Knowledge of the Spirit
Text — “The Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth
flim: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and
shall bein you.” Fohn 14:17.
THE TEACHER OF TRUTH. — WORKS TRUTHFULNESS. — SIGNS SURELY FOLLOWING. — THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE WORLD AND THE CHRISTIAN. — I. THE SPIRIT KNOWN BY BELIEVERS. — THROUGH BELIEVING WHAT IS TAUGHT BY CHRIST. — BY THE SPIRIT’S OPERATIONS. — CONVINCING, COM-FORTING, GUIDING. — AS A PERSON. — II. THE SPiRIT KNOWN THROUGH HIMSELF. — ALL OTHER MEANS INADEQUATE. — III. A SACRED INTIMACY. — IN THE CHURCH. — IN THE HOME, — IN THE BODY. — IV. THE INTIMACY TO CONTINUE.
THE part of the text on which we shall meditate is this: “The Spirit of truth; ye know Him; for He ‘dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Observe that the Holy Spirit is here called the Spirit of truth. There is much meaning in this expression. He is the teacher of truth, unalloyed truth, practical, divinely effective truth. He never teaches anything but the truth. If it comes from the Spirit of God, we may receive it from Him without any hesitation.
He is the Spirit of truth in this sense, too, that He works truthfulness in His people. In those with whom the Holy Ghost works effectually ‘there is no guile;” they are open-hearted, honest, sincere, and true; they have an intense affection for the truth, and a zeal for it. They are by His truthful influence preserved from error. As He is the Spirit of truth, we
aot assist in maintaining error.
erat nominal Church of the present day has departed aca the truth of God, the Spirit of God has departed from: her. He can never set His seal to a lie; the testiknow Him; for the Lord Jesus saith, “He dwelleth: with you, and shall be in you.” Forms of Church
true. phy will fee ose Witeeee to nee ae me ‘ Mark this word:
mony of His sacred operation, in
“SIGNS FOLLOWING, is pari only to the truth of God. Let us not talk, as some do, as if Scriptural doctrine were of little or no consequence; for where the doctrine is not of God, the Spirit of truth is grieved, and He will depart from such a ministry. Except we keep close to the words &
of the Lord Jesus, and the revelation of the inspired Bs Book, the Spirit of truth will show His displeasure by
refusing to us our utterances. In vain your music, your ee your learning, and vee ee services,” if the truth be given up.: This is the distinction between the men of the world and the disciples of Christ. The world knows nothing of the Holy Spirit; but the disciples of Christ
- government, and modes of worship, may be important —
God in you? Doth He indwell you? “If any mam
in their own place: but before the Lord the infallible test is this — Do you bear the fruit of the Spirit of
have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His”; but he that hath the Spirit dwelling within his soul, he ifn is that is a true-born heir of heaven.
BELIEVERS IN JESUS 1 KNOW
% Holy. Spirit. They know Him, to Kee with, Be eving what has been taught them concerning the a mforter by the Lord Fesus Christ. When Jesus rist had taught His people concerning the Holy Spirit, and they had received His teaching, He said, — Pail “Ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” If they had refused the sayings of Si.
His commandments, if they Had arrogantly resolued to find out this mystery for themselves by their own ‘4 ei thinking, apart from the instruction of their Master, Pie es” they would not have known the Spirit of God. We ies - must begin our acquaintance with the Spirit by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and accepting His testimony asm 3 — sure. fe We know the Holy Spirit, next, by His operations Be upon us. We not only know about His operations, aes but we have been the subjects of them. All those who are true disciples of Christ have felt a divinely ig supernatural. power working upon them. First, the Holy Spirit operates to our spiritual quickening. Dr There was a time when we were dead in trespasses — and in sins: holy feeling was unknown to us, and the - life of faith was far from us. At that time we did not - desire nor even know spiritual things: we were carnally minded, and the carnal mind knoweth not the things which be of God. The Spirit of God came
upon us, and we were awakened, aroused, lett death unto life. With others the visible life may
there was conviction of sin. This revelation is the
Israel, the Friend of sinners, the atqning Sacrifice, —
not only know that the Holy Spirit leads to Jesus —
a ci MADE TO LIVE, 2 seek Mae
Many of us can distinctly remember Sen we
have been made manifest more gradually, but even in them there was a moment when the vital force entered uf the soul, and they can now rejoice that they havi a” been quickened who were once spiritually dead. You know the Spirit in measure when He breathes upon your dead heart, and it begins to throb with the heavenly life. In connection with that quickening ee
effect of light, the light of the Spirit of God; and when He convinces us of sin we begin to know Him.
