Manifestations
of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit manifests Himself to us
in various ways. His first manifestation to us is in
drawing us to Christ by convicting us of our wrong doings.
At this time, and quite often in subsequent life, He
manifests Himself to us through the Bible. He also
manifests Himself to us in person by inward impressions on
our minds. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit are
always pure, chaste, and virtuous.
MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT IN
CONVERSION.—The visible manifestations of the Holy
Spirit in conversion may differ according to the
temperament of the person converted. Many persons have
trouble with doubts because their manifestations were not
greater or as great as someone's else; but extraordinary
manifestations, such as leaping, shouting, etc., are not
always manifestations of divine presence. Some people when
the Spirit speaks peace to them feel like shouting praise
to God; some feel like laughing; some feel like crying;
while others may feel a heavenly calm with but little or
no outward manifestation; and yet the experience is the
same. The Holy Spirit does not change our human natures in
a moment of time, nor does He completely change our
spiritual natures in conversion, and yet He witnesses to
our hearts that we are born from above.
A person who is naturally
sympathetic and apt to shed tears may feel like crying
when the glad news of pardon is wafted to the soul; while
someone else who is more enthusiastic will feel like
leaping and shouting for joy. H seems so natural for us to
"measure ourselves by one another, and compare
ourselves among ourselves," that we often want to act
and feel like someone else; but this should be committed
to God, and whatever feelings He may see fit to send
should be considered the best. We are not saved by
feelings, but by faith. Feeling right will make no one
right with God; but he who is right will at least feel the
presence of God by an assurance of faith.
A person who comes to Christ
expecting some peculiar manifestation of divine presence
not promised in God's Word, will invariably be
disappointed, for he must give up his own will and submit
to the will of God. When we come to God for pardon we
should say, Lord, if I, like Paul, am prostrated; or if I,
like the lame man at the gate Beautiful, am made to leap
and shout for joy, or whatever my feelings may be, let me
build my faith only on Thy unchanging Word.
MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT
SANCTIFICATION.— As in conversion the feelings of
different individuals are differently wrought upon, so it
is in sanctification. One person may feel the inward death
to self going on for days, while some one else may die to
all selfish motives and crucify the "old man" in
a few moments. One, when the Holy Spirit comes in, may
shout aloud for joy, while another may feel a great calm.
To one he may come as "a mighty rushing wind";
to another He may come as "a still small voice."
We cannot describe any certain feeling or manifestation of
divine presence which is common to all; but a complete
consecration and a surrendered will a "yes" to
God, and an "amen" to all His Word, are
conditions which must be met by all; and when these are
complied with, and faith goes through to the throne and
gains the victory, all is well, regardless of outward
manifestations.
MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
IN PREACHING.—Possibly here, in preaching, we behold
more than anywhere else the manifestation of divine
presence. One special work of the Holy Spirit is to send
forth the truth; in fact, the Word of God may be said to
be the manifesto of the Spirit. The apostles and other
writers were inspired in writing the Bible, but this is
not enough; for it to be effectual the preacher must also
be inspired. Not always the man who makes the most noise,
however, is the most inspired. Outward manifestations are
not always indicative of divine power, yet the Spirit
often causes a man or woman in the pulpit to shout for joy
or weep with burden for the lost.
One man under the influence of the
Holy Spirit in preaching may be inspired to unravel the
deep mysteries of prophecy, another may be inspired to
teach the plain truths of the New Testament, while yet
another may be anointed to exhort sinners to flee the
wrath to come; and yet it is the same Spirit that inspires
them all. The Holy Spirit chooses the man or woman He can
use to fill the requirements of the present, and inspires
to accomplish that which He pleases. Whatever the outward
manifestation of the Holy Spirit be, we should judge no
man by it; for if God is pleased, all is well; but, of
course, the Holy Spirit never manifests Himself in
unseemly ways.
We are taught in the Bible to study
to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not
to be ashamed; yet, if we study the Scriptures from an
intellectual side only, even the truth will not accomplish
as much as it would were we devoted heart and soul to our
work. The melting power of the Holy Spirit is needed to
soften the hearts of those who hear the truth, and His
illuminative influence is needed to enlighten the natural
mind.
Noise is not power, but the Spirit
filled soul often shouts aloud for joy. Lord, save us from
dead formality and empty noise, and give the genuine
manifestations of the Holy Spirit fire.
"Blessed Spirit, for the asking
Thou didst come into my heart;
Oh, I ever would adore thee,
Never, never from thee part;
Blessed Spirit, how I love thee!
Dwell thou ever in my heart.
"Thou dost tell me. blessed Spirit,
That my soul is born of God;
Thou dost witness to the cleansing
Wrought within by Jesus' blood,
I am happy, ever happy,
Since my heart is shine abode
"Oh, this wondrous, blest anointing
Which within me doth abide,
Witnessing to Jesus' merit—
In thy guidance I confide;
Thou wilt lead me, thou wilt bring me,
Bring me to my Savior's side.
"Now I taste of heaven's sweetness,
For my Savior in me lives;
Oh, the richness and completeness
Of this rest the Spirit gives!
Ever lead me, heav'nward lead me,
Conq'ring pow'r to me give."
