My Name shall they cast out devils.” Mk. 16; 17. Why can we do this? “As joint-heirsn6489 ¶1
What is the great need of the hour? “To be filled with the Spirit.’ Eph. 5; 18.n6489 ¶2
Why are we not filled with the Spirit? Because we are high-minded, self-righteous, boastful. Why are we not filled with the Spirit? Because we are cold, analytical, egotistical. Why are we not filled with the Spirit? Because we are sorrowful, unhappy, fearful. Why are we not filled with the Spirit? Because we are filled with self.n6489 ¶3
While every one is the temple of the living God, everyone is not conscious of being filled with the Spirit. Why not? Because he is not emptied. ‘The vessel, or individual, must be emptied before he can be filled. When we are willing to die to the world and its approval and censure, when we are no longer influenced by the praise or the blame of man, when we have died the mystical death,—the death of the self,—then are we empty, are we ready for the indwelling Christ. The purpose of Life is that we be holy, pure, upright, full of power, dominion, love,—like Jesus Christ, with whom we are joint-heirs; but, it is only as we “behold Christ” that we become like Him. “When He shall appear (to us) we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him dorkicvicnsn6489 ¶4
Is it worth it, the emptying of the self, the surrender of the personal will, that we may be filled with the Spirit? Can we,—shall we say:n6489 ¶5
“Here I bring within my trembling hand This will of mine,—a thing that seemeth small, And only Thou, dear Lord, canst understand How when I yield Thee this, I yield my all.n6489 ¶6
Hidden therein Thy searching eye can see Struggles of passion, visions of delight,— All that I love, or am, or fain would be, Deep loves, fond hopes, and longing infinite.n6489 ¶7
Take it, O Father, ere my courage fail,n6489 ¶8
And merge it so in Thine own will that e’en If in some desperate hour my cry prevailn6489 ¶9
And Thou give back my gift, it may have beenn6489 ¶10
So changed, so purified, so fair have grown, So one with Thee,—so filled with peace, divine. I may not know or feel it as my own,n6489 ¶11
But gaining back my will, may find it Thine.”n6489 ¶12
Beloved, What think ye of God? What think ye of Christ? What think ye of the Holy Ghost? The dispensation of the Father is one dispensation. The dispensation of the Son is another dispensation. The dispensation of the Holy Ghost is the third dispensation and is the dispensation of today. “It shall come to pass in the last days, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.”n6489 ¶13
“The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the Vine. I Am the Vine. Ye are the branches. If ye abide in Me and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.”n6489 ¶14
We take firm hold of the Vine, that, into us, the branch, will pour that wonderful glory and power, that simple grandeur, that infinite love and devotion that was manifested in Jesus. “The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things unto His hand.” Your hand or myn6489 ¶15