When, after having convinced us of sin, He leads us to repentance, and to faith in Jesus Christ, then we know Him! How many a promise did some of you hear, but you could not receive it! How many a comforting discourse did you listen to, and yet it did not comfort you! but when the Spirit of God came, as in a’ moment, you saw Jesus as the consolation of
the Surety of the covenant of grace, and sweet peace — came streaming into your soul! At that time you did
‘Christ, but you knew that He was leading you. In — that respect you knew Him by experimental acquaint-
ance, which is
THE BEST OF KNOWLEDGE.
Since that time, beloved brethren, we have known the Holy Spirit in many ways: restraining from evil, — stimulating to good, instructing, consoling, directing, a
felt all alive — bright, cheerful, and intense. Then our whole heart has run in the ways of God’s commands,
vand we have rejoiced in His name. How true is that word, ‘He restoreth my soul”! Thus have we known the Holy Spirit by His operations within us.
I specially note that we also know Him as the comforter. Alas for the disturbance of heart which we ‘receive in the world; perhaps even in the family! Few things, it may be, are as we could wish, and ‘therefore we are sore troubled; but when the Spirit
-of God comes, peace flows to us like a river, and Jesus breathes on us and says, “Peace be unto you.”
Do you know that peace? Many saints of God have enjoyed a heavenly calm upon their sick-beds; when pain would else have distracted them, the Spirit of God has rested them in Jesus. I have heard of one ‘saint near his end who asked, “Is this dying? Then I should like to keep on dying forever.” May God
-give us the Holy Spirit as our Comforter! Happy
‘knowledge!
I trust that we have oftentimes known the Holy
‘Spirit as
. GUIDING US
in various ways. I will not speak largely upon this,
for some might not understand it; but I know of a surety that the Holy Spirit does give to His favored people hints of things to come. I say not that any man is inspired to tell the future; but I do say that
and enlivening. He has been to us full of the Spirit * of reviving; we have grown dull and cold and sleepy, but no sooner has the Spirit visited us than we have
Pad ipsa A Sr of sea coming exp sa. c When believers come into difficult circum- - nicks, they bow the knee, and cry for guidance, even as David said, “Bring hither the ephod. * Thea®: oracle is not dumb, but in some way, not always to be ‘ explained, the Spirit of God guides our steps througieys life, if we are willing to obey His monitions. Is it not written, “Thine ears shall hear a word nehindee 5 saying, This is the way, walk ye in it”? The ro DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS + a 2 ‘of the Holy Spirit are the precious heritage of true.: ei saints; but they are a peculiar voice to their own souls, and are not to be repeated. But I do not think we have entered the centre oF the text even yet. “Ye know f/m,” says the text: ye know not only His work, but Himself. I may know the great achievements of an artist in marble, — -. But I may not know the sculptor himself. I may — know a man’s paintings, and therefore I may guess. ‘a3 somewhat of his character, but yet I may not know ‘the man himself. ‘Ye know Him,” says our Lord; —. and truly we know the Holy Ghost as to His person-. ality. If the Holy Ghost were a mere influence, we should read, “Ye know 2z#.” Let us always shun the-We mistake of calling the Holy Ghost ‘z¢.”. / cannot do. anything. / is a dead thing; the Holy Ghost is a living, blessed Person, and I hope we can say that we: a know Him as such. Others may doubt His personality; but we believe in the teaching of our Lord!; Jesus Christ, and behold in the names given to Him, have to preach about the Holy Spirit; but what can I
ormed ie Him, “abundant proof on ce eed. per <a
nality.
436 The second head is this: Relievers Es the Bo
and shall be in you.” It is not, ““Ye know Him; ioe; ye have heard gracious preaching;” nor, “Ye know j Him; for ye have read about Him in the Scriptures.” ~No — ‘ Ye know A ud for He dwelleth with you, and
shall be in you.” The moon cannot help us to see
the sun, nor can man reveal God. God can only be
SEEN IN HIS OWN LIGHT. No one can reveal the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit. I thought, this morning, coming along — I
do without the Holy Spirit Himself? I can only preach aright concerning Him by His own presence with me; and if He be not there, I shall only darken
counsel by words without knowledge. Why is it ° Ni
that we know the Holy Ghost only by the Holy
Ghost?
