The Work of the Holy Spirit # 3

The Work of the Holy Spirit # 3

Be not deceived, dear brethren; God's Spirit is not thus confined or communicated. The Holy Spirit comes down on every renewed and believing soul directly from God. The Holy Spirit is not given by the Catholic church, or at the church's disposal, nor conveyed through any church! It is true that many means are to be enjoyed in the fellowship of Christ's true churches, upon which the blessing of Divine influence may descend but  the work of the Spirit neither begins in the church, nor by the church, nor is confined to it; nor does its communication depend upon the offices of the church's ministers. The Holy Spirit is a Divine gift to the soul directly from God, the fountain of life. The Holy Spirit is a separate bestowment upon each individual; and every holy soul, in its own individuality, is taken separately under the patronage, and guidance, and fostering care of the Divine Comforter. The oversight of the Christian pastor, the ministrations of the sanctuary, and the vivifying power of sacraments and ordinances, may be blessed, and are much blessed, by the Holy Spirit, for carrying on the work of grace in the soul; but these are not the only means that are blessed by the Spirit, for there is reading, and prayer, and watching, and striving at home in the house; on all of which the Divine Agent pours His gracious energy, for He has established with every soul, that is united by faith to Christ, a direct channel of communication, which is independent of priestly order and ministerial mediation. The work of grace in the soul is God's own work, and not man's; though to a certain extent He employs human instrumentality of various kinds.

A striking writer of the seventeenth century has thus set forth, in a passage of great beauty, the work of the Spirit in regeneration and sanctification. "This which it is our duty to seek, is our dignity to possess. It is the glory of a Christian man or woman, that he has a higher Spirit than his own, no less than the Holy Spirit of God, in him. The Holy Spirit accommodates grace to every faculty, as the dew is white in the lily, and red in the rose, so the Holy Spirit in his graces, is light to the mind, liberty in the will, order in the affections. Also the Holy Spirit accommodates suitable influences to every grace - He gives such sweet touches upon their holy love, fear, meekness, patience, as makes them go forth into act in a free spontaneous manner. He acts so powerfully, as if there were no room left for human liberty, and yet so naturally, as if there were no power at all in it. Further, the Holy Spirit accommodates Himself to them at every turn; He is a Spirit of grace in their penitential meltings; a Spirit of supplication in their ardent devotions; a Spirit of revelation in their biblical studies; a Spirit of love in their charities; a Spirit of power in their infirmities; a Spirit of fear in their holy walkings;  a Spirit of meekness in their attitudes towards others; a Spirit of comfort in their afflictions; a Spirit of glory in their reproaches; a Spirit of holiness in all their living. The Holy Spirit lives, breathes, moves, and aptly operates in them. Hence in all their good actions they are lifted up above themselves, and carried beyond the line of a mere human spirit; they walk in a Divine circle from God, as the first cause, to God as the last end; they center on nothing less than God Himself; and take no aim lower than His glory! This is an excellent privilege indeed, they are actuated by the Holy Spirit, and walk as Christ walked; they, as mystical parts of Him, tread in His Divine steps - no flesh on earth but that which is spiritually joined to Him, does so - all others are off from the great center; their best works putrefy; one inferior end or other, like a worm at the root, makes  them moulder into nothing; not being terminated in God, they are not accepted as done to Him." (Polhill).

I shall now lay down some CAUTIONS concerning this momentous doctrine of the Holy Spirit, which it will be of importance for you to observe.

Be not staggered by your inability to comprehend how the Spirit acts upon your mind. Modes of operation are often inscrutable, where facts are obvious and indisputable. Our Lord admits the mysteriousness of this truth, in His conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:8).

Do not attempt to discriminate at the time, between the influence that comes from above, and the operation of your own faculties, or of the Word of God. There is nothing violent, nothing palpable, nothing ascertainable, either by the evidence of the senses or of consciousness, at least, necessarily so, in this power, except as to its effects. The workings of Divine influence are so gentle, so harmonious with all the working of our own mental faculties, as to insinuate themselves unperceived, at any rate in any other way than by their fruits, by the mind that is the subject of them. We may have just reason to believe we are wrought upon, without being able to discriminate between the Spirit's grace to us - and our own mental acts.

Do not test the reality of the Spirit's work so much by the strength of emotion, as by the sanctity of affection and principle. The Spirit's work is not usually characterized by raptures or terrors. He does not usually speak in the storm or earthquake - but in the still small voice.

While admitting the sovereignty of this Divine gift, do not confound sovereignty with what is capricious and arbitrary. God gives the Spirit to whom He will - but He wills to give Him to all who seek it. The Spirit's influence is distinct from means - but not separate from them.

This leads me to say, do not expect the Spirit but in connection with means. In the first bestowment of the Spirit, God is often found by those who seek Him not - but every subsequent communication must be obtained by believing prayer, watchfulness, diligence, and waiting.

Beware of slighting and grieving the Holy Spirit by neglecting His gracious motions, and by the indulgence of sinful affections.

Do not be satisfied with small and ordinary measures of Divine influence. God gives more grace. Any measure is attainable, if we have faith to seek and to receive it. "Open your mouth wide," says God, "and I will fill it." "We are not straitened in Him - but in ourselves."

~John Angell James~

(continued with # 4)