The Deeper Christian Life Part 2

Look again, after Philip had preached the gospel in Samaria, men and women had been converted, and there was great joy in the city. The Holy Spirit had been working, but something was still wanting; Peter and John came down from Jerusalem, prayed for the converted ones, laid their hands upon them, "and they received the Holy Ghost." Then they had the conscious possession and enjoyment of the Spirit; but till that came they were incomplete. Paul was converted by the mighty power of Jesus who appeared to Him on the way to Damascus; and yet he had to go to Ananias to receive the Holy Ghost.

Then again, we read that when Peter went to preach to Cornelius, as he preached Christ, "the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word," which Peter took as the sign that these Gentiles were one with the Jews in the favour of G.o.d, having the same baptism.

And so we might go through many of the Epistles, where we find the same truth taught. Look at that wonderful epistle to the Romans. The doctrine of justification by faith is established in the first five chapters. Then in the sixth and seventh, though the believer is represented as dead to sin and the law, and married to Christ, yet a dreadful struggle goes on in the heart of the regenerate man as long as he has not got the full power of the Holy Spirit. But in the eighth chapter, it is the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" that maketh us free from "the law of sin and death." Then we are "not in the flesh, but in the Spirit," with the Spirit of G.o.d dwelling in us. All the teaching leads up to the Holy Spirit.

Look again at the epistle to the Galatians. We always talk of this epistle as the great source of instruction on the doctrine of justification by faith: but have you ever noticed how the doctrine of the Holy Spirit holds a most prominent place there? Paul asks the Galatian church: -"Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" It was the hearing of faith that led them to the full enjoyment of the Spirit's power. If they sought to be justified by the works of the law, they had "fallen from grace." "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." And then at the end of the fifth chapter, we are told: -"If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit."

Again, if we go to the epistles to the Corinthians, we find Paul asking the Christians in Corinth: -"Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?" If we look into the epistle to the Ephesians, we find the doctrine of the Holy Spirit mentioned twelve times. It is the Spirit that seals G.o.d's people; "Ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." He illumines them; "That G.o.d may give the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him." Through Christ, both Jew and Gentile "have access by one Spirit unto the Father." They "are builded together for an habitation of G.o.d through the Spirit." They are "strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man." With "all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love," they "endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." By not "grieving the Holy Spirit of G.o.d," we preserve our sealing to the "day of redemption." Being "filled with the Spirit," we "sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord,"

and thus glorify Him. Just study these epistles carefully, and you will find that what I say is true-that the apostle Paul takes great pains to lead Christians to the Holy Ghost as the consummation of the Christian life.

It was the Holy Ghost Who was given to the church at Pentecost; and it is the Holy Ghost Who gives Pentecostal blessings now. It is this power, given to bless men, that wrought such wonderful life, and love, and self-sacrifice in the early church; and it is this that makes us look back to those days as the most beautiful part of the Church's history. And it is the same Spirit of power that must dwell in the hearts of all believers in our day to give the Church its true position. Let us ask G.o.d then, that every minister and Christian worker may be endued with the power of the Holy Ghost; that He may search us and try us, and enable us sincerely to answer the question, "Have I known the indwelling and the filling of the Holy Spirit that G.o.d wants me to have?" Let each one of us ask himself: "Is it my great study to know the Holy Ghost dwelling in me, so that I may help others to yield to the same indwelling of the Holy Spirit; and that He may reveal Christ fully in His divine saving and keeping power?" Will not every one have to confess: "Lord, I have all too little understood this; I have all too little manifested this in my work and preaching"? Beloved brethren, "The first duty of every clergyman is to humbly ask G.o.d that all that he wants done in his hearers may be first fully and truly done in himself." And the second thing is his duty towards those who are awakened and brought to Christ, to lead them on to the full knowledge of the presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Now, if we are indeed to come into full harmony with these two great principles, then there come to us some further questions of the very deepest importance. And the first questions is: -"Why is it that there is in the church of Christ so little practical acknowledgment of the power of the Holy Ghost?" I am not speaking to you, brethren, as if I thought you were not sound in doctrine on this point. I speak to you as believing in the Holy Ghost as the third person in the ever-blessed Trinity. But I speak to you confidently as to those who will readily admit that the truth of the presence and of the power of the Holy Ghost is not acknowledged in the church as it ought to be. Then the question is: Why is it not so acknowledged? I answer because of its spirituality. It is one of the most difficult truths in the Bible for the human mind to comprehend. G.o.d has revealed Himself in creation throughout the whole universe. He has revealed Himself in Christ incarnate-and what a subject of study the person, and word, and works of Christ form! But the mysterious indwelling of the Holy Spirit, hidden in the depths of the life of the believer, how much less easy to comprehend!

