Believe it or not, my sabbatical is coming to an end. I look forward to preaching on August 10, and then being back in the office starting Tuesday, August 12 (I have treatment in OKC on Monday). In what will likely be my last blog entry during the sabbatical period, I will write one more blog on Spurgeon’s work on the Holy Spirit as I finished reading the book today. As with the previous two entries on the book, I will focus on a few different themes that were encouraging and thought-provoking for me.
First, in his sermon titled The Entreaty of the Holy Spirit, Spurgeon teaches on Hebrews 3:7 which says, “As the holy Spirit says, today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” In the sermon, Spurgeon reminds us that behind the human authors of Scripture, it is the Spirit of God speaking and warns us against quibbling and trifling with Scripture, disputing its doctrines, and neglecting it admonitions. As I think about the landscape of contemporary western Christianity, Spurgeon’s warning is much needed. Consider that many who consider themselves progressive Christians have redefined and reinterpreted the biblical sexual ethic and now find homosexuality to be acceptable, as long as one is true to himself or herself. Others are quick to question biblical gender roles in favor of a whatever mentality. We would do well to receive Scripture as it is written and not seek to redefine it according to our cultural currents.
In the same chapter, Spurgeon suggests that there is a hearing of Scripture that is not “hearing in reality.” He argues that “the kind of hearing which is demanded of us is the hearing with reverence.” Essentially, Spurgeon calls us to devout hearing – to accept Scripture as God’s Word and respond accordingly. If we are honest, all Christians struggle with this at times. In our stubbornness, we desire our own ways. May we be quick to repent and to hear God’s Word as we should.
In Spurgeon’s sermon on Grieving the Holy Spirit, he suggests that one of the reasons that grieving the Spirit is so heinous is because the love of the Spirit is glorious. He goes on show how the various operations of the Spirit – regeneration, sanctification, teaching, gifting, comforting, etc., are all aspects of His love for believers. While we commonly think of the Father’s love and Jesus’ love, I wonder how often we consider the love of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps our lack of considering the love of the Holy Spirit leads to our grieving the Spirit.
Spurgeon identifies several ways that we grieve the Spirit including sinful thoughts, actions, attitudes, and words. He also focuses on the consequences of grieving the Spirit of God saying that when one grieves the Holy Spirit, the Spirit “suspends His operations.” While the Spirit’s presence remains with the person who grieves the Spirit, that person should not expect to fruitfulness (externally or internally) and will likely feel distant from God and joylessness. Further, one’s understanding and embracing of Scripture will be impaired when the Spirit is grieved.
So, the question is, what is one to do who has grieved the Holy Spirit? Spurgeon calls such a one to confession and repentance. He writes, “search out for the sin that has grieved the Spirit. Give it up, slay that sin upon the spot. Repent with tears and sighs.” It is vitally important for a believer to adopt a posture of repentance daily. We should reject any teaching that suggests that a Christian can live a sinless life. We cannot. As we die to sin and live to righteousness, we ought to become more aware of our failings and repent more quickly.
In His sermon on Jude 1:20 entitled Praying in the Holy Spirit, Spurgeon rejects the idea of ecstatic utterances and praying in tongues. He writes, “we know without a moment’s discussion of the question that the prayer which is not understood [by one’s own mind] cannot be a prayer in the Spirit, for even the man’s own spirit does not enter into it-how then can the Spirit of God be there?” He associates such teaching with sacrifice “where the heart is not found,” stating that if we pray words with our lips while our hearts are not in agreement, then how can that be pleasing to God.
Admittedly, it is not easy to pin down what Spurgeon believes praying in the Spirit actually is, but it’s clear that He thinks believers should pray humbly, according to Truth, and should take time listening for God to “reveal…what those matters are concerning which we should plead with Him.”
In his chapter entitled, A Most Needful Prayer Concerning the Holy Spirit, Spurgeon emphasizes the church’s desperate need for God’s Spirit. He writes, “the Lord’s presence is our strength. God with us is our banner of victory. He reminds us that the church’s power is not found in its form of governance, its gifting, its numbers, or its doctrines. The power of the church is found in the presence of the Spirit of God at work in and through its members! O how I pray that we would be a church filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. May it be for God’s glory, for our good, and for the sake of the lost.
Pastor Nate