THE QUIET HOUR

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 21 May 1932, Page 13

THE QUIET HOUR

(Contributed on Behalf of the Hawera I Ministers’ Association.) 1 (By “Epsilon.”) The fulness of God in the lives oi His people. :“Ye serve the Lord Christ.” (001., 3 : 24). Let me say that ever since coming to Hawera my anxiety has ueen, and appeals to be the • predominant desire among the Ministens and leaders of God’s people, that God’s people should yield themselves fully to Him, and to do His will continually for the work of the Holy Spirit. For this identity with the Lord Jesus points to a corresponding identity of life and service to which His people are called, for “he that believeth in Me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall lie do because 1 go to My Father” (John, 14 : 12). And this service is but tlie effluence of the Holy Spirit, of Whose fulness we are not to be reservoirs, but channels, for “he that believeth on Me, out of him shall flow rivers of living waters” (John, 7 : 38). Hence the whole work of the Spirit in the believer may be summed up in the one sentence —to make him usable, and then to use . him, though in such a manner as that these two processes go on simultaneously. And always the pattern of both useableness and usefulness, of both life and labour, is the Lord Jesus Himself. Therefore let not any one who has sought and received bv faith the fulness of the Holy Spirit imagine that the gift lias been bestowed on him for his own enjoyment. If you are filled you are filled to flow. Holiness of character is not an end, but a means to an end in the plan of God; the end is a life of continual service for God and men. shall be witneses unto Me” (Acts, 1 : 8) is the precept which is linked with the promise of 'power, and what God hath joined cannot be dissevered without frustrating God’s grace. And not only so, but the man who shirks the service will himself suffer, for “use it or lose it” is certainly true in regard to the enduement of the Spirit. In this matter “there is that scattereth and yet lncreaseth; and there is that withboldeth and it tendeth to poverty (Piov. 11 : 24). To each of His disciples the Lord says “as My -Father hath sent Me even so send 1 you (John, 20 : 21), and the revoked command which is binding upon every believer is His “Go ve into till the world and preach the' gospel to every ereature” (Mark, 16 : 15). It is then for such service, or rather, as has already been pointed out, for personal share in it that the Holy Spirit equips by daily conforming us in increasing degree to the image of Christ. And like Him, we are “sanctified and sent into the world” (John, 10 : -'»■>). blow it is necessary to understand .the nature of Spirit-controlled and Spiritempowered service since we are sent iorth to such bv Christ’s commision, and hence a brief survey of what imeant for Him to be sent into the world will best teach us what the outcome of this blessing must be- m our own lives. . The purpose of the service is evei the blessing of others, “For then ;s akes” (John, 18 : 10), may be taken

as the motto of the Lord’s whole life, and “others’’ as the great consideration which inspired all His sex-vice. An absorbing passion for saving men is the outstanding characteristic of His pattern life, and He sends His d.sciples out upon the same errand. Such a purpose demands whole-hearted concentration of effort for its accomplishment, and the Spirit-filled man must make everything subservient to the end—and the salvation of souls. The Divine equipment is not given for any lower purposes, and all missions of mere education and amusement are no.t provided for in the Divine plan, and however plausible m themselves, are not the outcome for which God looks in our lives. The service of the Spirit filled believer, though it may take varying forms, is always directed to the salvation of souls, and the Spirit who has made Ohrist real to him will constantly make Him real to others through Him. With such a one, as with the Lord- Himself, this purpose, “others,” so dominates Hits whole life that He is never released irom the care of seeking “first the Kingdom of God.” • To the Spiritanointed vision eternal things are . tremendously real, and the man so anointed can only see one thing worth while in life —to pluck men as brands from the burning. The possibility of the service, “that they also may be sanctified” (John, 18 : 19). Here in the Lord’s life was an inspiring hope which made: His service yet more acceptable to Him—the possibilities latent in the “others.’? Through them He foresaw the triumph of the Father’s kingdom. And it is the posibility. of Spirit-filled service which makes it of such vast importance to-dav. When a man is filled with the Holy Ghost there is always some special 'service God has for him to do. Let this consideration, “that they also may be sanctified.” raise our conception of the potentiality of our service, and save ns from regarding as of little moment how and when and where we serve. There are great is r sues dependant upon the Christian who is filled with the Spirit, for m. a real sense to him are committed tlie keys of the kingdom. Therefore the possibilities of the service demand a quick obedience. _ . The - price at which such service can be done for the Lord. Jesus to-dav rs contained in one word—sacrifice. He who would save others could not save Himself, and this is still true_ of those whom He sends into the world. I here is no real gam, but by loss, and thus the service to which the Spint-lnled believer is sent is no easy task. The power for the service let us remember it is only by our identification with Him in the enduement of the Spirit that His service is a possibility to us. “He whom God hath sent, sueaketh tlie words of God, for eiveth not the Spirit by measuie unto him.” (John 3 : 34). “Receive ve the Holy Ghost’’ (John 20. 21 : 22). To Him'also the Father’s presence was ever a living reality along the pathway of service. He says “Go ye n.to ai the world.” He lovingly adds and lo I am with you always. . This service in the power of the Spirit is nothincr less than Christ’s own work continued through His disciples upon’ His plan, for His purpose in T!is power, and to His praise. Mill on go forward then to live for Him/