Holy Ghost -
Source of Power
Being successful at anything brings us great joy. Spiritual success cannot be gauged and measured in the same way that material and intellectual accomplishments are estimated. But success in the spiritual realm affords a deep satisfaction and an ongoing joy that is totally unique and truly incomparable. I Peter 1.8 refers to our belief in Jesus Christ as producing this special rejoicing which is overflowing with '10y unspeakable and full of glory." D.L. Moody's book, Success In the Christian Life, is all about this glorious fruit produced in the hearts of true believers by the Holy Ghost. Mr. Moody has much to say about the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Ghost but he mainly focuses on the Spirit Himself, the gift-giver and Source of Power for both individual Christians and for the Church at large.
The five chapters that comprise this spiritually dynamic book are all centered on power: its source, its position, its effects, and the obstacles that hinder the release of spiritual power. This is a short treatise on Holy Ghost power and the author describes his subject much like a knowledgeable jeweler would carefully examine all the appealing facets of a very precious gem.
At the Last Supper, the Lord Jesus made a promise to His disciples that can be claimed by all who are obedient to His command to "receive the Holy Ghost", and live in obedience to His promptings. Our Lord spoke of a day (the era of the Holy Ghost) when "your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you" (John 16.22) Mr. Moody explains: "I think there is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is caused by things which happen around me, and circumstances will mar it. But joy flows on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition; it flows right along, for it is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring which the world can't see and know anything about; but the Lord gives His people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to Him." To experience this perpetual joy we must stay close to God's Word. The Holy Spirit Himself teaches us through the prophet Jeremiah: "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Thy name, a Lord" (15.16).
Admonishing the church Mr. Moody quotes Charles Spurgeon, a contemporary evangelist and teacher from the other side of the Atlantic: "If we do not have the Spirit of God, it were better to shut the churches, to nail up the doors, to put a black cross on them, and say 'God have mercy on us'. I think I speak not too strongly when I say that a church in the land without the Spirit of God is rather a curse than a blessing. This is solemn work; the Holy Spirit or nothing, and worse than nothing. Death and condemnation to a church that is not yearning after the Spirit, and crying and groaning until the Spirit has wrought mightily in her midst."
Such forceful, but true, words are counterbalanced by the author's gentle, sound advice to Christian homes and families: "A great many parents have inquired of me how to win their children. I think there is no way so sure to win our families and our neighbors, and those about whom we are anxious, to Christ, than just to adorn the doctrine of Jesus Christ in our lives, and grow in all these graces. If we have peace and joy and love and gentleness and goodness and temperance ... if we just live in our homes as the Lord would have us, an even Christian life day by day, we shall have a quiet and silent power proceeding from us, that will constrain them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. But an uneven life, hot today and cold tomorrow, will only repel. Many are watching God's people."
It is still fashionable in some church circles where history and tradition are placed on a pedestal, to lament the absence of great men of faith from the modern scene. I have the deepest respect and tender regard for many giants of the faith whose lives and words still speak to us from the past. I treasure the deeds, sermons and teachings of these great reformers, evangelists, writers and, preachers. not so 1 can bask in the glory of the revelations afforded them, much less to try to live off the faith they inspired but rather because they preached and prophesied so much of what we are privileged to experience in these latter days. These champions of faith knew the Holy Spirit came upon us at Pentecost and His personal presence has never left the Church forsaken or fatherless, The problem has never been with the absence of the Holy Spirit; rather, the lack revolves around obedient and willing human hearts, D, L. Moody invokes the anointed words of Rowland Hill, an English preacher of a previous generation to describe the reality of supreme success in the Christian life: "When the Holy Spirit enters the soul, heaven enters with Him. The heart is compared to a temple. God never enters without His a attendants; repentance cleanses the house; faith provides for the house; watchfulness like the porter takes care of it; prayer is a lively messenger, learns what is wanted and goes for it; faith tells him where to go, and he never goes in vain; joy is the musician of the temple, tuning to the praises of God and the Lamb. And this terrestrial temple shall be removed to the celestial world, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised."
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