In the early Pentecostal days of the church, this knowledge was intuitive; they possessed the Spirit in power. But soon after the spirit of the world began to creep into the church and mastered it.

This was followed by the deeper darkness of formality and superst.i.tion in the Roman Catholic Church, when the spirit of the world completely triumphed in what was improperly styled the Church of Christ. The Reformation in the days of Luther restored the truth of justification by faith in Christ; but the doctrine of the Holy Ghost did not then obtain its proper place, for G.o.d does not reveal all truth at one time.

A great deal of the spirit of the world was still left in the reformed churches; but now G.o.d is awakening the church to strive after a fuller scriptural idea of the Holy Spirit's place and power. Through the medium of books, and discussions, and conventions many hearts are being stirred.

Brethren, it is our privilege to take part in this great movement; and let us engage in the work more earnestly than ever. Let each of us say my great work is, in preaching Christ, to lead men to the acknowledging of the Holy Spirit, who alone can glorify Christ. I may try to glorify Christ in my preaching, but it will avail nothing without the Spirit of G.o.d. I may urge men to the practice of holiness and every Christian virtue, but all my persuasion will avail very little unless I help them to believe that they must have the Holy Ghost dwelling in them every moment enabling to live the life of Christ. The great reason why the Holy Spirit was given from heaven was to make Christ Jesus' presence manifest to us. While Jesus was incarnate, His disciples were too much under the power of the flesh to allow Christ to get a lodgement in their hearts. It was needful, He said, that He should go away, in order that the Spirit might come; and He promised to those who loved Him and kept His commandments, that with the Spirit, He would come, and the Father would also come, and make Their abode with them. It is thus the Holy Spirit's great work to reveal the Father and the Son in the hearts of G.o.d's people. If we believe and teach men that the Holy Spirit can make Christ a reality to them every moment, men will learn to believe and accept Christ's presence and power, of which they now know far too little.

Then another question presents itself, viz, What are we to expect when the Holy Spirit is duly acknowledged and received? I ask this question, because I have frequently noticed something with considerable interest-and, I may say, with some anxiety. I sometimes hear men praying earnestly for a baptism of the Holy Spirit that He may give them power for their work. Beloved brethren, we need this power, not only for work, but for our daily life. Remember, we must have it all the time. In Old Testament times, the Spirit came with power upon the prophets and other inspired men; but He did not dwell permanently in them. In the same way, in the church of the Corinthians, the Holy Spirit came with power to work miraculous gifts, and yet they had but a small measure of His sanctifying grace. You will remember the carnal strife, envying, and divisions there were. They had gifts of knowledge and wisdom, etc.; but alas! Pride, unlovingness, and other sins sadly marred the character of many of them. And what does this teach us? That a man may have a great gift of power for work, but very little of the indwelling Spirit. In 1 Cor. xiii, we are reminded that though we may have faith that would remove mountains, if we have not love, we are nothing. We must have the love that brings the humility and self-sacrifice of Jesus. Don't let us put in the first place the gifts we may possess; if we do, we shall have very little blessing. But we should seek, in the first place, that the Spirit of G.o.d should come as a light and power of holiness from the indwelling Jesus. Let the first work of the Holy Spirit be to humble you deep down in the very dust, so that your whole life shall be a tender, broken-hearted waiting on G.o.d, in the consciousness of mercy coming from above.

