Brothers : The Holy Spirit and Jesus
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Witness and Truth
The Holy Spirit witnesses to the truth. A witness is required to speak the truth, thus the witness of the Holy Spirit is truth itself. "And the Spirit is witness, because the Spirit is the truth."1 Blaise Pascal writes, "The serene silent beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world." The Holy Spirit's witness accompanies our inner spirit in asserting the truth that we are children of God. "It is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God."2
Holy Spirit Blasphemy
There is a unique sacredness in the Holy Spirit's name such that blasphemy against him alone will not be forgiven. It is the opposite of truth. "But the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven... whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."3 Why this should be is a mystery, but perhaps it is that since the Holy One is our channel to God and brings the truth of God then offence against the Holy One's name causes the means of communication to be broken irreparably. Thus, even the power to communicate is broken and eternal separation from God is caused. To say that the Holy One has an unclean spirit is an eternal sin and contrary to the truth. God, on the other hand, deals with us in the most intimate, gentle and personal way.
Killing the Sin Tendency
Rose growers in Holland cultivate inferior flowers next to those of superior quality. By careful treatment the poorer takes on the characteristics of the most beautiful. In the same way, Christians take on the characteristics of Jesus by spending time with him. The Holy Spirit exchanges the prospect of death for that of life. "If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live."5
As a boy, F. B. Meyer enjoyed visiting the Polytechnic science building in London. He liked the diving bell particularly. It had no bottom but there were seats attached to the inside. Visitors were sometimes allowed to enter the bell and were lowered into the water until submerged. What fascinated Meyer was that though they could reach down and touch the water the occupants didn't get wet because the air being pumped in from the top maintained a pressure on the water. If you are full of the Holy Spirit, the flesh life is underneath you, and though it would surge up, it is kept down by the pressure of the Holy Spirit life in you.
Sowing One's Flesh
We sow to the flesh by deliberately pampering to our natural worldly lusts. To sow to the Holy Spirit is to seek after personal holiness, which eventually brings eternal life here on earth and on into eternity. "For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." 6
William Gurnall in "The Christian in Complete Armor" wrote, "Say not that thou art begotten of God and hast royal blood flowing through thy veins except thou canst prove thy pedigree by this heroic spirit - to dare to be holy in spite of men and devils"7
Notes
11 John 5.7 2Romans 8.16 3Matthew 12.31,32 4c.f. Mark 3.29,30 5Romans 8.13 6Galatians 6.8 7William Gurnall in "The Christian in Complete Armor."
It is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God
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