indeed to witness how many children of God fail to avail themselves of the unerring guidance of the Spirit of God. Such failure can only result in confusion, loss of power, and works of the wood, hay, and stubble classification. THE TEACHING OF THE SPIRIT It was the great prophet Isaiah who declared that there was a definite relationship between being taught of God and the enjoyment of divine peace (Isa. 54:13; see also Jn. 6:45). Again and again in His earthly min istry the Lord Jesus Christ took precious time to instruct His disciples and followers. Repeatedly the apostle Paul indicated his desire that his readers not remain untaught or ignorant of God’s great truths (Rom. 11:25-27; I Thess. 4:13). It is of greater significance than some momentary crash educational program, that the child of God should receive the fulness of teaching that God has intended for him. How can the child of God do the pleasure of the Lord except he know it from an authoritative source? Although the Lord Jesus had been in closest fellow ship with His disciples for those incomparable years of ministry, He uttered some amazing words in one of His concluding addresses before He went to Calvary. He said: “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you” (Jn. 16:12-15). These are some of the most significant words ever uttered by the Lord. Notice the several areas of emphasis. First, He declared that, although He had been with His disciples and had instructed them in many particulars, there were yet numerous things which He longed to impart to them for their enrichment. It was not a matter of preaching to the unsaved multitudes, but of instructing His own followers in the deep things of God. The hindrance, mark you, was not on His part, but on their part entirely. They could not assimilate the truths in their condition then. Some of the reasons are not far to seek. So much of the New Testament unfolding of truth rests squarely on the death and resurrection and post-resurrection ministry of Christ in heaven, but how much of this could pene trate their hearts and minds, when they did not believe or expect that He was going to the Cross? See Matthew 16:21-23. But will all this body of precious truth, which the Saviour longs to make theirs, go by default? Is there no means of imparting it to them at some later time? The answer is immediately forthcoming; it is the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, who is entrusted with this mo mentous ministry. He is the One who is to carry on where the blessed Saviour left off. He must be of the same nature and wisdom as the Son of God, if He is to be the competent Teacher needed. He is, for He is the Third Person of the Trinity. It is interesting to see the realm of His teaching activity. What will be the scope of His curriculum? It is stated as “all the truth.” More could not be asked. His method of pedagogy is presented. He never speaks as though He were the source or origin of the truth. He neither speaks from Himself, and surely not of Himself. Here is a warning to all who boast pseudo-spiritual experiences of special impartations of truth, and magnify the material or the Spirit or them selves. The blessed Spirit is far too humble for such self promotion. His ministry is one wherein whatever He hears from Christ on the throne, He transmits to the
The Holy Spirit (continued) enterprise to the Gentiles. “Now there were at Antioch in the church that vyas there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lu cius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Bar nabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13: 1-3 ASV). Although it is generally known in the church that Paul received a Macedonian call to Europe, it is not so widely known what part the leading of the Spirit had in the transaction. The restricting- and constraining work of the Spirit is highlighted in this way: “And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suf fered them not; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel unto them” (Acts 16: 6-10 ASV). In all activity, whether human or divine, motivation is paramount.. The New Testament reveals how such motivation is supplied for leading through the indwelling Spirit. Paul declares that “it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13 ASV). On the human side there is the prerequisite of complete dedication in order to ascertain the clear lead ing of the Spirit. In a summary passage after an extended treatment of salvation truths, Paul wrote: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:1, 2 ASV). Just as the apostle is here stating the method CLOSER T H A N YOU T H IN K
Surely you have watched a shadow And then traced it to its source? Back of shadow, you found substance. These two things you can't divorce. Have you entered into darkness, W h ich to you brings doubt and fear? Maybe this is just God's shadow, Sent to prove that He is near!
—Marie Nyquist of discerning the leading of the Spirit, so he has already disclosed that such leading is part of sonship. A devoted parent considers it normal to make known his desires to his son; similarly, God has chosen to lead His sons through the guidance of the Spirit. It is pointedly and concisely stated: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14 ASV). It is not to be taken that such leading is the avenue to sonship; rather, the leading of the Spirit is the result of the son- ship relationship set up by God Himself. Furthermore, this ministry of the Spirit to the believer is part of his standing in grace. It is recorded: “But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law” (Gal. 5:18 ASV). In a day when so much stress is placed upon voca tional and educational and spiritual guidance, it is sad
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