The Holy Spirit - Part 1 — T. Austin-Sparks

Zechariah’s Vision of the Candlestick and Olive Trees

The familiar passage of scripture in the fourth chapter of the prophecies of Zechariah, prophecies of Zechariah chapter four. The angel that talked with me came again and waked me as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.

And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have seen and behold a candlestick all of gold with its bowl upon the top of it and its seven lamps thereon. There are seven pipes to each of the lamps which are upon the top thereof and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl and the other upon the left side thereof.

And I answered and speak to the angel that talked with me saying, What are these my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No my lord.

Then he answered and speak unto me saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel saying, Not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain and he shall bring forth the headstone with shoutings of great grace.

The Lord came unto me saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it. And thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things?

For they shall rejoice and shall see the plummet and the hand of Zerubbabel even these seven which are the eyes of the Lord. They run to and the holy fail to link with that tenth verse so familiar words of Acts 1.

The Church’s Need for the Holy Spirit’s Power

Ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come. Not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord by the Holy Spirit. The need of perhaps more than anything else. The thing which the church of God needs more than anything else.

The declaration is made by the Lord himself. Ye shall receive when the Holy Spirit is come upon you by my spirit saith the Lord of hosts. If that's the case we are conscious power less and of the weakness of the people of God generally of the church in this world.

It is useless to bemoan the weakness and deplore the lack of power. The need is to inquire why it is to discover the causes the meaning for evidently it's not the Lord's will it's contrary to his own declared intention for his people.

When Israel met that great setback at Ai after Jericho Joshua prostrated himself before the Lord cried unto the Lord in effect said to Joshua in defeat and failure it is useless to cry unto me the thing to do is to find out why to investigate the reason I can't do anything the Lord actually said however much you cry I can do nothing until you have laid your hand upon the cause brought it to light when you've done that and the ring is exposed and dealt with then the obstacle is removed and we can go on and the power of further mighty conquest can be renewed and restored and so it does become necessary in a day of defeat and limitation and weakness loss and lack of power find out why.

Now we are not going to spend a lot of time uncovering what may be in us or in the church but there are some things which in a general way would be well to take note of as those of us the situation most acutely and in our responsibility for the Lord's interests and the Lord's people about the situation and about the matters of the people of God some things do press upon our consciousness and recognition that may be profitable to mention here this evening and I feel that I shall find a considerable amount of agreement when I say perhaps the greatest or amongst the greatest of the people of God in our own time now and even here is a new apprehension and appreciation of the great basic realities life and position as Christians.

The Christian Life as God’s Greatest Miracle

Our second hymn this evening contains some of the most wonderful things of which it is possible for man to conceive when you went through that hymn singing it I have no doubt with all good meaning half wondered how much we were alive to the tremendous things that were passing through our lips known on me remains a mere fragment in a long hymn.

Mighty thing for any mortal human part of this creation knows love as a matter. Of course it has become so familiar and yet it is true it is true true and genuine believers born from above believers children of God mightiest miracle in this universe everyone is the embodiment of the greatest things that ever God has done to run our fingers over the features and factors of our faith our Christian doctrine mention them one by one and in every single instance and aspect we are dealing with we are in the presence an immensity that will take all eternity all eternity the ages of the ages to comprehend everyone again we are not going to do that.

We could think back into the eternal counsels of God ourselves in that foreknowledge for ordination predestined chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Can you comprehend that I say it will take all eternity to compass that one thing the incarnation of the son of God that has defeated and defied all human attempts and efforts to explain and define infinite eternal comprehended in a man you understand that that's the mystery of God.

So we go on we've said while Jesus' blood have we ever yet shall we ever. Adam exhaust infinite virtue and value of that again from above of the holy spine. Nicodemus was the teacher in Israel had a vast knowledge but that beat him that absolutely put him out of court.

He stood before that with a mighty question how I could go on like that. Dear friends you and I as children of God are supposed to be the embodiment of these things. This is our faith not a creed not something objective to ourselves something that has made us repeat great need in the matter of recovery of power may very well be a recovery of the wonder and glory of the things which have become so commonplace that we can hear them sing them never feel the thrill never feel eternity in it truly and among the many many things of which that is true I think one of the major things is the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven.

Recovering the Wonder of the Indwelling Holy Spirit

Dwell the children of God to indwell that we take the Holy Spirit too much for granted. We come to discuss this as a subject. What do we say. Well in controversy over it many interpretations many designations.

We resolve the things so often by saying well reborn a new child of God has the Holy Spirit so often the beginning and the end of it. That's what it amounts to. We are really born by our new birth. We receive the Holy Spirit.

We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Yes yes. I agree. The Holy Spirit is an equal member of the divine trinity. Very Jehovah the God of Heaven infinite in power infinite in wisdom infinite in which we may see one resident within you as you sit there where you are.

