ,i mean now4 ,do ,i mean that ,i tremble because we are not preaching the truth8 for it is quite possible not to preach error and yet not preach the truth2 many a man has never preached a word of error in his life1 but still is not preaching the truth1 and ,i do tremble for them2 but that is not what ,i mean now4 ,i mean that ,i tremble for those of us who are preaching the truth1 the very truth as it is in ,jesus1 the truth as it is recorded in the written ,word of ,god1 the truth in its simplicity1 its purity and its fullness1 but who are preaching it in 8persuasive words of man's wisdom0 and not 8in demonstration of the ,spirit and of power0 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #d1 ,r4 ,v474 ,preaching it in the energy of the flesh and not in the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,there is nothing more death dealing than the ,gospel without the ,spirit's power4 8,the letter killeth1 but the ,spirit giveth life40 ,it is awfully solemn business preaching the ,gospel either from the pulpit or in more quiet ways4 ,it means death or life to those that hear1 and whether it means death or life depends very largely on whether we preach it with or without the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,we ,,must ,,be ,,baptised ,,with ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,even after one has been baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 no matter how definite that baptism may be1 he needs to be filled again and again with the ,spirit4 ,this is the clear teaching of the ,new ,testament4 ,we read in ,acts ii4 #d1 8,they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the ,spirit gave them utterance40 ,now one of those who was present on this occasion and who therefore was filled at this time with the ,holy ,spirit was ,peter4 ,indeed1 he stands forth most prominently in the chapter as a man baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,but we read in ,acts iv4 #h1 8,then ,peter1 filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 said unto them1 etc40 ,here we read again that ,peter was filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,further down in the chapter we read1 in the thirty-first verse1 that being assembled together and praying1 they were 8all filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and they spake the ,word of ,god with boldness40 ,we are expressly told in the context that two of those present were ,john and ,peter4 ,here then was a third instance in which ,peter was filled with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is not enough that one be filled with the ,holy ,spirit once4 ,we1 need a new filling for each new emergency of ,christian service4 ,the failure to realize this need of constant refillings with the ,holy ,spirit has led to many a man who at one time was greatly used of ,god1 being utterly laid aside4 ,there are many to-day who once knew what it was to work in the power of the ,holy ,spirit who have lost their unction and their power4 ,i do not say that the ,holy ,spirit has left them--,i do not believe ,he has--but the manifestation of ,his presence and power has gone4 ,one of the saddest sights among us to-day is that of the men and women who once toiled for the ,master in the mighty power of the ,holy ,spirit who are now practically of no use1 or even a hindrance to the work1 because they are trying to go in the power of the blessing received a year or five years or twenty years ago4 ,for each new service that is to be conducted1 for each new soul that is to be dealt with1 for each new work for ,christ that is to be performed1 for each new day and each new emergency of ,christian life and service1 we should seek and obtain a new filling with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we must not 8neglect0 the gift that is in us 7#a ,tim4 iv4 #ad71 but on the contrary 8kindle anew0 or 8stir into flame0 this gift 7#a ,tim4 i4 #f1 ,r4 ,v41 margin74 ,repeated fillings with the ,holy ,spirit are necessary to continuance and increase of power4 ,the question may arise1 8,shall we call these new fillings with the ,holy ,spirit #8fresh baptisms' with the ,holy ,spirit80 ,to this we would answer1 the expression 8baptism0 is never used in the ,scriptures of a second experience and there is something of an initiatory character in the very thought of baptism1 so if one wishes to be precisely ,biblical1 it would seem to be better not to use the term 8baptism0 of a second experience but to limit it to the first experience4 ,on the other hand 8filled with the ,holy ,spirit0 is used in ,acts ii4 #d1 to describe the experience promised in ,acts i4 #e1 where the words used are 8,ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost40 ,and it is evident from this and from other passages that the two expressions are to a large extent practically synonymous4 ,however1 if we confine the expression 8baptism with the ,holy ,spirit0 to our first experience1 we shall be more exactly ,biblical and it would be well to speak of one baptism but many fillings4 ,but ,i would a great deal rather that one should speak about new or fresh baptisms with the ,holy ,spirit1 standing for the all-important truth that we need repeated fillings with the ,holy ,spirit1 than that he should so insist on exact phraseology that he would lose sight of the truth that repeated fillings are needed1 i4 e41 ,i would rather have the right experience by a wrong name1 than the wrong experience by the right name4 ,this much is as clear as day1 that we need to be filled again and again and again with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i am sometimes asked1 8,have you received the second blessing80 ,yes1 and the third and the fourth and the fifth and hundreds beside1 and ,i am looking for a new blessing to-day4 ,we come now to the question of first practical importance1 namely1 ,,what ,,must ,,one ,,do ,,in ,,order ,,to ,,obtain ,,the ,,baptism ,,with ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit8 ,this question is answered in the plainest and most positive way in the ,bible4 ,a plain path is laid down in the ,bible consisting of a few simple steps that any one can take1 and it is absolutely certain that any one who takes these steps will enter into the blessing4 ,this is1 of course1 a very positive statement1 and we would not dare be so positive if the ,bible were not equally positive4 ,but what right have we to be uncertain when the ,word of ,god is positive8 ,there are seven steps in this path3 #a4 ,the first step is that we accept ,jesus ,christ as our ,saviour and ,lord4 ,we read in ,acts ii4 #ch1 ,r4 ,v41 8,repent ye1 and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ for the remission of your sins1 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,is not this statement as positive as that which we made above8 ,peter says that if we do certain things1 the result will be1 8,ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,all seven steps are in this passage1 but we shall refer later to other passages as throwing light upon this4 ,the first two steps are in the word 8repent40 8,repent ye10 said ,peter4 ,what does it mean to repent8 ,the ,greek word for repentance means 8an afterthought0 or 8change of mind40 ,to repent then means to change your mind4 ,but change your mind about what8 ,about three things2 about ,god1 about ,jesus ,christ1 about sin4 ,what the change of mind is about in any given instance must be determined by the context4 ,as determined by the context in the present case1 the change of mind is primarily about ,jesus ,christ4 ,peter had just said in the thirty-sixth verse1 ,r4 ,v41 8,let all the house of ,israel know assuredly1 that ,god hath made ,him both ,lord and ,christ1 this ,jesus whom ye crucified4 ,when they heard this1 they were pricked in their heart10 as well they might be1 8and said unto ,peter and the rest of the ,apostles1 ,brethren1 what shall we do80 ,then it was that ,peter said1 8,repent ye10 8,change your mind about ,jesus1 change your mind from that attitude of mind that rejected ,him and crucified ,him to that attitude of mind that accepts ,him as ,lord and ,king and ,saviour40 ,this then is the first step towards receiving the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit2 receive ,jesus as ,saviour and ,lord2 first of all receive ,him as your ,saviour4 ,have you done that8 ,what does it mean to receive ,jesus as ,saviour8 ,it means to accept ,him as the ,one who bore our sins in our place on the cross 7,gal4 iii4 #ac2 #b ,cor4 v4 #ba7 and to trust ,god to forgive us because ,jesus ,christ died in our place4 ,it means to rest all our hope of acceptance before ,god upon the finished work of ,christ upon the cross of ,calvary4 ,there are many who profess to be ,christians who have not done this4 ,when you go to many who call themselves ,christians and ask them if they are saved1 they reply1 8,yes40 ,then if you put to them the question 8,upon what are you resting as the ground of your salvation80 they will reply something like this1 8,i go to church2 ,i say my prayers1 ,i read my ,bible1 ,i have been baptized1 ,i have united with the church1 ,i partake of the ,lord's supper1 ,i attend prayer-meeting1 and ,i am trying to live as near right as ,i know how40 ,if these things are what you are resting upon as the ground of your acceptance before ,god1 then you are not saved1 for all these things are your own works 7all proper in their places but still your own works7 and we are distinctly told in ,rom4 iii4 #bj1 ,r4 ,v41 that 8,by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in ,his sight40 ,but if you go to others and ask them if they are saved1 they will reply 8,yes40 ,and then if you ask them upon what they are resting as the ground of their acceptance before ,god1 they will reply something to this effect1 8,i am not resting upon anything ,i ever did1 or upon anything ,i am ever going to do2 ,i am resting upon what ,jesus ,christ did for me when ,he bore my sins in ,his own body on the cross4 ,i am resting in ,his finished work of atonement40 ,if this is what you are really resting upon1 then you are saved1 you have accepted ,jesus ,christ as your ,saviour and you have taken the first step towards the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the same thought is taught elsewhere in the ,bible1 for example in ,gal4 iii4 #b4 ,here ,paul asks of the believers in ,galatia1 8,received ye the ,holy ,spirit by the works of the law1 or by the hearing of faith80 ,just what did he mean8 ,on one occasion when ,paul was passing through ,galatia1 he was detained there by some physical infirmity4 ,we are not told what it was1 but at all events1 he was not so ill but that he could preach to the ,galatians the ,gospel1 or glad tidings1 that ,jesus ,christ had redeemed them from the curse of the law by becoming a curse in their place1 by dying on the cross of ,calvary4 ,these ,galatians believed this testimony2 this was the hearing of faith1 and ,god set the stamp of ,his endorsement upon their faith by giving them as a personal experience