,,introduction4 ,i have been asked by the publishers to write a few lines introducing this book to ,american ,christians4 ,i count it a privilege to be allowed to do so4 ,the one thing needful for the church of ,christ in our day1 and for every member of it1 is to be filled with the spirit of ,christ4 ,christianity is nothing except as it is a ministration of the ,spirit4 ,preaching is nothing1 except as it is a demonstration of the ,spirit4 ,holiness is nothing except as it is the fruit of the ,spirit4 ,these truths are so little taught or emphasized as they should be1 and the blessings they speak of are so little experienced that one gladly welcomes every voice that draws attention to them4 ,it is known that all do not perfectly agree as to the best answer to the question3 ,how to be filled with the ,spirit8 ,some press that aspect of truth which reminds us that the ,holy ,spirit has been given to the church and that ,he dwells in every believer1 a fountain of living water4 ,as there have been fountains clogged by stones and earth1 and only needing to be cleared and opened up1 so we have only to remove the hindrances1 to yield ourselves in perfect surrender to the ,spirit in us1 and the filling will come4 ,we must not ask ,god for more of the ,spirit4 ,god asks for more of us that the ,spirit may have us wholly4 ,others1 while admitting fully that the ,spirit is in the believer1 and that ,he asks for a more entire surrender1 yet urge that it is from ,god direct that the filling of the ,spirit must ever still be asked and received4 ,god cannot give ,his spiritual gifts apart from ,himself1 once for all4 ,as the divine and everlasting ,one1 ,he gives unceasingly4 ,the ,spirit has not been given as if ,he had left heaven4 ,he is in ,god and in the church4 ,it is from ,god ,himself that larger measures of the ,spirit must ever be sought and received4 ,among those who hold this latter view1 there is again somewhat of a diversity in the representation of truth4 ,on the one hand we are reminded that it is by faith we receive the ,holy ,spirit1 and that faith often has to rest and to act without any conscious experience--has to walk in the dark4 ,souls that are fully surrendered to ,god are invited to claim the promise and then to go and work in the full assurance that the ,spirit is in them1 and will in ,his fullness work through them4 ,on the other hand stress is laid on the words we receive the ,spirit by faith4 ,the difference between believing and receiving is pointed out1 and we are urged to wait until we receive what we claim1 and know that ,god has anew filled us with ,his ,spirit4 ,to be filled with the ,spirit is offered us as a definite1 conscious experience4 ,with still other ,christians there is to be found what may be regarded as a combination of these different views4 ,they believe that a very definite1 conscious filling of the ,spirit been received by some1 and may be had by all4 ,though from their own experience they cannot testify of it1 they still look for ,god to do for them above what they have asked or thought4 ,meantime they know that ,god's ,spirit is in them1 and seek grace to know ,him better1 and to yield themselves to ,him more undividedly4 ,they believe that the ,spirit within them is ,himself leading them on to the ,lord above them1 whose it is to fill with the ,spirit4 ,they have claimed in faith the fullness2 they have placed themselves to be filled2 they look to their ,lord to fulfill ,his promise4 ,whether it comes in one swift moment or more gradually1 they know it is theirs4 ,i have written this with an eye to those who may not entirely agree with the way in which the truth is presented in this little book4 ,i wish to urge all1 especially ministers of the gospel1 to give it a prayerful reading4 ,i feel confident it will bring them help and blessing4 ,it will deepen the conviction of the great need and absolute duty of being filled with the ,spirit4 ,it will point out the hindrances and open up the way4 ,it will stir up faith and hope4 ,and it will1 ,i trust1 bring many a one to feel that it is at the footstool of the throne1 in the absolute surrender of a new consecration1 that the blessing is to be received from ,god ,himself4 ,and may this book stir up all its readers1 not only to seek this blessing for themselves1 but to cry earnestly1 praying exceedingly day and night1 for all ,saints1 that ,god may throughout ,his whole church give the ,holy ,spirit in power4 ,it is when the tide comes in1 that every pool is filled1 and all the separate little pools are lost in the great ocean4 ,it is as all believers who know or seek this blessing begin to pray as intensely for each other and all their brethren1 as for themselves1 that the power of the ,spirit will be fully known4 ,with the prayer that this ,spirit-filled book may be greatly blessed of ,god1 ,i commend it to the study of ,his children4 ,,andrew ,,murray4 ,london1 ,dec4 #a1 #ahie4 ,,contents4 ,,page ,introduction--,andrew ,murray #c ,author's ,preface #i ,introduction to first ,australian edition #ac ,,chapter ,i4 ,the ,starting ,point #ag ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,every ,believer's ,birthright #ai ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,a ,command to be ,obeyed #ba ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,something different from the new ,birth--,proved from the ,case of 7#a7 ,the ,apostles--7#b7 ,the ,samaritans--7#c7 ,saul of ,tarsus--7#d7 ,the ,ephesians--,unclaimed ,deposits #bc ,,chapter ,v4 ,everybody's ,need #bi ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,preventive ,against ,backsliding #ca ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,how long ,between the ,new ,birth and the ,filling8 #cd ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,other ,new ,testament ,names for ,being ,filled with the ,spirit--7#a7 ,baptized with the ,holy ,ghost--,baptized into ,one ,body1 ,what it means--7#b7 ,rivers of ,living ,waters--7#c7 ,the ,promise of the ,father--7#d7 ,pouring ,forth--7#e7 ,the ,gift--7#f7 ,receiving--7#g7 ,falling--7#h7 ,coming--7#i7 ,sealed #cf ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,how ,obtained8--7#a7 ,cleanse--7#b7 ,consecrate--7#c7 ,claim #dg ,,chapter ,x4 ,wrong ,motives #dh ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,cleansing--,a ,new ,heart not necessarily a ,clean ,heart--,what is a ,clean ,heart8--,not ,sinlessness--,blameless1 not ,faultless--,i was alone in the ,twilight--,cleansing a ,crisis1 not a ,process #di ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,consecration3 ,what is it8--7#a7 ,sanctification--7#b7 ,surrender--7#c7 ,transference of ,ownership--7#d7 ,enthroning ,christ #gb ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,claiming--7#a7 ,prayer--7#b7 ,laying on of ,hands--,claiming and ,asking--,through ,faith the ,blessing ,made ,ours--,objections ,against ,this #hg ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,how ,does it ,come8--,aorist ,tense3 ,were ,filled1 ,refilled1 ,a ,crisis--,imperfect ,tense3 ,were being ,filled1 ,a ,process--,present ,tense3 ,full1 the ,normal ,condition--,deacons ,full of the ,holy ,ghost--,illustration of ,water ,trough--,illustration of ,service ,pipe #ia ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,its ,effects--7#a7 ,courage--7#b7 ,fruit of the ,spirit--7#c7 ,reach the ,masses--7#d7 ,persecution #ajd ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,may ,one ,know that he is ,filled8--7#a7 ,from the ,testimony of the ,word--7#b7 ,the ,witness of the ,spirit--7#c7 ,signs ,following #aag ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,may ,one ,say that ,he is ,filled8--,testifying to ,forgiveness--,testifying to ,full ,salvation #abj ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,may ,one ,lose the ,blessing8--,by ,disobedience--,by ,neglect of the ,word--,it will be ,found ,where it was ,lost #abb ,,the ,,spirit-,,filled ,,life ,,by ,,the ,,late ,,rev4 ,,john ,,macneil1 ,b4 ,a4 ,,introduction ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,andrew ,,murray ,be filled with the ,spirit--,eph4 v4 #ah ,chicago ,,the ,,bible ,,institute ,,colportage ,,association #bej ,,la ,,salle ,,avenue ,copyright #ahif by ,fleming ,h4 ,revell ,company4 ,,preface4 ,i have written only for the babes4 ,the full-grown1 the perfect1 who may read will kindly bear this in mind4 ,a wide and more or less intimate acquaintance with the ,churches of ,australasia has shown me the need for a simple1 homely talk1 such as this little book professes to be4 ,many1 oh6 so many of ,god's dear children are living on the wrong side of ,pentecost1 living on the same plane as that on which the disciples were living before they were filled with the ,holy ,ghost2 and thus by their lives practically making the sad confession1 ,we did not so much as hear whether the ,holy ,ghost was given1 or whether there be any ,holy ,ghost4 ,the object of this little work is to call their attention to their ,birthright1 to the fact that the ,fullness of the ,spirit is the ,birthright of every believer4 ,god wants us to be living this side ,pentecost1 not the other side4 ,the substance of the following pages has been occasionally delivered as a series of afternoon ,bible ,readings in connection with my ,mission ,services4 ,the frequent request that those who heard them might have them in a more permanent form1 coupled with the hope that the great blessing that has most graciously been vouchsafed to them when spoken1 might not be withheld from them when being read1 has induced me to commit them to writing4 ,i gratefully acknowledge help received from many sources1 both in preparing the ,bible ,readings1 and in preparing them for publication2 especially do ,i owe a debt of gratitude to my beloved fellow-worker in ,christ ,jesus1 who has now for many years been a succorer of many1 and of myself also1 the ,rev4 ,h4 ,b4 ,macartney1 ,m4 ,a41 ,incumbent of ,st4 ,mary's1 ,caulfield4 ,he has most kindly revised my ,,ms41 penned an introduction1 and encouraged me to publish4 ,in much fear and trembling1 because of its inadequateness1 but with earnest and unceasing prayer to ,him who has been pleased before to-day to choose the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty--with the prayer that ,he would graciously do so again1 ,i send this little messenger forth on its mission1 trusting that the reading of it may be as great a blessing to every reader as the writing of it has been to the writer4 ,,john ,,macneil4 ,,the ,,bible ,,institute ,,colportage ,,association 7,d4 ,l4 ,,moody1 ,,president47 ,was founded for the purpose of issuing good sound ,christian literature at low prices4 ,the work is purely undenominational in its character1 and the sympathy and co-operation of all ,christians is invited to help along the work of counteracting the influence of the vicious literature now being so widely circulated4 ,send stamp for pamphlets regarding the work of the ,association1 and for complete catalogues1 which include books on many topics1--all helpful and all at specially reduced prices4 ,special terms to ,colporters and for free distribution4 ,colporters and canvassers wanted in every community4 ,liberal terms4 ,supplies of the ,moody ,colportage ,library books can be obtained at the following depots3 ,,general ,,eastern ,,depot3 ,east ,northfield1 ,mass4 ,,new ,,york ,,city3 #aab ,fifth ,avenue4 ,,boston3 #g ,tremont ,place1 and ,room #f1 ,tremont ,temple4 ,,philadelphia3 #baca ,bainbridge ,street4 ,,nashville1 ,,tenn43 ,barbee ,smith1 agents4 ,,halifaz1 ,,nova ,,scotia3 ,the ,british-,american ,book and ,tract ,society4 ,,toronto3 #adb ,yonge ,street4 ,and direct from headquarters by addressing ,a4 ,p4 ,,fitt1 ,,supt41 ,,the ,,bible ,,institute ,,colportage ,,association1 #bej ,la ,salle ,avenue1 ,,chicago4 ,,introduction ,to ,first ,australian ,edition4 ,christian reader1 ,i pray that before you finish this little book you may become so eager1 so intense in your longings after ,god1 that you will not be satisfied until you are really and actually ,,full of ,him1 filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,when the ,lord asked ,job1 in chap4 xxxviii4 #cd1 ,canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds1 that abundance of waters may cover thee8 he would undoubtedly have answered1 ,no4 ,we1 on the other hand1 with all humility1 but without the slightest hesitation1 can answer1 ,yes4 ,abundance is the ,father's will2 abundant are the ,stores of ,life in ,jesus2 abounding for ever and ever is the ,stream of the ,spirit's energies4 ,we have only to reflect a little till the truth flashes1 and then the victory is all but won4 ,we have only to consider1 ,,who was it that first loved us1 and called us to be ,his own children1 when we were wandering in sin's desert8 ,,who was it that first crossed the wild with a cup of living water to slake our dying thirst8 ,,who now crosses that desert a second time on our behalf with great camel loads of wine and milk8 ,what did it cost ,him to draw that water from ,salvation's well1 or to buy those luxuries for growth and power8 ,what will one healing1 stimulating draught accomplish in us and others8 ,how will ,he grieve if we decline to buy1 or hesitate to drink8 ,what1 above all1 will be the consequences to ,his glory8 ,oh1 let us arise6 ,let us shake ourselves from the dust6 ,let us drink abundantly1 ,beloved6 ,there is just now an unutterable need for something more4 ,single souls are drooping1 though divinely planted4 ,churches are full of bones1 very many and very dry4 ,the world is a jungle1 a forest ready for the fire4 ,men1 women and children form one vast continent of feeling1 of ever-increasing sensibility1 with an ever-deepening1 an ever-aching void4 ,even the ,teachers of ,high ,truth themselves are not abundantly satisfied with the fatness of ,god's ,house2 they do not drink deep enough from the ,river of ,god's pleasures4 ,yes1 there is a thirst not quenched2 and ,i am persuaded that we can only quench ,immanuel's thirst when in ,him we quench our own4 ,then let us make haste to ,god2 let us hurry to the ,stream that is full of water4 ,we cannot know what the ,infilling of the ,spirit means until we are infilled4 ,it is a new experience4 ,god is not thereby better seen than before by nature's eye1 but ,he is better understood1 better loved1 better leaned on2 that is what ,he wants1 and that is enough4 ,perhaps1 dear reader1 the pathway between you and blessing is somewhat hidden1 or your eyes are dim1 or your heart is only beating with a faint desire4 ,if so1 then carefully read this little book2 read it beside an open ,bible2 read it in prayer4 ,it may be1 through infinite compassion1 that it may prove a key into the wealthy place2 it may rend the veil1 scatter the darkness1 lead you to joy unspeakable1 and--to power6 ,i have known the author long1 and love him much4 ,he is thoroughly trained in theology2 he is a first-rate preacher2 his gospel for sinners is as clear as crystal2 and when you have read a little further1 you will say the same of his gospel for saints6 ,he has penetrated far into the ,secret of the ,most ,high1 and so can speak from a rich experience of his own1 to which1 however1 he never refers4 ,i cannot but express the hope that this little treatise on the ,spirit-filled ,life1 may not only be widely circulated in ,australia1 but also in ,england and ,america4 ,it is fresh1 it is homely1 it is temperate1 it is timely1 it is scriptural1 it is splendid4 ,it sets forth a ,promise to be claimed1 a ,gift to be received1 a ,command to be obeyed2 and it portrays the sequel--more liberty1 more peace1 more devotion1 more fellowship with the ,son of ,god in ,his rejection by man1 in ,his fellowship with the ,father4 ,h4 ,b4 ,,macartney1 ,,jr4 ,st4 ,mary's1 ,caulfield1 ,victoria1 ,july #ab1 #ahid4 ,,the ,,spirit-,,filled ,,life4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,starting ,,point4 ,reader1 are you a ,b4 ,a48 ,this little book is only for those who possess that degree from the ,king's ,college4 ,if you are not ,born ,again1 please put it aside1 for this is our starting point in considering the ,fullness of the ,spirit as the birthright of every believer4 ,if you have not been born again you have no right by birth to this1 the chiefest of ,new ,testament blessings4 ,your first concern is to become one of the children of ,god1 and then you may enquire as to your inheritance4 ,if you are born again1 ask that you may read with the anointed eye and with an unprejudiced mind1 for the amount of prejudice that exists against this subject is saddening in the extreme4 ,in nothing that he ever wrote does ,john ,bunyan's masterful genius flash forth more clearly than when1 in ,the ,holy ,war1 he places that old churl1 ,mr4 ,prejudice1 with sixty deaf men under him1 as warder of ,eargate4 ,nothing that even ,emmanuel may say can reach ,mansoul while ,prejudice and his deaf men keep that gate4 ,there is nothing about this in the ,standards of our ,church4 ,i have not met with this truth in my favorite authors4 ,it is quite new to me1 and ,i never will believe it1 etc41 etc4 ,these and such like1 are illustrations one meets with of how well ,prejudice keeps his ward6 ,in the name of the ,lord let us displace him1 and determine to give what of ,god's truth may be set forth in the following pages a fair field1 no favor being asked for4 ,deep-rooted prejudice is one of the causes of the appalling spiritual poverty that abounds--yes1 appalling when we consider the treasures within our reach6 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,every ,,believer',s ,,birthright4 ,on every hand a lack of something is being felt and expressed by ,god's people4 ,their ,christian experience is not what they expected it would be4 ,instead of expected victory1 it is oft-recurring1 dreaded defeat2 instead of soul satisfaction1 it is soul hunger2 instead of deep1 abiding heart rest1 it is disquiet and discontent2 instead of advancing1 it is losing ground4 ,is this all ,christ meant when ,he said1 ,come unto ,me8 ,is this life of constant disappointment the normal life of the ,bible ,christian8 ,to these sad questionings the ,divine ,word answers with an emphatic ,no1 and the testimony of an ever-increasing number of ,god's children answers ,no4 ,for this widely felt1 though sometimes inarticulate demand1 the ,divine supply is the fullness of the ,spirit2 and this ,fullness is the birthright of every believer1 his birthright by virtue of his new birth4 ,sometimes we hear it said that to be filled with the ,spirit is the ,christian privilege2 but birthright is a stronger word4 ,reader1 it is your birthright to be filled with the ,spirit1 as ,peter was filled1 as ,stephen was filled1 as the one hundred and twenty men and women in the upper room were filled 7,acts ii4 #d1 and i4 #ad1 #ae71 as the men and women in ,cornelius' house were filled 7,acts x4 #dd-dg74 ,and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 for to you