The Holy Spirit is a Helper. That is one of His prerogatives. By some translators, where Christ promised to send the Comforter, the word is translated Helper, defined as the Holy Spirit. How often we find that we need help in order to obey the law of God. This is provided by the Holy Spirit dwelling within our hearts. When we experienced the new birth and were born again, our nature was changed, and we were given a new heart in which is written the law of God. But even after conversion, God, through the Holy Spirit, helps us to obey His law.
The converted Christian loves the laws of His God, and strives to obey them one and all. God's commandments are his delight. He cries out in joy, "0 how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Ps. 119:97. "I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved." Ps. 119:47. "So shall I keep Thy law continually forever and ever." Ps. 119:44. This is in keeping with what the apostle Paul wrote: "I delight in the law of God after the inward man." Rom. 7:22, "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Rom. 7:12. "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." James 2:8-11.
The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is to enable the Christian while in the flesh to keep the commandments of his God. The Christian warfare is constant; there is no vacation in that conflict. Often it is in the recreation period, when we claim the greatest fullness of the Spirit, that the tempter comes with renewed attacks. Watchfulness, prayer, regularity, and faithfulness in reading the word of God are constantly demanded of the Christian. Our enemy is a stalwart warrior who has fought many a battle over the souls of men. Sometimes he has been defeated; at other times he has won the game. Paul described this conflict in which we fight in these words:
"Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand, Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Eph. 6:11-18.
Now it is certainly evident that the Lord never planned that the Christian should not take His word and obey it while at the same time he receives the Spirit and is baptized with the Holy Ghost. The word is all-important to teach truth and to reveal the will of God. None can say, "I am led of the Holy Ghost. I need not the word to teach me; the Holy Ghost is my teacher." We have to take both the word and the Holy Spirit if we are to win against the assaults of the enemy. The "sword of the Spirit . . . is the word of God." Now that "word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4 : 12.
The Spirit-filled man is not at enmity with the law of his God. He loves it, and obeys it with a glad heart. "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. . . . For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Rom. 8:9, 13.
Every Christian must have both the written word and the Holy Spirit in order to serve God acceptably. Without the Holy Spirit, the word will not be sufficient, for while the word shows the right way, the Holy Spirit helps the Christian to obey. Obedience is the true test of fellowship with God. On the other hand, without the word the Holy Spirit would lack the power to teach and to impart knowledge. The word and the Spirit are inseparable; they work together in perfect accord, and each sustains the other. The Holy Spirit indited the written word of God. It is a great pity that some claim to be filled with the Spirit while they reject that word, and others depend upon the word without the Holy Spirit.
I. H. E.
