We Need Internal Illumination! (and others)

We Need Internal Illumination (and others)

"When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13).

A genuine Christian is not only taught out of the Word, but by the Holy Spirit. External teaching, however correct, is not sufficient. We need internal illumination by the Spirit. Not that this divine Instructor teaches anything different from the Word. No! He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto us. He is the Spirit of truth, and will guide the disciples into all truth.

What are some of the lessons which the Spirit teaches?

1. The Spirit teaches us the worth of the soul.
2. The Spirit teaches us the value of time.
3. The Spirit teaches us to venerate the holy Scriptures as the infallible rule to guide our faith and practice.
4. The Spirit teaches us of our ruined and condemned state. He gives the soul a glimpse of indwelling sin - by which it is convinced of its total depravity. Oh, what a mass of corruption! The heart is found to be deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. There is found nothing in it truly good.
5. The Spirit teaches us to prize Christ above all. "To you who believe - He is precious" The disciple treasures Jesus as his infallible Prophet, his sovereign King, his sin-atoning Priest. 
6. The Spirit teaches us to roll all our burdens on the Lord, and to live outside of ourselves - by daily desiring vital supplies from Christ.
7. The Spirit teaches us the beauty of holiness.  
8. The Spirit teaches us the reality and sweetness of communion with God. While many are contented to worship in the outward court - the Christian desires to penetrate into the holy of holies, where he can hear the words, and see the resplendent face of Immanuel!

~Archibald Alexander~
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Gracious God, Anoint Me with Fresh Oil!

"I shall be anointed with fresh oil" (Psalm 92:10).

The work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, is of the greatest importance. Until we experience it, we are dead in sin. Having once enjoyed it, we often need its renewal. The work of the Holy Spirit in the heart is variously represented in God's Word, and is compared to a variety of things. In one place, to the reviving and refreshing influences of the dew. In another, to the quickening and fructifying effects of the shower. Again, the Psalmist sings, "I shall be anointed with fresh oil." 

Oil is a common emblem of the Spirit, who is called "the anointing which you have received." This anointing represents His renewing, sanctifying, and saving operations, as received and enjoyed by God's people. This anointing consecrates them as God's kings, and they become the Lord's anointed. It qualifies them as God's priests, and they become a royal priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ. This anointing beautifies them, as God's sons, causing their faces to shine, and filling them with joy and peace. This anointing perfumes them as God's favorites , and all their garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia.

Without this anointing, we cannot reign as kings, officiate as priests, approach God as sons, or rejoice before Him as favorites.

The effects of this anointing are many, and very precious: This anointing gives us fresh views of Christ, and every sight of Him endears Him more and more to our hearts. This anointing gives us a deeper experience of the truth, and we know more of its power, sweetness, and savor. This anointing gives us more power in prayer, and we plead with Go and prevail. This anointing gives us sweeter enjoyment of ordinances, for we see more of Christ in them, and are mightily refreshed through them. This anointing gives us stronger confidence in God, so that we conquer our doubts and fears, and can trust God in the dark - or in the light; on the mount - or in the valley. This anointing gives a delightful savor to our conversation,so that we not only speak of Christ with freedom, and of our Christian experience with pleasure - but there is a savor and a power in what we say, which produces a good impression in those that hear. This anointing preserves us from falling into temptation.

We are regenerated but once - but we may receive the renewings of the Holy Spirit often, and unless we receive these renewings, we shall become dry, barren, lifeless, and cold! There will be no delight in prayer, little pleasure in ordinances, and the Bible itself will become unsavory.

We should ardently desire the fresh anointings of the Spirit. He is as necessary to our souls, as the vital air is to our bodies. We should earnestly pray to "be filled with the Spirit," that we may "live in the Spirit," and "walk in the Spirit."

Gracious God, anoint me with fresh oil!

We sometimes say, "beware of a religion without Christ." It is of quite as much importance to say, "Beware of a religion without the Holy Spirit!"

Reader, are you one of God's anointed ones? Have you received an unction from the Holy One? Does the Spirit of God dwell in you? Beware, O beware, of a religion without the Holy Spirit! If the Holy Spirit is in you, He will daily teach you your need of Christ, bring you to Christ, make Christ precious to you, and lead you to glory in Him, and in Him alone.

~James Smith~