01.01. The Living Waterfounation of Peace, of Resignation, of Wisdom

THE LIVING WATER In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (But this he spake of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.) John 7:37-39. Jesus speaking of those believers who were to receive the Holy Spirit, tells us that they are not only drinking in of Christ, but also flowing out from them, would be an outward life of holiness. In this life of true holiness the thirsty soul finds its satisfaction. “If any man thirst let him come unto me” invites Jesus “and drink.” His soul shall be filled and satisfied. We want to confirm the fact that if we live an inner life of holiness, the result will be outflowing rivers; not one river, but many rivers. There must be an inner drinking before the outflowing. God’s standard for all Christians, regardless of the experiences they have had, is a sinless life. It was demanded of Abraham, placed in the decalogue given to Moses, confirmed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. We will not be judged by our profession, but by the standard of Christian living which God has set before us. “Be ye Holy, for I am Holy.” Initial holiness begins at justification, but we are entirely sanctified by the infilling, the coming in, of the Holy Ghost. The great, lasting, and glorious experience at Pentecost was the fulfillment of the promise, that God would take away the stony heart, and give a heart of flesh. It was confirmed by the Apostle Peter, when he reported the work of the incoming spirit, “purifying their hearts by faith.” Sin has no allowance, regardless of who commits it. It must be confessed and repentance made. “He that committeth sin is of the devil,” writes the beloved Apostle — but glory to Jesus! the fountain is still open; the blood still cleanses from all sin. We may be born again and cleansed from all unrighteousness. This blessed truth is concurrent with the whole tenor of the scriptures and with true experience, yet in the inner and outer life of the sanctified there is a rest, a depth of holiness, a deepness of humility, a perfection of lawfulness, a perfect submission, an overflowing of rivers, not so generously possessed and evidenced by the justified. Happy, contented and perfect in love is the Christian that has found this second rest. His spirit is so enlarged that the entirety of his being may begin to grow in grace, and the fruit of the spirit will not only abound but ripen and mellow into spiritual maturity. Jesus is that Fountain of Living Water. Through the Old Testament scriptures from Moses to the prophets, through the New Testament, to the Apocalypse, our Lord is proclaimed to be the Fountain from which the thirsty may drink. In this wonderful description of the redemptive work of our blessed Christ, let us liken our inward life of holiness to the drinking in of the fountains and our outward life as the flowing forth of the rivers. As in the natural world, the fountain is the beginning of the river. From the fountain flows the rivulet that enlarges into the creek cascading from the mountain heights into the river that flows into the mighty ocean. Let us begin at the source or the fountain head of true holiness. Let us drink deeply of Him. In so doing, out from our innermost parts will flow rivers of living water that will give life to the desert places; cause verdant growth to spring up where previously it was dry and arid. May we from the scriptures draw names for the fountains of infilling water which flow to us from our Christ?

FOUNTAIN OF PEACE

First let us drink from the Fountain of Peace. The one that is entirely sanctified is possessed of a peace that is not of this world; a peace that is resigned to the will of God. This peace of God originates with perfect faith. The normal frustrations, the troublesome annoyances of life are left in quiet resignation and perfect submission, because we know all things work together for good to them that love God and to them that are called according to his purpose. In drinking from Christ of the Fountain of Peace, we have knowledge that he knows the future, is directing every circumstance, and we rest in the tranquillity of God himself. Let us not think that the life of the sanctified is void of feeling — far from that. The emotions, are quickened, and brought into disciplined concurrence to the purpose of him, “that doeth all things well.” This peace and quietness of the soul, which abides in him, is not that of slothful inertia nor of indifference, nor of presumption. In this state the entire man finds sweet repose. Where there is no rebellion, and no self-will, there can be no discord or unrest. All our feelings are submerged in the sweet love of God. “Peace is love reposing,” one has said. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.” Oh, you that are troubled, drink deep from the Fountain of Peace. The life of holiness is characterized by continual peace. The Apostle writes, “There is therefore now no condemnation.” The conscience has been healed by the blood of Jesus. Its duties prompted by love and not by guilt. The past sins are forgiven, and forgotten by Him. The present rests in the state of contentment; the future reposes in the providence of God. All is at rest; all is lost in quiet confidence; all is at peace. Glory!