is the promise1 and to your children1 and to all that are afar off 7,acts ii4 #ch1 #ci74 ,what have you done with your birthright8 ,have you claimed it8 ,are you living at this moment in the possession and enjoyment of it8 ,or1 are you1 ,esau-like1 despising your birthright8 7,gen4 xxv4 #cd74 ,or1 if not despising1 are you neglecting it8 ,esau's eyes were ultimately opened to his folly in parting with his birthright for one mess of meat1 and he then desired to inherit the blessing1 seeking it diligently with tears2 but alas6 his awaking came too late 7,heb4 xii4 #af1 #ag74 ,may every reader of these lines have the desire graciously awakened 7if it has not yet been awakened and satisfied71 to inherit their birthright blessing1 while place of repentance is to be found4 ,may the prediction be fulfilled in our glad experience3 ,the house of ,jacob shall possess their possessions 7,obad4 #ag74 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,a ,,command ,,to ,,be ,,obeyed4 ,but lest some one should think1 ,it is optional with me whether ,i claim my birthright or not2 no doubt it would be a very fitting thing for some people to be filled with the ,spirit1 but ,i need not trouble about it--in case any one should be tempted to speak and act like this1 let us learn that ,be filled with the ,spirit 7,eph4 v4 #ah7 is a command to be obeyed1 a duty to be done4 ,many of ,god's people are acknowledging that they did not know that ,be filled with the ,spirit was a command2 but it is1 and there is no excuse for not knowing4 ,you will notice that in ,eph4 v4 #ah there is a double command1 a negative1 ,be not drunk1 and a positive1 ,be ye filled4 ,the positive command is as authoritative as the negative1 and was binding on just as many of those ,ephesian ,christians as was the negative command4 ,now what was true for those believers there in ,ephesus in the long-ago is equally true for all believers on ,god's footstool to-day4 ,is it a sin for a believer to-day to disobey the command1 ,be not drunk8 and is it then a virtue to disobey the equally authoritative command1 ,be ye filled8 ,if it is a sin for a ,christian to be drunk1 it is just as surely1 truly1 really1 a sin not to be filled4 ,we are commanded and expected to live a ,spirit-filled life1 to be filled1 not with wine1 the fruit of the vines of earth1 but with the new wine of the kingdom1 the fruit of the true ,vine4 ,reader1 if you are asked1 ,do you obey the command1 ,be not drunk with wine1 what is your answer8 ,if it is1 ,yes1 that is obedience4 ,now1 if you are asked1 ,do you obey the command1 ,be filled with the ,spirit1 what is your answer8 ,if it is1 ,no1 that is disobedience2 you are guilty of breaking one of ,god's plainest commandments4 ,you have no more license to break this command than you have to break any command in the ,decalogue4 ,before you read further1 had you not better confess your sin1 and tell the ,master that you purpose in your heart new obedience8 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,something ,,different ,,from ,,the ,,new ,,birth4 ,this being filled with the ,spirit is a definite blessing1 quite distinct from being born of the ,spirit4 ,it is objected by some that every ,christian has the ,spirit2 quite true1 for if any man have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of his 7,rom4 viii4 #i72 and no man can say ,jesus is ,lord1 but in the ,holy ,spirit 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #c72 but to have the ,spirit and to be filled with the ,spirit are two different things4 ,egypt always has the ,nile1 as some one has said1 but ,egypt waits every year for its overflow2 having the ,nile is one thing1 but having the ,nile overflowing is quite another4 ,now it is the ,nile's overflow that is ,egypt's salvation1 and to overflow it must first be filled4 ,so it is the ,christian's overflow that is the world's salvation1 and in order to the overflow there must first be the filling4 ,as far as ,god is concerned1 there is no reason why this filling should not take place at the hour of conversion1 of the new birth4 ,see the case of ,cornelius and his friends1 in ,acts x4 #dd-dh4 ,they believed1 were saved1 received the ,holy ,ghost1 and were baptized with water the same day4 ,but it were a fatal blunder to assert that all men on believing received the ,holy ,ghost in a similar manner1 or were thus filled with the ,spirit4 ,most certainly in ,bible times it was not so4 #a4 ,take the case of the ,apostles themselves4 ,in ,acts ii4 #d we read1 ,they were all filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 all in the upper room1 men and women1 including the twelve apostles4 ,now these men had the ,spirit before4 ,when ,christ called them to follow ,him1 when they were converted1 they received the ,spirit4 ,after ,his resurrection1 but before ,his ascension1 ,christ breathed on them and said1 ,receive ye the ,holy ,ghost 7,john xx4 #bb71 and of course they did receive the ,spirit then2 but it is never said of them that they were filled with the ,holy ,spirit till that morning in the upper room1 for the simple reason that it could not be said of them1 or the ,spirit was not yet given 7,john vii4 #ci74 ,yet these men were ,christians before that morning4 #b4 ,take the case of the ,samaritans4 ,in ,acts viii4 #e-ac we find that under the preaching of ,philip the evangelist there was a work of grace in the city of ,samaria1 the people believed and were baptized4 ,these people1 then1 were ,christians1 but they were not filled with the ,spirit till ,peter and ,john came down and prayed for them1 thus perfecting the work ,philip had been doing 7,acts viii4 #ae-ag74 #c4 ,take the case of ,paul himself4 ,saul was converted when the omnipotent1 omnipresent ,christ1 standing as ,picket-guard for that little church at ,damascus1 unhorsed him1 and took him prisoner on the ,damascus road4 ,lord1 what wilt ,thou have me to do8 ,that question sounds like conversion1 surely4 ,for three days he lay in darkness in ,damascus1 a surrendered1 believing man1 and therefore a ,christian man2 but it was not till ,ananias came to him that he was filled with the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts ix4 #ag74 ,and who was this ,ananias through whom this man ,saul1 destined to prove himself the truest1 bravest1 grandest servant the ,lord ,jesus ever had--through whom even ,saul received the greatest of the ,new ,testament blessings8 ,he was an obscure obedient believer1 of whom we know nothing else than that he did this service for ,saul4 ,here is the ministry of the saints4 ,so it may be to-day1 some big ,paul may be blessed through the ministry of some little ,ananias4 #d4 ,take the case of the ,ephesians in ,acts xix4 #a-f4 ,here were twelve men who were disciples1 they had been believers for some time when ,paul found them2 in other words1 they were saved1 they were ,christians4 ,but ,paul's first question to them was1 ,have ye received the ,holy ,ghost since ye believed8 ,plainly showing that ,paul thought it possible for them to have been believers and yet not to have received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,indeed1 in this case1 what ,paul deemed a possibility turned out to be a fact2 they had not yet received the ,spirit4 ,of course1 in a certain sense1 they had the ,spirit2 it was by the ,spirit they had believed1 and if they had not the ,spirit of ,christ1 they were none of ,his2 but for all that1 they had not yet received the ,spirit in the ,pentecostal sense of the word1 in the sense in which ,paul meant it4 ,they had not yet come to their ,pentecost4 ,in the ,r4 ,v41 ,paul's question is rendered1 ,did ye receive the ,holy ,ghost when ye believed8 ,proving 7#a7 that it is possible to receive the ,holy ,ghost at the moment of believing1 and 7#b7 that it is possible to believe without receiving1 as has already been pointed out from the rendering of the ,a4,v4 ,after ,paul had instructed them more fully in the word and way of the ,lord1 we read that the ,holy ,ghost came on them4 ,from this we gather that these men of ,ephesus obtained a blessing subsequent to their conversion1 spoken of here as receiving the ,holy ,ghost1 as the ,holy ,ghost coming on them4 ,this is in strict accord with what ,paul himself says of this event when writing to the ,ephesians in ,eph4 i4 #ac1 ,after that ye believed1 ye were sealed with that holy ,spirit of promise4 ,first they believed1 and then1 some time after believing1 they were sealed1 they received1 they were filled4 ,from these four cases--7#a7 ,apostles1 7#b7 ,samaritans1 7#c7 ,saul1 7#d7 ,ephesians--we conclude that in ,new ,testament times men actually lived as ,christians1 were saved1 converted men1 and yet knew nothing of the ,filling with the ,spirit--this knowledge1 this blessing coming to them some time after their being born again4 ,yet this is the very thing some to-day deny6 ,whom are we to believe8 ,these objectors or the ,sacred ,record8 ,the ,divine ,word declares it1 and there is then no room or need for argument4 ,so we affirm that it is equally possible for believers1 for saved1 converted men1 to live in our own time1 as well as in ,bible times1 without the ,fullness2 nay more1 it is possible for them to live for years1 then die and go home to ,heaven to be there for ever with the ,lord1 and to have known nothing on earth of what it was to be filled with the ,spirit4 ,but what a loss they have suffered6 ,eternal1 irreparable loss6 ,so we conclude it is abundantly plain from ,scripture1 that for the regenerate soul there is in ,christ another blessing over and above the being born of the ,spirit1 spoken of as the ,fullness of the ,spirit4 ,i am amazed at a man like you going to these ,conventions1 said a man to his minister once4 ,what new thing can these ,convention speakers tell you8 it is all in the ,new ,testament4 ,yes1 he replied1 that's the trouble2 and we have left these things in the ,new ,testament2 whereas we want to get them out of the ,new ,testament2 and into our hearts and lives4 ,in ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's ,treasury1 our share of ,pentecost's blessing has been deposited for each of us by our ,father ,god4 ,have we claimed and received our share8 ,not likely1 if we are not aware that there is such a blessing for us2 but once we recognize the fact that it is there1 we surely will not rest till we have made it our own4 ,the ,scottish bankers have published the fact that they have lying in their vaults a sum of ,l#dj1jjj1jjj in unclaimed deposits4 ,some of those who owned a share of this money may have died in the workhouse2 some of them may be living to this moment in direst need1 and they might have their money for the claiming2 but they do not know that it is theirs4 ,what vast unclaimed deposits are lying in ,god's ,treasury1 ,christ6 ,some of ,his people have died spiritually poor2 some are living to-day in spiritual penury1 a hand-to-mouth existence1 with such untrackable riches lying at call1 at deposit in their name4 ,what have we done with our deposit8 ,we are responsible for its use and disuse4 ,remember6 the reckoning day is coming 7,matt4 xxv4 #ai74 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,everybody',s ,,need4 ,some have the idea that this blessing of the ,fullness is only for a favored few1 for such as have some special work to do for ,god1 but not for ordinary folk1 for auld wives and wabsters in their homespun4 ,surely this is one of the devil's champion lies6 ,alas6 alas6 that it has found such credence6 ,the ,infilling is what makes this promise true1 ,he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as ,david2 and the house of ,david shall be as ,god 7,zech4 xii4 #h71 so that one man of you shall chase a thousand 7,josh4 xxiii4 #aj74 ,this means defeat for the devil1 so no wonder that he strives to keep us back from the ,fullness6 ,we are here on earth that through us ,christ may be glorified2 but there is only ,one ,person that can glorify ,christ1 and that is the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he shall glorify ,me 7,john xvi4 #ad74 ,to the glorifying of ,christ as ,he ought to be and might be glorified1 the filling with the ,spirit is necessary4 ,mothers in the home1 with thronging duties pressed1 need the ,fullness to enable them to glorify ,christ as surely as the apostles needed it2 the washerwoman needs it as well as the pastor2 the tradesman as well as the evangelist4 ,to live the ,christ-glorifying life in the station in which ,god has placed us1 we individually need to be filled with the ,spirit4 ,they were all filled 7,acts ii4 #d71 men and women1 the one hundred and twenty in the upper room1 the rank and file as well as the apostles4 ,ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 for the promise is unto you1 and to your children1 and to all that are afar off 7,acts ii4 #ch1 #ci74 ,from ,acts viii4 #ag we gather that all the converts in ,samaria1 without any favor or distinction1 received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,from ,acts x4 #dg we gather that all in the house of ,cornelius received the ,holy ,ghost while ,peter was speaking4 ,from ,acts xix4 #f we gather that the ,holy ,ghost came on all the disciples to whom ,paul was speaking4 ,they all received because they all needed4 ,do not we all need8 why then should we not all receive8 ,and if we do not receive we will suffer loss1 the ,church will suffer loss1 the world will suffer loss1 and1 above and beyond all1 ,christ will suffer loss4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,preventive ,,against ,,backsliding4 ,it is most instructive to note how exceedingly anxious the early ,christians were1 that1 as soon as a man was converted1 he should be filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,they knew no reason why weary wastes of disappointing years should stretch between ,bethel and ,peniel1 between the ,cross and ,pentecost4 ,they knew it was not ,god's will that forty years of wilderness wanderings should lie between ,egypt and the ,promised ,land 7,deut4 i4 #b74 ,when ,peter and ,john came to the ,samaritans1 and found that they were really turned to ,god1 their first concern was to get them filled with the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts viii4 #ae74 ,when ,ananias came to the newly-converted ,saul of ,tarsus1 his first word was1 ,jesus 444 hath sent me1 that thou mayest 444 be filled with the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts ix4 #ag74 ,when ,paul found certain disciples at ,ephesus1 his first business with them was to find out if they had received the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts xix4 #b74 ,these early teachers did not wait for a few months or years till the young converts had become thoroughly disheartened because of the disappointments of the way1 thoroughly demoralized by encountering defeats where they had been led to expect that they would come off more than conquerors2 neither did they wait until the novices had become more established or more fully instructed in the things of ,god2 but straightway1 at once1 they introduced them to ,fullness of blessing1 taught them the open secret of the overcoming1 ever-victorious life1 and they did not leave them until the secret was their very own4 ,has modern practice been in accord with apostolic practice in this respect8 ,the only possible answer is in the negative4 ,have we improved then on the apostolic method8 ,scarcely4 ,but our modern method is very largely responsible for the large percentage of backsliding that one meets with in the ,church to-day4 ,many of these backsliders were soundly converted to ,god1 but unfortunately for them1 no ,peter or ,john1 no ,ananias or ,paul1 met them in the beginning of their ,pilgrimage to compel their attention to the one thing needful for the people of the ,pilgrimage2 so they started out but ill provided1 and after a longer or shorter time they became thoroughly dispirited2 and then asking1 ,is this all that is in it8 they threw their profession overboard2 and one can scarcely wonder at it4 ,prevention is better than cure4 ,let our young converts be fully instructed and fully equipped with the glorious ,fullness provided for them by the gracious ,father1 and we will hear less about backsliding4 ,do you know why ,peter and ,john1 ,ananias and ,paul1 spake of the ,fullness of the ,spirit8 ,because they possessed and enjoyed the blessing themselves1 and they could not but speak of the blessing that had done so much for them4 ,do you know why we have not spoken of it to our converts and young ,christians8 ,because we did not know of it ourselves6 ,if we receive the ,spirit we will minister the ,spirit2 and if we do not minister1 why is it8--but because we have not received4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,how ,,long ,,between8 ,it is often asked what time must elapse between the regenerating by the ,spirit and the filling with the ,spirit8 for be it remembered the ,filling is as real and distinct and definite a blessing as the regenerating4 ,many people know the moment of their new birth2 they were conscious of the change2 so also many know when they were filled with the ,holy ,ghost2 it was a blessed1 bright1 conscious experience1 and it is as impossible to argue them out of the one experience as out of the other4 ,on the other hand1 some people do not know the time when they were born again2 they simply have come to know by many infallible signs that the great change has taken place2 so in like manner some do not know when the ,fullness came to them1 but they have been gently awaked to the fact that ,jesus came1 ,he filled my soul2 and such people may be as truly filled with the ,spirit as those who can tell when and where and how the blessing came to them4 ,now as to the period intervening between the two blessings1 we know that in the case of the apostles in ,acts ii4 #d1 three or three and a half years elapsed between the day when they heard the ,follow ,me1 and the day when they were filled2 in the cases of the ,samaritans in ,acts viii4 #ag1 and of the ,ephesians in ,acts xix4 #a-g1 some weeks2 in the case of ,saul in ,acts ix4 #ag1 three days4 ,but as we have already noticed in the case of ,cornelius and his household in ,acts x4 #dd1 they were regenerated and filled the same day4 ,from this we gather that1 as far as ,god is concerned1 there is no needs-be for any intervening period1 but that the believer may be filled as soon as he is born again2 the ,life almost as soon as we get it may blossom into ,life abundantly4 ,if we did not receive the ,holy ,ghost when we believed1 and if we have not received ,him since we believed1 and are not living now the ,spirit-filled life1 at whose door then does the blame lie8 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,other ,,new ,,testament ,,names ,,for ,,being ,,filled ,,with ,,the ,,spirit4 ,that we may see how full the ,new ,testament is of this blessing1 and that we may the better understand