VIEWED from every standpoint, the greatest need of the world and the church is the abiding presence and unrestrained operation of the Spirit of God in the hearts of men. In all ages men have been proposing and testing remedies for the removal of the evils that have been afflicting them. But up to this day no remedy originating with man has proved equal to the world's great needs. The most that has been accomplished by these man-made efforts has been to change the form and manifestation of the evils with which we have dealt. The world never faced more perilous and appalling conditions than it does to-day.
“Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent Me, even so I send you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21, 22.
The reason why no remedy suggested by man has been able to accomplish what has been desired is because no human power can reach and move the cause of the troubles. That cause is woven into the web of human nature. It is rooted in every fiber of the moral character. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" is the significant question asked by one in olden times. The only effectual remedy is that which is able to give man a new nature.
The real situation to be dealt with is graphically presented in the following statements by the apostle Paul: "Without Christ," "strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world;" "foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another;" "being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, . . . without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful."
This accurate pen-picture of human nature gives the true cause of the shocking character of human history. It is this wickedness of the heart that has caused the bloody, desolating wars of all nations. It is this that fills jails with criminals, asylums with insane, houses of ill-fame with the fallen, and cemeteries with Christless paupers. This is the cause of the awful record of crime and suffering that goes into eternity with every passing day. Hence, these terrible conditions will continue in the world just as long as the heart remains vicious and unregenerated.
Regeneration of the heart is the only complete and efficient remedy, and that is provided in the Holy Spirit thru the Gospel of Christ. This remedy has been received by millions, and every one who received it consistently has proved it to be all that is needed. What it is able to do for one person, it can do effectually for all the world.
Now, that which fully and adequately meets the needs of this sinning, sorrowing world, becomes its greatest need. And as the Spirit of Christ, thru His Gospel of salvation, does this, the abiding presence and effectual working of that Spirit in the heart is what the world needs more than anything else. That it is the Spirit of God that ministers the Gospel to the heart, working its regeneration, is taught by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church. He says: "Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."
Thus, the Spirit of Christ is to make actual in the heart and life now what was made possible by the death of Christ on the cross nineteen hundred years ago. This being true, it follows that all the blessings of the Gospel are centered in the Holy Spirit—He "brings all other blessings in His train." It is the Holy Spirit that strives with all men everywhere to convince them of sin, and to lead them to repentance. He converts the hearts of the penitent, works the death of self, and thus accomplishes the full surrender of the life to God. It is this divine Spirit that transforms the nature, bringing the thoughts and desires of the heart into obedience to Christ, and filling the soul with God's abounding love.
Furthermore, it is the Holy Spirit that gives the Christian workers power for effectual service in the work of the Master. When the Saviour entered upon His ministry, He said: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor." And of His ministry we are told that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost4and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him." Under the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit, Christ "spake as never man spake," so that His hearers "wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth." "He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." When the people heard His words and saw His works, they "marveled, and glorified God, who had given such power unto men." They asked: "Whence hath this Man this wisdom, and these mighty works?"
In all His association with the people, Jesus constantly impressed upon their minds the truth that His wisdom to teach and His power to do mighty works were given to Him by His Father thru the Holy Spirit with which He was anointed. In all this there is a most important lesson for His church. When Jesus had finished His work on earth, He said to His disciples, and thru them to all who should believe on Him thru their ministry: "As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. . . . Receive ye the Holy Ghost." "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high." "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
From this parting instruction of our Lord the church should know that the secret of her power in the world depends upon the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. She can not be the light and inspiration to the world that she should unless she is under the constant command of that divine Spirit. It is only when this important truth is constantly realized that there will be a true realization of our need of the Holy Spirit, and a full and cheerful compliance with the conditions upon which He may be received and retained as an abiding Friend and Helper.
The world can not receive the Spirit, we are told, because it neither sees nor knows Him. That is to say, the world does not apprehend the truth regarding the Spirit, nor recognizes His operations; therefore, it can not receive Him. To be received in His fulness, the Spirit must be desired. The promise is to those who thirst. To be retained, His counsel and guidance must be followed. He must not be grieved by disobedience. The flesh must be crucified, and the whole life consecrated to the service of God.
Let it not be forgotten that the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead. Since ascension of Christ, the Holy Spirit has been His representative and successor in this world. On the day of Pentecost He took His appointed place as administrator of the affairs of the church. What mighty achievements He has wrought for Christ and the church during the nineteen centuries that have rolled by! How many millions of hearts He has won to Christ! How many thousands of martyrs He has sustained and caused to triumph while enduring the most cruel persecutions! How marvelously He has kept the light of truth shining thru the darkest periods of the church's history! How promptly and accurately He has led the church forward to fulfil her mission according to God's eternal purpose, so that not a word fails of all that God has promised.
The Holy Spirit does not take Christ's place in the church by displacing Him in the hearts of the people, and drawing their affections to Himself. "He shall not speak of Himself," said the Saviour. In all His ministry, the Holy Spirit turns the mind and affections to Him who suffered and died for the world. In this He glorifies the world's Redeemer instead of Himself. And this is what He leads every heart to do in which He abides.
In view of these considerations, and many others that could be mentioned, every Christian should cherish this blessed Spirit, and pray earnestly for His abiding presence. His kindly warnings and counsels should be cheerfully obeyed. Nothing should be done to grieve Him and drive Him from the heart.
