Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-24
EMISSION OF THE HOLY SPIRlT."
Outlines of the Powerful Sermon by Rev Dr..
 B. G. Mitchell Last Night.

Rev. B. G. Mitchell, D. D., pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Chattanooga, preached an able sermon last night on the Mission of the Holy Spirit" He said he felt sure that all were interested in this subject. Is there a Holy Spirit2 If the New Testament teaches anything it teaches that there is. We should not only k now of him, but know him. We must have spiritual in- ducement for Christian work. "Be not drunk with wine, but filled with the spir- it." We must be regenerated by him. God only gives to us what we will use. Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" There is one proof of the Holy Spirit-the possession of him. No one can do the work of God but the Spir- it. The work of Christ was done by the Spirit. ''The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him." He cast out devils, gave commands to the disciples, raised the dead by the Spirit. The apostles wrought by the Spirit. Christ promised the dis cip,es the Almighty Spirit. We minis- ters should be successors of the disciples The world is our field. (Amen) To know Christ is to forget self. "Tarry at Jericho till ye be endued with power from on high"
 The Spirit inspires us. God is without us the Spirit within. What is true of the individual is true of the church. The Spirit is fire in that 1t draws us and warns us. Not only does it draw and warm, but it purlfies. (Amen) Educa- ton without spiritual enduement will never make Christian men. The Spirit uses us in doing his work. We speak of "our work" but it is Gods vineyard, not ours. The Spirit works first in us, and then through us. It is life and power hoe, |. h.Aa lx txxs- bones. Christ always emphasized the individual. The sickness that Is afflict- ing the church is the chiils. Some of us have been shaken until we have lost color and are weak and trembling. Our spiritual life has run low. We have spiritual dyspepsia. The supreme need of the day is spiritual men and women. Live men means live church. What the sun is to the earth the Spirit is to the church. Many a fine church is the tomb of the Spirit.
 The spirit must sustain us. Members of the church give more for wine and tobacco than for the salvation of the world. Giving is matter of regenera- tion. It means sacrifice. We should be as much Gods here as when we get to Heaven. The spirit is the sustainer of all successful effort. Dead are the preachers who know him not. Only the spirit can make a witnessing church. It is under the spirit that our missionaries go forth. We should not fear to undertake the su- perhuman, for the spirit is superhun1an. That church never fails until 1t quenches the spirit. .-ss
 The spirit will direct--it has the wis dom to direct. Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord" No Moses is wise enough to lead us but by the spirit. The best way to be ortho' dox is to be evangelical. Truth. like iron, is forged in fire. Many so-called Chris tians are as sounding brass and a tink- ling cymbal..
 There are dangers ahead to the church and the ministry. Theology without the Spirit is not only a cold stone, but O deadly poison. The highest knowledge Is that of the Holy Spirit. Some one has said that the age is losing its grip on the supernatural. The Holy Spirit alone can keep the pulpit from falling to the level of the platform. "The people will fill the church as fast as. God fills the pulpit" It takes a spiritually filled pew to fill the pulpit. pr. Parkhurst said, What ;. a thrill would go through the Christian world if it was known that the New York presbytery had thrown aside their heresy trials and petty differences and resolved to remain together until power came down from on highw Keep the heart of the church warm, and the head will be all right The heresy producing church is a cold church. True light has heat. Luther lived with the Spirit; for hours he locked himself up with God. Only Spirit-filled men have right to lead. Let us pray for our leaders-pray that they may be- fired up instead of fired out! (AmenD
 We must come back to Christ by way of the Spirit. We are in danger of ignor- ing the Spirit. Culture is not the best th.ng-it Is the Spirit. How can we know the Spirit? The possession of Him Is the best demonstration. How obtain Him? By humiliation and self-surren-