聖靈賜下應許

經文: 「你們若愛我，就必遵守我的命令。我要求父，父就另外賜給你們一位保惠師，叫祂永遠與你們同在。」（約翰福音十四：15～16）

耶穌升上高天，求天父上帝，賜下聖靈保惠師。這動作不是只做一次而已，而是天天都賜下新鮮的恩膏，讓聖靈保惠師，做我們與上帝之間溝通的橋樑。         耶穌告訴我們在怎樣的條件下，祂要差遣聖靈，若我們愛祂且遵守祂的命令——「祂就要祈求天父」，這是有很深的意涵，耐人尋味的話，也是我們極需要知道的真理。聖靈已降臨來幫助我們遵行上帝的旨意，所以上帝要求我們遵行祂的旨意也是合理的。若我們靠著聖靈遵行祂的旨意，聖靈就要大大地充滿在我們心中。若我們全心相信這真理，並願意完全順服聖靈的帶領，我們就會每天都有聖靈的同在。         不要聽信撒但的耳語，中了它的詭計，真以為這些經文是難以做到的高調。不，我們只管毫無保留地將自己完全交託給上帝，因祂說：「你若愛我，就必遵守我的命令。」愛可以幫助我們做到這點，上帝不會開個空頭支票欺騙我們，絕對不會的，祂要給了我們夠用的恩典，祂也把愛賜下，放在我們心中，教導我們說：「我願遵行祢的旨意。」         讓我們用孩童般單純的心，完全地倚賴祂（這是絕對需要的），靠著祂行祂所喜悅的事，如此這約的榮美將臨到我們：「你們若遵守我的命令，就常在我的愛裡。」而天父也每天賜下聖靈，使我們心意更新而變化，明白何為上帝純全而善良的旨意。

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THE SPIRIT PROMISED TO THE OBEDIENT

Scripture: "If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter."— JOHN xiv. 15, 16.

Christ would ascend to heaven, and pray the Father to send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He would not only do this once, but it would form part of His intercessory work. He would remain "ever living to make intercession." The continual communication of the Spirit of the Father comes through the Son.         The Lord tells us here on what conditions He will send the Spirit. If we love Him and keep His commandments: "I will pray the Father." This is a word of deep meaning, a searching word—a word of greatly needed and blessed teaching. The Holy Spirit is given us to enable us to do the will of the Father. The condition is reasonable and just, that as far as we have kept the commandments through the Spirit, the Spirit will be granted to us in fuller measure. As we heartily accept this truth, and yield ourselves willingly to the Spirit's guidance, we shall receive from day to day the fulness of the Spirit. Let us say to God that we accept the condition with all our heart, and will strive to keep His commands, and ask for power to do His commandments more perfectly.         Do not listen to the whispers of Satan, or give way to unbe¬lief and sloth. Surrender yourself unreservedly to the Lord, who has said: "If ye love me, ye will keep my commands." Love will enable you to do it. The Lord Jesus does not deceive us with a vain hope in this matter. No, He gives the grace, He gives His own love in our hearts, teaching us to say: "I delight to do Thy will." Let us trust Him with childlike faith, and give ourselves wholly—that is all that is necessary—to do His will. Then the beauty of the divine agreement that He makes with us will dawn upon us: "If ye keep My commandments ye shall abide in My love," and the Father will send the Holy Spirit anew each day.