The Reception of the Holy Spirit
IN the Holy Spirit is the fulness of God’s power. By that power the world was created and the heavens were garnished. By that power the sinner is convicted, regenerated, and the law of God written upon his heart. By the gifts of that power God fits His children for effectual service for Him and humanity. He is anxious to bestow that Spirit of life and power. Jesus tells us to “ask” and we shall “receive” it. He is more willing to give that Spirit than parents are to give good gifts to their children. In these last days He pleads, “Ask ye of Jehovah rain in the time of the latter rain,” and the assurance is that we shall receive. Zech. 10: 1. With these assurances—and there are many more—why do not God’s children receive the Holy Spirit? Why are not its manifest operations witnessed among them? There are several reasons which may be offered: 1. There may be sins between God’s people and Himself, sins unconfessed and retained. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, but it will not, can not, abide with sin. Sin can not endure the presence of the Spirit of God. But if the soul cherish the sin more than the Holy Spirit, the Spirit must be withdrawn or destroy the soul identified with sin. God’s people are bound together into one body. If one member cherish sin, he holds back God’s blessing. All Israel were defeated at Ai because of Achan’s sin, and victory did not come till the sin was put away. Joshua 7 is instructive reading upon this point. 2. Sometimes there are no great outbreaking, unpopular sins, but a general worldliness, pride, self-sufficiency, a condition represented in the Laodicean church (Rev. 3: 14-21), and set forth in the first part of Isaiah 58. There is formal worship, seeking of God, many prayers, and occasional fastings. But all these are not effective as long as sin is cherished; and among the most hateful sins in God’s sight are pride and self-righteousness. Therefore He declares: “Behold, Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it can not save; neither His ear heavy, that it can not hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Isa. 59: 1, 2. There is but one thing to do in such a case—renounce the sins. As long as they are your sins, the Spirit of God will never pass over them to bless you, however small they may seem to you. But if you give them all up, tho they be mountain high, the mighty power of God will cleanse them away. 3. Sometimes we are looking for signs and wonders and miracles, and we do not know when the Spirit of God comes. Because of our attitude God can not entrust us with His gifts. There is one mighty miracle above all others that God would have His people recognize, the greatest miracle that can come to the individual soul, a miracle that God will work in every believer; that is the miracle of regeneration, re-creation, which changes man from a son of disobedience, serving divers lusts and pleasures, to a child of God, a son of righteousness. If we know this miracle, knowing that it has been wrought by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, God can then trust us with other miracles. But if we do not know the miracle of regeneration, we would take His gifts and workings as evidences of our own superior powers, and God would not be glorified. “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” Plead for that first, for salvation from sin and sinning. You may plead with all assurance. Knowing that, we will give all the glory to God. We will not glory in our family tree, our pride of birth, our ancient lineage, our nationality or race; but in Him who has made us citizens of heaven. There is one other consideration, an important one, which we will consider later.