Readings for such a time as this(4): - from: The Acts of The Holy Spirit ____________ The Counsel and Approval of the Spirit We reach now the heart of this fifth Gospel, the Acts of the Holy Ghost. The fifteenth chapter, which is very nearly central in this narrative, affords a singularly clear exhibition of his working and co-working in the church, and supplies both a pivotal center for his activities, and a focal center of convergence where the revelations of his condescending love and grace meet in a point of intense glory. In the course of this narrative words are written which for startling impressiveness are elsewhere,Acts 15:28. even in this book of surprises, unequaled, and which at first seem irreverent: It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, AND TO US. This is the formal announcement of the conclusions and decisions of that first church council at Jerusalem. Apostles and elders have been in conference over certain troublesome and somewhat vexatious questions of ceremonialism, which verge closely upon the domain of Christian ethics. And now, as they draw up their deliverance, and formally issue letters conveying their final verdict, they boldly treat the Holy Spirit as one of their number—a fellow-counselor, who unites with them in the announcement of a joint conclusion; as though he, the Spirit of God, had sat with them in their deliberations, had with them counseled as chief adviser, and now unites with them in this deliverance, sealing their conclusions with his approval. As no such language, or anything closely approaching it, occurs elsewhere in the Word of God, its emphasis cannot be mistaken. In the earlier part of this letter to the Gentile converts, the disciples, convened at Jerusalem, had said, It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you; and this is the naturalActs 15:25. language of brethren who have been in session deliberating over common questions. But, as though One who was at the same time the presiding officer and chief counselor should be mentioned by name, they now, as they approach the very heart of their message to Gentile churches, add, It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us. There is no resisting the implication that he had been assembled with them and was with them of one accord. In this exalted truth we seem to reach the apex of the teaching of this book. In the fifth chapter we saw the Spirits presence and presidency exhibited in the church, so that back of Peter, as the apparent head, he stood as the real Administrator of affairs. Then in the sixth chapter we saw him, as the Archbishop and Primate of the whole church, controlling all subordinate offices so that they shall be filled only by men who are first filled with the Spirit and prepared to cooperate with him and be subordinate to him. Then in the eighth and ninth chapters we traced his individual dealing and leading, bringing chosen workmen and inquiring souls together. Again in the thirteenth chapter we have seen him choosing and calling by name, separating and sending forth, the first two missionaries to regions beyond. And now we reach a still loftier level, where he is seen not only occupying the higher seat of sovereignty, but condescending to the lowlier seat of a fellow-counselor. Here is a lesson for all ages on the true character of church councils. What we call a court of Jesus Christ has too often been more like an assembly of unbelievers, if not like a synagogue of Satan. When in church meetings for business—even business so sacred as the election of a pastor—and when, in those higher courts where the wider interests of the churches are adjusted, we find subtlety and diplomacy, worldly policy and temporizing expediency, even downright deception and dishonesty, practised; when we find a party spirit existing, and warring factions, hot with controversy, waging ecclesiastical warfare, and politicians pulling wires and pursuing personal and selfish schemes; when we hear little prayer or praise, and much noise and confusion and clamor of excited, if not angry, debate, and occasionally witness scenes of uproar that would disgrace a political caucus—we have been compelled to stop and ask, Is THIS A COURT OF CHRIST? Is the Holy Ghost here? Is this the see of a divine Archbishop, or is it the seat of Satan? What a radical revolution would take place in all church assemblies if the sense of the Spirits presence were actually felt, and if everything were said and done as in his presence! We have known church meetings, nominally called for transaction of the Lords special business, and opened with a solemn invocation of the presence and guidance of the Spirit of God, which had been packed by design with parties pledged to a certain course of action, and where any opposition to such predetermined policy was met with riotous demonstration and violent disturbance; or, in other cases, church courts conducted, indeed, with more apparent deference to the decencies of external order, but where there was an underhanded conspiracy quietly to carry out some subtle scheme and defeat all opposition, however sincere and reasonable. If such conduct is not a practical unseating of the Holy Spirit, what can be? On the contrary, we could mention by name at least one church of Christ where for a score of years the sense of the Spirits presence has been habitually and sedulously cultivated; where everything is done as unto the Lord and before him; where disciples tread softly, as in the unseen Presence; where nothing would be done or countenanced which was felt to be out of harmony with his mind or not in positive accord with his leading; where clamor and confusion would be deemed an insult to his majestic dignity, and all insubordination an assault upon his rightful sovereignty; where his mind is first of all inquired after and waited for, as an inquirer awaits the response of an oracle before taking a step at a crisis; where a certain atmosphere prevails which is fragrant with his presence and inspiring with his vitality. Of the conclusions reached by such a body of disciples it might be even now no irreverence, were it written, It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us. Perhaps no one lesson among all those taught in this book is designed to leave a more deep and lasting impression. The Holy Spirits acts must be recognized if they are to be real and effective and constant. Here, as in so many other cases, the law is, According to your faith be it unto you. This is a fact revealed only to faith, possible only to faith. His presence is not one to be seen, heard, felt, or known by bodily organs or senses, but by the spirit that is in fellowship with him. When and where he is revered, recognized, and treated as actually present and presiding, leading and teaching, guiding and governing, he actually is exercising all his blessed offices of administration. Where his counsel is sought and waited for in faith, and where every step is taken as under his eye and obedient to his glance, he actually does lead and control. And it is no irreverence to say of any conclusion so reached, It seemed good; not only to us, but to the Holy Ghost. But, where he is treated with neglect as though not present, or with contempt as though unworthy of worshipful reverence and obedience, he is grieved and