what it is and how it is obtained1 let us just glance at some other terms used by the ,holy ,ghost when speaking of it4 #a4 ,baptized with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence 7,acts i4 #e74 ,see also ,acts xi4 #af1 ,matt4 iii4 #aa1 ,mark i4 #h1 ,luke iii4 #af1 ,john i4 #cc4 ,now1 though baptized and filled are sometimes convertible terms1 it is instructive to note that they are not always so4 ,the promise in ,acts i4 #e1 ,ye shall be baptized1 was fulfilled in ,acts ii4 #d1 ,and they were all filled1 where filled is used for baptized4 ,in ,acts iv4 #h we read1 ,peter filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and in ver4 #ca1 ,they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost2 where the word baptized could not be used instead of the word filled4 ,the difference is this3 the baptism is received but once2 it is1 so to speak1 the initiatory rite to the life of ,pentecostal service1 and fullness1 and victory4 ,life begins at the ,cross1 but service begins at ,pentecost4 ,if there has been no ,baptism1 there has been no ,pentecost2 and if no ,pentecost1 no service worth the name4 ,tarry until ye be clothed with power1 said the ,master 7,luke xxiv4 #di72 ,wait for the promise 7,acts i4 #d72 ,ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence 7,acts i4 #e72 ,ye shall receive power when the ,holy ,ghost is come upon you 7,acts i4 #h74 ,and we see that1 in compliance with the commands of their ,master1 no service of any kind did these men attempt till the day of ,pentecost was fully come 7,acts ii4 #a74 ,theirs not to make reply6 ,theirs not to reason why6 ,their business was simply to obey4 ,with the promised ,baptism they entered upon a new phase of life1 experience1 and service1 and this ,baptism need not be repeated2 but not so the ,filling4 ,peter was filled in ,acts ii4 #d1 again in ,acts iv4 #ca4 ,the ,filling may be1 and ought to be1 repeated over and over and over again2 the ,baptism need be but once4 ,in support of this1 note how frequently the word filled is used in the ,acts and ,epistles compared with the word baptized4 ,the ,baptism which we are considering here must not be confounded with the baptism in #a ,cor4 xii4 #ac1 the ,being baptized into one body4 ,paul is speaking there of every believer having been quickened from the dead by the agency of the ,holy ,spirit1 and thus made a member of ,christ's mystical body4 ,this is a ,pauline way of stating the being born again of ,john iii4 #g4 ,it was to those who already had been baptized into one body that ,christ gave the promise1 ,ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts i4 #e74 ,in view then of this word of ,christ1 ,ye shall be baptized1 and of the word of ,john the ,baptist1 recorded in ,john i4 #bi-cc1 ,behold the ,lamb of ,god1 which taketh away the sin of the world 444 the same is ,he that baptizeth with the ,holy ,spirit 7the same promise is also recorded by ,matthew1 ,mark1 and ,luke71 it surely cannot be unscriptural for a believer--painfully conscious that as yet this word has not been fulfilled in his experience1 that for him as yet the day of ,pentecost has not fully come--to pray ,lord ,jesus1 baptize me with the ,holy ,ghost6 ,why should this be regarded as unscriptural1 when in view of the word1 ,be filled with the ,spirit1 the prayer1 ,lord1 fill me with the ,spirit1 is considered to be in accord with ,scripture8 ,surely the one prayer in its proper place is as scriptural as the other6 ,to know ,christ as the ,sin-bearer is but half salvation2 to know ,him also as the great ,baptist is full salvation4 ,how many there are who know ,christ as their ,sin-bearer who have no experimental acquaintance with ,him as the ,baptizer with the ,holy ,ghost6 ,one cannot think that it would be grieving to the ,holy ,one that such people should cry for the promised ,baptism2 but then1 when it has been received1 let us bear in mind the difference1 already pointed out1 between baptized and filled2 that now that the day of ,pentecost has fully come1 and that he has been baptized with the ,spirit1 he must not continue praying for the baptism1 for that cannot be repeated2 whereas he may ask and obtain a fresh filling1 a refilling with the ,holy ,ghost every day of his life4 #b4 ,rivers of living water4 ,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 believed on ,him were to receive3 for the ,spirit was not yet given2 because ,jesus was not yet glorified 7,john vii4 #ch1 #ci74 ,one may ask1 what is it to be filled with the ,spirit8 ,the ,teacher ,himself makes answer3 ,it is to have rivers of living water flowing from one's soul4 ,see the universality of the promise1 ,he that believeth on ,me2 no believer1 even the weakest1 obscurest1 is outside its magnificent sweep1 unless by his unbelief he puts himself there4 ,this is not a promise for the ,spiritual aristocracy of the ,church1 as some1 with more heat than sense1 maintain4 ,let us have done with whittling away the vast ,godlike promises of the ,divine ,word1 till they come within the cramped limits of our poverty-stricken experience1 and let us set to work in earnest to bring our experience abreast of ,god's promises4 ,this promise is for you4 ,has it then been verified in your life and experience8 ,if not1 why not8 ,is there not a cause8 ,but note more closely its hugeness1 its ,godlike vastness1 ,rivers6 not a tricklet1 or a babbling brook--by its babbling proclaiming its shallowness--or a stream1 or a river1 but ,rivers6 ,what ,divine prodigality6 ,it is the ,brisbane1 the ,clarence1 the ,hawkesbury1 the ,murray1 the ,murrumbidgee1 the ,tamar and the ,derwent all rolled into one--,rivers6 ,by the widest1 wildest stretch of imagination could it be said of you that ,rivers of living water are flowing from you--flowing1 mind you1 flowing8 ,see the freshness1 the freedom1 and the spontaneity of the service2 no force-pump work about the flowing of the ,rivers2 none of the hard labor of the soul in prison 7,ps4 cxlii4 #g74 ,when the ,rivers begin to flow the worker may sell his force-pump2 his prayer has been answered1 ,bring my soul out of prison4 ,it is worth noting the gradation in ,john iii41 iv41 vii4 ,in ,john iii4 #g we have ,life in its beginnings--the new birth4 ,in ,john iv4 #ad we have ,life abundantly--a well of water springing up4 ,the secret of the perennial upspringing is in the word drink-e-t-h2 he that drinketh--not takes a drink1 but drinks and drinks and keeps on drinking1 is in the habit of drinking--that man never thirsts2 for how can a man's soul be dry and thirsty with a well of water in it8 ,many people are living in the third of ,john1--they have ,life1 but it is not strong and vigorous2 they are suffering from deficient vitality1--when ,jesus wants them to be in the fourth1 enjoying ,life abundantly4 ,the difference between the two experiences is well illustrated in the case of ,hagar4 ,in ,gen4 xxi4 #ad we read that ,abraham gave ,hagar a bottle of water and sent her away4 ,as she wandered in the wilderness the water was spent in the bottle 7ver4 #ae74 ,but in ver4 #ai ,god opened her eyes1 and she saw a well of water4 ,there are bottle ,christians1 and there are well ,christians4 ',tis a painful experience wandering in the wilderness with an empty bottle and a dying child6 ,alas6 that there should be so many acquainted with the pain1 when all the time ,god wants us to be independent of any bottle1 to be abundantly satisfied with a well of water within us1 fed from the hills of ,god4 ,he wants us to be independent of all but ,himself4 ,the well is in every ,christian1 though it is not springing up in every one that has it4 ,the very well1 on the side of which ,jesus1 weary with ,his long journey from ,eternity1 once sat1 has to-day no thirsty men or women coming to it with their empty pitchers1 for the well is dry4 ,how8 why8 ,because so much rubbish has fallen in that the well is choked4 ,clear out the well1 and the water will spring up again as in ,christ's day4 ,so with many a child of ,god4 ,the water is within them1 the well is there1 but it is choked2 the water is not springing up1 and so they are reduced to dependence on a bottle6 ,oh6 for an anointed eye in our head to see the rubbish1 and for grace in our hearts to deal with it1 to judge it and to cast it out2 and then we would soon have an eye to see the well of water4 ,may ,he break every bottle1 and open every eye to see the well4 ,now let us contrast the well of the fourth chapter with the rivers of the seventh4 ,the well is for the supply of all possible local needs2 but since the ,christianity of ,jesus is essentially an unselfish thing1 ,he has made ample provision for the supply of surrounding needs2 out of him in whom is the well--out of him who is abundantly satisfied with ,christ--shall flow rivers of living water1 bearing life and satisfaction and gladness into the abounding death and destitution and dreariness that exist on every hand2 for everything shall live whithersoever the river cometh 7,ezek4 xlvii4 #i74 ,does your ,church1 your neighborhood feel the vivifying1 fructifying1 refreshing influences of your presence8 ,most certainly1 if ,john vii4 #ch is your experience2 in other words1 if you have been filled with the ,spirit4 ,but remember we must go through the fourth of ,john to get into the seventh6 ,in ,john iii4 we have the ,indwelling1 in ,john iv4 the ,infilling1 and in ,john vii4 the ,overflowing4 #c4 ,the ,promise of the ,father4 ,wait for the promise of the ,father 7,acts i4 #d74 ,see also ii4 #cc1 ii4 #ci1 ,gal4 iii4 #ad1 ,luke xxiv4 #di4 ,there are many promises in the ,divine ,word given us by the ,father2 but there is only one promise spoken of as ,the promise1 giving it a pre-eminence among all the other exceeding great and precious promises4 ,what that promise was is ascertained by comparing ,acts i4 #d1 ,wait for the promise1 with ,acts i4 #e1 ,ye shall be baptized1 and ,acts ii4 #d1 ,they were all filled4 ,to whom does the promise of the ,father belong8 surely to all the ,father's children without favor or distinction4 ,since then the promise is unto you1 the question for you to settle is1 ,have you received the promise8 ,a promise never made use of is like a check never cashed1 and is of little use to the one who gets it4 ,have you cashed the check8 ,if not1 why not8 the fault is with the child and not with the ,father4 #d4 ,pouring ,forth4 ,i will pour forth of ,my ,spirit upon all flesh 7,acts ii4 #ag74 ,see also ,acts ii4 #ah1 ,joel ii4 #bh1 #bi1 ,isaiah xliv4 #c1 ,acts ii4 #cc1 ,acts x4 #de4 ,from this expression we may learn still more clearly the copiousness of the blessing4 #e4 ,the gift4 ,and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts ii4 #ch74 ,see also ,acts viii4 #bj1 ,acts x4 #de1 ,acts xi4 #ag4 ,from this expression may we not learn the freeness of the blessing8 ,in this connection ponder carefully the how much more of ,luke xi4 #ac4 #f4 ,receiving4 ,and they received the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts viii4 #ag74 ,see also1 ,ye shall receive power 7,acts i4 #h72 ,have ye received the ,holy ,ghost since ye believed8 7,acts xix4 #b72 ,acts viii4 #ae1 ,john xx4 #bb1 ,gal4 iii4 #ad4 ,floods of light will be thrown upon the whole subject if we grasp clearly the full force of this expression1 receive4 ,receiving is the correlative of ,the ,gift4 ,a gift will not profit one until it is received4 ,it is just here1 at the appropriating1 that we have come short4 ,god has not failed in ,his giving1 but we have failed in our taking1 in receiving4 ,receiving is a distinct1 definite act on our part4 ,have we received8 ,if not1 why not8 ,god is giving4 #g4 ,falling4 ,for as yet he was fallen upon none of them 7,acts viii4 #af74 ,see also ,acts x4 #dd1 ,acts xi4 #ae4 ,from this expression may we not learn the suddenness with which the blessing sometimes comes1 and comes consciously1 too8 ,compare ,acts ii4 #b1 ,and suddenly there came from heaven a sound4 #h4 ,coming4 ,the ,holy ,ghost came on them 7,acts xix4 #f74 ,see also ,acts i4 #h1 ,john xv4 #bf4 ,john xvi4 #g1 #h1 #ac4 ,from this expression may we not learn the personality of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,christ ,jesus came into the world1 and the ,holy ,ghost came on them1 are two parallel expressions4 ,if ,christ is here a person1 why should the ,holy ,ghost be a mere influence8 #i4 ,sealed4 ,ye were sealed with that ,holy ,spirit of promise 7,eph4 i4 #ac74 ,see also #b ,cor4 i4 #bb4 ,this sealing in ,eph4 i4 #ac1 is the receiving of ,acts xix4 #b2 the coming on them of ,acts xix4 #f2 for here1 in this epistle1 ,paul is evidently referring to the incident related in ,acts xix4 #a-g4 ,in ,eph4 i4 #ac1 ,in ,whom ye also trusted1 after that ye heard the word of truth1 the gospel of your salvation3 in ,whom also after that ye believed1 ye were sealed with that holy ,spirit of promise1 we see the successive stages through which the ,ephesians passed in their spiritual history4 7#a7 ,there was a time when they had not heard the ,gospel2 they were living in the darkness of heathenism4 7#b7 ,then came the day when they heard the word4 7#c7 ,then they believed4 7#d7 ,succeeding this they were sealed1 after that ye believed ye were sealed2 a very distinct and definite blessing this for the ,ephesians1 as definite as their salvation when they believed4 ,and yet1 in face of this1 some will affirm that there is no such thing as a ,christian receiving a new distinct blessing after his conversion6 ,if these ,ephesians had this experience1 why may not believers still8 ,when a ,christian is sealed by the ,holy ,ghost1 sealed as the property of his ,master1 there will be no need to ask1 ,whose ,image and superscription is this upon the sealed one8 ,the ,king's1 of course4 ,any one can see the ,image4 ,of what use is a seal if it cannot be seen8 ,is the ,king's ,image visibly1 permanently stamped upon us8 ,it is on every ,spirit-filled sealed believer4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,how ,,obtained8 ,we come now to the practical side of our subject4 ,surely the unprejudiced reader1 if he has not already received the ,holy ,ghost1 has at least come to the conclusion that there is such a blessing mentioned in the ,new ,testament1 and lying in ,god's ,treasury1 ,jesus ,christ1 for all ,new ,testament believers1 and therefore for him--for me4 ,until it dawns on one's consciousness that there is such a blessing as being filled with the ,spirit1 it is not likely that he will trouble about seeking it1 and therefore will never obtain it4 ,in all fairness these terms which we have just been considering--,filled1 ,baptized1 ,rivers1 etc4--mean something4 ,there is some blessing represented by the terms1 some substance at the back of the shadows4 ,god the ,holy ,ghost knows what that blessing is4 ,have ,i got that8 ,is there anything in my life and experience to correspond with that8 ,now comes the question1 ,how am ,i to get it8 ,the ,bible answer may be summarily comprehended in three words--,,cleanse1 ,,consecrate1 ,,claim4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,wrong ,,motives4 ,but before proceeding to consider these words1 it is absolutely necessary that we be on our guard against desiring this so needful a blessing from wrong motives4 ,we must seek it for one supreme reason--for the glory of ,god4 ,if self is at the root of our motives at all1 ,god will most surely block our way to ,fullness of blessing4 ,if we are thinking in our heart of hearts that it would be a good thing for us to get this blessing for our own happiness or satisfaction1 or even that we might be more useful1 or that in any way we might have the pre-eminence1 our eye is not single1 our whole body is not full of light 7,matt4 vi4 #bb74 ,there is therefore need for the refining fire to go through our heart4 ,god must be ,alpha and ,omega in the matter4 ,for ,god's glory1 and for ,god's glory alone must be our watchword as we proceed with our search after the ,fullness of the ,spirit4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,cleansing4 ,as there are conditions requiring to be complied with in order to the obtaining of salvation1 before one can be justified1 e4 g41 conviction of sin1 repentance1 faith2 so there are conditions for full salvation1 for being filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,conviction of our need is one1 conviction of the existence of the blessing is another2 but these have been already dealt with4 ,cleansing is another2 before one can be filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 one's heart must be cleansed4 ,giving them the ,holy ,ghost1 even as ,he did unto us2 and ,he made no distinction between us and them1 cleansing their hearts by faith 7,acts xv4 #h1 #i74 ,god first cleansed their hearts1 and then ,he gave them the ,holy ,ghost4 ,how can we be filled with the ,holy ,ghost if we are filled with something else8 ,the heart must first be emptied and cleansed4 ,the milkman has called on his morning round1 and the housewife hears his call4 ,there is a jug standing beside her on the table2 it is her own1 for she purchased it only last week4 ,she picks it up1 and looks into it to see if it is clean2 she finds it is not4 ,now she would never think of taking that dirty jug for the milk2 but she empties it and rinses and cleanses it1 and then1 having wiped it dry to her satisfaction1 she takes it out for the morning allowance4 ,indeed1 if she brought it out dirty to the milkman1 he would positively refuse to put his sweet new milk into it4 ,so a heart may belong to ,god1 that is1 it may be the heart of a ,christian man1 and yet not a clean heart1 but until it is cleansed ,god will refuse to put into it the precious deposit of the water of life clear as crystal4 ,a ,new ,heart not necessarily a ,clean ,heart4 ,but some one objects1 ,i thought that when one became a ,christian1 and was made a partaker of the ,divine nature1 he had a clean heart8 ,not necessarily4 ,many1 many a one is born again1 is pardoned and justified1 and yet has not a clean heart4 ,forgiveness is one thing1 ,cleansing is another1 and one may possess the former without possessing the latter4 ,for instance1 take the case of ,david in ,ps4 li4 ,he was one of ,god's people1 a restored backslider1 when he wrote that ,psalm4 ,the ,lord also hath put away thy sin 7#b ,sam4 xii4 #ac71 said ,nathan to him4 ,but forgiveness1 great and sweet as that gift was1 was not enough for ,israel's now so deeply-taught and penitent ,king4 ,create in me a clean heart 7,ps4 li4 #aj71 he cries4 ,this is something over and above being born again1 over and above and beyond and deeper even than forgiveness 7compare ,ps4 li4 #b and ,jer4 xxxiii4 #h74 ,see also the ,new ,testament teaching on this point in #a ,john i4 #g1 ,the blood of ,jesus ,christ ,his ,son cleanseth us from all sin2 and #a ,john i4 #i1 ,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins1 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness4 ,is the cleansing of verse #g