Called Unto Holiness by Ruth Paxson
Fullness of Christ, part 2
Why do I not have the fullness of the
Spirit? There are two objective causes in the realm of truth. One is ignorance.
In Christ we possess the fullness of the Godhead, and in the Spirit we have the
One who makes this fullness our personal possession. But, because of ignorance
of the Word of God, we lack this knowledge. Consequently we lack the experience
of fullness. The other cause is unbelief. We know the truth but only
intellectually and doctrinally. It has not become heart experience. Or we know
it but we are afraid to act up our knowledge and to appropriate this blessing
by faith. Heb. 3:19
Then there are two subjective causes in the realm of experience. One is
unconfused sin. The Holy spirit is holy and the place He indwells must be made
and kept holy. This infilling demands cleansing from all known sin. It is
impossible to be filled with the Holy spirit while knowingly, deliberately,
retaining sin in the life… 2 Chron. 29:5, 16, 17… 1 Cor. 3:16, 17;
2 Cor 7:11; 1 John 1:9; Prov. 28:13 It
is utterly foolish and futile for any one of us to pray for the fullness of the
Holy Spirit if we hold even so much as a tiny spark of known resentment, or
hurt, or unlove, or any un-Christ-like feeling toward another… Are you willing
to have all uncleanness, both of the flesh and of the spirit, carried out of
your life?
The cleansing is not the infilling but it rids us of what prevents the
fullness and makes us ready for it.
The second subjective cause for the lack of fullness is an unyielded
life, which means an uncrucified and uncontrolled self. Infilling demands the
yielding of ourselves in toto to the Lordship of Christ. It permits of no reservations; it allows no
locked doors. We must part with everything of which Christ is not the source
and we must place everything under Christ’s control. There must be the utter
dethronement of self and the voluntary enthronement of Christ… 2 Chron. 29:31…
After the filthiness was carried out the offerings were brought in… Rom.
12:1; 2 Cor. 5:15 Yielding to Christ means opening every part of the life to
Christ, that He may fill it with Himself…
Yielding is not infilling, but it prepares for it. Emptying makes ready
for infilling. Only the yielded life can be filled with the Holy Spirit…
How may the fullness be obtained?.. John 4:14, 7:37
‘Any man’-there are no favorites with God.
‘Thirst’-an intense desire for holiness for Christ’s sake that must be
satisfied. It is an insatiable longing for God Himself. Ps. 42:1, 2…
‘Come’-‘Come unto Me’-the only One who can bestow this gift: the Giver
of this living water in all its fullness.
‘Drink’-this is an act. Thirst is desire-I want water. To drink is an
act-I take water. Just here is where many earnest, seeking souls fall short of
this glorious experience. They thirst but they do not drink…
‘Be not drunk with wine
But be filled with the Spirit.’
How does one get drunk? By drinking. How does he stay drunk? By
continuing to drink. How is one filled with the Holy Spirit? Our Lord says by
drinking of that living water. How does one stay filled? By continuing to drink
day by day. Is that not simple for each one of us..?
May we bow in silence to face a few questions in the presence of the
Lord, and answer by a definite ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’
- Have you ever been filled with the Holy Spirit?
- Are you filled with the Spirit now?
- Will you be filled today?
- Do you purpose to live the Spirit-filled life from now on?
If you thirst and will drink just now, will
you offer to God this simple prayer: ‘Lord, I thirst; Lord, I come and drink;
Lord, I take the gift Thou offerest, the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and thank
Thee for it.’”
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