HOW MAY WE OBTAIN THE SPIRIT?
THE Holy Spirit as the life of God longs to flow into every living soul, bringing with it all “the power of an endless life.” It is not the work of the Spirit that the carnal mind sets itself across the current of the Spirit’s flow from the great Heart of the universe. The choice of the man is responsible for that. For even the man is, by his sinful nature, incapable in himself of rising above the power of sin, which holds him down; and even the environments are wholly of a downward tendency, yet man may so yield the evil and choose the good as to ally himself forever with the Strength of Eternity. The choice rests with the individual soul; the power is given by the eternal God. But God will not use His infinite power to enter man’s circle of free will, and compel man to act. The domain of choice within that circle is sacred to man so far as his Creator is concerned; it is only malefic influences which seek to control the human will. The will, the right of choice, must remain sacred to man, first, because God asks only for willing, loving service; and secondly, because man’s character and happiness, to be permanent, must be the result of his own choosing. Christ comes to all, pleading that He, the rightful Ruler of the heart, may enter and occupy His throne, expel the usurper, heal the wounds of sin, and restore the rightful, normal conditions of life. He has all, all to satisfy the longing of every soul. When He comes to us, He comes unto His own by creation, by right of purchase. And to as many as receive Him, to them gives He power (right, privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. John 1:11, 12. But this change is wrought only when self and sin are all surrendered, and He is given the power to control absolutely the life. This He does by His Spirit, thru the channel which faith opens,—“thru sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” 2 Thess. 2:13. Faith is not the power; it is the channel thru which the power flows; it is the trolley which reaches up and appropriates the mighty current of electricity flowing above; it is the rootlets that strike down to the perennial streams of refreshing below; it is the open leaves and flowers which drink the life of the sunshine and shower overhead. God’s Spirit is the power, the streams of life below the burning sands, the sunshine and shower from above. It is the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. The car is dead without the connection which the trolley makes. The life-currents might flow for years underneath the tree, and the tree receive no benefit if its roots did not reach down and drink. So God’s Spirit might flow about us and around us forever, bringing His presence and power and life, and we receive no benefit unless our being is yielded to its power; unless we are anxious that the wretched old life shall be changed; unless we long for the life of His righteousness so much that we shall plead for its presence and power. And “if we do,” here are the answers: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 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?” Luke 11:9-13. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God thru our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. . . . And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us.” Rom. 5:1-5. Then ask with all the heart; seek with all diligence; knock unceasingly, expecting, using to His glory the life given, and God will make the desert of your life blossom like the rose, and bear fruit to His glory. “There is no other way but His way.”