the ,holy ,spirit4 ,but after ,paul had left ,galatia1 certain ,judaizers came down from ,jerusalem1 men who were substituting the law of ,moses for the ,gospel and taught them that it was not enough that they simply believe on ,jesus ,christ but in addition to this they must keep the law of ,moses1 especially the law of ,moses regarding circumcision1 and that without circumcision they could not be saved--i4 e41 they could not be saved by simple faith in ,jesus 7cf4 ,acts xv4 #a74 ,these young converts in ,galatia became all upset4 ,they did not know whether they were saved or not2 they did not know what they ought to do1 and all was confusion4 ,it was just as when modern ,judaizers come around and get after young converts and tell them that in addition to believing in ,jesus ,christ1 they must keep the ,mosaic ,seventh ,day ,sabbath1 or they cannot be saved4 ,this is simply the old controversy breaking out at a new point4 ,when ,paul heard what had happened in ,galatia1 he was very indignant and wrote the ,epistle to the ,galatians simply for the purpose of exposing the utter error of these ,judaizers4 ,he showed them how ,abraham himself was justified before he was circumcised by simply believing ,god 7,gal4 iii4 #f71 and how he was circumcised after he was justified as a seal of the faith which he already had while he was in uncircumcision4 ,but in addition to this proof of the error of the ,judaizers1 ,paul appeals to their own personal experience4 ,he says to them1 8,you received the ,holy ,spirit1 did you not80 8,yes40 8,how did you receive the ,holy ,spirit1 by keeping the law of ,moses1 or by the hearing of faith1 the simple accepting of ,god's testimony about ,jesus ,christ that your sins were laid upon ,him1 and that you are thus justified and saved80 ,the ,galatians had had a very definite experience of receiving the ,holy ,spirit and ,paul appeals to it1 and recalls to their mind how it was by the simple hearing of faith that they had received the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the gift of the ,holy ,spirit is ,god's seal upon the simple acceptance of ,god's testimony about ,jesus ,christ1 that our sins were laid upon ,him1 and thus trusting ,god to forgive us and justify us4 ,this then is the first step towards receiving the ,holy ,spirit4 ,but we must not only receive ,jesus as ,saviour1 we must also receive ,him as ,lord4 ,of this we shall speak further in connection with another passage in the fourth step4 #b4 ,the second step in the path that leads into the blessing of being baptized with the ,holy ,spirit is renunciation of sin4 ,repentance as we have seen is a change of mind about sin as well as a change of mind about ,christ2 a change of mind from that attitude of mind that loves sin and indulges sin to that attitude of mind that hates sin and renounces sin4 ,this then is the second step--renunciation of sin4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is a ,holy ,spirit and we cannot have both ,him and sin4 ,we must make our choice between the ,holy ,spirit and unholy sin4 ,we cannot have both4 ,he that will not give up sin cannot have the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is not enough that we renounce one sin or two sins or three sins or many sins1 we must renounce all sin4 ,if we cling to one single known sin1 it will shut us out of the blessing4 ,here we find the cause of failure in many people who are praying for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 going to conventions and hearing about the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 reading books about the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 perhaps spending whole nights in prayer for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 and yet obtaining nothing4 ,why8 ,because there is some sin to which they are clinging4 ,people often say to me1 or write to me1 8,i have been praying for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit for a year 7five years1 ten years1 one man said twenty years74 ,why do ,i not receive80 ,in many such cases1 ,i feel led to reply1 8,it is sin1 and if ,i could look down into your heart this moment as ,god looks into your heart1 ,i could put my finger on the specific sin40 ,it may be what you are pleased to call a small sin1 but there are no small sins4 ,there are sins that concern small things1 but every sin is an act of rebellion against ,god and therefore no sin is a small sin4 ,a controversy with ,god about the smallest thing is sufficient to shut one out of the blessing4 ,mr4 ,finney tells of a woman who was greatly exercised about the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,every night after the meetings1 she would go to her rooms and pray way into the night and her friends were afraid she would go insane1 but no blessing came4 ,one night as she prayed1 some little matter of head adornment1 a matter that would probably not trouble many ,christians to-day1 but a matter of controversy between her and ,god1 came up 7as it had often come up before7 as she knelt in prayer4 ,she put her hand to her head and took the pins out of her hair and threw them across the room and said1 8,there go60 and instantly the ,holy ,ghost fell upon her4 ,it was not so much the matter of head adornment as the matter of controversy with ,god that had kept her out of the blessing4 ,if there is anything that always comes up when you get nearest to ,god1 that is the thing to deal with4 ,some years ago at a convention in a ,southern state1 the presiding officer1 a minister in the ,baptist ,church1 called my attention to a man and said1 8,that man is the pope of our denomination in ----2 everything he says goes1 but he is not at all with us in this matter1 but ,i am glad to see him here40 ,this minister kept attending the meetings4 ,at the close of the last meeting where ,i had spoken upon the conditions of receiving the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 ,i found this man awaiting me in the vestibule4 ,he said1 8,i did not stand up on your invitation to-day40 ,i replied1 8,i saw you did not40 8,i thought you said10 he continued1 8that you only wanted those to stand who could say they had absolutely surrendered to ,god80 8,that is what ,i did say10 ,i replied4 8,well1 ,i could not say that40 8,then you did perfectly right not to stand4 ,i did not want you to lie to ,god40 8,say10 he continued1 8you hit me pretty hard to-day4 ,you said if there was anything that always comes up when you get nearest to ,god1 that is the thing to deal with4 ,now there is something that always comes up when ,i get nearest to ,god4 ,i am not going to tell you what it is4 ,i think you know40 8,yes10 ,i replied4 7,i could smell it47 8,well1 ,i simply wanted to say this to you40 ,this was on ,friday afternoon4 ,i had occasion to go to another city1 and returning through that city the following ,tuesday morning1 the minister who had presided at the meeting was at the station4 8,i wish you could have been in our ,baptist ministers' meeting yesterday morning10 he said2 8that man ,i pointed out to you from the north part of the state was present4 ,he got up in our meeting and said1 #8,brethren1 we have been all wrong about this matter1' and then he told what he had done4 ,he had settled his controversy with ,god1 had given up the thing which had always come up when he got nearest to ,god1 then he continued and said1 #8,brethren1 ,i have received a more definite experience than ,i had when ,i was converted4' 0 ,just such an experience is waiting many another1 both minister and layman1 just as soon as he will judge his sin1 just as soon as he will put away the thing that is a matter of controversy between him and ,god1 no matter how small the thing may seem4 ,if any one sincerely desires the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 he should go alone with ,god and ask ,god to search him and bring to light anything in his heart or life that is displeasing to ,him1 and when ,he brings it to light1 he should put it away4 ,if after sincerely waiting on ,god1 nothing is brought to light1 then we may proceed to take the other steps4 ,but there is no use praying1 no use going to conventions1 no use in reading books about the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 no use in doing anything else1 until we judge our sins4 #c4 ,the third step is an open confession of our renunciation of sin and our acceptance of ,jesus ,christ4 ,after telling his hearers to repent in ,acts ii4 #ch1 ,peter continues and tells them to be 8baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ unto the remission of your sins40 ,heart repentance alone was not enough4 ,there must be an open confession of that repentance1 and ,god's appointed way of confession of repentance is baptism4 ,none of those to whom ,peter spoke had ever been baptized1 and1 of course1 what ,peter meant in that case was water baptism4 ,but suppose one has already been baptized1 what then8 ,even in that case1 there must be that for which baptism stands1 namely1 an open confession of our renunciation of sin and our acceptance of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the baptism with the ,spirit is not for the secret disciple1 but for the open confessed disciple4 ,there are many doubtless to-day who are trying to be ,christians in their hearts1 many who really believe that they have accepted ,jesus as their ,saviour and their ,lord and have renounced sin1 but they are not willing to make an open confession of their renunciation of sin and their acceptance of ,christ4 ,such an one cannot have the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,some one may ask1 8,do not the ,friends 7#8,quakers'71 who do not believe in water baptism1 give evidence of being baptized with the ,holy ,spirit80 ,doubtless many of them do1 but this does not alter the teaching of ,god's ,word4 ,god doubtless condescends in many instances where people are misled as to the teaching of ,his ,word to their ignorance1 if they are sincere1 but that fact does not alter ,his ,word1 and even with a member of the congregation of ,friends1 who sincerely does not believe in water baptism1 there must be before the blessing is received that for which baptism stands1 namely1 the open confession of our acceptance of ,christ and of our renunciation of sin4 #d4 ,the fourth step is absolute surrender to ,god4 ,this comes out in what has been already said1 namely1 that we must accept ,jesus as ,lord as well as ,saviour4 ,it is stated explicitly in ,acts v4 #cb1 8,and we are ,his witnesses of these things2 and so is also the ,holy ,ghost1 whom ,god hath given to them that obey ,him40 ,that is the fourth step1 8obey ,him10 obedience4 ,but what does obedience mean8 ,some one will say1 doing as we are told4 ,right1 but doing how much that we are told8 ,not merely one thing or two things or three things or four things1 but all things4 ,the heart of obedience is in the will1 the essence of obedience is the surrender of the will to ,god4 ,it is going to ,god our heavenly ,father and saying1 8,heavenly ,father1 here ,i am4 ,i am ,thy property4 ,thou hast bought me with a price4 ,i acknowledge ,thine ownership1 and surrender myself and all that ,i am absolutely to ,thee4 ,send me where ,thou wilt2 do with me what ,thou wilt2 use me as ,thou wilt40 ,this is in most instances the decisive step in receiving the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in the ,old ,testament types it was when the whole burnt offering was laid upon the altar1 nothing kept back within or without the sacrificial animal1 that the fire came forth from the ,holy ,place where ,god dwelt and accepted and consumed the gift upon the altar4 ,and so it is to-day1 in the fulfillment of the type1 when we lay ourselves1 a whole burnt offering1 upon the altar1 keeping nothing within or without back1 that the fire of ,god1 the ,holy ,spirit1 descends from the real ,holy ,place1 heaven 7of which the ,most ,holy ,place in the tabernacle was simply a type71 and accepts the gift upon the altar4 ,when we can truly say1 8,my all is on the altar10 then we shall not have long to wait for the fire4 ,the lack of this absolute surrender is shutting many out of the blessing to-day4 ,people turn the keys of almost every closet in their heart over to ,god1 but there is some small closet of which they wish to keep the key themselves1 and the blessing does not come4 ,at a convention in ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 on the last night1 ,i had spoken on ,how to ,receive the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,spirit ,himself was present in mighty power that night4 ,the chaplain of one of the houses had said to me at the close of the meeting1 8,it almost seemed as if ,i could see the ,holy ,spirit in this place to-night40 ,there were many to be dealt with4 ,about two hours after the meeting closed1 about eleven o'clock1 a worker came to me and said1 8,do you see that young woman over to the right with whom ,miss ,w---- is speaking80 8,yes40 8,well1 she has been dealing with her for two hours and she is in awful agony4 ,won't you come and see if you can help80 ,i went into the seat back of this woman in distress and asked her her trouble4 8,oh10 she said1 8,i came from ,baltimore to receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 and ,i cannot go back to ,baltimore until ,i have received ,him40 8,is your will laid down80 ,i asked4 8,i am afraid not40 8,will you lay it down now80 8,i cannot40 8,are you willing that ,god should lay it down for you80 8,yes40 8,ask ,him to do it40 ,she bowed her head in prayer and asked ,god to empty her of her will1 to lay it down for her1 to bring it into conformity to ,his will1 in absolute surrender to ,his own4 ,when the prayer was finished1 ,i said1 8,is it laid down80 ,she said1 8,it must be4 ,i have asked something according to ,his will4 ,yes1 it is done40 ,i said1 8,ask ,him for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit40 ,she bowed her head again in brief prayer and asked ,god to baptize her with the ,holy ,spirit and in a few moments looked up with peace in her heart and in her face4 ,why8 ,because she had surrendered her will4 ,she had met the conditions and ,god had given the blessing4 #e4 ,the fifth step is an intense desire for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,jesus says in ,john vii4 #cg-ci1 8,if any man thirst1 let him come unto ,me and drink4 ,he that believeth on ,me1 as the ,scripture hath said1 out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water4 ,but this spake ,he of the ,spirit1 which they that believe on ,him should receive40 ,here again we have belief on ,jesus as the condition of receiving the ,holy ,spirit but we have also this1 8,if any man thirst40 ,doubtless when ,jesus spake these words ,he had in mind the ,old ,testament promise in ,isa4 xliv4 #c1 8,for ,i will pour water upon him that is thirsty1 and floods upon the dry ground3 ,i will pour ,my ,spirit upon thy seed1 and ,my blessing upon thine offspring40 ,in both these passages thirst is the condition of receiving the ,holy ,spirit4 ,what does it mean to thirst8 ,when a man really thirsts1 it seems as if every pore in his body had just one cry1 8,water6 ,water6 ,water60 ,apply this to the matter in question2 when a man thirsts spiritually1 his whole being has but one cry1 8,the ,holy ,spirit6 ,the ,holy ,spirit6 ,the ,holy ,spirit60 ,as long as one fancies he can get along somehow without the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 he is not going to receive that baptism4 ,as long as one is casting about for some new kind of church1 machinery1 or new style of preaching1 or anything else1 by which he hopes to accomplish what the ,holy ,spirit only can accomplish1 he will not receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,as long as one tries to find some subtle system of exegesis to read out of the ,new ,testament what ,god has put into it1 namely1 the absolute necessity that each believer receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit as a definite experience1 he is not going to receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,as long as a man tries to persuade himself that he has received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit when he really has not1 he is not going to receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,but when one gets to the place where he sees the absolute necessity that he be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit as a definite experience and desires this blessing at any cost1 he is far on the way towards receiving it4 ,at a state ,young ,men's ,christian ,association ,convention1 where ,i had spoken on the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 two ministers went out of the meeting side by side4 ,one said to the other1 8,that kind of teaching leads either to fanaticism or despair40 ,he did not attempt to show that it was unscriptural4 ,he felt condemned and was not willing to admit his lack and seek to have it supplied1 and so he tried to avoid the condemnation that came from the ,word by this bright remark1 8that kind of teaching leads either to fanaticism or despair40 ,such a man will not receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit until he is brought to himself and acknowledges honestly his need and intensely desires to have it supplied4 ,how different another minister of the same denomination who came to me one ,sunday morning at ,northfield4 ,i was to speak that morning on ,how to ,receive the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he said to me1 8,i have come to ,northfield from ---- for just one purpose1 to receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 and ,i would rather die than go back to my church without receiving it40 ,i said1 8,my brother1 you are going to receive it40 ,the following morning he came very early to my house4 ,he said1 8,i have to go away on the early train but ,i came around to tell you before ,i went that ,i have received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit40 #f4 ,the sixth step is definite prayer for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,jesus says in ,luke xi4 #ac1 8,if ye then1 being evil1 know how to give good gifts unto your children3 how much more shall your heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask ,him40 ,this is very explicit4 ,jesus teaches us that the ,holy ,spirit is given in answer to definite prayer--just ask ,him4 ,there are many who tell us that we should not pray for the ,holy ,spirit1 and they reason it out very speciously4 ,they say that the ,holy ,spirit was given as an abiding gift to the church at ,pentecost1 and why pray for what is already given8 ,to this the late ,rev4 ,dr4 ,a4 ,j4 ,gordon well replied that ,jesus ,christ was given as an abiding gift to the world at ,calvary 7,john iii4 #af71 but what was given to the world as a whole each individual in the world must appropriate to himself2 and just so the ,holy ,spirit was given to the church as an abiding gift at ,pentecost1 but what was given to the church as a whole each individual in the church must appropriate to himself1 and ,god's way of appropriation is prayer4 ,but those who say we should not pray for the ,holy ,spirit go further still than this4 ,they tell us that every believer already has the ,holy ,spirit 7which we have already seen is true in a sense71 and why pray for what we already have8 ,to this the very simple answer is1 that it is one thing to have the ,holy ,spirit dwelling way back of consciousness in some hidden sanctuary of the being and something quite different1 and vastly more1 to have ,him take possession of the whole house that ,he inhabits4 ,but against all these specious arguments we place the simple word of ,jesus ,christ1 8,how much more shall your heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask ,him40 ,it will not do to say1 as has been said1 that 8this promise was for the time of the earth life of our ,lord1 and to go back to the promise of ,luke xi4 #ac is to forget ,pentecost1 and to ignore the truth that now every believer has the indwelling ,spirit20 for we find that after ,pentecost as well as before1 the ,holy ,spirit was given to believers in answer to definite prayer4 ,for example1 we read in ,acts iv4 #ca1 ,r4 ,v41 8,when they had prayed1 the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together1 and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and they spake the ,word of ,god with boldness40 ,again in ,acts viii4 #ae1 #af1 we read that when ,peter and ,john were come down and saw the believers in ,samaria they 8prayed for them that they might receive the ,holy ,ghost1 for as yet ,he was fallen upon none of them1 only they were baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus40 ,again in the ,epistle of ,paul to the ,ephesians1 ,paul tells the believers in ,ephesus that he was praying for them that they might be strengthened with power through ,his ,spirit 7,eph4 iii4 #af74 ,so right through the ,new ,testament after ,pentecost1 as well as before1 by specific teaching and illustrative example1 we are taught that the ,holy ,spirit is given in answer to definite prayer4 ,at a ,christian workers' convention in ,boston1 a brother came to me and said1 8,i notice that you are on the program to speak on the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit40 8,yes40 8,i think that is the most important subject on the program4 ,now be sure and tell them not to pray for the ,holy ,spirit40 ,i replied1 8,my brother1 ,i will be sure and not tell them that3 for ,jesus says1 #8,how much more shall your heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask ,him8' 0 8,yes1 but that was before ,pentecost40 8,how about ,acts iv4 #ca1 ,r4 ,v41 was that before ,pentecost or after80 ,he said1 8,it was certainly after40 8,well10 ,i said1 8take it and read it40 8,and when they had prayed1 the place where they were gathered together was shaken1 and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost and spake the ,word of ,god with boldness40 8,how about ,acts viii4 #ae1 #af1 