And in me as I stand here where I am. Is that Christian truth is that the teaching of the scripture is that the revelation of the word we need to recover with a new apprehension and a new appreciation of the greatness of the fundamental things of our very faith when the Holy Spirit is coming myself the Lord and not the Lord of earthly hosts.

Because as you notice the margin there says not by an army by an army by worldly hosts. And they have done great things in history can do great but says the Lord not. I see in this an invidious not. Look at some of the armies in the Bible.

Look at the great army of Senegal spread over the look at the hosts of the Midianites the Amalekites and all the children of the east. Like look as it says was it by an army. Over against an army 300 up against a host like that that Gideon came the day.

By my spirit said the Lord of other hosts. Those hosts the delicious servants saw when his master prayed his eyes opened the horsemen thereof the Lord of greater hosts and all the hosts how the Holy Spirit romantic are.

The forces the immense have lifted themselves against the Lord of hosts empires and their caesars their rulers straddling the path of the onward movement of the spirit. Where are they becoming his son as the heir of all things the heir of this world he made it for him.

And again and again men have lifted themselves up to take world dominion to themselves. What an exhibition of power they have made. What they have given forth in their take the earth to take the nation who did it where.

And the Mussolini and the others who made a bid for the inheritance of God's son world dominion. Same faith awaits those today on the same business. And all who will follow them by my spirit said the Lord of hosts.

The Lord of hosts he's still intact he is still in the divine purpose by the Holy Spirit. And we are so weak so impotent so powerless. Just again it may be this. It is not that we so much need God to send the Holy Spirit which he has done.

Maybe that we just need to recognize more clearly grasp more livingly the tremendous thing that God has done. How great the spirit of God is. There will ever and always remain the mystery and the wonder that defeats our intellectual powers to explain.

We'll never be able to comprehend with our human mind this thing. And yet to have some perception is essential when that was really recognized at any time people were down on their faces in the broken yes that's not just language.

Look at me look at me in adoring worship and wonder. This is what has been coming home to me. This amongst so many matters is a matter for us to bring back into its right realm when the Holy Spirit came in his advent on what is called the day of pen.

The old question about the manner defeating all powers of definition explanation and recognition came here with this visitation from heaven. What what is this amazed. They were all their mental powers broke down before this in an effort to give an explanation.

I am not saying we've got to have another experience of Pentecost like that. All i am saying dear friends. And yet it's a big enough thing to say is that we do need the wonder of the Holy Spirit having come and being with us and being in us going to make such a large number of changes in us going to have so many effects through us not all pleasant and better.

Better for men to be antagonistic that is really a god than to be able to ignore the presence of god because nothing to take note of. I was saying that amongst the many things needed to be recovered in the wonder of the faith is the wonder of the Holy Spirit.

No exaggeration to say this is a matter that could occupy us without monotony and without repetition. Year of days i thought about it. I could see quite easily 52 through the year once a week filled to the full with this matter alone the meaning of the Holy Spirit.

Matter alone the meaning of the Holy Spirit. And i suppose that's limiting the Holy Ghost even to put it like that. Well now come for a few minutes to this where we have taken our scriptures in Zechariah and in Acts chapter one just in broad outline without the closer examination that must come.

Divine Purpose and the Expectation of Pentecost

There are these things. There was a before the Lord's people in both instances. On both occasions they were conscious being in a purpose of God. For them relationship with God was not a matter of believing certain performing certain rites going through a certain ritual ending services and going away having done their duty for the people of God.

And this is true or should be true of all people of God in all ages if they are really alive to the meaning of their relationship with God for them in the days of Zechariah and in the days of the Acts the thing which controlled their consciousness mastered gripped their awareness as the Lord's people was that they were bound to a horizon by a divine purpose.

In the old testament it may have been represented in symbolic form or form of type lying behind that was the spiritual reality they inwardly that this thing represented a divine thought a divine desire it came a divine meaning it stood related to God.

They were apprehended by God for a work for an achievement of God. They were in this remnant that had come back from the exile. Nevertheless on from this business this divine business and just settled down in the land cultivate their fields and their vineyards and central things so near to the heart of God representing this income.

They were in the grip of that we know how true that was the beginning of the book of the Acts. As they waited during those 10 days after the Lord's ascension there is little doubt that they were in the grip of having been laid hold of for whatever may have happened when he was crucified in the devastation of vision and outlook and hope during the 40 days that had been recovered and restored.

And during those 10 days up to the 50th they were men gripped together people possessed what was to be of God that was ahead mighty controlling anticipation expectation. And if they were under command to wait to tarry may take it for granted that it was a restive waiting it was a stretched out waiting as it said they continued secure word.

The Lord's people ought ever to be because God is a forward-looking God he has not reached his end yet. God is an expectant God God with anticipation God who is reaching on hold himself he is the purposeful God under his apprehending hand.

Ought to be like that might of all setbacks and discouragements and difficulties and conscious helplessness and impotence. There ought to be in us. There is yet something in the purpose of God and we are in it.