the same as the cleansing of verse #i8 ,most certainly not4 ,the cleansing of verse #g has to do with the guilt of sin1 with sin after it has been committed2 this is the only sense in which the ,blood of ,jesus cleanses1 it washes white as snow from the guilt and stain of actual transgression2 that cleansing is retrospective4 ,now1 this ,cleansing of verse #g is the forgiving of verse #i2 both these words bear on a sinner's ,justification4 ,but the cleansing from all unrighteousness of verse #i is something different from1 something over and above the forgiving of verse #i1 or the cleansing of verse #g2 else1 if they mean one and the same thing1 would not the author be guilty of tautology8 ,the cleansing of verse #i is prospective1 and refers to holiness of life1 to our being saved from sin1 from sinning4 ,and you will notice that it is not the ,blood of ,jesus that does this1 but ,jesus ,himself by the exercise of ,his ,almighty power4 ,there is a great deal of confusion on this point in many minds1 a confusion fostered1 if not begotten1 by some of our hymns4 ,powers are sometimes attributed to the ,blood of ,jesus1 to the ,death of ,christ1 which belong to ,jesus ,himself1 to the living ,christ4 ,we are saved from sin's condemnation by the ,blood1 cleansed from the guilt of all sin1 forgiven on the ground of the ,blood2 and in this connection we cannot possibly make too much of the ,blood1 too much of the ,death of the ,son of ,god--but we are saved from sin's power by ,jesus ,himself4 ,himself 7lit47 shall save ,his people from their sins 7,matt4 i4 #ba74 ,we shall be saved by ,his life 7,rom4 v4 #aj74 ,he is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness4 ,the ,blood cleanses in the sense of washing the sin away after it has actually been committed2 ,he cleanses in the sense of preventing1 restraining from sin4 ,he keeps us back from sinning4 ,he makes us more than conquerors over sin2 and in this so blessed sense prevention is better than cure4 ,how often does a mother say to her child when putting on a clean snow-white pinafore in the morning1 ,now1 my darling1 do keep it clean6 ,yes1 mother1 and she intends to do so2 but alas for her intentions6 ,at dinner-time she comes home with her pinafore about as dirty as she can make it4 ,now1 the mother can wash it and make it clean again1 as white as ever2 but it is weary1 wearing work1 this everlasting washing4 ,so the ,blood of ,jesus can cleanse from all sin the garments that are brought to it for cleansing1 and what a deal of cleansing it has to do for some of us6 ,but wouldn't it be just splendid for many a hardworking mother if she could put some power or other into her child--her own self1 for instance--by which the child would be kept from making the pinafore dirty at all1 so that it would not need washing8 ,wouldn't this be a vast improvement1 even on making it clean after it has been made dirty8 ,this is just what ,jesus does4 ,he puts a power within the child that trusts ,him--that power is ,himself1 by which the believer is kept from defiling his garments by any known sin1 so that they do not need washing4 ,this is to be cleansed from all unrighteousness4 ,but there are whole battalions of ,god's saved1 forgiven1 and cleansed people 7cleansed in the sense of verse #g71 who are not cleansed in this sense 7cleansed in the sense of verse #i71 who are not yet saved from the power of some besetting 7that is1 upsetting7 sin or other4 ,have we not known some ,christian men who1 as has been well said1 are like well-supplied cruet-stands8 take them which side you like1 you will get something either hot or sour1 peppery or vinegarish from them6 ,and yet one can scarcely doubt their conversion to ,god6 ,what are we to say of these cross-grained or fretful1 or worldly-minded1 or covetous1 or pleasure-loving professors of religion8 ,one would fear to judge some of them and say they were utter strangers to ,god's regenerating grace2 no1 but one will say that what they sorely need is the clean heart4 ,what is a ,clean ,heart8 ,the question then arises1 ,what is it to have a clean heart8 what is it to be cleansed from all unrighteousness8 ,it is to be saved from our sins1 according to ,matt4 i4 #ba4 ,it is to translate #a ,john iii4 #i into practice1 ,whosoever is begotten of ,god doeth no sin2 444 and he cannot sin1 because he is begotten of ,god4 ,it is to have a conscience void of offense 7,acts xxiv4 #af74 ,it is to know nothing against myself 7#a ,cor4 iv4 #d74 ,it is--in the words of another--to be saved from all known1 conscious sin4 ,but1 it is objected1 ,that is perfection6 7,it is amazing how frightened some people are of being perfect6 ,it were well if they were equally afraid of being imperfect2 for it is imperfection that grieves ,god4 ,this dread of perfection has been called by some one1 a scarecrow set up by the devil to frighten away ,god's people from the very finest of the wheat47 ,that is perfection6 ,yes and no4 ,it is the perfection which is not only allowed1 but commanded in the ,word of ,god4 ,but it is not absolute perfection2 it is not sinlessness4 ,let us look carefully at the expression1 ,from all known1 conscious sin2 ,from all2 yes1 all1 not some or nearly all1 but from all known sin--known1 that is1 to us1 though not from all known to ,god2 from all known1 conscious sin1 so that one might be able to say1 in the language of the lowliest of the apostles1 ,herein do ,i also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offense toward ,god and men alway 7,acts xxiv4 #af72 and ,i know nothing against myself 7#a ,cor4 iv4 #d72 or1 in the language of the disciple whom ,jesus loved1 ,we keep ,his commandments1 and do those things that are pleasing in ,his sight 7#a ,john iii4 #bb74 ,to have a clean heart1 then1 is to be saved from our sins1 saved from sinning1 saved by ,,jesus2 note it well6 not saved by our own efforts1 by our watching and praying1 and wrestling and fighting and struggling1 but by ,jesus4 ,so it is not a question of what we can do1 but of what ,he can do4 ,is anything too hard for the ,lord8 7,gen4 xviii4 #ad47 ,can ,he not guard from stumbling8 7,jude #bd47 ,can ,he not save from sin1 from sinning8 ,is not this what is meant when it is said1 ,he is able to save to the uttermost8 7,heb4 vii4 #be47 ,able to save1 as ,matthew ,poole puts it1 to perfection1 to the full1 to all ends1 from sin1 in its guilt1 its stain1 its power4 ,yes1 ,he is just as complete1 as perfect a ,saviour from the power of sin1 as ,he is from its guilt and stain4 ,he is equally powerful in each department of ,his saving work4 ,but after all is said and done1 and one is being saved from all known1 conscious sin1 saved from sinning1 that is not to say there is no sin remaining4 ,we are face to face with the inspired statement1 ,if we say we have no sin1 we deceive ourselves 7#a ,john i4 #h74 ,how much sin may there be in us of which we are entirely unconscious1 but which is naked and open to those ,eyes like unto a flame of fire6 7,rev4 ii4 #ah74 ,i know nothing against myself1 cries ,paul in #a ,cor4 iv4 #d1 yet am ,i not hereby justified2 but ,he that judgeth 7examineth7 me is the ,lord4 ,god may1 and does1 know much against me when ,i know nothing against myself2 and it is just here that our constant need of the cleansing ,blood comes in4 ,if the ,bible doctrine of the clean heart meant the eradication of sin1 a state of sinlessness1 that is1 absolute perfection1 what need would we then have of the cleansing ,blood at all8 ,though ,jesus ,christ may have cleansed us from all unrighteousness1 so that we have a conscience void of offense1 so that we know nothing against ourselves1 yet we need the ,blood to cleanse from the sins which our eyes fail to detect1 and of which our conscience takes no cognizance4 ,it is failure to see this that has led many astray at this point4 ,having been cleansed and having no more conscience of sins 7,heb4 x4 #b71 they imagine they have no more sin4 ,how superficial is some people's idea of sin6 ,how little conception have they of the ,pauline doctrine of sin6 ,he speaks of sin as exceeding sinful4 ,how subtle it is6 how far-reaching6 ,in their daring ignorance some have actually taken the penknife1 like ,judah's foolish king1 and cut a whole petition out of the prayer which the ,lord taught ,his disciples4 ,he taught them to pray1 ,forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors2 but these modern lights in their darkness are correcting their ,teacher1 and have cut out that petition1 and thrown it away4 ,no need have we to confess our sin1 for we have none to confess1 and therefore we have no debts to be forgiven4 ,poor mistaken people6 never more need of confession and forgiveness than when they are speaking thus6 ,the holiest of men are the men who lie the lowest before the ,holy ,one1 confessing that which they know only too well 7because the truth is in them71 that they have sin1 offering the sacrifices with which ,god is ever well pleased1 a broken spirit1 a broken and a contrite heart 7,ps4 li4 #ag74 ,the nearer we get to ,him whose head and whose hair are white as wool1 white as snow 7,rev4 i4 #ad71 to the ,ancient of days whose garment is white as snow 7,dan4 vii4 #i71 the more conscious are we of the dullness of our whiteness1 of the vast difference between our whitest and ,his whiteness2 and this consciousness humbles one4 ,what is it to have sin8 ,what is sin8 asked a great leader once1 and he answered his own question thus3 ,it is to come short of the glory of ,god2 and in this sense we sin every moment of our lives in thought1 word1 and deed4 ,is there a man on earth who can stand before the infinitely ,holy ,one and say1 ,i do not come short of ,thy glory8 ,should we speak thus1 we deceive ourselves1 and the truth is not in us4 ,we may be helped here by observing the difference between the two ,new ,testament words blameless and faultless4 ,i pray ,god your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless 7without blame1 unblameworthy71 unto the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ 7#a ,thess4 v4 #bc74 ,to present you faultless 7flawless1 blemishless7 before the presence of ,his glory 7,jude #bd74 ,now a person or work may be blameless and yet not be faultless4 ,this is not verbal hair-splitting--by no means4 ,suffer a personal illustration4 ,i have lying on the table beside me a letter1 which will illustrate the point at issue4 ,i received it when ,i was away in ,new ,zealand on a mission tour1 in #ahia4 ,it was from my eldest daughter1 then a child of five years of age4 ,it reads3 ,dear father1 ,i wrote all this myself4 ,i send you a kiss from ,elsie4 ,the fact of the matter is1 that it is not writing at all1 but an attempt at printing in large capitals1 and not one of the letters is properly formed2 there is not as much as one straight stroke on the page4 ,why is it that ,i prize this letter and keep it laid up among my treasures8 ,fathers who are as much away from home as ,i am will understand when ,i say that it was my child's first attempt at letter-writing4 ,now1 this letter which ,i prize so dearly is certainly not a faultless production2 it is as full of faults as it is full of letters1 but most assuredly it is blameless4 ,i did not blame my child for her crooked strokes1 and answer with a scold1 for ,i judged her work by its motive4 ,i knew it was the best she could do1 and that she had put all the love of her little heart into it4 ,she wanted to do something to please me1 and she succeeded4 ,by the grace of the indwelling ,christ 7for you will perceive that it is ,his work1 ,faithful is ,he that calleth you1 who also will do it--#a ,thess4 v4 #bd71 this is what our daily life1 our daily life-work may be1 viz41 blameless2 and ,he can tell us that it is so1 even as ,i told my child2 we may have this testimony1 that we are pleasing ,god1 as ,enoch had 7,heb4 xi4 #e74 ,oh1 the joy6 ,oh1 the inspiration of this ,god-given testimony6 ,but what a sad mistake for any who may by grace have been made blameless1 to think that they are faultless1 a condition which is to be found only before the throne4 ,for it is to be noted that the ,greek word translated without blemish1 without fault1 7amomos7 is never used of ,god's people on earth4 ,it is used once of the ,lamb without blemish and without spot 7#a ,pet4 i4 #ai74 ,elsewhere of the saints4 ,in ,rev4 xiv4 #e1 ,without fault before the throne of ,god4 ,in ,jude #bd1 ,before the presence of ,his glory without blemish4 ,in ,eph4 v4 #bg1 ,that it should be holy and without blemish1 when in the sweet by-and-by ,he will present the ,church to ,himself4 ,in ,eph4 i4 #d1 ,even as ,he chose us in ,him before the foundation of the world1 that we should be holy and without blemish before ,him in love2 chosen in the past eternity that we should be holy and without blemish in the coming eternity1 not here1 but there2 not now1 but then2 for the word translated before is the same ,greek word 7katenopion71 translated in ,jude #bd before the presence of4 ,in ,col4 i4 #bb1 ,to present you holy and without blemish1 and unreprovable before ,him4 ,here he is speaking again of our future standing1 for the word translated before is the same as in ,eph4 i4 #d4 ,without blemish then is sinlessness1 having no sin4 ,and if we say 7here on earth7 we have no sin 7are sinless--blemishless--faultless--flawles s71 we deceive ourselves 7but no one else671 and the truth is not in us 7#a ,john i4 #h74 ,he that has the truth in him knows only too well that he has sin in him1 though cleansed from all sin by the blood1 and though cleansed from all unrighteousness by the might of the uttermost ,saviour4 ,it is most instructive and humbling to notice how the ,spirit of truth has placed that ,if we say we have 7present tense7 no sin1 we deceive ourselves1 in between ,his two statements about the cleansing from all sin and the cleansing from all unrighteousness4 ,but though we will never be able on earth to say with the truth in us that we have no sin1--that we are without blemish1 yet the whole ,bible teaches us that we may1 in this life1 be saved from our sins4 7,note the difference between sin and sins47 ,we may be saved from sinning4 ,these things write we unto you1 that ye sin not 7#a ,john ii4 #a72 and this is the condition described as blameless1 unreprovable1 without reproach4 ,see #a ,cor4 i4 #h2 #a ,tim4 iii4 #aj2 ,tit4 i4 #f1 #g2 where the ,greek word anegkletos 7unreprovable7 is used4 ,also #a ,tim4 iii4 #b2 #a ,tim4 v4 #g2 where the ,greek word is anepileptos 7without reproach74 ,also ,matt4 xii4 #e1 where anaitios 7guiltless7 is used4 ,also #b ,pet4 iii4 #ad1 where amometos 7blameless7 is employed4 ,also ,luke i4 #f2 ,phil4 ii4 #ae1 and iii4 #f2 #a ,thess4 ii4 #aj1 iii4 #ac2 and v4 #bc1 where amemptos 7without blame7 is the word used4 ,these words describe a state or condition of heart and life which is not only attainable here1 but imperative2 and the passages we have just been reading prove that it has been attained4 ,this is what is meant by a clean heart1 to be blameless1 not faultless4 ,i was sitting alone in the twilight1 ,with spirit troubled and vexed1 ,with thoughts that were morbid and gloomy1 ,and faith that was sadly perplexed4 ,some homely work ,i was doing ,for the child of my love and care2 ,some stitches half wearily setting ,in the endless need of repair4 ,but my thoughts were about the building1 ,the work some day to be tried1 ,and that only the gold and the silver1 ,and the precious stones should abide4 ,and remembering my own poor efforts1 ,the wretched work ,i had done1 ,and even when trying most truly1 ,the meager success ,i had won3 ',it is nothing but wood1 hay and stubble1' ,i said2 'it will all be burned2 ,this useless fruit of the talents ,one day to be returned2 ',and ,i have so longed to serve ,him1 ,and sometimes ,i know ,i have tried2 ,but ,i'm sure when ,he sees such building1 ,he will never let it abide4' ,just then as ,i turned the garment1 ,that no rent should be left behind1 ,mine eye caught an odd little bungle ,of mending and patchwork combined4 ,my heart grew suddenly tender1 ,and something blinded mine eyes ,with one of those sweet inspirations1 ,that sometimes make us so wise4 ,dear child6 she wanted to help me1 ,i knew 'twas the best she could do2 ,but oh6 what a botch she had made of it1 ,the gray mismatching the blue6 ,and yet1 can you understand it8 ,with a tender smile and a tear1 ,and a half compassionate yearning1 ,i feel her grow more dear4 ,then a sweet voice broke the silence1 ,and the dear ,lord said to me1 ',art thou tenderer for thy little child ,than ,i am tender for thee8' ,then straightway ,i knew ,his meaning1 ,so full of compassion and love2 ,and my faith came back to its refuge1 ,like the glad returning dove4 ,so1 ,i thought1 when the ,master ,builder ,comes down this temple to view1 ,to see what rents must be mended1 ,and what must be builded anew2 ,perhaps as ,he looks o'er the building ,he will bring my work to the light2 ,and seeing the marring and bungling1 ,and how far it is all from right2 ,he will feel as ,i felt for my darling1 ,and will say as ,i said for her1 ',dear child6 she wanted to help me1 ,and love for ,me was the spur2 ',and for the great love that is in it ,the work shall seem perfect as ,mine2' ,and1 because it was willing service1 ,will crown it with plaudit ,divine4 ,and there1 in the deepening twilight1 ,i seemed to be clasping a ,hand1 ,and to feel a great love constraining1 ,far stronger than any command4 ,then ,i knew by the thrill of sweetness1 ',twas the ,hand of the ,blessed ,one ,which should tenderly guide and hold me1 ,till all the labor is done4 ,so my thoughts are never more gloomy1 ,my faith is no longer dim1 ,but my heart is strong and restful1 ,and mine eyes are unto ,him4 ,a clean heart then does not mean sinlessness1 the eradication of sin1 that sin is taken out of us2 for though sin is taken out of the heart that is cleansed--for a clean heart must be clean6--yet the flesh1 the self-life1 remains in the man1 latent if not patent1 ready to manifest itself should the counteracting power of the indwelling ,christ the ,saviour even for a moment be withdrawn4 ,this flesh is evil 7,rom4 vii4 #ah7 and1 therefore1 while the flesh is in us sin is in us1 and hence our constant need of the cleansing ,blood4 ,as we trust for continuous cleansing we get it4 ,the ,blood 444 cleanseth--resent progressive tense--goes on cleansing1 therefore guilt is never allowed to gather1 for as sin appears the ,blood cleanses it away and so keeps us clean4 ,blessed present tense6 ,thus it is possible for us always to walk in the ,light4 ,then as ,christ exercises ,his counteracting power over the flesh we are being cleansed from all unrighteousness1 delivered from doing the not right1 and1 by continuous trust in our omnipotent ,saviour1 we may know continuous deliverance1 continuous victory over sin2 we need never know defeat4 ,a ,christian mother had just kissed good-night to her little daughter1 