was that before ,pentecost or after80 8,certainly1 it was after40 8,take it and read it40 8,who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the ,holy ,spirit1 for as yet ,he was fallen on none of them1 only they were baptized in the name of ,jesus40 ,he had nothing more to say4 ,what was there more to say8 ,but with me1 it is not a matter of mere exegesis1 that the ,holy ,spirit is given in answer to definite prayer4 ,it is a matter of personal and indubitable experience4 ,i know just as well that ,god gives the ,holy ,spirit in answer to prayer as ,i know that water quenches thirst and food satisfies hunger4 ,in my first experience of being baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 it was while ,i waited upon ,god in prayer that ,i was thus baptized4 ,since then time and again as ,i have waited on ,god in prayer1 ,i have been definitely filled with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,often as ,i have knelt in prayer with others1 as we prayed the ,holy ,spirit has fallen upon us just as perceptibly as the rain ever fell upon and fructified the earth4 ,i shall never forget one experience in our church in ,chicago4 ,we were holding a noon prayer-meeting of the ministers at the ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a4 ,auditorium1 preparatory to an expected visit to ,chicago of ,mr4 ,moody4 ,at one of these meetings a minister sprang to his feet and said1 8,what we need in ,chicago is an all-night meeting of the ministers40 8,very well10 ,i said4 8,if you will come up to ,chicago ,avenue ,church ,friday night at ten o'clock1 we will have a prayer-meeting and if ,god keeps us all night1 we will stay all night40 ,at ten o'clock on ,friday night four or five hundred people gathered in the lecture-rooms of the ,chicago ,avenue ,church4 ,they were not all ministers4 ,they were not all men4 ,satan made a mighty attempt to ruin the meeting4 ,first of all three men got down by the door and knelt down by chairs and pounded and shouted until some of our heads seemed almost splitting1 and some felt they must retire from the meeting2 and when a brother went to expostulate with them and urge them that things be done decently and in order1 they swore at the brother who made the protest4 ,still later a man sprang up in the middle of the room and announced that he was ,elijah4 ,the poor man was insane4 ,but these things were distracting1 and there was more or less of confusion until nearly midnight1 and some thought they would go home4 ,but it is a poor meeting that the devil can spoil1 and some of us were there for a blessing and determined to remain until we received it4 ,about midnight ,god gave us complete victory over all the discordant elements4 ,then for two hours there was such praying as ,i have rarely heard in my life4 ,a little after two o'clock in the morning a sudden hush fell upon the whole gathering2 we were all on our knees at the time4 ,no one could speak2 no one could pray1 no one could sing2 all you could hear was the subdued sobbing of joy1 unspeakable and full of glory4 ,the very air seemed tremulous with the presence of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,it was now ,saturday morning4 ,the following morning1 one of my deacons came to me and said1 with bated breath1 8,brother ,torrey1 ,i shall never forget yesterday morning until the latest day of my life40 ,but it was not by any means all emotion4 ,there was solid reality that could be tested by practical tests4 ,a man went out of that meeting in the early morning hours1 took a train for ,missouri4 ,when he had transacted his business in the town that he visited1 he asked the proprietor of the hotel if there was any meeting going on in the town at the time4 ,he said1 8,yes1 there is a protracted meeting going on at the ,cumberland ,presbyterian ,church40 ,the man was himself a ,cumberland ,presbyterian4 ,he went to the church and when the meeting was opened he arose in his place and asked the minister if he could speak4 ,permission was granted1 and with the power of the ,holy ,spirit upon him1 he so spoke that fifty-eight or fifty-nine persons professed to accept ,christ on the spot4 ,a young man went out of the meeting in the early morning hours and took a train for a city in ,wisconsin1 and ,i soon received word from that city that thirty-eight young men and boys had been converted while he spoke4 ,another young man1 one of our students in the ,institute1 went to another part of ,wisconsin1 and soon ,i began to receive letters from ministers in that neighbourhood inquiring about him and telling how he had gone into the school-houses and churches and ,soldiers' ,home and how there were conversions wherever he spoke4 ,in the days that followed men and women from that meeting went out over the earth and ,i doubt if there was any country that ,i visited in my tour around the world1 ,japan1 ,china1 ,australia1 ,new ,zealand1 ,india1 etc41 in which ,i did not find some one who had gone out from that meeting with the power of ,god upon them4 ,for me to doubt that ,god fills men with the ,holy ,spirit in answer to prayer would be thoroughly unscientific and irrational4 ,i know ,he does4 ,and in a matter like this1 ,i would rather have one ounce of believing experience than ten tons of unbelieving exegesis4 #g4 ,the seventh and last step is faith4 ,we read in ,mark xi4 #bd1 8,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,what things soever ye desire1 when ye pray1 believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them40 ,no matter how definite ,god's promises are1 we only realize these promises experimentally when we believe4 ,for example we read in ,james i4 #e1 ,r4 ,v41 8,but if any of you lacketh wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1 who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not2 and it shall be given him40 ,now that promise is as positive as a promise can be but we read in the following verses1 8,but let him ask in faith nothing doubting3 for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed4 ,for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the ,lord2 a double-minded man1 unstable in all his ways40 ,the baptism with the ,spirit1 as we have already seen1 is for those believers in ,christ1 who have put away all sin and surrendered absolutely to ,god1 who ask for it1 but even though we ask there will be no receiving if we do not believe4 ,there are many who have met the other conditions of receiving the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit and yet do not receive1 simply because they do not believe4 ,they do not expect to receive and they do not receive4 ,but there is a faith that goes beyond expectation1 a faith that puts out its hand and takes what it asks on the spot4 ,this comes out in the ,revised ,version of ,mark xi4 #bd1 8,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,all things whatsoever ye pray and ask for1 believe that ye have received them and ye shall have them40 ,when we pray for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit we should believe that we have received 7that is that ,god has granted our prayer and therefore it is ours7 and then we shall have the actual experience of that which we have asked4 ,when the ,revised ,version came out1 ,i was greatly puzzled about the rendering of ,mark xi4 #bd4 ,i had begun at the beginning of the ,new ,testament and gone right through comparing the ,authorized ,version with the ,revised and comparing both with the best ,greek text1 but when ,i reached this passage1 ,i was greatly puzzled4 ,i read the ,authorized ,version1 8,what things soever ye desire when ye pray1 believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them10 and that seemed plain enough4 ,then ,i turned to the ,revised ,version and read1 8,all things whatsoever ye pray and ask for believe that ye have received them and ye shall have them40 ,and ,i said to myself1 8,what a confusion of the tenses4 ,believe that ye have already received 7past71 and ye shall have afterwards 7future74 ,what nonsense40 ,then ,i turned to my ,greek ,testament and ,i found whether sense or nonsense1 the ,revised ,version was the correct rendering of the ,greek1 but what it meant ,i did not know for years4 ,but one time ,i was studying and expounding to my church the ,first ,epistle of ,john4 ,i came to the fifth chapter1 the fourteenth and fifteenth verses 7,r4 ,v47 and ,i read1 8,and this is the boldness which we have towards ,him1 that1 if we ask anything according to ,his will1 ,he heareth us3 and if we know that ,he heareth us whatsoever we ask1 we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of ,him40 ,then ,i understood ,mark xi4 #bd4 ,do you see it8 ,if not1 let me explain it a little further4 ,when we come to ,god in prayer1 the first question to ask is1 ,is that which ,i have asked of ,god according to ,his will8 ,if it is promised in ,his ,word1 of course1 we know it is according to ,his will4 ,then we can say with #a ,john v4 #ad1 ,i have asked something according to ,his will and ,i know ,he hears me4 ,then we can go further and say with the fifteenth verse1 ,because ,i know ,he hears what ,i ask1 ,i know ,i have the petition which ,i asked of ,him4 ,i may not have it in actual possession but ,i know it is mine because ,i have asked something according to ,his will and ,he has heard me and granted that which ,i have asked1 and what ,i thus believe ,i have received because the ,word of ,god says so1 ,i shall afterwards have in actual experience4 ,now apply this to the matter before us4 ,when ,i ask for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 ,i have asked something according to ,his will1 for ,luke xi4 #ac and ,acts ii4 #ci say so1 therefore ,i know my prayer is heard1 and still further ,i know because the prayer is heard that ,i have the petition which ,i have asked of ,him1 i4 e41 ,i know ,i have the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i may not feel it yet but ,i have received1 and what ,i thus count mine resting upon the naked word of ,god1 ,i shall afterwards have in actual experience4 ,some years ago ,i went to the students' conference at ,lake ,geneva1 ,wisconsin1 with ,mr4 ,f4 ,b4 ,meyer1 of ,london4 ,mr4 ,meyer spoke that night on the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,at the conclusion of his address1 he said1 8,if any of you wish to speak with ,mr4 ,torrey or myself after the meeting is over1 we will stay and speak with you40 ,a young man came to me who had just graduated from one of the ,illinois colleges4 ,he said1 8,i heard of this blessing thirty days ago and have been praying for it ever since but do not receive4 ,what is the trouble80 8,is your will laid down80 ,i asked4 8,no10 he said1 8,i am afraid it is not40 8,then10 ,i said1 8there is no use praying until your will is laid down4 ,will you lay down your will80 ,he said1 8,i cannot40 8,are you willing that ,god should lay it down for you80 8,i am40 8,let us kneel and ask ,him to do it40 ,we knelt side by side and ,i placed my ,bible open at #a ,john v4 #ad1 #ae on the chair