quenched, and virtually forsakes his seat in the church and leaves it to the usurper, the world, and the prince of this world, whose presence and guidance are practically preferred. This one phrase needs but to be devoutly studied and its lesson thoroughly learned, to introduce into our whole church administration a new principle of life and power unknown since apostolic days; and make our church courts—instead of burrow-ing-places for ecclesiastical foxes, and nests for intriguers who may be wise as serpents, but who, alas! are not quite as harmless as doves—as holy and sacred as the house of God, as attractive and glorious as the gate of heaven. One voice and pen that left blessed testimony to the church on this subjectRev. A. J. Gordon, D.D. have given their last contribution to the great theme. For more than twenty years he quietly but earnestly devoted his noble powers to the study and advocacy of the Holy Spirits administration in the church; and he has left behind four books which together constitute a complete witness on this subject—we might almost say, a complete literature of the theme. In The Ministry of the Spirit he treats the manifold offices of the Spirit and the modes of his working; in The Holy Spirit and Missions he gives us a practical commentary on the thirteenth chapter of the Acts, in which the Holy Ghost appears, choosing and sending forth the first missionaries; in How Christ Came to Church, founded on a dream of the Masters presence in the sanctuary, he works out the problem of conforming church life to the pattern left by the Spirit on the pages of the Acts, and making real his actual presidency; and in the Coronation Hymnal he sought to furnish a vehicle for spiritual song appropriate to the uses of the Spirit in the service of praise, and to that speakingEphes. 5:20; Col. 3:16. among ourselves, and teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, which is expressly enjoined in the Pauline Epistles. In all the blessed ministry of Dr. Gordon no testimony is to be found that is a more valuable legacy to the church than this witness to the Spirit. It was a perpetual burden on his mind and heart, like those of the prophets of old; and he felt that he must speak. But, best of all, he actually reduced the theory of the Spirits administration largely to practice. For a quarter of a century he wrought, patiently teaching and preaching the doctrine of the Holy Ghost, praying for Holy Ghost power to do a higher will than his own, gradually eliminating from the church of which he was pastor the secular elements which had found their way into its working, until it presented the unique spectacle of an apostolic church, conducted by consecrated men, controlled by scriptural principles and encouraging scriptural practices; having its service of song wholly in the hands of devout leaders, its moneys all raised by voluntary offerings, prayer magnified, the Spirit honored, and mission enterprises at home and abroad so cordially sustained, that this church became the leader of a whole denomination, and a standing proof that, even in these degenerate days, the Spirit of God may be found holding his seat in the midst of his people, recognized and obeyed and honored as the presiding Power, and working his wonders of conversion and consecration, enduement and service, somewhat as of old. Nor is this church absolutely solitary. While in Bristol, England, I visited the chapel where the body of brethren assemble, gathered under the ministry of George Müller. A half-century ago he sat down with a few disciples about the Lords table for the distinct purpose of forming an apostolic church, in which the scriptural pattern was to be appealed to as the sole guide, and the Holy Spirit to be recognized as the sole Administrator. That little flock has increased until it has become, not two bands, but many. But during all these years there has been no departure from the model then chosen. Secular practices and methods have been kept out, and a spiritual method has been resolutely adhered to; so that the only party who administers it in any proper sense is the Spirit of God, who gives unmistakable signs of his own, of his holy presence and power continually. It fell to the writer to be present at a prayer service in this well-known chapel in Bristol, where some three hundred persons were gathered. From the entrance into the room one impression was vivid: an invisible Presence fills this place, and so manifestly presides that no human conductor seems necessary. The exercises were spontaneous and purely voluntary; brethren offered prayer, praise, admonition, or exhortation, as they felt moved, without any indications of a program or prearrangement. Yet all was harmonious and consistent. It seemed like a sudden translation backward into the apostolic days. And it is to be noticed that this body of disciples moves in everything together. While other churches so multiply organizations within or without the church that our ecclesiastical system bids fair to become a vast, cumbrous, complex piece of machinery, and threatens to divide young and old, men and women, into separate societies, in this church of Christ all unite in any work done for the Master. Nothing is further from the purpose of the writer than to make any invidious comparisons, or hold up to undue prominence and praise any one or more church organizations. But there is a peril that besets us which is of the gravest character. While the teaching of this inspired Book is unmistakable, it is treated as an impracticable theory, and easily dismissed as a dream of the past that the present age of church history cannot be expected to realize. Yet God has in some few instances proved in this degenerate day that there is nothing unattainable in the apostolic model. He is teaching his philosophy of church conduct by a sufficient number of examples to prove that the Holy Spirits actual, active, present guidance and control is a possible, feasible blessing, because it is in these cases, at least, an indisputable fact. And the Boston pastor to whom reference has been made emphatically said that nothing was more remarkable to him than the fact that, feeling conscious of a lack in himself of what is called executive ability, he was the more led to humble dependence on the administration of the Spirit; and that from that time forth the Spirit conspicuously led, prompting whom he would to originate various forms of missionary activity at home and abroad; until, without any human planning and without any apparent effort, missions among the Chinese and the Jews, intemperate men and outcast women, and various other neglected classes, sprang up spontaneously and were sustained without anxiety. Then came, as of its own accord, a large training-school for Christian workers, where hundreds are yearly taught; and then new missions abroad. Surely it is worth while to sacrifice any worldly interests or secular methods if we may thus come to know what meaning there is in that sacred phrase, to the Holy Ghost and to us. - via WORDsearch10 #readingsforsuchatimeasthis #christjesus #vineofchristministries #theword #studyscripture #god #biblestudy #bible #jesus #faith #holyspirit
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 22:55:31 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015