“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”
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was to glorify Christ by revealing His grace to the world. The very
image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The honor of God, the
honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the character of His
people.
“When He [the Spirit of truth] is come, He will reprove the world
of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” The preaching of the
word will be of no avail without the continual presence and aid of the
Holy Spirit. This is the only effectual teacher of divine truth. Only
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when the truth is accompanied to the heart by the Spirit will it quicken
the conscience or transform the life. One might be able to present the
letter of the word of God, he might be familiar with all its commands
and promises; but unless the Holy Spirit sets home the truth, no souls
will fall on the Rock and be broken. No amount of education, no
advantages, however great, can make one a channel of light without
the co-operation of the Spirit of God. The sowing of the gospel seed
will not be a success unless the seed is quickened into life by the dew
of heaven. Before one book of the New Testament was written, before
one gospel sermon had been preached after Christ’s ascension, the
Holy Spirit came upon the praying apostles. Then the testimony of
their enemies was, “Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.”
Acts
5:28
.
Christ has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church,
and the promise belongs to us as much as to the first disciples. But
like every other promise, it is given on conditions. There are many
who believe and profess to claim the Lord’s promise; they talk about
Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit. They do not
surrender the soul to be guided and controlled by the divine agencies.
We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. Through
the Spirit God works in His people “to will and to do of His good
pleasure.”
Philippians 2:13
. But many will not submit to this. They
want to manage themselves. This is why they do not receive the
heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch
for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God
awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed
by faith, brings all other blessings in its train. It is given according to
the riches of the grace of Christ, and He is ready to supply every soul
according to the capacity to receive.