EXTRACTS
CAM In connection with the statement, “If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you”, how do you know you have the Spirit dwelling in you?
JT That is a very important question. I am sure it requires attention. The Holy Spirit, broadly speaking, makes Himself felt in the Christian; it is a poor thing if one has to refer to the Scriptures as the only evidence that he has the Spirit. The Scriptures, of course, are full of teaching as to the Spirit being given to believers; but surely we are to be conscious that He indwells us. Galatians 5 gives a list of the fruits of the Spirit.
CB Love for the brethren would be one of the evidences, would it not?
JT The Holy Spirit would surely make Himself felt in the Christian, and it seems to me, the facts recorded of His actings with Christ help us. It is said of the Lord in Mark’s gospel, “The Spirit driveth him into the wilderness “. That is, He was impelled to go. He was led into that into which, naturally, He desired not to go. The Holy Spirit in that way was recognised. He made Himself felt. I am speaking reverently of the Lord; but He was there as a Pattern for us. Then, it says in Luke, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit”. As if, in the first instance, it was the Spirit’s initiative, whereas, in the second instance it was the Lord’s initiative, and the Spirit was available for Him. He returned in the power of the Spirit. So, I think, the Christian should look for those marks—whether there is a power in us taking the initiative, and we doing that which would not be done by us as left to ourselves.
Rem The word used in Mark is very emphatic in that way, “driveth him into the wilderness”. There was an impelling power to which He yielded; and as you say, would suggest Christ as Pattern for us. With regard to us, it would indicate the positive power of the Holy Spirit that drives, or makes way, against what is of nature. I think that is a very important point.
AFM It was Deuteronomy ground the Lord occupied, not that part of the wilderness which denoted self-will working.
JT The Lord referred to Deuteronomy. So His position in the wilderness corresponds with this chapter. Further, the Holy Spirit makes much of Christ in the soul, so that one discovers that one thinks of, and delights more in Him. Then, He makes much of the saints; that is a very good test, I think; the saints become interesting and invaluable to us.
One sees it in young Christians; they think more of the Lord; they read the Scriptures more; they pray more, and enjoy meeting the Lord’s people, All these things are evidences of the Spirit in the believer.
Rem Response to the knowledge of God, as Father, is a very marked sign of the Spirit; this is seen when the soul cries, “Abba, Father”.
AFM What about self-judgment?
JT It is another mark. It is, “By the Spirit, ye put to death the deeds of the body”.
J. Taylor (Vol. 77, pp.98, 99)
JT ... The gospels unfold to us the varied glories of Christ; and I think, as we go on a little in the truth, they become more to us. They are written not from the side of our learning—though abundantly instructive—but from God’s standpoint. If you would have the thing perfectly, He says, you must let Me present it from My own side. The gospels give you that. The epistles present our side, and the full-grown man is the great end to be reached by us in them.
AFM One has observed that young believers love to turn to the gospels. In what order would you suggest that the Scriptures should be taken up in view of becoming full grown?
JT First of all, we should heed the word in 2 Timothy 3: 16—“Every scripture is divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. Every scripture is, therefore, available to the youngest believer for these things. If the order is described in detail, I would say the first scripture to read is Romans.
That epistle is for adjustment. It takes account of the believer as in the world, and adjusts him in relation to God, and then in relation to his brethren. It incidentally gives light as to the faithfulness of God in regard to His ways with Israel; and also gives an inkling of His purposes. The next epistles would be 1 and 2 Corinthians, having assembly training and order in view. These do not take one out of the wilderness, so that Colossians follows, showing how I am to enter the land. Lastly Ephesians, where the land is opened up to us, and we are made to sit down and contemplate.
The gospels present to us the Man who is in the land. Christ, “The old corn of the land” (Joshua 5: 12), the One indigenous to that place—“The Son of man, which is in heaven”, John 3: 13. The gospels furnish this, and present also the glories of His Person. The field opened up in the gospels is so great it is infinite!
J. Taylor (Vol. 19, pp.82, 83)
As I said, the efforts of the enemy are strong and persistent, in order to rob us of the good that is in us by the work of God. We certainty should be able to tell what is good. It is sad to see so much uncertainty among the people of God about this and that. The truth is, there is a great want of exercise, of using our senses; we are to exercise these so that we may discern between good and evil; so that we may not be found putting good for evil and evil for good.
The Lord supplies us with the example—“Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good”, Isaiah 7: 15. Now of the good thing I am not to let one whit go, but I am to keep it by the Spirit. I am to keep the good thing by the Spirit which dwells in us. It is the presence of the Spirit in a collective sense. The same Spirit that dwells in you dwells in me.
J. Taylor (Vol. 28, p.318)
Edited and Published by J. Strachan, 59 Frederick Street, Dundee, DD3 9DE, Scotland Printed by Crystal Stationery, 22 Western Road, Billericay, Essex CM12 9DZ, (T) (01277) 650661