Do not seek large gifts; there is something deeper you need. It is not enough that a tree shoots its branches to the sky, and be covered thickly with leaves; but we want its roots to strike deeply into the soil. Let the thought of the Holy Spirit's being in us, and our hope of being filled with the Spirit, be always accompanied in us with a broken and contrite heart. Let us bow very low before G.o.d, in waiting for His grace to fill and to sanctify us. We do not want a power which G.o.d might allow us to use, while our inner part is unsanctified. We want G.o.d to give us full possession of Himself. In due time, the special gift may come; but we want first and now, the power of the Holy Ghost working something far mightier and more effectual in us than any such gift. We should seek, therefore, not only a baptism of power, but a baptism of holiness; we should seek that the inner nature be sanctified by the indwelling of Jesus, and then other power will come as needed.

There is a third question: -Suppose some one says to me: -"I have given myself up to be filled with the Spirit, and I do not feel that there is any difference in my condition; there is no change of experience that I can speak of. What must I then think? Must not I think that my surrender was not honest?" No, do not think that. "But how then? Does G.o.d give no response?" Beloved, G.o.d gives a response, but that is not always within certain months or years. "What, then, would you have me do?" Retain the position you have taken before G.o.d, and maintain it every day. Say, "Oh G.o.d, I have given myself to be filled, here I am an empty vessel, trusting and expecting to be filled by Thee." Take that position every day and every hour. Ask G.o.d to write it across your heart. Give up to G.o.d an empty, consecrated vessel that He may fill it with the Holy Spirit. Take that position constantly. It may be that you are not fully prepared. Ask G.o.d to cleanse you; to give you grace to separate from everything sinful-from unbelief or whatever hindrance there may be. Then take your position before G.o.d and say, "My G.o.d, Thou art faithful; I have entered into covenant with Thee for Thy Holy Spirit to fill me, and I believe Thou wilt fulfil it." Brethren, I say for myself, and for every minister of the gospel, and for every fellow worker, man or woman, that if we thus come before G.o.d with a full surrender, in a bold, believing att.i.tude, G.o.d's promise must be fulfilled.

If you were to ask me of my own experience, I would say this: -That there have been times when I hardly knew myself what to think of G.o.d's answer to my prayer in this matter; but I have found it my joy and my strength to take and maintain my position, and say: "My G.o.d, I have given myself up to Thee. It was Thine own grace that led me to Christ; and I stand before Thee in confidence that Thou wilt keep Thy covenant with me to the end. I am the empty vessel; Thou art the G.o.d that fillest all." G.o.d is faithful, and He gives the promised blessing in His own time and method. Beloved, for G.o.d's sake, be content with nothing less than full health and full spiritual life. "Be filled with the Spirit."

Let me return now to the two expressions with which I began: "the first duty of every clergyman is humbly to ask of G.o.d that all that he wants done in those who hear his preaching may be first truly and fully done in himself." Brethren, I ask you, is it not the longing of your hearts to have a congregation of believers filled with the Holy Ghost? Is it not your unceasing prayer for the Church of Christ, in which you minister, that the Spirit of holiness, the very Spirit of G.o.d's Son, the spirit of unworldliness and of heavenly-mindedness, may possess it; and that the Spirit of victory and of power over sin may fill its children? If you are willing for that to come, your first duty is to have it yourself.