before him4 ,he asked ,god to lay down his will for him and empty him of his self-will and to bring his will into conformity with the will of ,god4 ,when he had finished the prayer1 ,i said1 8,is it done80 ,he said1 8,it must be4 ,i have asked something according to ,his will and ,i know ,he hears me and ,i know ,i have the petition ,i have asked4 ,yes1 my will is laid down40 8,what is it you desire80 8,the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit40 8,ask for it40 ,looking up to ,god he said1 8,heavenly ,father1 baptize me with the ,holy ,spirit now40 8,did you get what you asked80 ,i asked4 8,i don't feel it10 he replied4 8,that is not what ,i asked you10 ,i said4 8,read the verse before you10 and he read1 8,this is the boldness which we have towards ,him that if we ask anything according to ,his will ,he heareth us40 8,what do you know80 ,i asked4 ,he said1 8,i know if ,i ask anything according to ,his will ,he hears me40 8,what did you ask80 8,i asked for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit40 8,is that according to ,his will80 8,yes1 ,acts ii4 #ci says so40 8,what do you know then80 8,i know ,he has heard me40 8,read on40 8,and if we know that if ,he heareth us whatsoever we ask1 we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of ,him40 8,what do you know80 ,i asked4 8,i know ,i have the petition ,i asked of ,him40 8,what was the petition you asked of ,him80 8,the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit40 8,what do you know80 8,i know ,i have the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i don't feel it1 but ,god says so40 ,we arose from our knees and after a short conversation separated4 ,i left ,lake ,geneva the next morning1 but returned in a few days4 ,i met the young man and asked if he had really received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he did not need to answer4 ,his face told the story1 but he did answer4 ,he went into a theological seminary the following autumn1 was given a church his junior year in the seminary1 had conversions from the outset1 and the next year on the ,day of ,prayer for ,colleges1 largely through his influence there came a mighty outpouring of the ,spirit upon the seminary of which the president of the seminary wrote to a denominational paper1 that it was a veritable ,pentecost1 and it all came through this young man who received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit through simple faith in the ,word of ,god4 ,any one who will accept ,jesus as their ,saviour and their ,lord1 put away all sin out of their life1 publicly confess their renunciation of sin and acceptance of ,jesus ,christ1 surrender absolutely to ,god1 and ask ,god for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit1 and take it by simple faith in the naked ,word of ,god1 can receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit right now4 ,there are some who so emphasize the matter of absolute surrender that they ignore1 or even deny1 the necessity of prayer4 ,it is always unfortunate when one so emphasizes one side of truth that he loses sight of another side which may be equally important4 ,in this way1 many lose the blessing which ,god has provided for them4 ,the seven steps given above lead with absolute certainty into the blessing4 ,but several questions arise3 #a4 ,must we not wait until we know we have received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit before we take up ,christian work8 ,yes1 but how shall we know8 ,there are two ways of knowing anything in the ,christian life4 ,first1 by the ,word of ,god2 second1 by experience or feeling4 ,god's order is to know things first of all by the ,word of ,god4 ,how one may know by the ,word of ,god that they have received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit has just been told4 ,we have a right when we have met the conditions and have definitely asked for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit to say1 8,it is mine10 and to get up and go on in our work leaving the matter of experience to ,god's time and place4 ,we get assurance that we have received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit in precisely the same way that we get assurance of our salvation4 ,when an inquirer comes to you1 whom you have reason to believe really has received ,jesus but who lacks assurance1 what do you do with him8 ,do you tell him to kneel down and pray until he gets assurance8 ,not if you know how to deal with a soul4 ,you know that true assurance comes through the ,word of ,god1 that it is through what is 8written0 that we are to know that we have eternal life 7#a ,john v4 #ac74 ,so you take the inquirer to the written ,word4 ,for example1 you take him to ,john iii4 #cf4 ,you tell him to read it4 ,he reads1 8,he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life40 ,you ask him1 8,who has everlasting life80 ,he replies from the passage before him1 8,he that believeth on the ,son40 8,how many who believe on the ,son have everlasting life80 8,every one that believes on the ,son40 8,do you know this to be true80 8,yes40 8,why80 8,because ,god says so40 8,what does ,god say80 8,god says1 #8,he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life4' 0 8,do you believe on the ,son80 8,yes40 8,what have you then80 ,he ought to say1 8,everlasting life10 but quite likely he will not4 ,he may say1 8,i wish ,i had everlasting life40 ,you point him again to the verse and by questions bring out what it says1 and you hold him to it until he sees that he has everlasting life2 sees that he has everlasting life simply because ,god says so4 ,after he has assurance on the ground of the ,word1 he will have assurance by personal experience1 by the testimony of the ,spirit in his heart4 ,now you should deal with yourself in precisely the same way about the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,hold yourself to the word found in #a ,john v4 #ad1 #ae1 and know that you have the baptism with the ,spirit simply because ,god says so in ,his ,word1 whether you feel it or not4 ,afterwards you will know it by experience4 ,god's order is always3 first1 ,his ,word2 second1 belief in ,his ,word2 third1 experience1 or feeling4 ,we desire to change ,god's order1 and have first1 ,his ,word1 then feeling1 then we will believe4 ,but ,god demands that we believe on ,his naked ,word4 8,abraham believed ,god and it was accounted to him for righteousness0 7,gal4 iii4 #f2 cf4 ,gen4 xv4 #f74 ,abraham had as yet no feeling in his body of new life and power4 ,he just believed ,god and feeling came afterwards4 ,god demands of us to-day1 as ,he did ,abraham of old1 that we simply take ,him at ,his ,word and count the thing ours which ,he has promised1 simply because ,he has promised it4 ,afterwards we get the feeling and the realization of that which ,he has promised4 #b4 ,the second question that some will ask is1 8,will there be no manifestation of the baptism with the ,spirit which we receive8 ,will everything be just as it was before1 and if it will1 where is the reality and use of the baptism80 ,yes1 there will be manifestation1 very definite manifestation1 but bear in mind what the character of the manifestation will be1 and when the manifestation is to be expected4 ,when is the manifestation to be expected8 ,after we believe4 ,after we have received on simple faith in the naked ,word of ,god4 ,and what will be the character of the manifestation8 ,here many go astray4 ,they have read the wonderful experiences of ,charles ,g4 ,finney1 ,john ,wesley1 ,d4 ,l4 ,moody and others4 ,these men tell us that when they were baptized with the ,holy ,spirit they had wonderful sensations4 ,finney1 for example1 describes it as like great waves of electricity sweeping over him1 so that he was compelled to ask ,god to withhold ,his hand1 lest he die on the spot4 ,mr4 ,moody1 on rare occasions1 described a similar experience4 ,that these men had such experiences1 ,i do not for a moment question4 ,the word of such men as ,charles ,g4 ,finney1 ,d4 ,l4 ,moody and others is to be believed1 and there is another reason why ,i cannot question the reality of these experiences1 but while these men doubtless had these experiences1 there is not a passage in the ,bible that describes such an experience4 ,i am inclined to think the ,apostles had them1 but if they had1 they kept them to themselves and it is well that they did1 for if they had put them on record1 that is what we would be looking for to-day4 ,but what are the manifestations that actually occurred in the case of the ,apostles and the early disciples8 ,new power in the ,lord's work4 ,we read at ,pentecost that they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the ,spirit gave them utterance 7,acts ii4 #d74 ,similar accounts are given of what occurred in the household of ,cornelius and what occurred in ,ephesus4 ,all we read in the case of the ,apostle ,paul is that ,ananias came in and said1 8,brother ,saul1 the ,lord1 even ,jesus1 that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest1 hath sent me1 that thou mightest receive thy sight1 and be filled with the ,holy ,ghost40 ,then ,ananias baptized him1 and the next thing we read is that ,paul went straight down to the synagogue and preached ,christ so mightily in the power of the ,spirit that he 8confounded the ,jews which dwelt at ,damascus1 proving that this is very ,christ0 7,acts ix4 #ag-bb74 ,so right through the ,new ,testament1 the manifestation that we are taught to expect1 and the manifestation that actually occurred was new power in ,christian work1 and that is the manifestation that we may expect to-day and we need not look too carefully for that4 ,the thing for us to do is to claim ,god's promise and let ,god take care of the mode of manifestation4 #c4 ,the third question that will arise with some is1 ,may we not have to wait for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit8 ,did not the ,apostles have to wait ten days1 and may we not have to wait ten days or even more8 ,no1 there is no necessity that we wait4 ,we are told distinctly in the ,bible why the ,apostles had to wait ten days4 ,in ,acts ii4 #a1 we read1 8,and when the day of ,pentecost was fully come0 7literally 8,when the day of ,pentecost was being fulfilled10 ,r4 ,v41 margin74 ,way back in the ,old ,testament types1 and back of that in the eternal counsels of ,god1 the day of ,pentecost was set for the coming of the ,holy ,spirit and the gathering of the church1 and the ,holy ,spirit could not be given until the day of ,pentecost was fully come1 therefore the ,apostles had to wait until the day of ,pentecost was fulfilled1 but there was no waiting after ,pentecost4 ,there was no waiting for example in ,acts iv4 #ca2 scarcely had they finished the prayer when the place where they were gathered together was shaken and 8they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost40 ,there was no waiting in the household of ,cornelius4 ,they were listening to their first ,gospel sermon and ,peter said as the climax of his argument 8to ,him 7that is ,jesus7 bear