FOUNTAIN OF RESIGNATION

Again our soul thirsts for more of Him. How sweet is the water from the Fountain of Resignation. As the natural fountains possess like elements which give life to the thirsty traveler, so the Fountain of Peace and the Fountain of Resignation are very much alike, and flow from the same source, Christ Jesus. Again the drinking in of a complete unmurmuring resignation to all God’s outward providences is sweet to taste and completely satisfies the inner man. It also expresses and flows outward into the river of calmness and trust. The providences of life are regarded by the wholly sanctified as means of guidance and teachers of our Lord’s divine will. Humanity naturally may shrink from chastisement, sufferings, persecution and trials, but the one who has partaken of the Fount of Resignation, speaks from within, “Not my will, but thine be done.” The heart, that is infilled by the spirit of Jesus, quickly recognizes the hand of the heavenly Father in all things, and shouts, “Amen”! The Apostle writes to the Corinthian believers, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” “In everything give thanks,” is the command to the born again, but this is only possible to the believer who is resigned to the purpose and will of God. The sanctified mind is far removed from all frustration, and fidgety, nervous unrest. Self, with its carnal ambitions, pressures the mind into hasty activity with all restlessness of spirit, and usually prompts the victim to acts of sin or deeds of poor judgment, which will later be regretted. The one who has been through Gethsemane and has been crucified with Christ at Calvary, has resigned himself into the hands of the Father in all divine providences. The sanctified is a follower of Jesus. He does not attempt to get ahead of his Lord and his providences, neither does he give himself to indolence, in loitering or procrastination where the will of God is known. The beauty of holiness is to be seen in the life that follows peacefully the guiding hand of Providence; not in the emotional driving unrest of discontentment, but in resignation to the One who knows the future. Infinite and unerring are His ways. May we slake our thirst from the cool waters of this Fount of Resignation, that we may not depart from the divine harmony, by taking our thoughts and movements into our own hands, and by it lose the sense of the Divine Presence, and find ourselves in darkness, perplexity, and unhappiness. THE FOUNTAIN OF WISDOM

Again our soul thirsteth for God — for the living God, so we drink now from the Fount of Wisdom. From our blessed Christ we draw our inner life which is characterized by sanctified judgment. “If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him,” exhorts Apostle James. This is not earthly wisdom which puffs up, exalts the receiver, but this is “the mind that was also in Christ Jesus, who humbled himself, and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” The holy in heart seeks no reputation, but willingly becomes the servant. “This wisdom which is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hyprocrisy.” The spirit filled man is to be as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove. The Holy Ghost, no doubt, quickens primarily the heart of man. He transforms the sensibilities, reconstructs the motives, purifies the desires, and certainly harmonizes the will. But let us not imagine he leaves the intellect out of the sphere of divine grace. Never! He, the Spirit of wisdom, illuminates our understanding. He teaches new truths to the cleansed mind. As we may understand these things, God reveals then unto us by his spirit; for the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. He casts a light upon the truth of the inspired word. He communicates truth as we need for our own souls and for the work for which he has called us. Dear reader, we are living in perilous times. Voices are on all side saying, “Here is Christ, there is Christ.” False doctrines, half truth! false teachers abound, and many follow their pernicious ways. The doctrine of sinning religion is heard continually, and many that do not ascribe to this doctrine live a life of compromise an worldliness. If we do not have this experience of perfect love, (the inner light), we most likely will be swept off our feet and lose our way in the darkness, and miss the Eternal City. Would any fail to see our need of holy discernment? We must be able to detect between the precious and the vile, between truth and error, sin and holiness. Let us also pray that we might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that we might walk worthy of the Lord. As the Apostle prayed, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of his glory of his inheritance in the saints.” Thus may we also pray. Let us stay near and drink again from this fountain! We, who are sanctified and illuminated by his spirit, dare not throw reason to the wind. Common sense lived in a practical life of holiness is far too uncommon. Should we not remember that holiness is practical? The blessed Christ sanctifies the intellect; he does not destroy it. Carefully we must use our rational powers for the glory of God. Calm and deliberate weighing of actions should always be a part of our life. Our reasonable sacrifice, is all that he desires. Any other is vain and of no value. The Holy Ghost baptized believer should never surrender himself to impulses. These do not, by any means, always come from the Holy Spirit. It was he, of whom it was said, “He shall guide you in all truth.” It would be far better to be influenced by a rational judgment, sanctified, and illuminated by the blessed Holy Spirit. Tarry here more and drink, dear heart, do not rush on! We need this living water. We perish without it. Oh! Fount of Wisdom, thou art precious! At this fount too many holiness people have failed to drink and have fallen into gross delusion, ended in fanaticism, have made shipwreck of faith. The tragic move toward the superfluous signs and gifts, as is evidenced in this modern Charismatic movement, proves the heart has never been satisfied by a cleansing, purging, sin destroying baptism of the Holy Ghost. Would it not be permissible to use the words of the poet?

“I am drinking at the fountain, Where I ever would abide, For I’ve tasted life’s cool river, And my soul is satisfied.

There’s no thirsting for life’s pleasures, Or adorning rich and gay, For I’ve found a richer treasure, One that fadeth not away.” The one that has drunk deep from him, does not knowingly do a thing that is extravagant, irrational, or absurd. He may do some things that look foolish to those near him, but will do nothing willingly that is contrary to sober reasoning. Faith may move us out to do that which would seem unreasonable others, but if it be a calling or prompting of God, he will lead us to make our decisions by calm, deliberate, prayerful contemplation.