I answer, first, on account of the inadequacy of alk
means. By what methods can you make a man
know the Holy Ghost? He is not to be discerned by the senses, nor preceived by eyes or ears. What if the preacher should be as eloquent as an angel, in what way would that make you know the Holy Ghost? You would probably remember more of the man than of his subject. Nothing is more to be deplored tham a hungering after mere oratory. No outward ordi- z
ase mg it OM a he
: oe BY pe by Ki ve by ts Hie! 4 ‘mances can peach the point any more than human — ar speech, We rere rejoice in oe baptism
death of the Mord Jesus is set forth pelos us; bane in what symbol could we fully see the Holy Spirit? (It is not possible for God to reveal Himself fully by 3 His works: He is seen only by Himself. Hence the — Son of God Himself has come to us as ‘God with ee us.” In Him we see God. The Holy Spirit must Himself come into the heart to which He MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN. The facts of the case prove this. I shall put it to ee) any believer here who can humbly say, “I know Him; for He dwelleth with me, and is in me.” How do you know the Holy Ghost but by the Holy Ghost? — Did you learn your religion of me? Then you have — it all to unlearn. Did you learn it out of a book? oy. You have need to begin again. Did you inherit it from your parents, or borrow it from your friends? Then you are still ignorant of the vital point. God is only known through Himself; the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit. Have you not found it so in your own case? Why, you have sat and heard a sermon which i was in itself cheering, comforting, and quickening for your neighbor said, ‘‘ What a happy time we have enjoyed!” Alas! you thought you had never felt more stupid and lifeless) Have you not gone down |. the Tabernacle steps, and said to yourself, “I am as hard as stone, and as cold as a Winter’s fog. What shall I do?” Thus you are without the Spirit of God; but when the divine Spirit comes upon you, such complaints are at an end; then doth the lame man
leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb is made to sing. Then are you full of living joy in listening
to the Gospel; every word you hear seems to be on wheels; and towards you the cherubim fly swiftly,
bringing live coals from off the altar.
Ill. My third head is, believers enjoy
i A SACRED INTIMACY with the Spirit of God. Iam not going to withdraw that word intimacy. It is warranted by the language of our Lord; for He says, ‘‘ Ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” First, He says, ‘He dwelleth with you.” The Holy Spirit is now upon earth, the vicar and representative of the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “I will send you another Comforter” — that is another Helper and Advocate, like Himself. Consider how our Lord dwelt with His disciples; for after the same fashion the Spirit of truth dwells with us. Jesus permitted to His disciples the most intimate intercourse with Himself; they ran to Him with their troubles, they told Him their difficulties, they confessed their doubts. He was their Master and Lord, and yet He washed their feet. He ate and drank with them, and permitted the freest
intercourse. You never find our Lord repelling their
approaches, or resenting their familiarities. He did not draw a ring round Himself and say, “Keep your distance!” Now, in the same manner, the Spirit of truth deals with believers. ‘ He dwelleth with you.” - Dwelling with us, He is in our assemblies. It is He who fulfils the promise of our Lord, “Lo, I am with
Oe (oem s He dwelleth aie you dear friend, you live on board ship, and are “eae “upon the sea; but ‘“‘ He dwelleth with you.” Perhaps you go to work in a mine, far beneath the surface of the earth; still, “He dwelleth with you.” Many choice saints are bed-ridden, but the Spirit dwells with them. I commend to all of you who love the Lord these gracious words: “He dwelleth with you.”
Pine second sentence runs, “He shall be in you.” ‘This is;:
A GREATER MARVEL. “Be
“Know ye not that your-bodies are the temples of the |. Holy Ghost?” Take care of them; never defile them; let not the idea of drunkenness, gluttony, or lust come near you; for it is written, “If any man defile the ‘temple of God, him: shall God destroy.” With what reverence should we look upon the body, now that it has been redeemed by the Lord Jesus, and is indwelt. ‘by the Holy Spirit! The Spirit also dwells within ‘your minds. We possess Him, and He possesses us. “He shall be in you,” as a king in his palace, or a ‘soul in its body. I am afraid that many professors oe know nothing about this. I must be talking non- ‘sense, in the esteem of some of you; if it seems nonsense, let that fact condemn you. You cannot be right before God unless the Spirit of God be in you, in your mind, your heart, your desires, your fears, your hopes, your inmost life.