And then the second sentence: -"the first duty of every clergyman is to lead those who have been brought to Christ to be entirely filled with the Holy Ghost." How can I do my work with success? I can conceive what a privilege it is to be led by the Spirit of G.o.d in all that I am doing. In studying my Bible, praying, visiting, organizing, or whatever I am doing, G.o.d is willing to guide me by His Holy Spirit. It sometimes becomes a humiliating experience to me that I am unwatchful, and do not wait for the blessing; when that is the case, G.o.d can bring me back again. But there is also the blessed experience of G.o.d's guiding hand, often through deep darkness, by His Holy Spirit. Let us walk about among the people as men of G.o.d, that we may not only preach about a book, and what we believe with our hearts to be true, but may preach what we are and what we have in our own experience. Jesus calls us witnesses for Him; what does that mean? The Holy Ghost brought down from heaven to men a partic.i.p.ation in the glory and the joy of the exalted Christ. Peter and the others who spoke with Him were filled with this heavenly Spirit; and thus Christ spoke in them, and accomplished the work for them. O brethren, if you and I be Christ's we should take our places and claim our privilege. We are witnesses to the truth which we believe-witnesses to the reality of what Jesus does and what He is, by His presence in our own souls. If we are willing to be such witnesses for Christ, let us go to our G.o.d; let us make confession and surrender, and by faith claim what G.o.d has for us as ministers of the gospel and workers in His service. G.o.d will prove faithful. Even at this very moment, He will touch our hearts with a deep consciousness of His faithfulness and of His presence; and He will give to every hungering, trustful one that which we continually need.

CONSECRATION.

"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee."

To be able to offer anything to G.o.d is a perfect mystery. Consecration is a miracle of grace. "All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee." In these words there are four very precious thoughts I want to try and make clear to you: - 1. G.o.d is the Owner of all, and gives all to us.

2. We have nothing but what we receive-but everything we need we may receive from G.o.d.

3. It is our privilege and honour to give back to G.o.d what we receive from Him.

4. G.o.d has a double joy in His possessions when he receives back from us what He gave.

And when I apply this to my life-to my body, to my wealth, property, to my whole being with all its powers-then I understand what Consecration ought to be.

1. It is the glory of G.o.d, and His very nature, to be always GIVING.

G.o.d is the owner of all. There is no power, no riches, no goodness, no love, outside of G.o.d. It is the very nature of G.o.d that He does not live for Himself, but for His creatures. His is a love that always delights to give. Here we come to the first step in consecration. I must see that everything I have is given by Him; I must learn to believe in G.o.d as the great Owner and Giver of all. Let me hold that fast. I have nothing but what actually and definitely belongs to G.o.d.

Just as much as people say, "this money in my purse belongs to me," so G.o.d is the Proprietor of all. It is His and His only. And it is His life and delight to be always giving. Oh, take that precious thought- there is nothing that G.o.d has that He does not want to give. It is His nature, and therefore when G.o.d asks you anything, He must give it first Himself, and He will. Never be afraid whatever G.o.d asks; for G.o.d only asks what is His own; what He asks you to give He will first Himself give you. The Possessor, and Owner, and Giver of all! This is our G.o.d.

You can apply this to yourself and your powers to all you are and have.

Study it, believe it, live in it, every day, every hour, every moment.

2. Just as it is the nature and glory of G.o.d to be always giving, it is the nature and glory of man to be always receiving. What did G.o.d make us for? We have been made to be each of us a vessel into which G.o.d can pour out His life, His beauty, His happiness, His love. We are created to be each a receptacle and a reservoir of divine heavenly life and blessing, just as much as G.o.d can put into us. Have we understood this, that our great work-the object of our creation-is to be always receiving? If we fully enter into this, it will teach some precious things. One thing-the utter folly of being proud or conceited. What an idea! Suppose I were to borrow a very beautiful dress, and walk about boasting of it as if it were my own, you might say, "What a fool!" And here it is the Everlasting G.o.d owns everything we have; shall we dare to exalt ourselves on account of what is all His? Then what a blessed lesson it will teach us of what our position is! I have to do with a G.o.d whose nature is to be always giving, and mine to be always receiving. Just as the lock and key fit each other, G.o.d the Giver and I the receiver fit into each other. How often we trouble about things, and about praying for them, instead of going back to the root of things, and saying, "Lord, I only crave to be the receptacle of what the Will of G.o.d means for me; of the power and the gifts and the love and Spirit of G.o.d." What can be more simple? Come as a receptacle -cleansed, emptied and humble. Come, and then G.o.d will delight to give. If I may with reverence say it, He cannot help Himself; it is His promise, His nature. The blessing is ever flowing out of Him. You know how water always flows into the lowest places. If we would but be emptied and low, nothing but receptacles, what a blessed life we could live! Day by day just praising Him-Thou givest and I accept. Thou bestowest and I rejoice to receive. How many tens of thousands of people have said this morning: "What a beautiful day! Let us throw open the windows and bring in the sunlight with its warmth and cheerfulness!" May our hearts learn every moment to drink in the light and suns.h.i.+ne of G.o.d's love.

"Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of Thee, and we have given Thee of Thine own."

3. If G.o.d gives all and I receive all, then the third thought is very simple- I must give all back again. What a privilege that for the sake of having me in loving, grateful intercourse with Him, and giving me the happiness of pleasing and serving Him, the Everlasting G.o.d should say, "Come now, and bring Me back all that I give." And yet people say, "Oh, but must I give everything back? Brother, don't you know that there is no happiness or blessedness except in giving to G.o.d! David felt it. He said: "Lord, what an unspeakable privilege it is to be allowed to give that back to Thee which is Thine own!" Just to receive and then to render back in love to Him as G.o.d, what He gives. Do you know what G.o.d needs you for? People say, "Does not G.o.d give us all good gifts to enjoy?" But do you know that the reality of the enjoyment is in the giving back? Just look at Jesus-G.o.d gave Him a wonderful body.

He kept it holy and gave it as a sacrifice to G.o.d. This is the beauty of having a body. G.o.d has given you a soul; this is the beauty of having a soul-you can give it back to G.o.d. People talk about the difficulty they meet with in having so strong a will. You never can have too strong a will, but the trouble is we do not give that strong will up to G.o.d, to make it a vessel in which G.o.d can and will pour His Spirit, so as to fit it to do splendid service for Himself.

We have now had the three thoughts: G.o.d gives all; I receive all; I give up all. Will you do this now? Will not every heart say, "My G.o.d, teach me to give up everything?" Take your head, your mind with all its power of speaking, your property, your heart with its affections-the best and most secret-take gold and silver, everything, and lay it at G.o.d's feet and say, "Lord, here is the covenant between me and Thee.

Thou delightest to give all, and I delight to give back all." G.o.d teach us that. If that simple lesson were learnt, there would be an end of so much trouble about finding out the Will of G.o.d, and an end of all our holding back, for it would be written, not upon our foreheads, but across our hearts, "G.o.d can do with me what He pleases; I belong to Him with all I have." Instead of always saying to G.o.d, "Give, give, give,"

we should say, "Yes, Lord, Thou dost give, thou dost love to give, and I love to give back." Try that life and find out if it is not the very highest life.

4. G.o.d gives all, I receive all, I give all. Now comes the fourth thought: G.o.d does so rejoice in what we give to Him. It is not only I that am the receiver and the giver, but G.o.d is the Giver and the Receiver too, and, may I say it with reverence, has more pleasure in the receiving back than even in giving. With our little faith we often think they come back to G.o.d again all defiled. G.o.d says, "No, they come back beautiful and glorified"; the surrender of the dear child of His, with his aspirations and thanksgivings, brings it to G.o.d with a new value and beauty. Ah! Child of G.o.d you do not know how precious the gift that you bring to your Father, is in His sight. Have I not seen a mother give a piece of cake, and the child comes and offers her a piece to share it with her? How she values the gift! And your G.o.d, oh, my friends, your G.o.d, His heart, His Father's heart of love, longs, longs, longs to have you give Him everything. It is not a demand. It is a demand, but it is not a demand of a hard Master, it is the call of a loving Father, who knows that every gift you bring to G.o.d will bind you closer to Himself, and every surrender you make will open your heart wider to get more of his spiritual gifts. Oh, friends! A gift to G.o.d has in His sight infinite value. It delights Him. He sees of the travail of His soul and is satisfied. And it brings unspeakable blessing to you. These are the thoughts our text suggests; now comes the practical application. What are the lessons? We here learn what the true dispositions of the Christian life are.

