The Washington herald., 1922-06-05
FAITHNHOLY SPRTTSKEY
TOGOD'SW WORD, ,SAYSPAsTOR
Christ Is Door That Leads to Presence of God,
Rev. Isaac Ward Declares.

1t is difhcult to know how one
can read the Bible intelligently
without some knowledge Of its d.
vine Author.
1t Is impossible to know Christ
unless the Holy Spirit reveals Him.
IL Is not enough that a pilot merely
possess chart, but he must know
and understand 1t. So as we Jour
ney through life IL is not enough
mat we merely possess the insaircd
chart, but We must also have the
inspired mind to understand It.
The personality of the Holy Spirit
Is a doctrine of the highest import
ance and needs to be emphasized
today. II He is considered merely
as an impersonal influence, our
conception of Him would be, how
may 1 get hold of and use Him
But IL, as the Bible teaches, He is
Divine Person, Infinitely wise,
holy, and tender, then our con-
ception would be how can the Holy
spIri' get and use more of me.
II He Is merely an lmpersonal
power, then our religion is no diff
ferent than that of the heather, for
he always Is superior to his gods
ard uses his gods to do his will.
A knowledge of the Holy Spirit
Is needed in the matter of CONVEX
sion. for redemption is dependent
upon the blood of Christ and the
power of the Holy Spirit without
faith in the Atonement Of Chris.
the estate of sonship does rot exist,
and without the Holy Spirit the new
birth 10 impossible. 1t 10 as inn
possible to enter a house with n e
wrong key as 1t is with no key II
Is as impossible to enter the door
OF Gods Word without the KEY of
the Holy Spirit.
The most costly masterpiece hang
ing on the wall Of the art gallery
Is utterly useless IL no light shines
to disclose its wonders and beauty.
So Gods great Gospel picture of His
love to an unworthy and lost world
cannot be seen or understood with
out the light and knowledge of the
Holy Spirit
The Christian needs the Holy
Spirit In prayer. 1t is Impossible
to even say Christ is Lord" except
as the Holy Spirit enables US. Many
say the words without the special
aid OF the Spirit, but they say three
only as the parrot might say three.
To say that He is Lord" believ-
ingly and affectionately requires the
revelation of the Holy Spirit.
Christ is the door that leads to
the presence of God: faith is the
key that opens the door, and the
Ho~ Spirit makes the key and helps
US TO turn 1t. In the old law il
was not only sinful to offer strange
incense, but also sin to bring strange
hre. Incense was a composition of
spices which, according to Gods
plan. were to be crushed and bruised.
This was to be burned as a sweet
smelling perfume and was typical
of the merit and sacrifice of Christ
as He offered Himself to God. ac-
cording to Gods plan.
In the Garden He prayed that not
His will, but the Fathers will might
be done. In Gods way.
The Holy Spirit Is the only source
of knowledge and power in the
Christian life. Therefore, how pre-
sumptuous for one to suppose. that
one can live to please God without
that knowledge and power, He con-
vinces of sin. He Is the author of
the new birth. He Is the Comforter.
another. like Jesus, knowing our
surroundings. He gives us wisdom.
Many have knowledge. but are not
wise. He sheds abroad in the heart
the love of God. and this is the only
kind of love that enables us to love
our enemies. He gives and imparts
the strength of Christ when we are
In need Of 1t.
In the River Rhine in olden days
the peasants would wheel their
mills out into the stream. Those
who placed them in the middle
where the current was strongest.
secured the best -four. 1t is the
person who puts himself into the
middle of Gods plan who secures