01.06. Address (Babcock)
VI. ADDRESS. BY REV. M. D. BABCOCK.
ONE of the most conspicuous marks of the believer who has heard and obeyed the words:" Be filled with the Spirit," is the spontaneity of Christian life and service. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit makes the difference between the positive and the negative Christian between the one able to give and the one who can only receive between the one bearing much fruit and the one with little else than leaves. There are Christians whose testimony can be extracted from them, but it is a painful, and sometimes perilous operation. There are Christians who cannot help but testify whose words, whose deeds, whose methods, whose manners tell plainly whose they are and whom they serve. The difference is the indwelling Spirit. We can hardly discern the light of some who profess and call themselves Christians. The very shadow of others has healing and blessing in it.
It is the difference between the disciple in the dark at the world’s fire, away from his Master, disowning and disgracing him, and the Apostle filled with the Holy Ghost, following in the Master’s footsteps, speaking fearlessly for him, dying, but not denying. It is the difference between Sinai and Calvary; between the whip of conscience and the cords of love; between fear and faith; between reluctance and readiness; between " must I? " and " may I? " The Christian who claims the promise and realizes the possibility of the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence, can prove all this to himself and others. What is it but the fulfillment of Christ’s words:" He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water? " " But this spake he of the Spirit whom they that believe on him should receive."
Receiving the Spirit, welcoming the Spirit, and then what? Spontaneity! " Rivers living waters Flowing! " Not wells from which water can be pumped, but springs that flow by their own force and freedom. Not old accumulated stagnant experience, but new life, new love, new testimony, " a new song " every day. Not a Christian who can be goaded into speaking a word for his Lord, but one who loves to speak who witnesses because he cannot help it who sings, " "Pis joy, not duty, to speak his beauty; " whose heart keeps overflowing because fed from an unfailing fountain.
" Shall flow! " Spiritual spontaneity. Its finest issue is the Christian’s unconscious power his unrealized influence. Nothing in our life is so subtle, yet so immeasurably potent. It depends utterly on the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit to direct our unplanned words our tin thought deeds; to develop the Christ life within us, and to bring out we know not how the likeness of our Lord in us.
Christian art represents Jesus and the holiest of his followers with a circle of light about their heads, like the shining of the face of Moses, though he wist not that it was shining. So about the person, radiating from the life of the Christian, in whose heart the Spirit abides, there is that unmistakable atmosphere of light that evident mind of Christ that divine something we call unconscious Christian influence which undermines the unbeliever’s doubts, which confirms his half realized convictions. He cannot account for it, except by acknowledging that this man has been with Jesus.
It is the final test of genuineness the fragrance of the flower the flavor of the fruit. It is vital, not artificial spiritual, not mechanical. It is the product of living, the aroma, the aureola that tells that here the Spirit of God dwells.
Said a famous English courtier, of who was for a time in the home of Fenelon, " If I stay here longer this man will make a Christian of me in spite of myself." This is the outflow of spiritual life. This is the fulfilled promise " rivers of living waters." This is the life that men cannot question the power they cannot escape the testimony they cannot gainsay. Would you then witness for God even when you did not know you were seen or heard unconsciously " setting to your seal that God is true? " Would you so live that men and women, yes, and children, will find it easier to do right when you are with them and harder to do wrong when you are with them? Open your heart to the Holy Spirit. Obey the words, " Be filled with the Spirit." Do you say this is not for me? You are mistaken. It is not the exalted privilege of the exceptional Christian. It is the plain duty of the every-day Christian. It is not a question of natural endowment, but of spiritual enduement; not a question of birth and education, but of willingness, of plain obedience. "Be filled with the Spirit." Are you willing to obey, to say, " Holy Spirit come into my heart show me everything that is wrong, cast out every idol, possess me wholly, teach me, lead me, use me, as thou wilt? " Are you willing to offer, nay, to urge that prayer till it is answered and take the consequences?