To be and abide in continual dependence upon G.o.d. Become nothing, begin to understand that you are nothing but an earthen vessel into which G.o.d will s.h.i.+ne down the treasure of His love. Blessed is the man who knows what it is to be nothing, to be just an empty vessel meet for G.o.d's use. Work, the Apostle says, for it is G.o.d who worketh in you to will and to do. Brethren, come and take tonight the place of deep, deep dependence on G.o.d. And then take the place of child-like trust and expectancy. Count upon your G.o.d to do for you everything that you can desire of Him. Honour G.o.d as a G.o.d who gives liberally. Honour G.o.d and believe that He asks nothing from you but what he is going first to give. And then come praise and surrender and consecration. Praise Him for it! Let every sacrifice to Him be a thank-offering. What are we going to consecrate? First of all our lives. There are perhaps men and women-young men and women-whose hearts are asking, "What do you want me to do-to say I will be a missionary?" No, indeed, I do not ask you to do this. Deal with G.o.d, and come to Him and say, "Lord of all, I belong to Thee, I am absolutely at Thy disposal." Yield up yourselves.

There may be many who cannot go as Missionaries, but oh, come, give up yourselves to G.o.d all the same to be consecrated to the work of His Kingdom. Let us bow down before Him. Let us give Him all our powers-our head to think for His Kingdom, our heart to go out in love for men, and however feeble you may be, come and say: "Lord, here I am, to live and die for Thy Kingdom. Some talk and pray about the filling of the Holy Spirit. Let them pray more and believe more. But remember the Holy Spirit came to fit men to be messengers of the Kingdom, and you cannot expect to be filled with the Spirit unless you want to live for Christ's Kingdom. You cannot expect all the love and peace and joy of heaven to come into your life and be your treasures, unless you give them up absolutely to the Kingdom of G.o.d, and posses and use them only for Him. It is the soul utterly given up to G.o.d that will receive in its emptying the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Dear friends we must consecrate not only ourselves-body and soul-but all we have. Some of you may have children; perhaps you have an only child, and you dread the very idea of letting it go. Take care, take care; G.o.d deserves your confidence, your love, and your surrender. I plead with you; take your children and say to Jesus: "Anything Lord, that pleases Thee." Educate your children for Jesus. G.o.d help you to do it. He may not accept all of them, but He will accept of the will, and there will be a rich blessing in your soul for it. Then there is money. When I hear appeals for money from every Society; when I hear calculations as to what the Christians of England are spending on pleasure, and the small amount given for Missions, I say there is something terrible in it. G.o.d's children with so much wealth and comfort, and giving away so small a portion! G.o.d be praised for every exception! But there are many who give but very little, who never so give that it costs them something, and they feel it. Oh, friends! Our giving must be in proportion to G.o.d's giving. He gives you all. Let us take it up in our Consecration prayer: "Lord, take it all, every penny I possess. It is all Thine."

Let us often say "It is all His." You may not know how much you ought to give. Give up all, put everything in His hands, and He will teach you if you will wait.

We have heard this precious message from David's mouth. We Christians of the nineteenth century, have we learned to know our G.o.d who is willing to give everything? G.o.d help us to.

And then the second message. We have nothing that we do not receive, and we may receive everything if we are willing to stand before G.o.d and take it.

Thirdly. Whatever you have received from G.o.d give it back. It brings a double blessing to your own soul.

Fourthly. Whatever G.o.d receives back from us comes to Him in Heaven and gives Him infinite joy and happiness, as he sees His object has been attained. Let us come in the spirit of David, with the spirit of Jesus Christ in us. Let us pray our Consecration Prayer. And may the Blessed Spirit give each of us grace to think and to say the right thing, and to do what shall be pleasing in the Father's sight.