The Great Defect # 3

The Great Defect # 3

The Holy Spirit sets us apart for God, leads us to engage in the service of God, enables us to perform the will of God, blesses us to the Church of God, and first enables, and then honors us, in being witnesses to the world for God.

Without the Spirit, therefore, we have no title to church privileges; no fitness for the Lord's service; no enjoyment of spiritual fellowship; no consecration to the Lord's glory.

The consequences of not having the Spirit, hereafter will be truly dreadful! Make whatever profession we may, pass muster among the saints now as we will - we shall surely be detected then.

The chaff will be separated from the corn, the tares from the wheat, the sheep from the goats, and the foolish virgins from the wise.

We shall be disowned by Jesus Himself! He will say, "I never approved of you." In vain we plead, "Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name cast out devils, and in Your name done many wonderful works," for then will he say unto us, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice iniquity!"

We shall be shut out of the marriage supper of the Lamb. The wise virgins, all who have oil in their vessels, or all who have the Spirit, will be admitted within; but it will be in vain for us to come, stand outside and knock, crying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!" for He will answer, "Truly I say unto you, I know you not!"

We shall be exposed. Our folly will be made manifest unto all. Our portion will be shame and everlasting contempt. We will be treated with contempt by devils, and as the scum of God's creation - after being treated with respect both by saints and sinners here! This will be dreadful - unspeakably dreadful! Everlasting contempt! Oh, how fearful! How humbling! How degrading!

We shall be punished. Eternally punished. We shall know what the wrath of God means. We shall understand what the curse of God is. We shall feel the terrible force of the expressions, "weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth!" We shall suffer all that is intended by a consuming fire, everlasting burnings, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest! We shall be where the worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. Then,  then we shall find that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

Reader, reader - have you the Spirit? Do you profess to have the Spirit? If so, see to it that you have it in reality; for if you have not, in a very little time you will certainly be detected; you will be publicly exposed; you will be openly disowned by the Judge of all; you will be shut out of Heaven; you will be shut into hell; you will be treated with contempt by all God's creation; you will be punished with everlasting destruction, away from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.

It is of little consequence what a man has then - if he has not the fullness of the Spirit; for all real religion begins, is carried on, and completed by the Spirit. He breathes the first breath of life in us, He feeds and fosters the life He imparts, and He completes the work which He begins in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As no substitute can be found for the Holy Spirit and His work, we should carefully examine ourselves, whether we have received the Holy Spirit or not. Lest we should be deceived, let us not be satisfied with less than the fullness of the Spirit. We are not to suppose that this was a peculiar privilege, to be confined to a few, for Paul exhorts the members of the Church at Ephesus to be "filled with the Spirit."

On this fullness of the Spirit - let us set our hearts; for this fullness of the Spirit - let us seek; without  this fullness of the Spirit - let us not be satisfied.

Father of mercies, fill us with the Holy Spirit. Gracious Saviour, giveus the Comforter in fullness and in power, to abide with us forever! Dear Holy Spirit, come and make our hearts Your home, and let us be filled with your presence, power, and glory - yes, let us be filled with all the fullness of God! Amen!

~James Smith~

(The End)