THE KING’S BUSINESS
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who thirsts. If men are satisfied the invita tion Is not for them, but any man who has deep unsatisfied longings “let him come.” Happy the man in whose heart God has awakened longings the world cannot sat isfy, and who will not rest until they are satisfied by Christ’s gift o f the Holy Spirit (Isa. 55:1; Rev. 21:6; 22:17; Isa. 41:17, 18). Jesus’ invitation was doubtless suggested by Isa. 44:3 and Isa. 55:1. Note also the three simple steps one must take to receive from Jesus the living water: (1) “ Let him come unto me.” Coming to a church, or to a ceremony, or to a CTeed will not bring the living water. Coming to Jesus Himself will. Many and many a man has not received the Holy Spirit simply ^because He has not come to Jesus for this great g ift.' Perhaps he has gone to men, good men, holy men, but not right to Jesus. Perhaps he has gone to God the Father, but God the Father has given the Spirit to Jesus for the church (Acts 2:33), and we receive the Spirit only through Him. He and He only is the bap- tizer with the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11). Do you wish the Holy Spirit? Go to Jesus for Him. (2) “ Drink.” Many come but they do not drink. Jesus puts the cup to our lips but we do not drink. Drink, brother, drink deeply, drink again and again and again. Ephesians 5:18 which is trans lated in our Version.by “ Be filled with the Spirit,” might be more exactly (if not so elegantly) translated “be getting filled.” (3) “He that believeth on me.” Believe on Jesus, really believe on Him. Real belief means committal (2 Tim. 1 :12), absolute surrender. Perhaps this believing on Jesus ought not so much to be reckoned a third step, as the one all-inclusive stepf for coming to Jesus and drinking will result if there is a real believing on Him. The result o f receiving the Spirit is that rivers o f living water flow from -the one who receives Him. In John 4:14 the Spirit is seen as a fountain o f life and joy springing up within. In this passage the . Spirit is seen as the source o f rivers o f life flowing forth to bless others. The gift of
the Spirit was conditional upon the death and subsequent ascension and glorification o f Jesus. Jesus having died an atoning death and then having been raised and hav ing ascended to the right hand o f the Father, received from the Father the Spirit for the church (Acts 2:33), and now since the death, resurrection and ascension o f pur Lord the gift o f the Holy Spirit is the birthright o f every believer in the One who thus died, was raised from the dead and ascended. Have you claimed yo,ur birth right? Have you received the Holy Spirit? —---- 0 ------- Dr. Fred Douglas Shepard, o f the A. B. C. F. M. Mission in Turkey, was the only missionary o f those who were called in from their stations to Constantinople last year, who was allowed by the government to return. He immediately reported to the government that typhus fever "was raging in the refugee camp at Aintab, people dying at the rate o f 400 a day. Nothing was done to help him, and this heroic servant o f God and men laid down his life at his post, December 18, after two weeks’ illness.
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