and was busy in the dining-room arranging the table for dinner1 when she heard little feet on the stair4 ,wondering what was the matter1 she slipped into the window recess and hid herself behind the curtains1 and waited4 ,presently the little one came into the room1 and going straight up to some peaches that were on the table1 she took one of them away with her6 ,oh1 the agony in that mother heart6 ,she did not speak to her child1 but standing where she was1 she spoke to ,god her ,father1 and asked ,him so fervently to speak to her child4 ,god heard that cry1 and in a little while the sound of the pattering feet was heard on the stair again4 ,the child came into the room1 not knowing her mother was there1 and going on tip-toe over to the table she put the peach in the place from which she had taken it4 ,as she turned away with a radiant face1 rubbing her hands with delight1 her mother heard her say1 ,sold again1 ,satan6 ,sold again1 ,satan6 ,that's victory6 ,yes1 the cleansing means that and more than that4 ,we are more than conquerors1 for when ,jesus cleanses the heart1 ,he cleanses the springs of action and being1 so that our very desires are purified2 the desire to sin1 the want to1 is taken clean away4 ,this is coming off more than conquerors through ,him that loved us 7,rom4 viii4 #cg74 ,glory to ,his name6 ,the man now wants to do the will of ,god4 ,he likes what ,god likes4 ,i thought you could do what you liked1 was the taunt hurled by a young man at a friend of his who enjoyed full salvation on his refusing to go to the theater4 ,i thought you told me you could do what you liked8 ,so ,i can4 ,why1 then1 won't you come with me as ,i asked you8 ,because ,i don't like1 was the rejoinder4 ,the only men on earth who enjoy perfect freedom are the men who have clean hearts1 for they not only know that they ought to do the will of ,god1 but they want to do it and they like to do it and moreover they have a power that enables them to do it4 ,on the other hand1 in our jails and hospitals you will find people who thought that they could do as they liked1 but they have discovered that they were mistaken4 ,cleansing3 a ,crisis ,but how am ,i to get this clean heart8 ,peter answers1 ,cleansing their hearts by faith 7,acts xv4 #i74 ,cleansing is ,god's work1 and the condition on which ,god will do ,his work is faith on our part4 ,there is only one way of getting anything from ,god1 and that is by faith4 ,one obtained forgiveness and the new birth by faith1 and one obtains cleansing of the heart by faith too4 ,you may1 you will1 get cleansing the moment you definitely trust ,christ for it4 ,we aye get what we gang in for was one of ,duncan ,mathieson's favorite expressions2 and along the line of ,god's revealed will how true it is6 ,if you will only venture now on ,christ for cleansing from all unrighteousness1 ,he will do it for you now4 ,wilt thou not be made clean8 when shall it once be8 7,jer4 xiii4 #bg47 ,why not now8 for cleansing is a crisis and not a process2 but1 as ,principal ,moule1 of ,cambridge1 has very tersely put it1 ,cleansing is a crisis with a view to a process4 ,it is just here that multitudes of ,god's people miss the track4 ,sanctification is the work of ,god's free grace4#a ,of course it is2 it is a growth1 a gradual process2 but cleansing is not sanctification4 ,the latter1 in the sense in which it is being used here1 is a theological term embracing all the ,spirit's work in the believer between the cross and the crown2 but cleansing is an act4 ,while sanctification is a growth1 cleansing is one of the conditions of growth1 and the very reason why some who hold most tenaciously by the gradual theory of sanctification are growing in grace so very slowly1 is that they have not attended to one of the most essential conditions of growth1 viz41 this cleansing4 ,but1 some one objects1 this is not in the ,standards of our ,church8 ,that may be2 but it is in the ,bible4 ,to quote the words of the saintly ,dr4 ,andrew ,bonar in another connection1 ,i believe all that is in our ,standards1 for ,i find all that is in our ,standards in the ,bible2 but ,i believe more than is in our ,standards1 for ,i find some things in my ,bible that are not in the ,standards2 for the simple and very obvious reason that you cannot get a quart into a pint measure4 ,while every honest ,churchman believes that all that is in the ,standards of the ,church to which he belongs is in the ,bible1 no one in his sane senses believes that everything in the ,bible is to be found in the ,standards4 ,the doctrine of a clean heart is one of these things4 #a3 ,shorter ,catechism1 ,no4 #ce4 ,in support of the statement that cleansing is a crisis1 an act1 something done in a moment1 just as conversion is1 and not a process drawn out indefinitely before one can reach a state of cleansing1 let us ponder well ,david's prayer1 in ,psalm li4 #aj1 ,create in 7margin1 for7 me a clean heart4 ,is creation an act or a work8 ,is it a crisis or a process8 ,all the ,creator had to do was to speak the word and ,david's prayer was granted2 he then could turn his prayer into thanksgiving2 ,i thank ,thee for having created in me a clean heart2 but he could not thank ,god for what he had not received4 ,giving thanks for the clean heart would prove that it was in his possession4 ,note also that heart cleansing is ,god's work alone4 ,we are exhorted to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit 7#b ,cor4 vii4 #a71 which simply means separation from all the palpable1 manifest evils ,paul had just been enumerating1 such as yoking with unbelievers1 unrighteousness1 darkness1 ,belial1 infidel1 idols1 unclean things 7vide #b ,cor4 vi4 #ad-ag74 ,in reference to all such things ,god says cleanse yourselves4 ,the aorist tense is used in the original1 denoting a definite1 decisive act2 separate from these things at once and be done with them4 ,and where are we to get the enabling power8 ,in effect1 ,god says1 ,draw a check on ,,me2 draw on ,my resources for all you need1 for all ,god's commandings are ,god's enablings4 ,but when it comes to be a question of cleansing the heart1 the inner being1 the springs of action1 that part of the man where the affections and the will are seated1 ,god undertakes that ,himself2 ,he says1 ,bring that to ,me4 ,if this work were left to us it would indeed be a process slow and tedious1 and progress might be made1 as it so often is1 alas6 backward4 ,but now the question is1--not what can the believer do by his efforts to overcome indwelling sin1 but what can the ,almighty ,god do8 ,it is not a question of our power1 but of ,his4 ',twas most impossible of all1 ,that here sin's reign in me should cease2 ,yet shall it be6 ,i know it shall3 ,jesus1 look to ,thy faithfulness3 ,if nothing is too hard for ,thee1 ,all things are possible to me4 ,he is able and willing to cleanse4 ,are we willing to be cleansed8 ,another mistake to be carefully guarded against is this1 making cleansing to be an end instead of a means to an end4 ,cleansing is not the blessing that we are seeking2 it is only a means4 ,the end is the ,filling of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,cleansing is a negative blessing1 the separating from sin2 but we can only be satisfied with a positive blessing4 ,when the housewife cleans the house1 does she then go out and live in the yard8 ,not so4 ,she cleans the house that it may be the more fit for her to inhabit4 ,god cleanses1 empties1 sweeps1 and garnishes 7,matt4 xii4 #dd71 that ,he may come in to dwell2 and if ,he1 the ,holy ,one1 does come in and take up ,his abode1 ,he will keep ,his dwelling place clean4 ,this cleansing of which we have been speaking is one of the steps into the ,blessed ,life2 but there is not much likelihood of any one living the ,life unless they first take the necessary steps into the ,life4 ,it is a ,life of ,purity1 and it is lived1 as it is entered upon1 by faith in the ,son of ,god2 hence the name by which the ,spirit-filled ,life is sometimes called--the ,life of ,faith4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,consecration3 ,,what ,,is ,,it8 ,the second step that must needs be taken by those of us who have been living without the ,fullness1 before it can be obtained1 is ,consecration1 a word that is very common and popular2 much more common and popular1 it is feared1 than the thing itself4 ,in order to be filled with the ,holy ,ghost one must first be cleansed1 and then one must be consecrated4 ,consecration follows cleansing1 and not vice versa4 ,intelligent apprehension of what consecration is1 and of what it involves1 is necessary to an intelligent consecration of oneself4 #a4 ,sanctification4 ,consecration is another word for sanctification4 ,many people have a confused idea as to what sanctification really is4 ,it must be borne in mind that we are not considering the theological term sanctification1 but the use of the ,new ,testament word sanctify1 sanctification4 ,no one would confound consecration with cleansing1 and yet many confound sanctification with cleansing4 ,to sanctify is to purify1 to cleanse1 to make holy1 they tell us4 ,but the idea of purification1 of cleansing1 of separating from sin1 is not in the ,n4 ,t4 word sanctify at all4 ,the very ,god of peace sanctify you wholly 7,i ,thess4 v4 #bc74 ,that does not mean purify you1 separate you from sin1 as a glance at two other passages1 in which the same word occurs1 will show4 ,for their sakes ,i sanctify ,myself 7,john xvii4 #ai74 ,sanctify in your hearts ,christ as ,lord 7,i ,pet4 iii4 #ae1 ,r4 ,v471 where it cannot mean purify1 separate from sin4 ,in these passages its true meaning is very apparent--to set apart for a holy use1 to separate to ,god1 to consecrate4 ,to cleanse is to separate from sin1 but to sanctify is to separate to ,god1 to set apart for ,god that which has already been separated from sin4 ,we cannot set apart to a holy use 7consecrate7 that which is not cleansed4 ,hence we see why it is that cleansing must precede sanctification or consecration1 that ,he might sanctify it1 having cleansed it 7,eph4 v4 #bf1 ,r4 ,v474 ,sanctification is not identical with cleansing1 but it is its complement4 ,we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all 7,heb4 x4 #aj74 ,wherefore ,jesus also1 that ,he might sanctify the people through ,his own blood1 suffered without the gate 7,heb4 xiii4 #ab74 ,from these passages we gather that it is by the ,blood of ,jesus we are sanctified1 set apart to ,god4 ,this is another function of the precious ,blood1 in addition to the one we have already been considering1 viz41 cleansing from the guilt of sin4 #b4 ,surrender4 ,in conversion1 says ,dr4 ,chalmers1 ,god gives to me1 but in consecration ,i give to ,god4 ,every one knows that conversion should have experimental acquaintance with consecration4 ,in full and glad surrender1 ,i give myself to thee4 ,consecration1 then1 involves surrender--total1 absolute1 unconditional1 irreversible4 ,this is ,paul's teaching in ,romans3 ,i beseech you therefore1 brethren1 by the mercies of ,god1 that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice1 holy1 acceptable unto ,god1 which is your reasonable service 7,rom4 xii4 #a74 ,these people had already given their souls to ,god1 and now the apostle insists on their giving their bodies too4 ,yield 7,r4 ,v41 ,present7 yourselves unto ,god as those that are alive from the dead 7,rom4 vi4 #ac74 ,life first1 then sacrifice4 ,have we life in ,christ8 ,then it is imperative that we yield1 present ourselves unto ,god4 ,it is not a matter of individual choice or taste or convenience2 but every one that has been quickened from the death in trespasses and sins is commanded1 yes1 commanded1 to present himself to ,god4 ,have you obeyed this command8 ,if not1 why not8 ,god excuses no one4 ,had it not better be attended to now8 ,yes1 before you read another line6 ,it follows as a corollary that if we yield ourselves1 we yield everything else to ,god2 nothing is withheld4 ,what loss we suffer because we will hold back some little thing6 ,a little child was one day playing with a very valuable vase1 when he put his hand into it and could not withdraw it4 ,his father1 too1 tried his best to get it out1 but all in vain4 ,they were talking of breaking the vase1 when the father said1 ,now1 my son1 make one more try2 open your hand and hold your fingers out straight1 as you see me doing1 and then pull4 ,to their astonishment the little fellow said1 ,oh no1 pa2 ,i couldn't put out my fingers like that1 for if ,i did1 ,i would drop my penny4 ,he had been holding on to a penny all the time6 ,no wonder he could not withdraw his hand4 ,how many of us are like him6 ,drop the copper1 surrender1 let go1 and ,god will give you gold4 ,now let us note that the verb translated yield 7,rom4 vi4 #ac7 and present 7,rom4 xii4 ,i7 is not in the present tense in the original1 as if ,paul said be yielding1 keep presenting1 but it is in the aorist tense1 the general force of which is a definite act1 something done and finished with4 ,so that when the command1 ,present yourself to ,god1 is complied with as far as one's light goes1 the person is entitled to regard the transaction as a completed act1 and to say1 ,yes1 ,i have presented myself to ,god4 ,then ,faith presses on the heels of that statement and says1 ,god has accepted what ,i have thus presented4 ,it is absolutely necessary that ,faith be in lively exercise on this point1 for what will be the practical outcome of all my presenting if ,i do not believe that ,god takes what ,i give8 ,him that cometh unto ,me ,i will in nowise cast out is just as appropriate to the saint seeking full salvation as to the sinner seeking pardon4 ,it is failure here1 failure to apprehend by faith the fact that ,god receives what ,i present1 that has blocked progress for so many of ,god's people who are truly desirous of living consecrated lives4 ,from this it will be seen that consecration is a crisis in the life of the believer1 just as cleansing is1 and not a process2 but it1 too1 is a crisis in order to a process4 #c4 ,transference of ,ownership4 ,consecration implies and involves transference of ownership4 ,many a ,christian is living to-day as if he were his own2 but the consecrated heart endorses the statement of the ,divine ,word3 ,ye are not your own1 for ye are bought with a price3 therefore glorify ,god in your body and in your spirit1 which are ,god's 7#a ,cor4 vi4 #ai1 #bj74 ,the consecrated man looks upon himself as the absolute property of the ,lord who bought him1 and his whole life is lived in the light of this fact4 #d4 ,enthroning ,christ4 ,consecration involves the glorifying of ,christ1 the enthroning ,him1 the crowning of ,jesus ,lord of all in our own heart and life4 ,crown ,him1 crown ,him1 ,lord of all2 and1 says ,dr4 ,hudson ,taylor1 if you do not crown ,him ,lord of all1 you do not crown ,him ,lord at all4 ,this view of consecration1 with its accompanying results1 is beautifully illustrated for us in ,john vii4 #ch1 #ci1 ,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 were to receive3 for the ,spirit was not yet given2 because ,jesus was not yet glorified4 ,the flowing forth of the rivers--just the outflow1 the overflow of the infilling ,spirit--was dependent on ,jesus being glorified4 ,jesus had not yet reached the throne1 and so the ,spirit had not yet been given4 ,the reason why they had not come to ,pentecost was that as yet there was no ,ascension4 ,ascension preceded ,pentecost4 ,let us learn it by root of heart1 that every ,pentecost since the first has1 in like manner1 been preceded by an ,ascension4 ,do we know ,pentecost experimentally for ourselves8 ,if not the reason is close at hand4 ,jesus has not been glorified by us1 not enthroned in our hearts4 ,he may be in the heart1 ,he may even be in the throne room1 but ,he has not been placed upon the throne6 ,there has never been a coronation day in our lives1 when in full and glad surrender we placed the crown on the many-crowned ,head1 crying1 ,crown ,him1 crown ,him1 ,lord of all6 ,and he showed me a river of water of life1 bright as crystal1 proceeding out of the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb 7,rev4 xxii4 #a74 ,when ,christ reached the throne at the ,father's right hand1 from underneath ,his throne the river began to flow1 the ,holy ,ghost was given1 ,his ,church received her ,pentecost4 ,being by the right hand of ,god exalted 444 he hath poured forth this 7,acts ii4 #cc74 ,so when ,christ is exalted1 enthroned1 glorified in the believer's heart1 from underneath ,his throne will the rivers begin to flow according to promise2 but1 no ,ascension1 no ,pentecost2 and let us remember1 as has been already stated1 that though life begins at the ,cross1 service does not begin till ,pentecost4 ,no ,pentecost1 no service worthy of the name6 ,we need not be concerned as to how the rivers are flowing from us1 or troubled as to what channels they are flowing in4 ,they flowed from ,peter in one way1 and from ,paul in quite another1 and from ,barnabas in yet another2 there are infinite diversities of ways4 ,we need not trouble at all about the rivers1 and the direction of their flow2 our concern is to glorify ,jesus1 to see that ,he is on the throne2 and it becomes ,his business then to see that the rivers are flowing2 and there is not the slightest danger that the blessed business with which ,he charges ,himself will be neglected6 ,there are other aspects of consecration in the ,divine ,word which have not been touched upon1 but enough has been said for our purpose to show what it is1 and what its blessed results will be4 ,our life and service will be enriched beyond telling by enthroning ,christ4 ,this1 of course1 involves the breaking of all our idols1 for ,he will not share ,his throne with any4 ,when ,mahmoud1 the conqueror of ,india1 had taken the city of ,gujarat he proceeded1 as was his custom1 to destroy the idols4 ,there was one1 fifteen feet high1 which its priests and devotees begged him to spare4 ,he was deaf to their entreaties1 and seizing a hammer he struck it one blow when1 to his amazement1 from the shattered image there rained down at his feet a shower of gems1 pearls and diamonds--treasure of fabulous value1 which had been hidden within it6 ,had he spared the idol he would have lost all this wealth4 ,let us not spare our idols4 ,it is to our interest to demolish them4 ,if we shatter them there will rain about our hearts the very treasures of ,heaven1 the gifts and graces of the ,holy ,spirit2 but if we spare our idol we will miss riches unsearchable4 ,the consecrated life is a ,christ-centered life1 the only truly-centered life2 every other life is eccentric3 yet how often do we hear worldly people or worldly-minded ,christians 7what a contradiction in terms67 criticising some devoted ,spirit-filled man or woman as so eccentric1 simply because of their loyalty to ,christ their ,king6 when all the while it is the critics that are eccentric1--off the true