The Holy Ghost's Presence on Earth
The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing and depending on the Holy Ghost's personal presence in worship and edification meetings among believers.
George Cutting emphasizes the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit's guidance and presence in the church, highlighting how human arrangements have often replaced God's leading, hindering His people and quenching His Spirit. He points out the prevalent issue in various Christian gatherings where man takes the place of the Holy Ghost, leading to a lack of dependence on the Lord for direction. Cutting reminds believers of the promise of the Comforter to abide with them forever and the need to seek His guidance in worship and edification.
Text
...which it is important to be clear about. The Lord Jesus promised that the Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth, when He came, should not only be in them (individually) but with them (corporately) (John 14:16, 17). And without going into the matter now, it is evident from such scriptures as 1 Corinthians 14 that in the beginning of the Church's history His presence was owned, and His guidance and operation looked for, both in public meetings and with individuals.
Alas, how much human arrangements have set aside the word of God in this matter, robbing His people, and quenching His Spirit!
And so widespread in Christendom has this evil become that, look where you will, from St. Peter's in Rome down to the smallest dissenting chapel, you can see it. Instead of believers, when assembled together for worship or edification, depending on the Lord alone for the guidance of His Spirit, why, even a prayermeeting can scarcely be held without the appointment of someone to "conduct" it. This one or that, whether led of the Spirit or not, is called upon to "engage in prayer," while the "prayer-leader" is supposed to "open" the meeting and "close" it, whatever his state of soul may be.
What is all this but man usurping the place of the Holy Ghost, the sad fruit of unbelief as to His personal presence? Some believers even go so far as to pray for Him to be sent, or to Him to come, and this notwithstanding the plain word of the Lord-"He shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you FOR EVER" (John 14:16). It should, however, be borne in mind that there is a wide difference between a meeting for preaching the gospel to the unsaved (when the individual servant, according to his measure of gift, is solely responsible to deliver His Master's message), and a company of God's redeemed people, coming together for worship or edification.
Sermon Outline
- The Promise of the Holy Ghost's Presence
- The Early Church's Experience
- The Problem of Human Arrangements
- The Difference Between Worship and Evangelism
- Meetings for preaching the gospel
- Meetings for worship or edification among believers
Key Quotes
“He shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you FOR EVER (John 14:16)” — George Cutting
“What is all this but man usurping the place of the Holy Ghost, the sad fruit of unbelief as to His personal presence?” — George Cutting
Application Points
- Believers should depend on the Lord alone for the guidance of His Spirit in their meetings.
- Human arrangements should not set aside the word of God in worship meetings.
- Believers should recognize the difference between meetings for preaching the gospel and meetings for worship or edification.