The Power of the Spirit

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” — ISA. lix. 19.

Spirit standing against the tempestuous flood. It would seem as if the calm Spirit would be a feeble standard-bearer in the face of the rushing waters. But in truth it is not so. Have you ever measured the strength that lies in being conscious of the right? It has doubled the power of armies. What is the reason that nations going to war are so eager to impress the world with the justice of their cause? It is because they know that to feel the justice of a cause is to have half the battle won. There is a power in the sense of right which covers much weakness; there is a weakness in the sense of wrong that destroys much power. I am not fully armed till I am armed with the whole armour of God. I have not raised a perfect embankment against the flood until the

Spirit of the Lord has planted His standard there,

Spirit of Christ, help me to say “it is Thy all.” No armour equals the sense of duty. When I hear Thy voice on the waters saying “It is I,” the waters themselves subside and become a great calm. Nothing can make me calm amid the waters but that duty-call. When the enemy comes in like a flood, my heart is overwhelmed within me and I cry to be saved from the storm.. But when duty says, ‘it is I,” I no longer’ wish to be saved from the storm; I go out to meet it. My strength to meet it is still the same, no less and no more; the one new thing is Thy voice of conscience. But that is the addition of omnipotence; it rebukes the waves; it makes me strong. Thy standard is a moral standard; when that is lifted up I fear no foe. Lift up that standard, Thou Spirit of wuth. Say “It is I, be not afraid.” Say to my trembling soul, It is thy duty, it is thy mission, it is thy call. Say to my fainting heart, The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, the standard of the Lord shall be thy rearward. Say to my faltering will, The right is on thy side; “Lo! J am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” ‘Though the waters rise up to the brim they shall not overflow me, if only Thy voice shall say ‘‘ Well done,” if only there shall gleam behind me that standard of rectitude which is the lifting up of the banner of Thy power.

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