center4 ,indeed1 so eccentric did the first ,spirit-filled band appear1 that others mocking said1 they are filled with new wine2 so they were full of new wine1 the new wine of the kingdom4 ,and in ,god's sight these drunken1 eccentric men were the only truly-centered spiritually-adjusted men in the throng4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,claiming4 ,having considered the two conditions necessary to being filled with the ,spirit1 viz41 the cleansing of the heart1 and the consecration of the cleansed heart to ,god1 we come now to the very practical question--,how is this ,fullness to be obtained by the cleansed and consecrated believer8 ,before proceeding to consider the answer1 ,claim it1 let us notice what the ,divine ,word has to say about 7#a7 prayer and 7#b7 laying on of hands in connection with the obtaining4 #a4 ,prayer4 ,how much more shall your ,heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask ,him8 7,luke xi4 #ac47 ,this promise is given to ,god's children4 ,it is the dearest wish of the great ,father-heart of ,god that ,his children should be filled with ,his ,spirit4 ,who has a fathoming line long enough to sound the depths of that how much more8 ,you ask2 ,father gives4 ,what is the next step8 ,why1 of course1 you receive6 else all ,father's giving will be of no avail4 ,when they had prayed 444 they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts iv4 #ca74 ,prayed for them1 that they might receive the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts viii4 #ae74 ,tarry 7,luke xxiv4 #di74 ,wait 7,acts i4 #d7--not idling1 but praying1 pleading the promise4 ,these all with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer 7,acts i4 #ad74 ,they were all with one accord in one place1 and suddenly the answer came6 7,acts ii4 #a47 ,so in obtaining the blessing of the ,fullness1 prayer has its place4 #b4 ,laying on of hands4 ,then laid they their hands on them and they 7,samaritan converts7 received the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts viii4 #ag74 ,then when they had fasted and prayed1 and laid their hands on them1 they sent them away 7,acts xiii4 #c74 ,barnabas and ,saul were men who were already full of the ,holy ,ghost1 but by the laying on of hands 7it is probable that hands had been laid on these men before this7 they received a fresh anointing of the ,holy ,ghost1 a fresh equipment for special service1 and thus they were set apart for the work to which the ,holy ,ghost was calling them4 ,and when ,paul had laid his hands upon them 7the men of ,ephesus71 the ,holy ,ghost came on them 7,acts xix4 #f74 ,they laid their hands on them 7the deacons7 7,acts vi4 #f74 ,neglect not the gift that is in thee1 which was given thee by prophecy1 with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery 7#a ,tim4 iv4 #ad74 ,stir up the gift of ,god1 which is in thee through the laying on of my hands 7#b ,tim4 i4 #f74 ,it is quite evident that laying on of hands was no meaningless ceremonial in the primitive ,church4 ,is there any reason why it should ever be an empty1 barren form in our own day8 ,we come now to examine the answer given to the question--,how is the ,fullness of the ,spirit to be obtained8--viz41 ,claim it4 ,it must be borne clearly in mind that we are dealing now with a cleansed and consecrated soul4 ,if you are not cleansed1 attend first to the cleansing4 ,if you are not consecrated1 attend at once to the consecrating1 and then 7but not till then7 will you be able to profit by what will be said about the claiming of the blessing4 ,do we appreciate the immense difference between claiming and asking8 ,i claim that which is mine own2 ,i ask for a favor4 ,for instance1 if a man has a credit balance of #bej in his current banking account1 and draws a check for #ej1 he does not require to go to the manager and ask for #ej2 he presents his check and claims it1 for it is his own4 ,but supposing that same man is in need of an advance of #ejj2 he goes into the manager's room1 and asks for the favor of a loan4 ,no claiming now6 ,so it is often with the ,christian and his ,god4 ,when ,god gives him a definite promise for some definite blessing1 it is the ,christian's privilege to claim1 to receive by faith the thing promised4 ,if ,god tells him a certain blessing is his by virtue of his sonship1 it is his to claim1 to receive what through grace has been made his own4 ,there is no asking needed here1 that is asking in the sense of saying--,lord1 if it be ,thine holy will1 give me this4 ,where is the room for an if8 ,has not ,god told him it is ,his will8--has ,he not promised it8--has ,he not given it to him8 ,why1 then1 should he mock his ,lord by saying1 ,if it be ,thy will8 ,but supposing1 on the other hand1 that that man wants something which ,god has not expressly promised to give1 something in reference to which ,he has not revealed ,his will2 all the ,christian can do in this case is to ask2 he cannot claim2 and ,god may give him what he asks1 or ,he may see that it will be for the best to refuse ,his child's request4 ,a ,christian may want #bej1 and may ask his ,father to send it to him1 and ,god may give or withhold4 ,but if a ,christian man wants to be filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 he need be in no doubt as to the issue here1 he may claim the ,fullness1 for has not ,god promised it8 ,is not this blessing his very own8 ,his birthright by virtue of his new birth8 ,let us learn then clearly to distinguish between claiming as an act of faith based on an express promise in the ,word1 and asking as a request in prayer4 ,that the ,fullness of the ,holy ,ghost is one of the blessings which it is our privilege to claim1 to receive by a simple act of faith1 is abundantly clear from the ,book of ,god4 ,christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law1 being made a curse for us2 for it is written1 ,cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree3 that the blessing of ,abraham might come on the ,gentiles through ,jesus ,christ2 that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith 7,gal4 iii4 #ac1 #ad74 ,the double purpose of ,christ's redeeming work1 of ,his being made a curse for us1 is here plainly stated4 ,he was cursed that we might be blessed with a double blessing--7#a7 with the blessing of ,abraham1 that is1 righteousness1 justification2 and 7#b7 with the promise of the ,spirit4 ,how many of ,god's children forget the second blessing6--they think that if they are saved from wrath and justified1 that that is all6--but that is only half salvation2 full salvation consists in receiving the promise of the ,spirit in addition to being justified4 ,have we overlooked this fact8 ,have we been stopping short at half salvation8 ,those who are not living the ,spirit-filled life are making void to a most alarming extent1 as far as they are concerned1 the work ,christ accomplished on the tree4 ,christ died that we might be made the righteousness of ,god1 and that we might be filled with ,god4 ,as ,god holds the sinner guilty who neglects so great salvation1 and rejects the offered righteousness1 so ,he holds the justified believer guilty who neglects the second blessing which ,christ purchased with ,his ,blood1 viz41 the offered promise of the ,spirit4 ,but note well how ,paul tells us this latter blessing is to be made ours2 it becomes ours by faith4 ,no one doubts how we receive the blessing of ,abraham 7righteousness1 justification72 all are agreed that it is by faith4 ,being justified by faith 7,rom4 v4 #a74 ,but how blind we are to see1 how slow to take it in1 in spite of the plain declarations of ,scripture1 that the promise of the ,spirit is in like manner received by faith6 ,the ,holy ,ghost is the gift of the ,father1 and of the ,son 7,luke xi4 #ac74 ,this gift is received by faith4 ,there is the whole matter in a nutshell4 ,of all the sublime things in ,god's sublime ,book there is surely not a sublimer than this1 that a cleansed and consecrated believer may by simple faith here and now claim and receive the ,fullness of the ,spirit--the greatest gift that even the exalted ,christ has in ,his power to bestow upon ,his people4 ,be filled with the ,spirit1 saith the ,holy ,ghost4 ,note that the command is in the passive voice1 ,be filled1 that is1 ,let yourself be filled4 ,the ,fullness is pressing in upon you1 only let it in6 ,receive it1 and it is yours6 ,have you got it8 ,if not1 deal with the ,lord about it at once1 somewhat after this manner1 ,lord ,jesus1 ,thou dost command me to be filled with the ,spirit4 ,i take ,thy command and make it my prayer1 ',lord1 fill me with ,thy ,spirit4' ,thou hast told me that 'all things whatsoever ye pray and ask for1 believe that ye have received them1 and ye shall have them' 7,mark xi4 #bd74 ,it is ,thy desire to fill me2 it is my desire to be filled4 ,i have made1 ',lord1 fill me1' the prayer of my heart4 ,i claim the ,fullness4 ,i believe for it4 ,i receive it now by faith4 ,i have received it4 ,i have it4 ,it is mine4 ,lord1 ,i thank ,thee for filling me1 even me1 with ,thine ,holy ,spirit4 ,and the blessed business is done6 ,it is yours to believe1 to receive4 ,it is ,his to fill4 ,go on your way now1 reckoning that you are filled1 and ,god will make the reckoning good4 ,it is yours to keep believing4 ,it is ,god's to keep you filled4 ,stagger not at the promise of ,god through unbelief1 but be made strong in faith1 giving glory to ,god4 ,some object to this quick1 almost instantaneous1 and easy way of receiving this greatest of the ,new ,testament blessings4 ,but every objection urged against receiving the ,fullness of the ,spirit in this way1 applies with equal1 if not greater force to a sinner receiving the pardon of his sins when he comes to ,god at the first4 ,it is always in grace that ,god deals with the sinner1 and justifies him the instant he believes in ,jesus4 ,it is always in grace that ,god deals with the justified one1 and fills him with the ,holy ,ghost the moment he receives the ,fullness by faith4 ,eternal life is the gift of ,god1 and all the sinner has to do is to take it4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is a gift1 and all ,god's child has to do is to take it4 ,but some will still object1 and say that it is necessary to spend some time waiting on ,god for the ,fullness before we can get it4 ,a night of prayer1 or a half night at least1 a more or less protracted season must thus be spent before we can hope to receive the blessing we desire4 ,of course not one word can be uttered against spending seasons of prayer by day or by night in waiting upon ,god4 ,we have the example of the ,man of ,prayer ,himself before us in this4 ,but this much must be said1 that many a one has spent whole days and nights and weeks in earnest crying to ,god for the infilling of the ,holy ,ghost1 and all in vain4 ,all in vain8 ,why8 ,how8 ,because of unbelief4 ,if you want to fill a corked bottle with water1 and take it to a running tap1 but neglect to remove the cork1 how long will you have to wait holding it under the tap before it is filled8 ,remove the cork1 and the bottle is running over in a few seconds6 ,many a one has cried and waited1 and waited and cried for the ,fullness of the ,spirit1 but the stopper of unbelief has been in their empty hearts1 and so no wonder that they did not get what they wanted6 ,of what avail will all ,god's giving be if a man does not receive8 ,god cannot give and receive too6 ,but some one may still object1 and1 in proof of his contention that we must wait for the filling of the ,holy ,ghost1 point to the case of the disciples1 who continued in prayer for ten days1 waiting for the promise of the ,father4 ,quite true that they waited2 but it must be remembered that that prayer meeting was ante-pentecostal2 we live in post-pentecostal days2 they were waiting for the ,spirit to come from ,heaven4 ,the ,spirit was not yet given4 ,we have not so to wait4 ,he has come1 ,he has been given1 and all we have to do is to receive ,him4 ,we have read of ,christ's coming into the world and of ,his leaving it4 ,we have read of the ,spirit's descent1 but we do not read of ,his ascension4 ,a ,christian man came to me once and said--expecting a word of encouragement and approval--,i have been seeking that blessing for over thirty years4 ,brother1 it's nearly time you got it then6 was the swift rejoinder4 ,for all these years during which the man was crying1 ,give1 give1 give6 ,god was saying1 ,take1 take1 take6 ,receive1 receive6 for ,i do give6 ,if ,i heard my little girl of three years old crying piteously for a piece of bread1 knowing that she must be very hungry1 and having the bread by me would ,i tell her to cry on for another hour and that then ,i might attend to her wants8 ,how much more1 oh6 ,how much more will your ,heavenly ,father give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask ,him8 ,but what if1 in spite of her crying and of my offering1 she would not take the bread ,i offered1 but still went on with her crying1 ,father6 oh1 father6 do give me a piece of bread1 ,i am so hungry6 ,you silly child6 ,oh1 how many silly children has the ,father in ,his family1 crying year in and year out1 ,give1 give6 and ,father all the while yearning over them and saying1 ,take1 take1 ,my child6 ,let some of us give over crying and set to work receiving4 ,take and thank6 ,receive and thank6 ,that we might receive the promise of the ,spirit through faith4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,how ,,does ,,it ,,come8 ,how does the ,filling of the ,spirit come8 ,does it come once for all8 or is it always coming1 as it were8 was a question addressed to me once by a young candidate for the ,baptism of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,there are many asking the same question4 ,we have considered how the ,fullness is obtained1 but now we proceed to consider1 ,how does the ,fullness come8 ,in speaking of the blessing of being filled with the ,spirit1 the ,new ,testament writers use three tenses in the ,greek--the ,aorist1 the ,imperfect1 and the ,present4 ,each of these tenses has a different shade of meaning4 ,the inspiring ,spirit has employed these different tenses for a purpose1 and it will be to our profit to try and get at that purpose1 to note the differences1 and to learn ,his meaning4 7#a7 ,the ,aorist tense--a tense to which the ,english language is a stranger--denotes generally a sudden1 definite act of the past1 something done and finished with--,they were filled--as in ,acts ii4 #d4 7#b7 ,the ,imperfect tense1 denoting1 as in ,english1 just what its name implies--,they were being filled 7literally7--as in ,acts xiii4 #eb4 7#c7 ,the ,present tense1 also denoting1 as in ,english1 just what its name implies--,full1 the normal condition--as in ,acts xi4 #bd4 ,the following are the passages in the ,acts in which the various tenses are found3-- 7#a7 ,aorist3-- ,acts ii4 #b1 ,it filled all the house4 ,acts ii4 #d1 ,they were all filled4 ,acts iv4 #h1 ,peter filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,peter was already filled1 in ch4 ii4 #d4 ,acts iv4 #ca1 ,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,peter was again amongst them4 ,peter received an ,aorist filling in ch4 ii4 #d1 again in ch4 iv4 #h1 and yet again in ch4 iv4 #ca4 ,so that an ,aorist filling may be repeated and repeated again and yet again4 ,on both occasions--ch4 iv4 #h and ch4 iv4 #ca--there was special need1 and to meet this special need1 ,peter received a fresh and special and definite filling of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,from this we learn that to equip us for every new important or difficult service to which we may be called1 the ,lord ,jesus is prepared to grant us a fresh ,infilling1 a refilling of the ,holy ,ghost2 and that these refillings may be1 and ought to be1 repeated just as often as the need arises4 ,we see it reported twice in one chapter that ,peter was refilled4 ,it will be noted that for the reasons already mentioned1#b the expression a fresh ,infilling of the ,holy ,ghost1 or refilling1 is used instead of received a fresh ,baptism of the ,holy ,ghost4 #b3 ,page #ci4 ,acts ix4 #ag 7,saul71 ,and be filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,saul was not to begin his life work until baptized--filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he must receive the very same blessing and equipment as the other apostles received at ,pentecost4 ,this was ,saul's ,pentecost1 and for him1 as for others1 service began at ,pentecost4 ,acts xiii4 #i1 ,paul filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the man who was filled in ch4 ix4 is filled anew in this passage1 the ,aorist blessing is repeated1 fitting him for the special work on hand1 viz41 administering that scathing rebuke to ,elymas the ,sorcerer4 ,in all these passages the blessing is spoken of as a crisis1 not as a process4 7#b7 ,imperfect3-- ,acts xiii4 #eb1 ,and the disciples 7lit47 were being filled with joy and with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this is the only passage in the ,acts where the ,imperfect tense is used4 ,it is not the ,aorist were filled1 but the ,imperfect were being filled1 implying the inflow1 not only to make up for1 but to sustain1 the outflow4 ,the same idea of the ,imperfect is seen in ,eph4 v4 #ah1 ,be filled with the ,spirit1 where ,principal ,moule points out that the ,greek verb rendered be filled1 may with equal correctness be rendered ,be ye filling with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the preceptive verb is in the ,present or continuing tense2 it enjoins a course1 a habit1 so that in this sense the ,fullness is always coming1 it is spoken of as a process1 not as a crisis4 7#c7 ,present3-- ,acts vi4 #c1 ,look ye out therefore1 brethren1 from among you seven men of good report1 full of the ,spirit and of wisdom1 whom we may appoint over this business1 men whose normal condition was full of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it is well worth noticing the business for which these deacons were wanted2 they were to look after temporal affairs1 to feed a few decent old ,greek widows2 and yet even for this business the men must be full of the ,holy ,ghost6 ,none other need apply4 ,how far has the ,church of to-day strayed from apostolic practice6 ,when an election of office-bearers is taking place nowadays1 of men1 say1 to manage the temporal affairs of ,christ's ,church1 who ever thinks of looking out for men full of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,many a man is elected to office in the ,church of the ,living ,god who has not the ,spirit of ,christ at all--who is therefore not a child of ,god1 much less full of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he is a man of social position1 a man of means2 if he is not full of the ,holy ,ghost1 he is at least full of this world's goods1 and you know he will be a pillar in our ,church4 ,yes1 as some one has well remarked1 he will