Evidence of the Holy Spirit's Presence (2)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.—Rom. 15:13
(2) By the conviction given by the Spirit. The Spirit of Christ convinces (John 14:8). That is, he brings a clear, evident conviction that the truth of God is the truth of God. It is not doubtful. Therefore, when a man staggers in the truth, whether he should do this and that, it is a sign he does not have the Spirit, or that he has him in a very small measure, because as light the Spirit is convincing. A man does not doubt what he sees at noonday. So what he sees by the Spirit he is convinced of. When a man doubts and wavers, whether he should take a good course or a bad, it is a sign he is carnal, and does not have the Spirit of God; for the Spirit would convince him. You must take this course if you are saved. When the Spirit says something to convince, that says more for a thing than anything can say against it.
Now when a man has the Spirit of God, he can say more for God and for good things and good ways, than all the devils in hell by discouragement can say against them. When a man cannot say anything for God, and for good causes to purpose, he does not have the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God would so convince him, that he would answer all cavils and objections. The argument for this is wondrously full, and I have given you but a taste, to know whether or not the Spirit of Christ be in you.
(3) By the Spirit's transforming us. In a word, Christ is that Spirit, and has infused the Holy Spirit into us, the Spirit will make us like Christ; the Spirit will transform us into Christ's likeness, making us holy and humble and obedient as Christ was on earth, even to death. That you may know you have the Spirit of God, consider these directions.
Now when a man has the Spirit of God, he can say more for God and for good things and good ways, than all the devils in hell by discouragement can say against them. When a man cannot say anything for God, and for good causes to purpose, he does not have the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God would so convince him, that he would answer all cavils and objections. The argument for this is wondrously full, and I have given you but a taste, to know whether or not the Spirit of Christ be in you.
(3) By the Spirit's transforming us. In a word, Christ is that Spirit, and has infused the Holy Spirit into us, the Spirit will make us like Christ; the Spirit will transform us into Christ's likeness, making us holy and humble and obedient as Christ was on earth, even to death. That you may know you have the Spirit of God, consider these directions.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 22-23 [26-27]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Glorious Freedom, pp. 22-23 [26-27]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
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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
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