FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3
John 16:4-16
Psalm 1:1-6

“My soul longeth for the
courts of the Lord.”

OUR LORD’S TEACHING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT (II)

Read again yesterday’s passage in conjunction with “About the Holy Spirit” in the introductory page. The filth and falsehood in that introduction shows out clearly against the light of God’s truth in yesterday’s reading. In three areas the falsity of the two Charismatic teachers is exposed:

a) The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. From this fact, there must be no departure or compromise. A man who claims to be God’s servant must come under the Spirit’s control. He must be a messenger of truth. God, the Author of truth, could not have ordered Oral Roberts to raise money, or else… This is extortion. Roberts played the fundraising game well. He got his money, all that he wanted, including US$1.3 million from a Florida dog-track owner. All this could not be
the work of the Spirit of Truth.

b) The Comforter will rebuke the world of sin. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Holiness. He will not tolerate sin in any form. The man who claims to be part of the “Holy Spirit Renewal” movement must submit himself under the Spirit’s control. He must live a clean, Spirit-filled life. The PTL scandal, when exposed by the media news sleuths, reeked with the malodour of Sodom and Gomorrah, and doubly foul, for a host of evil lusts was perpetuated under the banner of “Praise the Lord.” Sin shall not have dominion – if the Holy Spirit is in charge.

c) The Spirit shall glorify me, so said the Lord. If a movement is truly of the Holy Spirit, it cannot do anything else but bring honour and glory to Jesus Christ. But the “Holy Spirit Renewal” movement in America has dragged the name of Jesus into the mud of scandal and filthy lucre. Even before the trial of Jim Bakker was to hit the public eye, the skeletons in the cupboard were clamouring to be let out. All this cannot be of the Holy Spirit.

Let God’s people take heed how they live their lives.

THOUGHT: The Holy Spirit does not lead man to sin.
PRAYER: Lord, keep me ever holy for Thy name’s sake.