which is the redemption of the Church-unto the praise of His glory. This Holy Spirit of Promise manifests Himself in divers ways in His gracious operations in the children of God, or heirs of promise. I shall mention some of the evidences of heirship and sonship. It Where the Holy Spirit of Promise dwells, there is "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.' (Eph. i. 17). It is in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, that persons are made wise unto salvation. is life eternal to know Christ. The Apostle counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord. They only are true philosophers who are in the enjoyment of Christ as the wisdom of God. But they have Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him. When God called Paul by His grace, He revealed His Son to him and in him. . (Gal. i. 16). God does this by His Spirit. (1 Cor. ii. 10). Has the Spirit given you the knowledge of Christ? Has He revealed Christ in you? Are you wise in Christ? If so, then you have one of the evidences that you are children of God and heirs according to the Promise. Be assured of this, there is no knowledge like the knowledge which the Holy Ghost gives us of Christ. Again, where the Holy Spirit of Promise dwells, there you have the spirit of grace and supplication, or of true prayer. "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication: and they shall look upon Me Whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zech. xii. 13). By the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, we are to understand the children of God. In this verse there is promised the outpouring of the spirit of God. He will come as the Spirit of grace, that is, He will produce in their hearts His gracious fruits of love and joy and peace and such like. He will come also as the Spirit of supplication. This is when He draws our petitions for us and helps our infirmities, for without Him we know not what to pray for as we ought. Faith and godly sorrow are among the effects of the Spirit. They shall look upon Him Whom they have pierced. This looking is the spiritual eye of faith which fastens upon Christ the Crucified One. And as Christ is realized in the heart, there will be real repentance unto life, mourning and weeping and felt bitterness for iniquity, transgression, and sin. Has your experience been such as that described in this verse? if so, then you have a good evidence that you are amongst the children of God and heirs according to the Promise. Now take another evidence of being an heir according to the Promise. The Spirit of Promise is "the Spirit of holiness." (Rom. i. 3). When the Spirit of holiness dwells within, then, there will be a manifested holiness in the outward life. God says, "I will dwell in you... and I will be a Father unto you." And what then?"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, pefecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. vii. 1). This is the Christian man's walk and conversation regulated by the Word and Spirit. Have you this evidence of holy walking? Have you experienced this inward and outward cleansing? If you have, it is a very good sign that you are children of God and heirs according to the Promise. Another evidence is this, that where there is the Spirit of Promise, there is the Spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Tim. i. 7). The spirit of power throws down oppositions arising from the carnal mind. The Spirit of power is seen in dealing with the adversaries of the Lord and His Saints. The Christian goes forth, not in his own strength, but in the strength of the Lord of hosts. He knows that he is a conqueror, not by his own might, nor by his own power, but by the power of the Spirit. His strength is in the Lord, and in the power of His might. And he has the Spirit of love. This love is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, and goes out towards God and towards the people of God. And there is the Spirit of a sound mind. Persons in their unregenerate state are not of sound mind. They are like the man with the unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs, and who could not be bound with chains. But when the unclean spirit is cast out of man, then, he sits at the feet of Jesus as a token of his humility; then, he is clothed in the white raiment of the Son of God; then he is in his right mind, for he has the mind of Christ, which is indeed a sound mind. Have we this evidence of our sonship and heirship? Can we subscribe to the words of the Apostle? and say, "But we have the mind of Christ." Again, where the Spirit of Promise is, there is the Spirit of conflict. This evidence is clearly stated in these words:"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." (Gal. v. 17). This spiritual conflict is more largely described in the 7th of Romans. There is one law in the members which is always warring against the law of the mind. The natural man is in perpetual conflict with the spiritual man. The spiritual is constantly mourning over the natural. Do Do you know anything of this conflict? Do you feel the new man in you desiring and panting after high and holy things? And do you feel the old man present with you fully bent upon evil and evil things? If this be so, then you have an evidence that you are children of God and heirs according to the promise. You may try to creep away from the world and its temptations, you may enter a secret closet, chamber, or monastery for retirement, but you will not escape the conflict. And why? because you will carry with you into your seclusion your evil and corrupt heart. Blessed are you, if you know that you have two hearts. The new and the old in conflict. Let me give you another evidence. Now, where the Spirit of Promise is, there is the Spirit of glory. "If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.' (1 Peter iv. 14). This Spirit of glory resting upon a person causes him to glory in God through Jesus Christ our Lord. He who glories has to glory in the Lord. The Christian does not glory in his own wisdom, might, and riches, but in this, that he understands and knows the Lord as exercising loving kindness and tender mercies towards him. He rejoices in hope of the glory of God. He glories in God when he is in the midst of tribulations. But then, if he does so, it is that the power and glory of Christ may rest upon him. Can we, like the Apostle, say from the heart?" God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." If we have this evidence, we are children of God and heirs according to the Promise. Our glorying in God is the result of the Holy Ghost, having glorified Christ in us. The last evidence which I shall name is this. Where the Spirit of Promise is, there is the Spirit of liberty and the Spirit of praise. Now, "where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." This is liberty in Christ. Liberty from the curse of the law-and liberty to worship God in spirit and in truth. Hence the believer has the Spirit of praise. The Lord has given him beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. (Isa. lxi). (Isa. Ixi). Being endued with so excellent a spirit, he is able to shew forth the high praises of God for His marvellous loving kindness and tender mercies. The saints are called upon to praise the God of their salvation:-"Praise ye the Lord; for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely." (Psm. 147th). Have you this evidence of the Spirit of liberty and the spirit of praise? "Wherefore understand what the will of the Lord is. . . . And be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph. v. 17-20). Now, my dearly beloved, are you able to gather up any of the christian evidences which I have named? You may not be able to say, well, I have them all, I have experienced everything you have said. But be it known unto you for your own comfort, that if you are only enabled by the Holy Spirit to realize in your own souls one or two of the evidences which I have given you, it is because your names are written in the Book of life, and to heaven and glory you will go !! "Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." Amen! and Amen!! O my distrustful heart, How small thy faith appears! Unchangeable His will, Eternally the same: My soul through many changes goes, His love no variation knows. Thou, Lord, wilt carry on, And perfectly perform, The work Thou hast begun In me, a sinful worm : 'Midst all my fears, and sin, and woe, Thy Spirit will not let me go. His rich and sovereign grace. HAMMOND 1745; TOPLADY 1776. |