n, when yur Lord jones Christ came ‘upon the earth, ead was beheld as God in human flesh, that oe) We to us the pledge of the indwelling of the Holy. Ghost i in us: for, as God dwelt in the human person ac. of the Lord Jesus Christ, even so doth the Spirit abide Bre in our humanity. Our Lord’s life on earth was the picture of the Spirit’s indwelling. As He was; anointed of the Spirit, even so are we in our measure. «He went about doing good.” He lived consecrated to God, loving the sons of men; and thus will the; 4 ‘Spirit of God within us cause us to live: we shall
ee imitate Christ through the Spirit. é When our Lord rose from the dead we had the oe, guarantee that even so the Spirit of God would. ye Be - quicken our mortal bodies, and renew us into newness
a of life. But it was when our Lord ascended up on high, leading captivity captive, that the Holy Spirit was, to the full, actually siven.
ere Your ascended Lord gives you this token of His - love — the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in you: prize * it above all things. Do you know it? It seems like an impertinance for me to put this question to some of you, who are grayheaded, and yet there is need. I
Bi. trust you knew the Holy Spirit before I was born;
z but yet I cannot help pressing the inquiry, for you may not know Him even now. I have urged the question upon myself, and therefore I urge it upon
you. + Does the Spirit of truth dwell in you? If not, what will you do?
, IV. I come toa conclusion with one more observation. Believers shall have
Beet teas CONTINUANCE AND AN INCR of the Spirit’s intimacy. “He dwelleth with shall be in you.” Mark well the increase. Is it n oa a blessed step from wth to ix? “He dwelleth with — you Pesthat 1s..a friend in the same house; ‘“‘and shall he be in you,” that is, a spirit within yourself; this” isa a mi nearer, dearer, more mysterious, and more effective —: by far. The bread yonder is “with” me. I eat it, and now it is “zz” me. It could not nourish me until — ay it advanced from “with” to “in.” What a distinct oe advance it is for the child of God when he rises from = the Spirit of God being wth him to the Spirit of Gods. being zz him! When the Spirit of God helped the ae apostles to work miracles, He was wth them; but when they came to feel His spiritual work in their own souls, and to rejoice in the comfort which He brought to them, then He was zz them.
As, we have noticed the pgs Se so remark the continuance: “He shall be in you.” There is no peri- — . od in which the Holy Spirit will have finished His. work so as to go away and leave the believer to himself.. Our Saviour.says of the Comforter, that; He gm “shall abide with you for ever.” Grieve not the Spirit of God, I pray you; quench Him not, resist Him not, but carefully cherish in your hearts this
divine word, ‘He shall-be in you.” What comfort is (here! You dread the days of age and, infirmity, but ‘He shall be in you.” You tremble before that trial which threatens you, but ‘‘He shall be in you.” You do not know how you will answer the gainsayer; take no thought what you shall speak, it shall be isform death into
THE GATE OF ENDLESS LIFE. This. is our great reliance for the future upholding the Church as a whole, and of each individual
estroyed; the gates of hell shall not prevail against: er; for the Holy Ghostdwelleth with us, and shall be in us to the end of the world. This is the reliance: of the child of God personally for his perseverance in grace. He knows that Jesus lives, and therefore he shall live; and the Holy Spirit is within him, as the
pushes on, despite a thousand obstacles, knowing that God gives him the victory through the Lord Jesus. 2; Christ, out of whose hand none can pluck him,
I have done; and yet I have done nothing unless: the Spirit of God shall bless the word spoken. Oh, that some of you who have never known the Spirit
of God, may feel His power coming upon you at this.
- moment! Come, Holy Spirit. Come even now. ‘ Let us implore His presence and power. Pray for a closer, clearer knowledge of Him, O ye children of - God. Pray also that sinners may be met with by His grace. The first token of the Spirit’s work will be that they will begin to feel their sin, and cry for
iS ities Soirit. aa dwelleth with you Soon oe 9e 2m you, and by His living power within, ‘shall ee
liever: the Spirit of God dwelleth with us, and a ll be in us.. The Church of God will never be
Bite of Christ, which can never die. The believer mercy; and when that is done, the glad tidings of pardon are for them. To them we say, * Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” The Lord make the word effectual, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.