be a cater-pillar6 ,the ,church of the ,new ,testament does not need pillars of that kind4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ and ,his apostles does not require to be propped up by children of the devil4 ,what right have we to ask an alien1 a man who is without ,christ1 having no hope and without ,god in the world1 to assist in managing and controlling ,father's ,house8 ,such was not apostolic practice4 ,be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers 7#b ,cor4 vi4 #ad74 ,what an amount of unequal yoking there is in many of our ,churches1 although the ,church's ,lord expressly forbids it6 ,thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together 7,deut4 xxii4 #aj74 ,who is responsible for this unequal yoking8 ,is it not the ,church members that elect these men and put them into office in the ,church of ,god8 ,church members1 beware6 next time offices are to be filled in your ,church1 whether they have to do with the temporal affairs or with the spiritual1 remember apostolic advice1 ,look ye out from among you men full of the ,spirit4 ,when we get back in this matter to apostolic practice1 we may hope to get back apostolic blessing1 but not till then4 ,acts vi4 #e1 ,stephen1 a man full of faith and of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in those brave days of old it was a case of demand and supply4 ,wanted--seven men full of the ,holy ,ghost2 and immediately they were forthcoming6 ,is the trouble nowadays in the demand or in the supply8 ,in both4 ,the demand for ,spirit-filled men is very slack2 but even if the demand revived to-morrow1 how lamentably few in our ,churches could be found bearing the trade mark as up to sample6 ,still there are not wanting signs of revival in both demand and supply4 ,let us remember that ,stephen's companions were men full of the ,holy ,ghost1 although ,stephen is the only one of whom it is expressly stated4 ,he was the most remarkable man of the seven1 a man in whom the graces of the ,spirit shone with conspicuous brightness4 ,so mighty was his faith that special mention must needs be made of it4 ,it is not sufficient to describe him as a man full of the ,holy ,ghost1 but it must be stated that he was a man full of faith and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,faith was his outstanding grace4 ,acts vii4 #ee1 ,he being full of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this was ,stephen's normal condition right up to the very end of his life2 it was true of him when we get our first glimpse of him1 true also as he passes within the vail into the unspeakable glory4 ,acts xi4 #bd1 ,barnabas was a good man and full of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,a good man indeed1 and so full of the ,spirit of ,god that there was no room for self2 for we read that he came into the midst of a great revival1 in the bringing about of which he had no hand1 and instead of being filled with envy at the divinely-chosen instruments1 instead of picking holes in the work and depreciating the whole movement1 he was filled with gladness2 we read that he was glad 7ver4 #bc74 ,it goes without saying that that man was full of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,how many there are nowadays who are not like ,barnabas6 ,having now considered the passages in which the various tenses are used1 we are able to answer the question--,how does the blessing come8 ,does it come once for all1 or is it always coming8 ,there are sudden definite fillings1 repeated with more or less frequency2 times when the believer is conscious of being filled1 when he can say1 ,i was filled4 ,between this experience--filled 7which is an ,aorist blessing7--and that which should be the normal experience of every ,christian1 viz41 full 7which is a ,present blessing71 it is evident that there is a great gap2 but ,god has graciously bridged the gap for us2 the connecting link between the ,aorist were filled1 and the ,present full1 is the ,imperfect were being filled1 so that the blessing is always coming4 ,does it come once for all8 ,a thousand times ,no6--if by that is meant that we are reservoirs into which the ,fullness is poured1 so that once we are filled1 we are independent of fresh supplies from the ,lord ,jesus4 ,that surely were a curse instead of a blessing6 ,what reservoir is there that does not need replenishing8 ,some ,christians say that at times after some piece of service has been finished1 they feel as if they were empty1 as if their souls had been quite drained1 and now they are dry and thirsty4 ,it need not be so4 ,it is not so with the ,spirit-filled worker whose faith is in lively exercise1 for he is being filled all the time4 ,in driving between ,melbourne and my home ,i often stop at a wayside trough to give the horse a drink4 ,i notice that the trough is quite full of water and that there is a box in one end of it4 ,as the horse drinks the water is lowering1 and presently ,i hear a sound as of a running tap4 ,yes1 the sound is coming from the box4 ,that box is covering a piece of mechanism that needs explaining4 ,within it there is a tap connected by pipes with the ,yan ,yean ,reservoir up in the ,plenty ,ranges4 ,attached by a lever to the tap is a metal ball1 which rests on the surface of the water4 ,as the horse drinks1 the water on which the ball is floating is lowered1 and thus the ball is lowered2 the lowering of the ball opens the tap and the ,yan ,yean begins to pour in2 so that1 although the water is being withdrawn by the thirsty animal1 a fresh supply is being poured in1 the trough is being filled1 so that it is always full4 ,thus may it be with the soul of the believer4 ,no matter what the outflow into the surrounding emptiness may be1 or the withdrawals by thirsty1 needy souls1 there is the continual inflow1 so that there may be the constant ,fullness4 ,indeed the outflow depends directly on the inflow2 one can only give as he gets4 ,it is ours to see to the connection between us and the infinite ,reservoir away up among the hills of ,god being kept open1 to see that the tap is kept in proper working order by faith and prayer and meditation1 and then1 one might almost say1 automatically1 the heart will be kept full1 filled with all the ,fullness of ,god1 no matter what the spiritual drain upon us may be2 for now it is not a question of our capacity to contain1 but a question of ,god's infinite supply for all our needs4 ,this too is the explanation of the overflow1 the flowing ,rivers of ,john vii4 #ch4 ,it is the overflow1 and only the overflow1 that blesses4 ,there is not a drop for thirsty souls till some one overflows4 ,it is the overflow in the ,sabbath ,school class1 and in the pulpit1 and1 for that matter1 in every other sphere of ,christian service1 that brings blessing2 and this overflow is in direct proportion to the inflow4 ,rivers cannot flow out unless ,rivers first flow in4 ,an ordinary service pipe in our domestic water supply may serve to illustrate some of the points we have been considering4 ,we take a bucket to the tap for water1 and lo6 there is none4 ,something is wrong4 ,either the authorities have cut off our supply because of some infraction of the law on our part1 or there is an obstruction in our service pipe1 or the pressure is insufficient to give us even a drop1 or the supply is so deficient that it has been shut off for a time from us that it may be sent in another direction4 ,sometimes1 alas6 the flowing of the living waters from the soul of the believer ceases2 but the ordinary round of duty1 either in the district visiting1 or in the ,sabbath ,school class1 or in the pulpit1 has not ceased2 a ceaseless stream of talk may still be flowing on1 but there is no living water in it all4 ,why8 ,it is not that the pressure aback of us1 the pressure in the infinite ,reservoir away up among the hills of ,god1 is insufficient1 or that the supply is deficient1 unable to meet our needs because it is supplying needy ones elsewhere4 ,god's water supply never breaks down as we often find our city supply failing4 ,if the flowing has ceased1 it is from one of two reasons3 either ,god has1 in mercy and in judgment1 cut off the supply1 or there is an obstruction in us1 and sin is at the bottom of both reasons4 ,search me1 ,o ,god 444 and see if there be any way of wickedness in me 7,ps4 cxxxix4 #bc1 #bd74 ,confession1 cleansing is the divinely-appointed method for putting right what has gone wrong4 ,sometimes on going to the tap we find that there is water1 but such a miserable dribble6 either from insufficient pressure or some partial obstruction in the pipe1 or perhaps it is because we have not opened the tap fully4 ,what a wretched parody of the flowing ,rivers of ,john vii4 #ch are the life and service of many of the ,christians of to day6 ,some of the living water is doubtless coming from them1 but it is only percolating through1 dribbling1 trickling out of them4 ,why8 ,certainly not1 as has been already remarked1 from insufficient pressure2 the fault1 the failure is not on ,god's side1 but there is some local obstruction--amounting in many a case to almost entire obstruction1--some little idol or other in our heart1 if not a sin1 yet certainly a weight 7,heb4 xii4 #a71 and this hinders the outflow4 ,confession and cleansing are still ,god's remedy4 ,or the hindrance may be our unbelief1 limiting the ,holy ,one of ,israel2 opening the tap but a little instead of opening it full2 expecting little when we were divinely authorized to expect much2 refusing to obey the command1 ,open thy mouth wide1 and ,i will fill it 7,ps4 lxxxi4 #aj74 ,rivers cannot flow through a heart full of unbelief4 ,sometimes1 again1 on going to the tap we get a little water and a great deal of air4 ,what a noise6 ,now air is a very good thing in its own place1 but that is not in a water pipe2 that is meant to convey water and nothing else1 and for the water pipe to do its work1 it is necessary that it be emptied and cleansed of everything else1 even of air4 ,scripture hath said that some things puff up1 and there is a good deal of puff in some hearts through which the living water is supposed to be flowing4 ,god be merciful unto us6 ,such hearts1 like our water pipe1 need emptying and cleansing4 ,yet once more1 on going to the tap1 we find a splendid supply2 the pipe is clean1 the pressure is good4 ,now before we open the tap the pipe is full of water2 when the tap is opened and the bucket filling1 the pipe is still full1 for although the water is pouring out at the tap1 it is pouring in at the reservoir1 so that the pipe is kept full1 even though the tap is open and the water streaming from it4 ,when the tap is shut1 you cannot say any more about the pipe now than that it is still full of water4 ,even so may it be with the believer who is spiritually adjusted4 ,when resting at his ,master's feet he is full2 when actively engaged in service he is still full2 his normal condition is1 full of the ,holy ,ghost1 because he has learnt how to obey the command1 ,be ye filling with the ,spirit4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,its ,,effects4 ,among the effects and benefits which in this life accompany and flow from being filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 may be mentioned the following3-- #a4 ,courage4 ,oh1 ,i could not do so and so--,i have not the courage1 is a reply frequently made by ,christian people when asked to undertake some piece of service or other for the ,master4 ,the first point to be settled is1 ,is that the ,master's will for me8 ,if so1 lack of courage is a confession to the lack of the ,fullness of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the ,spirit-filled man knows the fear of ,god and knows no other fear4 ,acts ii4 #ad1 ,peter1 standing up with the eleven1 lifted up his voice and spake forth4 ,no fear of servant maids now6 ,but can this be the man who quailed before the look of the waiting-maid who charged him with being with the ,nazarene8 ,can this be the man that began to curse and to swear1 ,i know not this man of whom ye speak8 ,the very same1 and yet not the same2 for the ,baptism of the ,holy ,ghost has changed ,peter the craven-hearted into ,peter the lion-hearted1 so that he can stand before that surging multitude1 their hands dyed crimson in his ,master's blood1 and without a tremor charge home upon them the awful crime1 ,him ye did crucify and slay4 ,ch4 iv4 #ac3 ,they beheld the boldness of ,peter and ,john4 ,ch4 iv4 #ca3 ,they spake the word of ,god with boldness4 ,ch4 v4 #bj3 ,go ye and stand and speak in the temple4 ,taken out of prison1 and ordered to go and do again the very thing for which they had been imprisoned6 ,but they were ,spirit-filled men1 and so we read in the next verse1 they entered into the temple4 ,ch4 v4 #bi3 ,we must obey ,god rather than men4 ,ch4 v4 #dj-db3 ,beaten 444 departed rejoicing 444 ceased not to teach4 ,ch4 xxi4 #ac3 ,i am ready not to be bound only1 but also to die at ,jerusalem1 for the name of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,courage-filled because ,spirit-filled6 #b4 ,the fruit of the ,spirit4 ,the fruit of the ,spirit will be manifest in the life3 ,love1 ,joy1 ,peace1 etc4 7,gal4 v4 #bb1 #bc74 ,how can one's life be filled with the fruit of the ,spirit1 unless one's heart is first filled with the ,spirit ,himself8 ,in the primitive ,church the men and women were filled with the ,holy ,ghost2 that was the rule2 now1 alas6 it has come to be the exception--and as a consequence we see how their lives were enriched by the fruit of the ,spirit4 ,love3 ,acts iv4 #cb1 ,were of one heart and soul 444 had all things common4 ,this may be poor political economy1 but it is good spiritual economy1 a simple ,bible illustration of the ,bible precept1 ,lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven 7,matt4 vi4 #bj74 ,if brotherly love were abroad to-day1 how soon the present distress would disappear6 ,as the best available commentary on this heavenly word ,love1 study on your knees the whole of #a ,cor4 xiii4 ,joy3 ,acts ii4 #df1 ,they did take their food with gladness and singleness of heart1 praising ,god4 ,every meal was a sacrament4 ,the same cause would produce the same result to-day4 ,ch4 v4 #da3 ,rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the ,name1 when some of us would have been bemoaning ourselves and complaining of the hardness of our lot6 ,ch4 xiii4 #ej-eb3 ,stirred up a persecution 444 and the disciples were 7being7 filled with joy4 ,ch4 xvi4 #be3 ,paul and ,silas were praying and singing hymns unto ,god4 ,the heavier the tribulation the more their joy seemed to overflow 7#b ,cor4 vii4 #d71 and of course the heavier the tribulation the more joy they needed to sustain them4 ,for the joy of the ,lord is your strength 7,neh4 viii4 #aj74 ,peace3 ,acts vi4 #ae1 ,saw his 7,stephen's7 face as it had been the face of an angel4 ,ch4 vii4 #ei1 #fj3 ,they stoned ,stephen1 calling upon the ,lord1 and saying1 ,lord ,jesus1 receive my ,spirit1 and he kneeled down1 and 444 fell asleep4 #b ,cor1 iv4 #h1 #i3 ,troubled on every side1 yet not distressed2 perplexed1 but not in despair2 persecuted1 but not forsaken2 cast down1 but not destroyed4 ,thus we might go through the heavenly list--long-suffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 faith1 meekness1 temperance--and see how richly in ,bible times the fruit flourished in the lives of those who were ,spirit-filled4 ,before passing on let us notice where it is that ,joy grows4 ,it grows between ,love and ,peace4 ,it is1 as some one has well called it1 a sheltered fruit4 ,if ,love withers1 ,joy is exposed on that side1 and it too will fade4 ,if ,peace is interfered with1 even though ,love is vigorous1 ,joy is exposed on that side now1 and it will fade away and die4 ,the only way to preserve ,joy in vigorous growth is to see that its sheltering fruits1 ,love and ,peace1 are kept free from blight1 and vigorous too4 ,in his letter to the ,ephesian ,church1 to whom he addressed the command1 ,be filled with the ,spirit1 ,paul points out very clearly what the results of the ,fullness will be4 7#a7 ,a singing heart 7,eph4 v4 #ai74 ,this is what would bring us and our lives up to concert pitch4 ,we would no more go flat4 ,this would drive away the leaden dullness4 7#b7 ,a thankful heart 7ver4 #bj74 ,such a heart would not be finding fault with ,christ's government2 will find none occasion of stumbling in ,jesus 7,matt4 xi4 #f72 will not be offended at ,him1 no matter how ,he may test and try it4 ,blessed is he that has such a heart in his bosom6 7#c7 ,a submissive heart 7,eph4 v4 #ba71 in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself 7,phil4 ii4 #c74 ,the thing 7once7 impossible shall be4 7#d7 ,spirit-filled wives will be in subjection to their own husbands 7,eph4 v4 #bb74 7#e7 ,spirit-filled husbands will love their wives as ,christ loved the ,church 7ver4 #be74 7#f7 ,spirit-filled children will obey their parents 7,eph4 vi4 #a74 7#g7 ,spirit-filled fathers will not provoke their children to wrath 7ver4 #d74 7#h7 ,spirit-filled servants 7bond-slaves7 will be obedient to their masters 7ver4 #e74 7#i7 ,spirit-filled masters will treat their servants as they 7the masters7 would wish to be treated by their ,master 7ver4 #i74 ,would not results 7#h7 and 7#i7 be the best possible solution of the constantly recurring ,labor and ,capital difficulty1 and render a labor war impossible1 because unnecessary8 7#aj7 ,spirit-filled men will be strong in the ,lord1 spiritual giants1 not sickly1 hunchbacked dwarfs 7ver4 #aj74 7#aa7 ,spirit-filled men will be warriors1 clad in the whole armor of ,god2 if not ,spirit-filled they could not carry it 7ver4 #aa74 7#ab7 ,spirit-filled soldiers will not be warring against flesh and blood2 internal foes having all been subdued1 the civil war has ceased2 their enemies are now external1 and they are free to concentrate all their attention and ,god-inspired energies on them4 ,their enemies are 7#a7 in the world--principalities and world-rulers1 and 7#b7 in the heavenlies--powers and spiritual hosts of wickedness 7ver4 #ab74 7#ac7 ,spirit-filled men will be praying always in the ,spirit 7ver4 #ah74 ,in order to this vigilance is necessary watching thereunto4 ,such are some of the results1 on the positive side1 of being filled with the ,spirit4 ,the effects on the negative side are manifest in ,gal4 v4 #af1 #ag1 ,walk in 7by7 the ,spirit1 and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh4 ,for the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit1 and the ,spirit against the flesh2 for these are contrary the one to the other3 that ye 7walking by the ,spirit7 may not do the things that ye would 7if ye were walking by the flesh74 7,see ,gal4 v4 #ai-ba47 #c4 ,reaching the masses4 ,another effect of a ,spirit-baptized ,church would be that the masses would be reached4 ,see how the early ,church--which was a ,spirit-baptized ,church1 and persistently kept that truth in the foreground--reached the masses1 and