How to bring men to Christ 12

How to bring men to Christ 12

(b.) Prayer implies desire. There is no real prayer for the Baptism of

the Spirit unless there is _a deep desire for it_. As long as a man

thinks he can get along somehow without this blessing, he is not likely

to get it; but when a man reaches the place where he feels he must have

this no matter what it costs, he is far on the way toward receiving it.

Many a minister of the gospel and other worker has been brought to a

place where he has felt he could not go on with his ministry without

this gift and then the gift has soon followed and the character of his

work has been entirely transformed.

 

(c.) _The prayer to be effectual must be in faith (Mark xi. 24)._ James

says in regard to the prayer for wisdom, “Let him ask in faith, nothing

wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of sea driven with the

wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive

anything of the Lord.” (Jas. i. 6, 7.) The same principle, of course,

holds in regard to the prayer for the Holy Spirit. It is at this very

point that many miss the blessing. How to approach God in faith is

clearly taught by 1 Jno. v. 14, 15. “This is the confidence that we have

in Him, that, if we ask anything according to his will He heareth us,

and if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have

the petitions that we desired of him.” When we ask Him for the Baptism

of the Holy Spirit we know that we have asked something according to His

will for it is definitely promised in His word. Therefore we know that

“He heareth us; and if we know that He hear us we know that we have the

petition” which we have asked of him. As soon then as I am sure I have

met the conditions stated above of the gift of the Holy Spirit, and

asked it of God I have a right to count this blessing mine—the prayer is

heard and I have the petition I asked of him—and get up and enter into

my work assured that in my work will be seen the Spirit’s power. “But,”

some one will say, “shall we expect no manifestations?” Yes, but where?

In service. When I know on the authority of God’s word that my prayer is

heard, I have the right to enter upon any service to which He calls me

and confidently expect the manifestation of the Spirit’s power in that

service. It is a mistake to wait or look for, as so many do, the

manifestation in electric shocks or peculiar emotional experiences. They

may and often do accompany the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. But the Bible

clearly teaches us (i Cor. xii. 4‒11) that the place to look for

manifestations, is in service and the most important, reliable and

scriptural manifestations are found in our work. “Must we not wait,” it

may be asked, “until we know that we have received the baptism of the

Holy Spirit?” Most assuredly, but how are we to know? The same way in

which we know we are saved, _by the testimony of God’s word_. When I

know I have met the conditions and have asked this gift which is

“according to his will” I know by God’s word (1 Jno. v. 14, 15.) that my

prayer is heard, and that I have the petition I desired of him. I have a

right to arise with no other evidence than the all–sufficient evidence

of God’s word, and enter into the service to which God calls me. “Did

not the early disciples wait ten days?” it may again be asked. Yes, and

the reason why is clearly given in Acts ii. 1.—“When the day of

Pentecost was fully come.” In the O. T. types the day of Pentecost had

been appointed as the day in God’s economy for the first giving of the

Holy Spirit and the offering of the first–fruits (the church) and so the

Holy Spirit could not be given until that day. (Lev. xxiii. 9‒17.) But

after the Spirit was once given we find no protracted period of waiting

on the part of those who sought this blessing. (Acts iv. 31; viii. 15,

17; ix. 17, 20; xix. 6.) Men are obliged to wait to–day, but it is only

because they have not met the conditions, or do not believe and claim

the blessing simply on the Word of God. The moment we meet the

conditions and claim the blessing it is ours. (Mark xi. 24 R.V.) Any

child of God may lay down this book, meet the conditions, ask the

blessing, claim it and have it. In a Students’ Summer School at Lake

Geneva after a talk by F. B. Meyer on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, a

student remained to talk with me. He said he had heard of this before

and had been seeking it for months but could not get it. I found his

will was not surrendered, but that was soon settled. Then I said, “Let

us kneel down and ask God for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.” He did

so. Was that petition “according to his will?” I asked. “Yes.” “Was the

prayer heard?” After some hesitation, “It must have been.” “Have you

what you asked of Him?” “I don’t feel it.” I read 1 Jno. v. 15 from the

Bible that lay open before us: “If we know that he hears us, whatsoever

we ask, we know that _we have_ the petition we desired of him.” “Was the

prayer heard?” “Yes.” “Have you what you asked?” “I must have; for God

says so.” We arose and soon separated. Going back to the school in a few

days I met the young man again. His face was now all aglow and he knew

he had received what at first he took upon the bare word of God.

 

 

4. THE REPETITION OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 

One thing more needs to be said before we leave this subject. _The

Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience that needs frequent

repeating._ This appears from a comparison of Acts ii. 4—where Peter

with others was filled with the Holy Spirit—with Acts iv. 8.—where Peter

was filled again,—and with Acts iv. 31 where Peter with others was

filled yet again. A new filling is needed and should be sought for each

new emergency of Christian service. There are many who once knew

experimentally what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit meant who are trying

to work to–day in the power of that old experience and are working

without God. They need and must have a new Baptism before God can use

them.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

=_Rev. Frederick B. Meyer, B. A._=

 

 

“_Few books of recent years are better adapted to instruct and help

Christians than those of this author. He is a man ‘mighty in the

scriptures.’_”―D. L. MOODY.

 

 

=_Old Testament Heroes_=, 12mo, cloth, each $1.00

 

=_Joshua_= and the Land of Promise.

 

=_Moses,_= the Servant of God.

 

=_Joseph:_= Beloved—Hated—Exalted.

 

=_Israel:_= A Prince with God.

 

=_Abraham;_= or, The Obedience of Faith.

 

=_Elijah_= and the Secret of His Power.

 

“Such studies as these may serve as models to those who are

grappling with the problem of a Sunday–night preaching service.

These sermons are of exceptional excellence.”―_The Golden

Rule._

 

=_The Christian Lite Series._= 18mo, cloth, each

50c.; white cloth, each. .60

 

=_Key Words of the Inner Life._=

 

=_The Future Tenses of the Blessed Life._=

 

=_The Present Tenses of the Blessed Life._=

 

=_The Shepherd Psalm._=

 

=_Christian Living._=

 

“The Christian Life series of books by F. B. Meyer are well

adapted to inspire the purpose of holy living.”―_The Central

Presbyterian._

 

=_The Expository Series._= 12mo, cloth, each. 1.00

 

=_The Way Into the Holiest._= An Exposition of the

Epistle to the Hebrews.

 

=_The Life and Light of Men._= Expositions in

John’s Gospel.

 

=_Tried by Fire._= Expositions of First Epistle of

Peter.

 

“These expositions have the character of all Mr. Meyer’s

writings. They combine devout insight into the rich resources

of the Word of God with skill in adapting it to the scriptural

needs of his readers.”―_The S. S. Times._

 

=_Envelope Series of Booklets._= Packets Nos. 1 and

2, each containing 12 Tracts, assorted. net, .20

 

=_Choice Extracts_= from the Writings of Rev. F. B.

Meyer. Compiled by Rev. B. Fay Mills. 24mo, paper,

each 5c.;

 

per dozen. net, .35

 

Larger edition, 16mo, paper. .15

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------