Go to Christ, the Giver of the Spirit
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.—John 16:7
It is a point of much comfort, that there is such abundance of Spirit in Christ, that we have a fullness from which to receive. Is it not a comfort for Christians to know that Christ has the Spirit to give, the Spirit of wisdom in all difficulties, the Spirit of truth to keep us from all errors, the Spirit of strength for all services, the Spirit of comfort for all afflictions? Our Lord Jesus has abundance of Spirit in him, and for us.
Therefore, when we want any grace, or gift of the Spirit, we should go to Christ; for God does all by Christ and Christ does all by the Spirit.
Desire Christ that he would grant his Spirit to rule us, counsel us, comfort us, and strengthen us. In our emptiness, as indeed we are empty creatures of ourselves, let us go to Christ for the Spirit. The reason why Christians are so dead and so dull and so dark in their spirits is that they do not first consider themselves, and then go to Christ. We should all, in all necessities whatever, make use of this our great high treasurer, the great high steward of heaven and earth, the second person in heaven. Our comfort is now that our strength and comfort lie hidden in Christ, who as man, is near to us, and as God is near to God. He is between the Father and us; he is near the Father as being of the same nature with him; he is near us as being of the same nature with us. So being a mediator in office, and being so fit for a mediator in nature, what a comfort is this.
Indeed, there is no coming to God, no interaction between God and us directly, but only through the God-man. In Christ we go to God, in our flesh, in our nature; and in Christ, and from Christ, and by Christ, we have all grace and comfort. Therefore, we should go to Christ in every way.
Therefore, when we want any grace, or gift of the Spirit, we should go to Christ; for God does all by Christ and Christ does all by the Spirit.
Desire Christ that he would grant his Spirit to rule us, counsel us, comfort us, and strengthen us. In our emptiness, as indeed we are empty creatures of ourselves, let us go to Christ for the Spirit. The reason why Christians are so dead and so dull and so dark in their spirits is that they do not first consider themselves, and then go to Christ. We should all, in all necessities whatever, make use of this our great high treasurer, the great high steward of heaven and earth, the second person in heaven. Our comfort is now that our strength and comfort lie hidden in Christ, who as man, is near to us, and as God is near to God. He is between the Father and us; he is near the Father as being of the same nature with him; he is near us as being of the same nature with us. So being a mediator in office, and being so fit for a mediator in nature, what a comfort is this.
Indeed, there is no coming to God, no interaction between God and us directly, but only through the God-man. In Christ we go to God, in our flesh, in our nature; and in Christ, and from Christ, and by Christ, we have all grace and comfort. Therefore, we should go to Christ in every way.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 18-19 [21-23]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Glorious Freedom, pp. 18-19 [21-23]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Categories
Recent
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 22
December 22nd, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 21
December 21st, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 20
December 20th, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 19
December 19th, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 18
December 18th, 2024
2024
January
One Thing (1)One Thing (2)Our Thoughts and Desires Reveal Who We AreThe Christian's Desire for God's House (1)The Christian's Desire for God's House (2)What the Soul Was Made ForGod Makes the Heart TenderMaintaining a Tender Heart (1)Maintaining a Tender Heart (2)Maintaining a Tender Heart (3)Maintaining a Tender Heart (4)Test to See if Your Heart is TenderHow to Recover a Tender HeartBenefits of a Tender HeartKings Must Humble Themselves Before GodHow to Humble Ourselves (1)How to Humble Ourselves (2)How to Humble Ourselves (3)Proneness to PrideHumilityTrue versus False Humility (1)True versus False Humility (2)True versus False Humility (3)Both Outward Devotion and Inward AffectionWeeping for the ChurchWeeping and Rejoicing Mixed (1)Weeping and Rejoicing Mixed (2)God Hears Our Prayers--His PartWhen It Seems God Doesn't HearThe Privilege of PrayerGod Hears Our Prayers--Our Part
February
Death Is a Gathering (1)Death Is a Gathering (2)The Righteous Preserve their NationGod's Righteous JudgmentThe Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (1)The Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (2)Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's LoveRun to GodChristian UnityChrist In Us (1)Christ In Us (2)Christ In Us (3)Christ In Us (4)Christ In Us (5)Christ the Servant: the MediatorThe Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (1)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (2)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (3)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (4)God Knows Our FrameLittle at First (1)Little at First (2)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (1)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (2)Avoiding Unnecessary RulesThe Weaker BrotherExtend Grace to One AnotherThe Covenant of GraceThe Light of God Compared to Fire (1)
March
The Light of God Compared to Fire (2)The Light of God Compared to Fire (3)Temptation (1)Temptation (2)The Source of DiscouragementsResponding to Christ's KindnessVictory in Spiritual BattlesHis Power Not OursCourage Until the End (1)Courage Until the End (2)Our Hearts—God's TempleSin in God's PeopleSigns of God's Impending Judgment (1)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (2)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (3)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (1)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (2)The Ugliness of Sin (1)The Ugliness of Sin (2)Far but NearChrist's Dying Words of ComfortThe Wrong of Excessive SorrowSteps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (1)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (2)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (3)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (1)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (2)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (3)Christ and the Holy SpiritChrist Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (1)Christ Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (2)
No Comments