with what blessed results6 ,they were not amused or entertained1 but they were converted1 saved1 turned to the ,lord4 ,there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls4 ,acts ii4 #da4 ,the number of the men came to be about five thousand4 ,acts iv4 #d4 ,added to the ,lord multitudes both of men and women4 ,acts v4 #ad4 ,the number of the disciples multiplied in ,jerusalem exceedingly1 and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith4 ,acts vi4 #g4 ,the multitudes 7in ,samaria7 gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken4 ,acts viii4 #f4 ,and all that dwelt at ,lydda and in ,sharon saw him1 and they turned to the ,lord4 ,acts ix4 #ce4 ,it became known throughout all ,joppa2 and many believed on the ,lord4 ,acts ix4 #db4 ,while ,peter yet spake these words1 the ,holy ,ghost fell on all them which heard the word4 ,acts x4 #dd4 ,and the hand of the ,lord was with them3 and a great number that believed1 turned unto the ,lord4 ,acts xi4 #ba4 ,and the next ,sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of ,god4 ,acts xiii4 #dd4 ,and so spake that a great multitude both of ,jews and of ,greeks believed4 ,acts xiv4 #a4 ,and when they had preached the gospel to that city1 and had made many disciples4 ,acts xiv4 #ba4 ,the churches 444 increased in number daily4 ,acts xvi4 #e4 ,these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also4 ,acts xvii4 #f4 ,crispus 444 believed 444 and many of the ,corinthians hearing believed4 ,acts xviii4 #h4 ,so mightily grew the word of the ,lord and prevailed4 ,acts xix4 #ah-bj4 ,we often hear of discussions on the lapsed masses4 ,why have the masses of the people lapsed from the ,churches8 ,perhaps the more correct way of putting it would be1 ,why have the ,churches lapsed from the masses8 ,the answer is not far to seek--because they have lost the driving power which alone could keep them abreast of the masses1 even the ,baptism of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the conditions were just as unfavorable in the first century as in the nineteenth1 and yet we read1 ,so mightily grew the word of the ,lord and prevailed4 ,it is positively painful to see the substitutes that are being tried to-day for the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,miserable substitutes are they all6 ,one ,church is trying this plan1 another that1 and not one of them has found a new plan that is a permanent success4 ,they are floundering1 and some of them are foundering1 and no wonder4 ,it will be no loss to the kingdom of ,god if ,churches which ignore the ,holy ,ghost should founder4 ,let us get back to ,pentecostal methods4 ,the trouble is that the ,churches have lost their way to that upper room4 ,let a ,church only find her way back there and obtain her ,pentecost2 let pulpit and pew be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost and with fire1 and the people will come running in to see the burning4 ,that ,church will not need to cater for amusements as a bait to catch the masses1 but the people will come crowding into her pews1 climbing into them as ,zacchaeus climbed into the branches of that sycamore tree when he wanted to see the ,lord2 for the people still want to see ,jesus1 and they have heard that ,he is to pass that way4 ,we cannot improve on ,pentecost's methods for reaching the masses4 #d4 ,persecution4 ,yet another effect of the ,fullness of the ,spirit must be mentioned1 viz41 ,persecution4 ,others mocking said1 ,they are filled with new wine4 ,acts ii4 #ac4 ,they laid hands on them and put them in ward4 ,acts iv4 #c4 ,let us threaten them4 ,acts iv4 #ag4 ,they laid hands on the apostles and put them in public ward4 ,acts v4 #ah4 ,and were minded to slay them4 ,acts v4 #cc4 ,they beat them and charged them not to speak4 ,acts v4 #dj4 ,and seized him and brought him into the council4 ,acts vi4 #ab4 ,and they stoned ,stephen4 ,acts vii4 #ei4 ,and there arose on that day a great persecution4 ,acts viii4 #a4 ,haling men and women committed them to prison4 ,acts viii4 #c4 ,saul1 yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the ,lord4 ,acts ix4 #a4 ,took counsel together to kill him4 ,acts ix4 #bc4 ,they went about to kill him4 ,acts ix4 #bi4 ,killed ,james the brother of ,john with the sword4 ,acts xii4 #b4 ,he put him 7,peter7 in prison4 ,acts xii4 #d4 ,stirred up a persecution against ,paul and ,barnabas4 ,acts xiii4 #ej4 ,made them evil affected against the brethren4 ,acts xiv4 #b4 ,to treat them shamefully and to stone them4 ,acts xiv4 #e4 ,they stoned ,paul4 ,acts xiv4 #ai4 ,commanded to beat them 7,paul and ,silas7 with rods4 ,acts xvi4 #bb4 ,cast them into prison1 444 and made their feet fast in the stocks4 ,acts xvi4 #bc1 #bd4 ,set the city on an uproar4 ,acts xvii4 #e4 ,stirring up and troubling the multitudes4 ,acts xvii4 #ac4 ,opposed themselves and blasphemed4 ,acts xviii4 #f4 ,rose up against ,paul1 and brought him before the judgment seat4 ,acts xviii4 #ab4 ,speaking evil of the way4 ,acts xix4 #i4 ,filled with wrath4 ,acts xix4 #bh4 ,no small stir concerning the way4 ,acts xix4 #bc4 ,a plot was laid against him by the ,jews4 ,acts xx4 #c4 ,so shall the ,jews at ,jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle1 and shall deliver him into the hands of the ,gentiles4 ,acts xxi4 #aa4 ,and laid hands on him4 7,paul was never free after this47 ,acts xxi4 #bg4 ,as they were seeking to kill him4 ,acts xxi4 #ca4 ,beating ,paul 444 bound with two chains 444 into the castle4 ,acts xxi4 #cb1 #cc1 #cd4 ,it is not fit that he should live4 ,acts1 xxii4 #bb4 ,bound themselves under a curse1 saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed ,paul4 ,acts xxiii4 #ab4 ,they delivered ,paul 444 to a centurion4 ,acts xxvii4 #a4 ,from henceforth let no man trouble me3 for ,i bear branded on my body the marks of ,jesus4 ,gal4 vi4 #ag4 ,all this makes lively reading in this peaceful1 easy-going day of ours2 and yet the world has not changed in its attitude or feeling towards ,god and the things of ,god4 ,but a most palpable change has taken place somewhere4 ,the change1 alas6 is in us1 in the people of ,god2 a change that is not for the better4 ,we have lost that which brought these men into direct collision with the world1 and with its ways1 even the ,fullness of the ,spirit4 ,only let a man in our day seek and obtain the blessing that made these men mighty for ,god1 and he will soon find that the world has not changed1 and that the ,pharisees have not changed either2 the ,fullness of the ,holy ,ghost makes a man the uncompromising friend of ,god1 and that certainly involves the enmity of the world4 ,therefore the world hateth you 7,john xv4 #ai74 ,it behooves those who are seeking the ,fullness of the ,spirit to remember these facts1 and to count the cost1 for the persecution may come from the most unlikely1 unlooked-for quarters4 ,to be forewarned is to be forearmed4 ,in the world ye have tribulation3 but be of good cheer2 ,i have overcome the world 7,john xvi4 #cc74 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,may ,,one ,,know ,,that ,,he ,,is ,,filled8 ,the question is often asked--,how am ,i to know when ,i am filled with the ,holy ,ghost8 #a4 ,you may know it from the testimony of the written ,word4 ,all things whatsoever ye pray and ask for1 believe that ye have received them1 and ye shall have them 7,mark xi4 #bd74 ,from this you know1 that if you have1 up to your light1 fulfilled the conditions necessary to the filling of the ,holy ,ghost1 on praying and asking for the ,fullness1 it is your privilege to believe that you have received what you have asked for2 nay1 it is your bounden duty1 in compliance with ,christ's express command1 so to believe4 ,if ,god gives1 and you really receive1 you may then give thanks1 and that proves that you possess1 for you cannot truly give thanks for what you do not possess6 ,it will be noted that this answer is precisely similar to the answer that would be given to the question--,how am ,i to know that ,i am saved8 ,by simple faith on the testimony of the ,word4 ,as multitudes have accepted salvation without any emotion1 without any feeling whatever1 so many a one has accepted by faith the ,fullness of the ,holy ,ghost1 without any wave of emotion or feeling bearing witness to the fact of the filling4 ,but this is not to say that there is never any feeling1 that the emotions are never stirred2 not so1 for the feelings will come in due course1 in ,god's own time4 #b4 ,witness of the ,spirit4 ,again1 one may know that the ,fullness has come by the witness of the infilling ,spirit4 ,just as in multitudes of cases the blessed ,spirit bears witness with the ,blood when it is applied at the moment of conversion1 so many a one knows in his inner consciousness the moment when the ,fullness of the ,spirit was bestowed2 they felt the ,incoming and can date their ,baptism1 as others have felt the regenerating change and can date their conversion4 ,it should also be repeated here1 that as many are ignorant of the date of their conversion1 though well assured of the fact1 so many may be ignorant of the date of their ,baptism with the ,holy ,ghost1 though well assured that they have entered on the blessed life4 ,if we are assured of the fact1 that we have received the ,fullness of the ,spirit1 we need not worry as to dates4 #c4 ,signs ,following4 ,yet again1 one may know whether the ,fullness has come to his heart and life by the signs following1 by what ,the ,men of the ,north of ,scotland would call the marks4 ,christ's words used in another connection may surely be applied in this1 ,by their fruits ye shall know them 7,matt4 vii4 #bj74 ,the fruit of the ,spirit is love1 joy1 peace1 longsuffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 faith1 meekness1 temperance 7,gal4 v4 #bb1 #bc74 ,the fullness of the fruit will surely be found where the ,fullness of the ,spirit is4 ,quantity and quality will both be there4 ,as this has already been touched upon when considering the effects of the blessing1 no more need be added here4 ,but this1 however1 must be clearly borne in mind1 that1 while the ,fullness of the ,spirit is a gift1 the fruit of the ,spirit is a growth4 ,fruit grows1 and the fruit will grow1 if only we see to it that the conditions are present which are favorable to growth4 ,that man does not manifest much wisdom who expects full growth without attending to the conditions of growth4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,may ,,one ,,say ,,that ,,he ,,is ,,filled8 ,the question has been raised--,is it right for one to say that he is filled with the ,holy ,ghost8 ,may this not savor of egotism8 ,john said of ,jesus--,behold the ,lamb of ,god1 who taketh away the sin of the world2 444 the same is ,he that baptizeth with the ,holy ,spirit 7,john i4 #bi1 #cc74 ,christ's twofold office here is to take away sin1 and to baptize with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,each one who knows ,christ as the ,sin-bearer should have an experimental acquaintance with ,him as the ,baptizer too4 ,indeed1 this alone is full salvation4 ,to have sin taken away is but half salvation2 to be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit as well1 is to possess full salvation4 ,now1 if ,christ has taken away a man's sin1 may that man not know it8 ,certainly4 ,and if he knows it1 may he not bear witness to the fact8 ,nay1 does ,christ not expect him to confess8--to tell what great things the ,lord hath done for him8 ,no right-thinking person would regard it as wrong for a saved man to confess his ,saviour1 or would regard his confession as egotism4 ,by parity of reasoning1 if ,christ has baptized a pardoned man with the ,holy ,ghost1 may that man not know it8 ,surely6 and if he knows it1 may he not bear witness to the fact8 ,may he not tell what still greater things the ,lord hath done for him8 ,would this be wrong8 ,must this necessarily be egotism8 ,at the same time1 while it is perfectly scriptural for a ,spirit-filled man to testify1 for ,christ's glory1 as to the ,infilling of the ,holy ,spirit when questioned upon it--for we must be careful not to libel the grace of ,god that is in us1 and not to grieve the ,holy ,spirit by ignoring ,him or ,his work within us--one cannot be too careful lest he be found casting his pearls before the swine 7,matt4 vii4 #f71 and as a rule it will be better in this matter to let the life speak rather than the tongue4 ,indeed it will not often be necessary for the ,spirit-filled man to be questioned on the subject at all2 his speech will betray him1 his manner of life1 his fruitful service4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,may ,,one ,,lose ,,the ,,blessing8 ,the question trembles from many a lip--,if ,i get the blessing1 may ,i lose it8 ,most certainly4 ,but1 glory be to ,god6 ,he has made ample provision for failure4 ,there is no reason why we should fail2 ,god has made ample provision against failure2 we must not expect to fail2 but in case we do fail1 provision has been made4 ,the most prolific cause of loss is disobedience--disobedience either to one of ,god's written commands1 or to the inward promptings of ,his ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,holy ,ghost whom ,god hath given to them that obey ,him 7,acts v4 #cb74 ,this all-glorious gift is not only obtained but retained in connection with obedience4 ,it is absolutely necessary to maintain the attitude of complete self-surrender1 for the slightest act of disobedience--that is1 the asserting of our own will in opposition to ,his will--may cost us the loss of the blessing1 such as1 neglecting to speak to a man about the great salvation1 or1 refusing to give a tract to some one when we knew ,god wanted us to do so4 ,we must learn to be obedient to the promptings of the ,spirit4 ,mine eyes are ever toward the ,lord 7,ps4 xxv4 #ae7 must be our constant attitude4 ,if we possess the blessing1 and desire to retain it1 there is another matter of the last importance that must be attended to1 viz41 letting the ,word of ,christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom 7,col4 iii4 #af74 ,the ,spirit-filled man will be a ,word-filled man4 ,a neglected ,bible is responsible for much of the lost blessing from which many of ,god's children are suffering to-day4 ,if we would retain the blessing in its fullness and freshness1 we must feed daily and feed much upon ,christ as ,he is revealed to us in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,it is the function of the indwelling ,spirit to take of the things of ,christ1 and to show them unto us 7,john xvi4 #ad74 ,he does not speak from ,himself or of ,himself1 but of ,jesus2 and so ,he will be continually drawing us to the ,word1 that ,he may have the opportunity of drawing our attention to fresh beauties in ,immanuel4 ,there is much so-called reading of the ,bible that is not searching the ,scriptures 7,john v4 #ci71 not delighting in the law of the ,lord1 not meditating in it day and night 7,ps4 i4 #b71 not letting the ,word of ,christ dwell in you richly4 ,you cannot live a ,spirit-filled life1 and be content with a shallow1 meager acquaintance with the ,divine ,word4 ,the ,spirit-filled man gives ,god's ,book its own proud place1 the premier place1 in all his reading4 ,it is instructive to compare the effects of being filled with the ,spirit and of being filled with the ,word4 ,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 ,lord 7,eph4 v4 #ah74 ,let the word of ,christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom2 teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs1 singing with grace in your hearts unto ,god 7,col4 iii4 #af74 ,have we then1 unhappily1 through disobedience or neglect1 lost the blessing which once we possessed8 ,is there one saying1 ,oh that ,i were as in the months of old68 7,job xxix4 #b47 ,it may be all joy with you again1 for if you have lost the blessing1 just go back and search for it1 and you will find it where you lost it6 ,just there and nowhere else4 ,have you found the spot where your obedience failed8 ,yield and obey just there1 pick up your obedience where you dropped it1 and there you may obtain the blessing1 again as you obtained it at the first2 but just there and nowhere else4 ,an illustration of this is found in #b ,kings vi4 ,the ,divinity ,students of those days were going down to build a new ,divinity ,hall on the banks of the ,jordan1 and they asked ,elisha1 the man of ,god1 to go with them4 ,the story tells us that as one of the students was felling a beam1 the axe-head fell into the water2 and he cried and said1 ,alas1 my master6 for it was borrowed4 ,and the man of ,god said1 ,where fell it8 ,and he shewed him the place4 ,and he cut down a stick1 and cast it in thither2 and the iron did swim4 ,and he said1 ,take it up to thee4 ,so he put out his hand and took it1 and having re-fixed the axe-head on the handle1 he went on again with his felling 7verses #e-g74 ,where was it that the student got his lost axe-head8 ,where he lost it6 in the very spot where it fell into the ,jordan's waters--it was just there that he found it4 ,so if you lose the blessing1 the only spot on earth where you need look for it1 if you wish to take it up to thee again1 is the very spot where you lost it4 ,let us all learn by root of heart what the student did not do4 ,after the axe-head flew from the handle1 he did not continue at work chopping with an axe-handle4 ,no2 but as soon as he lost his axe-head1 he stopped till he got it on again4 ,oh that many a ,christian worker would read1 mark1 learn2 and inwardly digest6 ,then some ,sabbaths there might be many a pulpit without a preacher1 and many a ,sabbath ,school class without a teacher1 and many a sphere of ,christian labor without its worker4 ,why8 where are they8 ,away looking for their axe-heads6 ,away to the banks of that river of disobedience1 in whose sluggish waters they lost them6 ,alas6 that there should be so many to-day with an axe-handle1 trying in this way to fell beams for the house of our ,god6 working with the blessing lost6 ,hard labor this1 and very little to show for it--except earnestness6 ,and isn't it a fine thing to be in earnest8 ,yes1 but it is a finer to have a little of that uncommon thing--homely common sense1 at the back of the earnestness1 and the man who is hewing with an axe-handle doesn't impress one as being overburdened that way6 ,if we have enjoyed and have lost the ,fullness of the ,spirit1 let us confess1 betake us to the open fountain and obey1 and ,he will put away our sin2 and then1 let us start afresh1 let us come to ,him again for the ,fullness1 as at the first1 and we will find that ,he abideth faithful3 for ,he cannot deny ,himself 7#b ,tim4 ii4 #ac74 ,for the sake of the ,sacred ,heart1 for ,his ,name's glory1 for the sake of souls1 and for our own sake1 we must not1 we will not try to live and labor without being ,,filled ,,with ,,the ,,spirit4 ,,the ,,end4 ,transcriber's note3 ,obvious printer errors have been corrected without comment4