01.08. With deep concern...

WITH DEEP CONCERN...

We feel, we dare not fail to warn the reader of the snares of the devil; the substitutions he offers; the false teachings of his messengers, concerning the doctrine of Entire Sanctification. Possibly the most evident is the snare of shallow holiness, which in time destroys the faith in the doctrine of heart purity. Then without faith, the experience of true holiness is lost. What a tragedy! With alarm we view it: with love we warn! Time is not an essence to receiving the experience, but many fail to stay at the place of crucifixion until the work of faith is complete. A mental knowledge of the doctrine, a favorite promise is helpful, but it is imperative our old man dies; the body of sin must be destroyed. Crucifixion at its best is a lingering death, but certainly there comes a moment when the victim expires. Death is instantaneous. Self fights tenaciously for life. It is far more than two trips to the altar. It involves our complete abandonment to the will of God, a confession of our carnal heart; a deep conviction of our need with honesty to God, and an unshakable faith in Christ’s provision. One may receive the Holy Spirit without a church altar, but never without a death to his self-will and any selfish ambitions. Christ must reign sovereignly. There can be no resurrection into heavenly places without first a crucifixion. If one takes this lightly, he may receive some kind of experience, but if it isn’t consistent with the word and God ‘s order, it is a false experience, and not that of a sanctified heart. So many fail here. A little blessing, an emotional stir, material blessing, or human appreciation or favor, is taken for the incoming Holy Ghost. How the evil heart of unbelief would deceive us. Many arise and testify to the great experience of sanctification, who have never allowed the Adamic stone of the heart to be ground to powder. Their wills have never been crushed, their hearts never purified. They go on in delusion, unsatisfied, fighting an inward battle and die in the wilderness under the curse of God, because of a failure to denounce self, sin and the world. Shallow holiness is the bane of the church. May we build upon the rock and not the shifting sands of the modern conception of heart holiness. Let us warn of the snare of substitution. In no other age has Satan been so active in the work of delusion. Beware of the substitution of emotion. Enthusiasm is good if one is sanctified, but the deceitful heart that chains the experience, because of enthusiasm has hit wide of the mark. Visions, dreams, feelings, elations, and emotional experience may not be, and most of the time are not, the work of the Spirit. Think of Peter, James and John with Jesus on the mountain where Christ was transfigured before them. Who has received such manifestation of Glory? Who of us have talked to Moses and Elias? Who claims to have heard the voice of Almighty God speak audibly, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased?” What a blessed experience! What glory! What enthusiasm on Peter’s part as he spake, “Lord, it is good for us to be here! If thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles.” Even after this great experience, Jesus said to them, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” Many would settle for gifts of prophecy, tongues, healings and other phenomena. The disciples already had been sent out to preach, heal the sick, and cast out demons, but Jesus afterwards told them that it was necessary that they receive the Holy Ghost. Oh! dear heart, Pentecost is a necessity. We must have the incoming, infilling, purifying and satisfying spirit of God. Seek not the gifts, but the purity. Satan would sidetrack you if possible. It seems that it is easy to persuade men to seek for gifts or power, but very difficult to persuade them to seek for purity of heart, from which flow the Rivers of Charity, or Divine Love. Also there is strong delusion concerning the doctrine of Christian perfection. False teachers promote the error of the growing into the life of sanctification. We have heard no man testify that he had reached the goal. O what subtle deceit is the enemy guilty! The instantaneous work of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and a heart purified by faith is the testimony of thousands of believers with undisputed integrity. Works cannot sanctify us even as they cannot save us. This grace is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. This circumcision of the heart must be the instantaneous work of our heavenly Father. The poet wrote, “Here Lord I give myself away, Tis all that I can do.” May we vigilantly beware of any substitute, or doctrine that does not settle the sin question of our life and fill us with the love of Christ. If the spirit that enters within us isn’t a purifying, Holy Spirit, this spirit is not of God. Dear reader, you that hunger and thirst for righteousness, seek only the Holy Spirit; settle for nothing but Him. He will cleanse the heart by faith. Hallelujah!