all the prophets witness that through ,his name every one that believeth on ,him shall receive remission of sins0 7,r4 ,v471 and no sooner had ,peter spoken these words than they believed and 8the ,holy ,ghost fell on them which heard the word40 ,there was no waiting in ,samaria after ,peter and ,john came down and told them about the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit and prayed with them4 ,there was no waiting in ,ephesus after ,paul came and told them that there was not only the baptism of ,john unto repentance1 but the baptism of ,jesus in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is true that they had been waiting some time until then1 but it was simply because they did not know that there was such a baptism for them4 ,and many may wait to-day because they do not know that there is the baptism with the ,spirit for them1 or they may have to wait because they are not resting in the finished work of ,christ1 or because they have not put away sin1 or because they have not surrendered fully to ,god1 or because they will not definitely ask and believe and take2 but the reason for the waiting is not in ,god1 it is in ourselves4 ,any one who will1 can lay this book down at this point1 take the steps which have been stated and immediately receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i would not say a word to dissuade men from spending much time in waiting upon ,god in prayer for 8,they that wait upon the ,lord shall renew their strength0 7,isa4 xl4 #ca74 ,there are few of us indeed in these days who spend as many hours as we should in waiting upon ,god4 ,the writer can bear joyful testimony to the manifest outpourings of the ,spirit that have come time and again as he has waited upon ,god through the hours of the night with believing brethren1 but the point ,i would emphasize is that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit may be had at once4 ,the ,bible proves this2 experience proves it4 ,there are many waiting for feeling who ought to be claiming by faith4 ,in these days we hear of many who say they are 8waiting for their ,pentecost02 some have been waiting weeks1 some have been waiting months1 some have been waiting years4 ,this is not ,scriptural and it is dishonouring to ,god4 ,these brethren have an unscriptural view of what constitutes ,pentecost4 ,they have fixed it in their minds that certain manifestations are to occur and as these particular manifestations1 which they themselves have prescribed1 do not come1 they think they have not received the ,holy ,spirit4 ,there are many who have been led into the error1 already confuted in this book1 that the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit always manifests itself in the gift of tongues4 ,they have not received the gift of tongues and therefore they conclude that they have not received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,but as already seen1 one may receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit and not receive the gift of tongues4 ,others still are waiting for some ecstatic feeling4 ,we do not need to wait at all4 ,we may meet the conditions1 we may claim the blessing at once on the ground of ,god's sure ,word4 ,there was a time in the writer's ministry when he was led to say that he would never enter his pulpit again until he had been definitely baptized with the ,holy ,spirit and knew it1 or until ,god in some way told him to go4 ,i shut myself up in my study and day by day waited upon ,god for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it was a time of struggle4 ,the thought would arise1 8,suppose you do not receive the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit before ,sunday4 ,how it will look for you to refuse to go into your pulpit10 but ,i held fast to my resolution4 ,i had a more or less definite thought in my mind of what might happen when ,i was baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 but it did not come that way at all4 ,one morning as ,i waited upon ,god1 one of the quietest and calmest moments of my life1 it was just as if ,god said to me1 8,the blessing is yours4 ,now go and preach40 ,if ,i had known my ,bible then as ,i know it now1 ,i might have heard that voice the very first day speaking to me through the ,word1 but ,i did not know it and ,god in ,his infinite condescension1 looking upon my weakness1 spoke it directly to my heart4 ,there was no particular ecstasy or emotion1 simply the calm assurance that the blessing was mine4 ,i went into my work and ,god manifested ,his power in that work4 ,some time passed1 ,i do not remember just how long1 and ,i was sitting in that same study4 ,i do not remember that ,i was thinking about this subject at all1 but suddenly it was just as if ,i had been knocked out of my chair on to the floor1 and ,i lay upon my face crying1 8,glory to ,god6 ,glory to ,god60 ,i could not stop4 ,some power1 not my own1 had taken possession of my lips and my whole person4 ,the writer is not of an excitable1 hysterical or even emotional temperament1 but ,i lost control of myself absolutely4 ,i had never shouted before in my life1 but ,i could not stop4 ,when after a while ,i got control of myself1 ,i went to my wife and told her what had happened4 ,i tell this experience1 not to magnify it1 but to say that the time when this wonderful experience 7which ,i cannot really fully describe7 came was not the moment when ,i was baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the moment when ,i was baptized with the ,holy ,spirit was in that calm hour when ,god said1 8,it is yours4 ,now go and preach40 ,there is an afternoon that ,i shall never forget4 ,it was the eighth day of ,july1 #ahid4 ,it was at the ,northfield ,students' ,convention4 ,i had spoken that morning in the church on ,how to ,receive the ,baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,as ,i drew to a close1 ,i took out my watch and noticed that it was exactly twelve o'clock4 ,mr4 ,moody had invited us to go up on the mountain that afternoon at three o'clock to wait upon ,god for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,as ,i looked at my watch1 ,i said1 8,gentlemen1 it is exactly twelve o'clock4 ,mr4 ,moody has invited us to go up on the mountain at three o'clock to wait upon ,god for the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is three hours until three o'clock4 ,some of you cannot wait three hours1 nor do you need to wait4 ,go to your tent1 go to your room in the hotel or in the buildings1 go out into the woods1 go anywhere1 where you can get alone with ,god1 meet the conditions of the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit and claim it at once40 ,at three o'clock we gathered in front of ,mr4 ,moody's mother's house2 four hundred and fifty-six of us in all1 all men from the eastern colleges4 7,i know the number because ,mr4 ,paul ,moody counted us as we passed through the gates down into the lots47 ,we commenced to climb the mountainside4 ,after we had gone some distance1 ,mr4 ,moody said1 8,i do not think we need to go further4 ,let us stop here40 ,we sat down and ,mr4 ,moody said1 8,have any of you anything to say80 ,one after another1 perhaps seventy-five men1 arose and said words to this effect1 8,i could not wait until three o'clock4 ,i have been alone with ,god and ,i have received the baptism with the ,holy ,spirit40 ,then ,mr4 ,moody said1 8,i can see no reason why we should not kneel right down here now and ask ,god that the ,holy ,spirit may fall on us as definitely as ,he fell on the ,apostles at ,pentecost4 ,let us pray40 ,we knelt down on the ground2 some of us lay on our faces on the pine-needles4 ,as we had gone up the mountainside1 a cloud had been gathering over the mountain1 and as we began to pray the cloud broke and the rain-drops began to come down upon us through the overhanging pine trees1 but another cloud1 big with mercy1 had been gathering over ,northfield for ten days and our prayers seemed to pierce that cloud and the ,holy ,ghost fell upon us4 ,it was a wonderful hour4 ,there are many who will never forget it4 ,but any one who reads this book may have a similar hour alone by himself now4 ,he can take the seven steps one by one and the ,holy ,spirit will fall upon him4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,in ,,prophets ,,and ,,apostles4 ,the work of the ,holy ,spirit in apostles and prophets is an entirely distinctive work4 ,he imparts to apostles and prophets an especial gift for an especial purpose4 ,we read in #a ,cor4 xii4 #d1 #h-aa1 #bh1 #bi1 ,r4 ,v41 8,now there are diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit4444 ,for to one is given through the ,spirit wisdom2 and to another the word of knowledge1 according to the same ,spirit2 to another faith1 in the same ,spirit2 and to another gifts of healings1 in the one ,spirit2 and to another workings of miracles2 and to another prophecy2 and to another discerning of spirits3 to another divers kinds of tongues2 and to another the interpretation of tongues3 but all these worketh the one and the same ,spirit1 dividing to each severally even as ,he will4444 ,and ,god hath set some in the church1 first apostles1 secondly prophets1 thirdly teachers1 then miracles1 then gifts of healing1 helps1 governments1 divers kinds of tongues4 ,are all apostles8 ,are all prophets8 ,are all teachers8 ,are all workers of miracles8 ,have all gifts of healings8 ,do all speak with tongues8 ,do all interpret80 ,it is evident from these verses that the work of the ,holy ,spirit in apostles and prophets is of a distinctive character4 ,the doctrine is becoming very common and very popular in our day that the work of the ,holy ,spirit in preachers and teachers and in ordinary believers1 illuminating them and guiding them into the truth and opening their minds to understand the ,word of ,god is the same in kind and differs only in degree from the work of the ,holy ,spirit in prophets and apostles4 ,it is evident from the passage just cited that this doctrine is thoroughly unscriptural and untrue4 ,it overlooks the fact so clearly stated and carefully elucidated that while there is 8the same ,spirit0 there are 8diversities of gifts0 8diversities of administrations0 8diversities of workings0 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #d-f7 and that 8not all are prophets0 and 8not all are apostles0 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #bi74 ,a very scholarly and brilliant preacher seeking to minimize the difference between the work of the ,holy ,spirit in apostles and prophets and ,his work in other men calls attention to the fact that the ,bible says that ,bezaleel was to be 8filled with the ,spirit of ,god0 to devise the work of the tabernacle 7,ex4 xxxi4 #a-aa74 ,he gives this as a proof that the inspiration of the prophet does not differ from the inspiration of the artist or architect1 but in doing this1 he loses sight of the fact that the tabernacle was to be built after the 8pattern shown to ,moses in the ,mount0 7,ex4 xxv4 #i1 #dj7 and that therefore it was itself a