The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-11-25


BE filed with the Spifit" The
word is imperative 1t is something
We are ourselves commanded 10 do.
II we are not filed with the Spirit,
/ the fault is our own. We cannot say
that God has not favored US as he has
favored certain other people. The re-
i sponsibility for being filed with the
Spirit is put upon us.
The cxhortaiion. BE filled with the
Spirit. also places upon us another
obligation which we cannot evade.
The measure Of our receiving of the
Spirit is not something arbitrary. de-
pending upon Gods sovereign win.
God Wills TO fill us with the Spirit
and the limiting Of the gift IS with us.
Whether we shall have a little feebly-
bubbling spring in our heart, with
its tiny rills flowing out or a great
gushing fountain, sending out rivers
of joy, blessing and good, we must
settle for ourselves
How then, may we be filed with
the Spirit? There are other spirits
besides the Holy Spirit, and some Of
them prevent the heart being filled
with Cod 1t is said that the swallow
will stay only where the cir is pure
and sweet, where heavens breath
smells wooingly.7 If common bird
will haunt only a sweet and delicate
air" how pure must the air be in
which the White Dove, the Holy
Spirit viii make nest and home.
We cannot be filled with the Spirit
II we let sensual thoughts and desires
haunt our hearts The heart must be
rure In which he will dwell.
There is a worldly spirit also which
is antagonistic to the Holy Spirit.
jesus earnestly impressed the lesson
that his disciples. though in this
world, are not Of this world, and his
prayer was that they should be kept
from the evil of the world Men may
do right business so as to be hurt
by It. and those who are IN business
need to guard their hearts most care
fully and with constant prayer, lest
BIZ covetousness, or by dishonest OF
unjust dealings they Limit the meas
ure Of the Spirits dealing in them. It
is very easy while living in the world
to let the love OF secular things get
such place in our hearts that no
room is left for the Spirit. Society
has its perils for the Christian.
Amusement Is not displeasing to the
Master, who wants US to be happy
but to many people amusement is a
spiritual peril, since ofttimes 1t SO
absorbs the thought and strength and
all the life's interest that no place is
left for the Holy Spirit
Human love is holy. Home affec-
tions are to DO cherished The whole
teaching Of Christ is toward the cul-
tivation Of love, all the phases and
qualities of love. Yet human .oye
may become so absorbent as to drive
out the Holy Spirit, A home may
grow so happy, it's affections SO sat
isfying and so heartflling, that the
Spirit can find no welcome. no hos
pitality, within the doors, and can
only stand outside and knock
Whatever else we admit into orr
life, whatever affairs, whatever hon
ors whatever joys and pleasures. we
will do ourselves most grieyous
wrong If we do not give the Holy |
Spirit the highest place of ALL We
hold other things, all other things.
not as God would have us hold them,
Il any Of them hinder us from being
filed with tho Holy Spirit.
Again to be filled with the Spirit. |
we must be ready always TO obey the
Spirit. God VIII never give us grace
to be stored up, to be wrapped IN q
napkin and laid away. lie viii give
1t only to be used in obedience and |
service. We must learn that we are
saved to serve, that we find Christ in
order TO bring others TO him. SO the
Holy Spirit is given to US to make US
winners Of men, and we Will receive
only so much of the Spirit as we
allow to become active in the service
Of love.J r. Miller, D. D.