July, 1939
278
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
The opportunity of the Holy Spirit comes when we: 1. Dedicate (Rom. 12:1, 2 ). 2. Concentrate (Phil. 3:13, 14; Heb. 12: 1 , 2 ). 3. Eliminate—nonessentials (Eph. 5:16). 4. Investigate (2 Tim. 2:15). 5. Meditate—on things of God (Josh. 1 : 8 ) . 6. Educate—ourselves in expression (Psa. 107:2; Col. 3:16). 7. Demonstrate—“pour out” (Acts 1:8; Gal. 6:10). — M ilo F. J amison . II. C ommon M isconceptions It has been a common supposition that somehow the baptism of the Holy Spirit is always connected with an evangelistic gift and, further, connected with marked suc cess in soul-winning. Men have thought of Mr. Moody facing great crowds, who were swayed and melted at his words, and of people in great multitudes accepting Christ. . . . And it is not to be wondered at that the rare evangelistic gift of service with which he was endowed and the great re sults attending it should be so closely allied in our minds with the Spirit-filled life which he exemplified so unusually. In sharp con trast, however, with that conception will you note that we are told over here in Exodus of a man named Bezalel who was filled with the Spirit of God that he might have skill in carpentry, in metal working, and weaving of fine fabrics, for the con struction of the old tent of God (31:1-5). Will you note further that a company of seventy men (Num. 11:16, 17) were filled in a like manner that they might be skilled in conducting the business affairs of the nation; and Luke tells of Elizabeth (1:13- 17, 41) as being filled that she might be come a true mother for John. A second 'misconception has been that marked success always accompanies the Spirit's control. In contrast with that will you please note the results in some of the Spirit-swayed men whom God used in Bible times. Isaiah was called to a service that was to be barren of results, though long continued; and Jeremiah’s was not only fruitless but with great personal peril. Jesus’ public work led through a rough path to a crown of thorns and a cross. Stephen's testimony brought him a storm of stones. And Paul passed through great danger and distress to a cell, and beyond, a keen-edged ax. These are leaders among Spirit-filled men.—S. D. G ordon . III. R esu lts o f t h e S pirit ’ s C ontrol 1. A new trust and peace (Job 13:15; Isa. 26:3; Dan. 3:17, 18). 2. A longing to please Him, to discover His will—Bible study (Col. 1:9). 3. A longing to talk with Him (Acts 6:4; Psa. 55:16, 17; Dan. 6:10, 11). 4. Greater temptation and conflict—but victory! (Jas. 1:12; 1 Pet. 5:10; 1 John 2:14). 5. Increasing sensitiveness to sin (Isa. 6: 5; Job 42:6; 1 Tim. 1:15). 6. A desire to make Him known (1 Cor. 9:16; Acts 4:8, 18-20; 5:28-32, 40-42). 7. Doing all as unto Him (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17-24; Eph. 5:18 to 6:9 ). —H. M. C.
Egypt lies the Red Sea. Between him and the life of alternating victory and defeat in the wilderness, rolls the Jordan, the river of death. The old life has now no more appeal for him than it has for a dead man. Instead, he enjoys a life of glorious liberty and constant victory under the leadership of the Man with the drawn sword. Under his new Leader’s guidance, the walls of the hitherto impregnable Jericho fall crashing to the ground. His onward march is irresistible .—Christ Indwelling and En throned, By J. O swald S anders . AUGUST 27, 1939 SP IRIT-FILLED CHRISTIANS 1 C orinthians 12:13; E phesians 5:18; J ohn 7:37-39 Meditation on the Lesson Every true Christian, every believer, is born of the Spirit, is baptized by the Spirit, and is sealed by the Spirit. But not every one who has received the Spirit of God, in whom the Spirit—the Third Person of the Godhead—has wrought a work of regenera tion, is filled with Him. Yet it is a definite command: “Be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18). By what shall we be guided in this our great desire to be filled with His Spirit? By apostolic experience or by apostolic teach ing? If by the former, then from which of the many varied experiences shall we choose? No, the specific teaching of the Word, particularly in the Epistles, is our guide on this problem, and it is essentially this: The Holy Spirit is sovereign in His working, bestowing gifts where He will and bringing a great variety of experiences to the minds of men. The evidence of His presence differs widely in different persons. "And there are diversities of working, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. But to each one is given the mani festation of the Spirit to profit withal" (1 Cor. 12:6, 7, R .V .). The most important consideration for us, therefore, is to yield to this wonderful and sovereign Person, not that we might have more of Him, for a personality cannot be divided, but that He might have more of us —all of us. And it is as we have new needs both for ourselves and others, as we are enlarged and reach out even as rivers of water in parched and thirsty places, that He is able to have more of us, to pos sess us and to fill us to overflowing. A man praying at a conference for the outpouring of the Spirit of God, said: "Oh, Lord, we can’t hold" much, but we can overflow!” Even as the widow with the pot of oil which multiplied found it adequate for all her needs (cf. 2 Ki. 4:1-7), so we may know the Holy Spirit. He is limited only by our capacity to receive Him, as the oil was limited by the number of the vessels which the widow had pro cured. “When God wants us to have a larger fullness, He has to make room for it by creating greater needs,” says A. B. Simpson, and then prays, "Lord, help me to see Thee in all my trying situations and to make them vessels to hold more of Thy grace.”
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