prophecy and an exposition of the truth of ,god4 ,it was not mere architecture4 ,it was the ,word of ,god done into wood1 gold1 silver1 brass1 cloth1 skin1 etc4 ,and ,bezaleel needed as much special inspiration to reveal the truth in wood1 gold1 silver1 brass1 etc41 as the apostle or prophet needs it to reveal the ,word of ,god with pen and ink on parchment4 ,there is much reasoning in these days about inspiration that appears at first sight very learned1 but that will not bear much rigid scrutiny or candid comparison with the exact statements of the ,word of ,god4 ,there is nothing in the ,bible more inspired than the tabernacle1 and if the ,destructive ,critics would study it more1 they would give up their ingenious but untenable theories as to the composite structure of the ,pentateuch4 #b4 ,truth hidden from man for ages and which they had not discovered and could not discover by the unaided processes of human reasoning has been revealed to apostles and prophets in the ,spirit4 ,we read in ,eph4 iii4 #c-e1 ,r4 ,v41 8,by revelation was made known unto me the mystery1 as ,i wrote afore in few words1 whereby1 when ye read1 ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of ,christ2 which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men1 as it hath now been revealed unto ,his holy ,apostles and prophets in the ,spirit40 ,the ,bible contains truth that men had never discovered before the ,bible stated it4 ,it contains truth that men never could have discovered if left to themselves4 ,our heavenly ,father1 in great grace1 has revealed this truth to us ,his children through ,his servants1 the apostles and the prophets4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the agent of this revelation4 ,there are many who tell us to-day that we should test the statements of ,scripture by the conclusions of human reasoning or by the 8,christian consciousness40 ,the folly of all this is evident when we bear in mind that the revelation of ,god transcends human reasoning1 and that any consciousness that is not the product of the study and absorption of ,bible truth is not really a ,christian consciousness4 ,the fact that the ,bible does contain truth that man never had discovered we know not merely because it is so stated in the ,scriptures1 but we know it also as a matter of fact4 ,there is not one of the most distinctive and precious doctrines taught in the ,bible that men have ever discovered apart from the ,bible4 ,if our consciousness differs from the statements of this ,book1 which is so plainly ,god's ,book1 it is not yet fully ,christian and the thing to do is not to try to pull ,god's revelation down to the level of our consciousness but to tone our consciousness up to the level of ,god's ,word4 #c4 ,the revelation made to the prophets was independent of their own thinking4 ,it was made to them by the ,spirit of ,christ which was in them4 ,and was a subject of inquiry to their own mind as to its meaning4 ,it was not their own thought1 but ,his4 ,we read in #a ,peter i4 #aj1 #aa1 #ab1 ,r4 ,v41 8,concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently1 who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you3 searching what time or what manner of time the ,spirit of ,christ which was in them did point unto1 when it 7,he7 testified beforehand the sufferings of ,christ1 and the glories that should follow them4 ,to whom it was revealed1 that not unto themselves1 but unto you1 did they minister these things1 which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the ,gospel unto you by the ,holy ,ghost sent forth from heaven2 which things angels desire to look into40 ,these words make it plain that a ,person in the prophets1 and independent of the prophets1 and that ,person the ,holy ,spirit1 revealed truth which was independent of their own thinking1 which they did not altogether understand themselves1 and regarding which it was necessary that they make diligent search and study4 ,another ,person than themselves was thinking and speaking and they were seeking to comprehend what ,he said4 #d4 ,no prophet's utterance was of the prophet's own will1 but he spoke from ,god1 and the prophet was carried along in his utterance by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in #b ,peter i4 #ba1 ,r4 ,v41 8,for no prophecy ever came by the will of man3 but men spake from ,god1 being moved by the ,holy ,ghost40 ,clearly then1 the prophet was simply an instrument in the hands of another1 as the ,spirit of ,god carried him along1 so he spoke4 #e4 ,it was the ,holy ,spirit who spoke in the prophetic utterances4 ,it was ,his word that was upon the prophet's tongue4 ,we read in ,heb4 iii4 #g1 8,wherefore as the ,holy ,ghost saith1 ,to-day if ye will hear ,his voice40 ,again we read in ,heb4 x4 #ae1 #af1 8,whereof the ,holy ,ghost also is a witness to us3 for after that ,he had said before1 ,this is the covenant that ,i will make with them after those days1 saith the ,lord4 ,i will put ,my laws into their hearts1 and in their minds will ,i write them40 ,we read again in ,acts xxviii4 #be1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and when they agreed not among themselves1 they departed1 after that ,paul had spoken the word1 #8,well spake the ,holy ,ghost by ,isaiah the prophet unto your fathers saying1 etc4' 0 ,still again we read in #b ,sam4 xxiii4 #b1 ,r4 ,v41 8,the ,spirit of the ,lord spake by me1 and ,his word was upon my tongue40 ,over and over again in these passages we are told that it was the ,holy ,spirit who was the speaker in the prophetic utterances and that it was ,his word1 not theirs1 that was upon the prophet's tongue4 ,the prophet was simply the mouth by which the ,holy ,spirit spoke4 ,as a man1 that is except as the ,spirit taught him and used him1 the prophet might be as fallible as other men are but when the ,spirit was upon him and he was taken up and borne along by the ,holy ,spirit1 he was infallible in his teachings2 for his teachings in that case were not his own1 but the teachings of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,when thus borne along by the ,holy ,spirit it was ,god who was speaking and not the prophet4 ,for example1 there can be little doubt that ,paul had many mistaken notions about many things but when he taught as an ,apostle in the ,spirit's power1 he was infallible--or rather the ,spirit1 who taught through him was infallible and the consequent teaching was infallible--as infallible as ,god ,himself4 ,we do well therefore to carefully distinguish what ,paul may have thought as a man and what he actually did teach as an ,apostle4 ,in the ,bible we have the record of what he taught as an ,apostle4 ,there are those who think that in #a ,cor4 vii4 #f1 #be1 8,but ,i speak this by permission1 not of commandment 444 yet ,i give my judgment as one that hath obtained mercy of the ,lord10 ,paul admits that he was not sure in this case that he had the word of the ,lord4 ,if this be the true interpretation of the passage 7which is more than doubtful7 we see how careful ,paul was when he was not sure to note the fact and this gives us additional certainty in all other passages4 ,it is sometimes said that ,paul taught in his early ministry that the ,lord would return during his lifetime1 and that in this he was1 of course1 mistaken4 ,but ,paul never taught anywhere that the ,lord would return in his lifetime4 ,it is true he says in #a ,thess4 iv4 #ag1 8,then we which are alive and remain1 shall be caught up together with them to meet the ,lord in the air1 and so shall we ever be with the ,lord40 ,as he was still living when he wrote the words1 he naturally and properly did not include himself with those who had already fallen asleep in speaking of the ,lord's return4 ,but this is not to assert that he would remain alive until the ,lord came4 ,quite probably at this period of his ministry he entertained the hope that he might remain alive and consequently lived in an attitude of expectancy1 but the attitude of expectancy is the true attitude in all ages for each believer4 ,it is quite probable that ,paul expected that he would be alive to the coming of the ,lord1 but if he did so expect1 he did not so teach4 ,the ,holy ,spirit kept him from this as from all other errors in his teachings4 #f4 ,the ,holy ,spirit in the ,apostle taught not only the thought 7or 8concept07 but the words in which the thought was to he expressed4 ,we read in #a ,cor4 ii4 #ac1 ,a4 ,r4 ,v41 8,which things also we speak not in words which man's wisdom teacheth1 but which the ,spirit teacheth combining spiritual things with spiritual words40 ,this passage clearly teaches that the words1 as well as the thought1 were chosen and taught by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this is also a necessary inference from the fact that thought is conveyed from mind to mind by words and it is the words which express the thought1 and if the words were imperfect1 the thought expressed in these words would necessarily be imperfect and to that extent be untrue4 ,nothing could be plainer than ,paul's statement 8in words which the ,spirit teacheth40 ,the ,holy ,spirit has ,himself anticipated all the modern ingenious and wholly unbiblical and false theories regarding ,his own work in the ,apostles4 ,the more carefully and minutely we study the wording of the statements of this wonderful ,book1 the more we will become convinced of the marvellous accuracy of the words used to express the thought4 ,very often the solution of an apparent difficulty is found in studying the exact words used4 ,the accuracy1 precision and inerrancy of the exact words used is amazing4 ,to the superficial student1 the doctrine of verbal inspiration may appear questionable or even absurd2 any regenerated and ,spirit-taught man1 who ponders the words of the ,scripture day after day and year after year1 will become convinced that the wisdom of ,god is in the very words1 as well as in the thought which the words endeavour to convey4 ,a change of a word1 or letter1 or a tense1 or case1 or number1 in many instances would land us into contradiction or untruth1 but taking the words exactly as written1 difficulties disappear and truth shines forth4 ,the ,divine origin of nature shines forth more clearly in the use of a microscope as we see the perfection of form and adaptation of means to end of the minutest particles of matter4 ,in a similar manner1 the ,divine origin of the ,bible shines forth more clearly under the microscope as we notice the perfection with which the turn of a word reveals the absolute thought of ,god4 ,but some one may ask1 8,if the ,holy ,spirit is the author of the words of ,scripture1 how do we account for variations in style and diction8 ,how do we explain for instance that ,paul always used ,pauline language and ,john ,johannean language1 etc480 ,the answer to this is very simple4 ,if we could not account at all for this fact1 it would have but little weight against the explicit statement of ,god's ,word with any one who is humble enough and wise enough to recognize that there are a great many things