We're a part. I'm making statements as i have been saying i'm stating divine truth sitting there. Do you assent with your mind. Do you agree to the proposition. The idea you like it is that in us. Is it really in us for God.

That is where the spirit of darkness into the kingdom of the son of God's love. Or put that same experience in any of the many ways in which it is put. If you really have new birth from an old to and being able to put it into words and define it or not.

Is it not true that your new experience is something to live for that i never had before. Now i sense that there's some meaning in. Is that not true of the work of the spirit in a life. The God of purpose with these people in the days of the return from captivity here with these people the beginning the church era book of the acts very conscious of meaning purpose call apprehension by God in both cases in both instances never be achieved unless God himself came and did it.

The Holy Spirit Overcomes the Great Mountain

Look at them after the captivity. This little weak despised beset remnant you've got of course to read the Zechariah the book of Ezra. They go together no doubt about it. Come back with that. Look what's up against us.

Look what's up against us. Look what we're up against in ourselves. What are we. What can we accomplish. What can we do. Look we have to contend with within and without in the same holy spirit who caused the stories to be written taken pains to let it be seen that there was plenty to be overcome if this was to be done why this in our passage.

Who are thou. Oh great mountain. Oh great mountain. What was the mountain. Can't be sure. In the case of the remnant make some guesses perhaps some passages that might relate. But taking the whole situation as we read in Ezra later in Nehemiah there's a mountain good and high great mountain.

The Lord calls it a great mountain. Sometimes what we call great mountain is a very little thing with the Lord. But the Lord here says oh great mountain. I know how great the difficulty. I know how strong the opposition.

I know the fury and the subtlety of the enemy. Oh great mountain. The church was confronted with a great mountain. The Lord had taken account of that mountain and he said if you have faith the grain of mustard seed you should say unto this mountain be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea.

What is he talking about. The thing that dogged the steps of the apostle Paul over the whole area. His judaism bring him down working by every subtle and often diabolical means to prejudice his ministry and message and destroy his influence.

That judaism that was up against the Lord Jesus. And at last at last speaking from the human and earthly side brought him to mountain. But who art thou great mountain and a little weak helpless remnant.

Not by might nor by power but by my spirit except the Lord of hosts. And mark you by the end of the life of the apostle Paul that mountain had been laid low. The letter to the Galatians is the letter is it not of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit that immortal blow at judaism. The temple was finished and the wall was completed. The great mountain. But what am i saying. How helpless the people are in themselves. Therefore how necessary that God comes in which has to be realized the necessity of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ Promise of the Spirit in John’s Gospel

Jesus knew it. You see he was meeting this opposition every day of his life. He was resisting him wherever he went. Oh what a force it was that up against him both human and satanic. Then there came that evening when he sat down with his disciples at the table 13th of john and began to speak.

They rose and left the table went out and he began to talk further and talk through all those chapters. We as we have his talk john 14 15 17. What is he doing. He has taken the measure of the forces that are going to be up against them in this world.

He has met those forces himself and he knows that his church is going to meet them wherever it goes with its testimony to him. Yes men this thing that confronts them this one this one listen to him in that prayer.

Chapter 17 the wall wall as in the grip of the evil power he knew. But what is he doing in this long conversation and discourse. What is the thing to which he heads. Everything else up when he the spirit is.

Come all 16. Chapter 16. And a lot more than 16 is on the coming Holy Spirit. It is expedient for you that I go away. If I go not away the paraclete will not come. But if I go I will send him unto you.

And when he is come the great mountain will find its match and its master. And you little flock little flock flock you so weak so small so helpless in yourself will because you receive power the Holy Spirit will be equal to the situation and more than equal the Holy Spirit he has pointed to the way in which a feeble people in the afternoon with every mighty force in this world against them the purpose of their calling.

How great how wonderful the Holy. There then is the task. There then is the need. There then is the adequacy of the Holy Spirit. Another point on which I'm going to close where as I said at the beginning there needs to be recovery.

Prayerful Waiting for the Promised Spirit

On our part we make very much of course and rightly so of the sovereignty of God. It's a very comforting truth. It's a very strengthening a wonderful reality. Do you not think dear friends that it's just possible to leave too much to the sovereignty of God.

Don't misunderstand me. What I mean is this. Oh well God is God the creator of the heavens and earth. He is on the throne of the universe. He has in his hand all he has purpose and he can and will accomplish all we have to do is to sit down in our armchair and wait for the sovereignty of God.

Now because you wouldn't and I wouldn't yet here is a point of period here's a point of period. We have got to recognize that although all that is true of God and much more alongside of that alongside of that there is range.

What with these 120 after he had gone to the throne a continuing steadfastly in prayer about what this that he had promised the coming spirit and the power by the coming night through those ten stretched out on this matter he ascended and is there not much more like that that indicates.