Yesterday, we’ve seen that the responsibility to make the proper use of the gift rests not with God, the giver, but with man, the receiver. This important principle applies in all areas of God’s dealing with man, including that of the gifts of the Spirit. This conclusion should be weighed with sober care by all those who are seeking or who have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the manifestation of speaking with other tongues. According to Scripture, it is not possible to receive this initial baptism without this outward manifestation. But it is possible, thereafter, to have the outward manifestation without retaining the inward fullness of the Spirit.
There is only one sure, scriptural test of continuing fullness of the Holy Spirit, and that is the love test. In the measure that we are filled with the Holy Spirit, in the same measure we shall be filled with divine love. We are not more filled with the Holy Spirit than we are filled with divine love. John applies this test in clear, simple terms.
“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us... God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:12-13,16)
Likewise, Paul assigns to love a place of unique honour among all God’s gifts and graces.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13)
Of all the operations of the indwelling Spirit, the greatest and most enduring is the pouring out of divine love in the believer’s heart.
In these last four weeks we have considered eight important results which God desires to produce in the life of each individual believer through baptising him in the Holy Spirit.
- Power to witness.
- The exalting and glorifying of Christ.
- A foretaste of heaven’s power and an entrance thereby into a supernatural life.
- Help in prayer, lifting the believer far above his own natural strength or understanding.
- A new understanding of the Scriptures.
- Daily guidance in the path of God’s will.
- Life and health for the physical body.
- The pouring out of God’s love in the believer’s heart.
In the next weeks we will consider results produced by this same experience in the life and worship of a Christian congregation.
Lord, help me to continue to grow in the use of the spiritual gifts that You have given me. Help me to grow in this, and also be an example for others, so that many others will also use these supernatural gifts, to edify Your Church. Amen.
