Spirit
by A N D R E W M U R R A Y
to testify boldly and. work effect ually in the Father’s service. The Spirit of glory, the pledge of our inheritance, the preparation and the foretaste of the glory to come. Surely the child of God needs hut one thing to be able really to live as a child: it is to be filled with this Spirit. And now the lesson Jesus teaches us today in His school is this: That the Father is just longing to give Him to us if we will but ask in the childlike dependence on what He says: “ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” In the words of God’s promise, “ I will pour out my Spirit abundantly,” and of His command, “ Be ye filled with the Spirit,” we have the meas ure of what God is ready to give and what we may obtain. As God’s children we have already received the Spirit. But we still need to ask and pray for His special gifts and operations as we require them. And not only this, but for Himself to take complete and entire possession, for His un c e a s i n g momentary guidance. Just as the branch, already filled with the sap of the vine, is ever crying for the continued and in creasing flow of that sap that it may bring its fruit to perfection, so the believer, rejoicing in the pos session of the Spirit, ever thirsts and cries for more. And what the great Teacher would have us learn is that nothing less than God’s promise and God’s command may be the measure of our expectation and our prayer; we must be filled abundantly. He would have us ask
this in the assurance that the won derful “ how much more” of God’s Father-love is the pledge that when we ask we do most certainly receive. Let us now believe this. As we pray to be filled with the Spirit, let us not seek for the answer in our feelings. All spiritual blessings must be received, that is, accepted or taken in faith. Let me believe the Father gives the Holy Spirit to His praying child. Even now while I pray I must say in faith: I have what I ask, the fullness of the Spirit is mine. Let us continue steadfast in this faith. On the strength of God’s Word we know that we have what we ask. Let us with thanksgiving that we have been heard, with thanksgiving for what we have re ceived and taken and now hold as ours, continue steadfast in believing prayer that the blessing, which has already been given us and which we hold in faith, may break through and fill our whole being. It is in such believing thanksgiving and prayer that our soul opens up for the Spirit to take entire and undis turbed possession. It is such prayer that not only asks and hopes but takes and holds, that inherits the full blessing. In all our prayer let us remember the lesson the Saviour would teach us this day that if there is one thing on earth u>e can be sure of it is this, that the Father desires to have us filled with His Spirit, that He delights to give us His Spirit. And when once we have learned thus to believe for ourselves and each day to take out of the treasure we hold in heaven what liberty and power to pray for the outpouring of
the Spirit on the Church of God, on all flesh, on individuals or on spe cial efforts! He that has once learned to know the Father in prayer for himself, learns to pray most con fidently for others too. The Father gives the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, not least, but most when they ask for others. ’’Lord, Teach Us to Pray” Father in heaven, Thou didst send Thy Son to reveal Thyself to us, Thy Father-love and all that that love has for us. And He has taught us that the gift above all gifts which Thou wouldest bestow in answer to prayer is the Holy Spirit. 0 my Father, I come to Thee with this prayer: there is nothing I would — may I not say, I do — desire so much as to be filled with the Spirit, the Holy Spirit. The blessings He brings are so unspeak able and just what I need. He sheds abroad Thy love in the heart and fills it with Thyself. I long for this. He endues with power from on high for all my walk and work. I long for this. 0 Father, I beseech Thee, give me this day the fullness of Thy Spirit. Father, I ask this, resting on the words of my Lord: “How much more the Holy Spirit.” I do believe that Thou hearest my prayer; I receive now what I ask; Father, I claim and I take it: the fullness of Thy Spirit as mine. I receive the gift this day again as a faith gift; in faith I reckon my Father works through the Spirit all He has prom ised. The Father delights to breathe His Spirit into His waiting child as He tarries in fellowship with Him self. Amen. END.
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