The Inestimable Gift by A. O. Tait

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 8, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 10.

The Inestimable Gift

By A. O. Tait

ONE of the choicest and best gifts of our heavenly Father is that of His Holy Spirit. The value of the Spirit of God among the sons of men is of such a character that the Master said of it while here upon earth: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send Him unto you." John 16: 7.

It was expedient that the Lord go away and send the Comforter to us. It is better for us to have the Spirit of God with us, than that Christ should be on earth in person, as He was during His ministration in Judea nineteen hundred years ago. We may not be able to understand all about why this is so, but we may know that it is so because the Master says it in His Word. And more than this, we may have the experience of knowing it to be so, and thus confirm to ourselves the truth of the Word by tasting of its fulfilments.

The mighty power of God is communicated to His children through His Spirit. The Saviour says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, that will I do. If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth: whom the world can not receive; for it beholdeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: ye know Him; for He abideth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you desolate: I will come unto you." John 14: 12-18.

Mark the possibilities that are open before the believer through the promises in the foregoing words. "The works that I do," says the Master, "shall he do." The wonderful life that the Lord lived, and the mighty works that He Himself did, are all for the true believer. Such is the plain statement of the promise. It may seem too good or too great to be true; but it is the promise just the same, and it is therefore within reach of the faith of every one who will stand on the naked truth of God.

Greater Works

But notice how the promise expands. Not only is the promise given that the believer is to do the works of the Master, but it is added, "And greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father." The Saviour desires that the blessed enjoyment He experienced in His life of faithful work for His Father, shall be enjoyed also by every one of His followers. And so He not only tells them that it is their privilege to do the works that He did, but they may even do "greater works." What a wonderful wealth of promise, and how many professing Christians are living far, far below their exalted privileges and opportunities!

We receive this great gift by asking. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." If we ask it in His name, the Master assures us, "That will I do." But it must be asked in His name. To be asked for in His name, the thing requested must be in harmony with His character. And when the request is granted it will glorify both the Father and the Son. Definite principles of righteousness are laid down; and when these are followed, the request of the disciple of Christ is granted, even to the extent of mightier works than the Lord Himself did.

Since Christians have such a mighty source of power awaiting their demand and reception, why is it that they will resort to so many of the expedients that are frequently employed for the advancement of His cause? Why do they institute various amusements and things of that kind to raise money and to try to draw people to the church, when our Father in heaven has given us freely, for the asking and the receiving, the very Spirit and power that were in His own Son?

"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." James 4: 3. Giving way to the lusts of the flesh debases and destroys. There is no real pleasure in following the gratification of fleshly appetites and passions; for the final outcome is only disease, wreckage of manhood, and death. Hence the Lord, who is seeking to give us only the good, wherein lies true happiness, always places His gifts upon the condition that we take our stand with the right before He endues us with the gift of the Spirit. Many of His temporal blessings, like the rain and the sunshine, He bestows upon all alike; but the unmeasured gift of His Spirit can only be given to those who ask according to His will.

"Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through 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 not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: 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. The Holy Spirit of God coming into the life, fills the soul with an indescribable blessing, and puts one in touch with the very Fountainhead of power. There are many, many professing Christians who are living along without knowing anything about this power in the life. They have not had an experience in the love of God that is shed abroad through the Holy Spirit actually coming in to take possession of the whole life, to mold and fashion it after God's own order.

The individual who has this experience, is growing in grace and truth day by day, and instead of his religion being to him an irksome duty, he finds it the delightsome joy of his life.