Give Out the Blessing
The sermon emphasizes the importance of giving out the blessings we've received, rather than hoarding them, in order to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit's presence.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to flow through us, emphasizing the need to give out the blessings we have received in order to experience a deeper filling of the Holy Spirit. He compares our hearts to an Aeolian harp, suggesting that when we are open to the touch of the Holy Spirit, heavenly notes can be produced through us as we serve in His pathway. Cowman highlights the apostles' response to receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost, showing that they immediately went out to preach the gospel instead of staying in one place. He challenges believers to not consume their blessings alone but to freely give as they have freely received, especially to those who are spiritually starving.
Text
"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his inner being shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).
Some of us are shivering and wondering why the Holy Spirit does not fill us. We have plenty coming in, but we do not give it out. Give out the blessing that you have, start larger plans for service and blessing, and you will soon find that the Holy Ghost is before you, and He will present you with blessings for service, and give you all that He can trust you to give away to others.
There is a beautiful fact in nature which has its spiritual parallels. There is no music so heavenly as an Aeolian harp, and the Aeolian harp is nothing but a set of musical chords arranged in harmony, and then left to be touched by the unseen fingers of the wandering winds. And as the breath of heaven floats over the chords, it is said that notes almost Divine float out upon the air, as if a choir of angels were wandering around and touching the strings.
And so it is possible to keep our hearts so open to the touch of the Holy Spirit that He can play upon them at will, as we quietly wait in the pathway of His service.--Days of Heaven upon Earth
When the apostles received the baptism with the Holy Ghost they did not rent the upper room and stay there to hold holiness meetings, but went everywhere preaching the gospel. --Will Huff
"If I have eaten my morsel alone,"
The patriarch spoke with scorn;
What would he think of the Church were he shown
Heathendom-huge, forlorn,
Godless, Christless, with soul unfed,
While the Church's ailment is fullness of bread,
Eating her morsel alone?
"Freely ye have received, so give,"
He bade, who hath given us all.
How shall the soul in us longer live
Deaf to their starving call,
For whom the blood of the Lord was shed,
And His body broken to give them. bread,
If we eat our morsel alone!"
--Archbishop Alexander
"Where is Abel thy brother?" (Gen. 4:9).
Sermon Outline
- I. The Blessing Within
- A. The promise of living water (John 7:38)
- B. The importance of giving out the blessing
- II. The Problem of Selfishness
- A. The danger of hoarding blessings
- B. The need to share with others
- III. The Power of the Holy Spirit
- A. The Holy Spirit's ability to play upon our hearts
- B. The importance of quiet waiting and service
Key Quotes
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his inner being shall flow rivers of living water.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Freely ye have received, so give, He bade, who hath given us all.” — Charles E. Cowman
“If we eat our morsel alone!” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- Start larger plans for service and blessing to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit's presence.
- Keep your heart open to the touch of the Holy Spirit by quietly waiting in the pathway of His service.
- Give freely what you have received, as it's a command from God.