which he cannot account for at all which could be easily accounted for if he knew more4 ,but these variations are easily accounted for4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is quite wise enough and has quite facility enough in the use of language in revealing truth to and through any given individual1 to use words1 phrases and forms of expression and idioms in that person's vocabulary and forms of thought1 and to make use of that person's peculiar individuality4 ,indeed1 it is a mark of the ,divine wisdom of this ,book that the same truth is expressed with absolute accuracy in such widely variant forms of expression4 #g4 ,the utterances of the ,apostles and the prophets were the ,word of ,god4 ,when we read these words1 we are listening not to the voice of man1 but to the voice of ,god4 ,we read in ,mark vii4 #ac1 8,making the word of ,god of none effect1 through your tradition1 which ye have delivered2 and many such like things do ye40 ,jesus had been setting the law given through ,moses over against the ,pharisaic traditions1 and in doing this1 ,he expressly says in this passage that the law given through ,moses was 8the word of ,god40 ,in #b ,sam4 xxiii4 #b1 we read1 8,the ,spirit of the ,lord spake by me1 and ,his word was in my tongue40 ,here again we are told that the utterance of ,god's prophet was the word of ,god4 ,in a similar way ,god says in #a ,thess4 ii4 #ac1 8,for this cause also thank we ,god without ceasing1 because1 when ye received the word of ,god which ye heard of us1 ye received it not as the word of men1 but as it is in truth1 the word of ,god1 which effectually worketh also in you that believe40 ,here ,paul declares that the word which he spoke1 taught by the ,spirit of ,god1 was the very word of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit ,,in ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,jesus ,christ ,himself is the one perfect manifestation in history of the complete work of the ,holy ,spirit in man4 #a4 ,jesus ,christ was begotten of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in ,luke i4 #ce1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and the angel answered and said unto her1 ,the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee2 and the power of the ,most ,high shall overshadow thee3 wherefore also that which is to be born shall be called holy1 the ,son of ,god40 ,as we have already seen1 in regeneration the believer is begotten of ,god1 but ,jesus ,christ was begotten of ,god in ,his original generation4 ,he is the only begotten ,son of ,god 7,john iii4 #af74 ,it was entirely by the ,spirit's power working in ,mary that the ,son of ,god was formed within her4 ,the regenerated man has a carnal nature received from his earthly father and a new nature imparted by ,god4 ,jesus ,christ had only the one holy nature1 that which in man is called the new nature4 ,nevertheless1 ,he was a real man as ,he had a human mother4 #b4 ,jesus ,christ led a holy and spotless life and offered ,himself without spot to ,god through the working of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in ,heb4 ix4 #ad1 8,how much more shall the blood of ,christ1 who through the eternal ,spirit offered ,himself without spot to ,god1 purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living ,god40 ,jesus ,christ met and overcame temptations as other men may meet and overcome them1 in the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he was tempted and suffered through temptation 7,heb4 iii4 #ah71 ,he was tempted in all points like as we are 7,heb4 iv4 #ae71 but never once in any way did ,he yield to temptation4 ,he was tempted entirely apart from sin 7,heb4 iv4 #ae71 but ,he won ,his victories in a way that is open for all of us to win victory1 in the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 #c4 ,jesus ,christ was anointed and fitted for service by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in ,acts x4 #ch1 8,how ,god anointed ,jesus of ,nazareth with the ,holy ,ghost and with power3 who went about doing good1 and healing all that were oppressed of the devil2 for ,god was with ,him40 ,in a prophetic vision of the coming ,messiah in the ,old ,testament we read in ,isa4 lxi4 #a1 8,the ,spirit of the ,lord ,god is upon me1 because the ,,lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek2 ,he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted1 to proclaim liberty to the captives1 and the opening of the prison to them that are bound40 ,in ,luke's record of the earthly life of our ,lord in ,luke iv4 #ad1 we read 8,and ,jesus returned in the power of the ,spirit into ,galilee1 and there went out a fame of ,him through all the region round about40 ,in a similar way ,jesus said of ,himself when speaking in the synagogue in ,nazareth1 8,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon ,me1 because ,he hath anointed ,me to preach good tidings unto the poor2 ,he hath sent ,me to proclaim release to the captives1 and recovering of sight to the blind1 to set at liberty them that are bruised1 to proclaim the acceptable year of the ,lord0 7,luke iv4 #ah1 #ai1 ,r4 ,v474 ,all these passages contain the one lesson1 that it was by the especial anointing with the ,holy ,spirit that ,jesus ,christ was qualified for the service to which ,god had called ,him4 ,as ,he stood in the ,jordan after ,his baptism1 8,the ,holy ,ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon ,him10 and it was then and there that ,he was anointed with the ,holy ,spirit1 baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 and equipped for the service that lay before ,him4 ,jesus ,christ received ,his equipment for service in the same way that we receive ours by a definite baptism with the ,holy ,spirit4 #d4 ,jesus ,christ was led by the ,holy ,spirit in ,his movements here upon earth4 ,we read in ,luke iv4 #a1 ,r4 ,v41 8,and ,jesus full of the ,holy ,ghost returned from ,jordan and was led by the ,spirit in the wilderness40 ,living as a man here upon earth and setting an example for us1 each step of ,his life was under the ,holy ,spirit's guidance4 #e4 ,jesus ,christ was taught by the ,spirit who rested upon ,him4 ,the ,spirit of ,god was the source of ,his wisdom in the days of ,his flesh4 ,in the ,old ,testament prophecy of the coming ,messiah we read in ,isa4 xi4 #b1 #c1 8,and the ,spirit of the ,,lord shall rest upon ,him1 the spirit of wisdom and understanding1 the spirit of counsel and might1 the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the ,,lord4 ,and shall make ,him of quick understanding in the fear of the ,,lord3 and ,he shall not judge after the sight of ,his eyes1 neither reprove after the hearing of ,his ears40 ,further on in ,isa4 xlii4 #a1 ,r4 ,v41 we read1 8,behold ,my servant1 whom ,i uphold2 ,my chosen in whom ,my soul delighteth2 ,i have put ,my ,spirit upon ,him2 ,he shall bring forth judgment to the ,gentiles1 etc40 ,matthew tells us in ,matt4 xii4 #ag1 #ah1 that this prophecy was fulfilled in ,jesus of ,nazareth4 #f4 ,the ,holy ,spirit abode upon ,jesus in all ,his fullness and the words ,he spoke in consequence were the very words of ,god4 ,we read in ,john iii4 #cd1 ,r4 ,v41 8,for ,he whom ,god hath sent speaketh the words of ,god3 for ,he giveth not the ,spirit by measure40 #g4 ,after ,his resurrection1 ,jesus ,christ gave commandment unto ,his ,apostles whom ,he had chosen through the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we read in ,acts i4 #b1 8,until the day in which ,he was taken up1 after that ,he through the ,holy ,ghost had given commandment unto the ,apostles whom ,he had chosen40 ,this relates to the time after ,his resurrection and so we see ,jesus still working in the power of the ,holy ,spirit even after ,his resurrection from the dead4 #h4 ,jesus ,christ wrought ,his miracles here on earth in the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in ,matt4 xii4 #bh1 we read1 8,i cast out devils by the power of the ,spirit of ,god40 ,it is through the ,spirit that miracle working power was given to some in the church after our ,lord's departure from this earth 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #i1 #aj71 and in the power of the same ,spirit1 ,jesus ,christ wrought ,his miracles4 #i4 ,it was by the power of the ,holy ,spirit that ,jesus ,christ was raised from the dead4 ,we read in ,rom4 viii4 #aa1 8,but if the ,spirit of ,him that raised up ,jesus from the dead dwell in you1 ,he that raised up ,christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by ,his ,spirit that dwelleth in you40 ,the same ,spirit who is to quicken our mortal bodies and is to raise us up in some future day raised up ,jesus4 ,several things are plainly evident from this study of the work of the ,holy ,spirit in ,jesus ,christ3 ,first of all1 we see the completeness of ,his humanity4 ,he lived and ,he thought1 ,he worked1 ,he taught1 ,he conquered sin and won victories for ,god in the power of that very same ,spirit whom it is our privilege also to have4 ,in the second place1 we see our own utter dependence upon the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if it was in the power of the ,holy ,spirit that ,jesus ,christ1 the only begotten ,son of ,god1 lived and worked1 achieved and triumphed1 how much more dependent are we upon ,him at every turn of life and in every phase of service and every experience of conflict with ,satan and sin4 ,the third thing that is evident is the wondrous world of privilege1 blessing and victory and conquest that is open to us4 ,the same ,spirit by which ,jesus was originally begotten1 is at our disposal for us to be begotten again of ,him4 ,the same ,spirit by which ,jesus offered ,himself without spot to ,god is at our disposal that we also may offer ourselves without spot to ,him4 ,the same ,spirit by which ,jesus was anointed for service is at our disposal that we may be anointed for service4 ,the same ,spirit who led ,jesus ,christ in ,his movements here on earth is ready to lead us to-day4 ,the same ,spirit who taught ,jesus and imparted to ,him wisdom and understanding1 counsel and might1 and knowledge and the fear of the ,lord is here to teach us4 ,jesus ,christ is our pattern 7#a ,john ii4 #f71 8the first born among many brethren0 7,rom4 viii4 #bi74 ,whatever ,he realized through the ,holy ,spirit is for us to realize also to-day4 ,,footnotes #a ,both the translators of the ,authorized ,version and the ,revised ,version1 and even the translators of the ,american ,revision1 seem to have lost sight of the context1 for while they spell 8,spirit0 in the third verse with a capital1 in the sixth verse1 in all three versions it is spelled with a small 8s40 #b ,the ministry of many an orthodox preacher and teacher is a ministry of death4 ,it is true that the ,word of the ,gospel is preached but it is preached with enticing words of man's wisdom and not in the demonstration of the ,spirit and of power 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #d74 ,the ,gospel comes in word only and not in power and in the ,holy ,spirit 7#a ,thess4 i4 #e74