The Holy Spirit's Teaching Makes Practical Christians
"But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name - He will teach you all things!" (John 14:26).
The Holy Spirit is the Teacher of the church. To Him the promise refers, "All Your children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children."
He taught the apostles all things necessary for their office and work.
He teaches the true ministers of Christ, leading them into the truth as it is in Jesus.
And He teaches every believer - all that is really necessary for him to know!
The Bible is the lesson-book,
the believer is the scholar,
the blessed Spirit is the teacher, and
experimental religion is the education!
No one teaches like Him!
He teaches us gradually, silently, and always effectually! For only what the Spirit teaches us - do we really know!
He teaches us what God requires in His Word, what He has provided in His gospel; what Christ is to His people, what His people are to Him.
His teaching makes practical Christians - for He always teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the present world!
~James Smith~
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The Work of the Holy Spirit
I love to meditate on the work of the Holy Spirit, from whom we receive such great and invaluable blessings, and to whom we are so much indebted! To Him, I feel that I am indebted for every good thought, and for every good work. How wonderful His patience - that He should bear with me so long; and how wonderful His loving-kindness - that He should confer on me so much! O that I was more deeply sensible of my obligations!
It was the Holy Spirit who quickened me, subduing the enmity of my heart, the obstinacy of my will, the worldliness of my affections, and bringing every thought into subjection to the obedience of Christ.
Having quickened and conquered me, He comforted me, assuring me of a saving interest in the love of God, the perfect work of Jesus, the precious promises of the Word, and the eternal rest which remains for the people of God.
Having quickened, conquered, and comforted me, He sanctified me by separating me from the world, and setting me apart for my Redeemer's glory and praise.
As my Sanctifier, He became my Guide leading me into the truth, conducting me out of the paths of danger, and directing me into the everlasting way.
Not only my guide, but He became my Guard preserving me from danger, protecting me from foes, and becoming a wall of fire around about me.
Whenever I wander - He reproves me; when I willfully go astray - He corrects me, and makes me smart for my folly.
The work He began so long ago - He carries on; nor will He withdraw His hand from it, until it is perfected, and I am fully fitted for glory.
Reader, what do you experimentally know of the work of the Holy Spirit:
Has He quickened you?
Has He conquered you?
Does He comfort you?
Are you sanctified by His presence, power, and operation in your heart?
Does He:
guide you by His counsel,
guard you by His power, and
correct you for your follies?
The work of the Spirit within us - is as necessary as the work of Jesus for us! For if the atonement of Christ entitles us to glory - it is the work of the Holy Spirit that prepares us to possess and enjoy it! We must be washed, justified, and sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God - or we cannot be saved!
~James Smith~
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