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Introduction • F. E. Raven: Ex: Letter 1892 • J. Taylor: Ex: Reading 1949 • J. Taylor: Ex: Reading 1950 |
• A. G. Brown: A Historical Review • P. Haddad: Addressing the Spirit |
| INTRODUCTION |
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Being convicted that the 'open' sytem of meetings was unscriptural, I had begun a search for those with whom I might walk with a good conscience.
The only somewhat disturbing note was that a few seemed to be unhappy as to something among them, which was not immediately evident to me as a relative newcomer.
On reflection – nearly 60 years later – it is hard to understand why there was any opposition – though there are still to this day some who separated and still oppose.
The following from Studies: The Lord's Supper and the Service of God indicates how the recognition of the Spirit – both personally and objectively, not for His blest service alone – has rightly come forward after other truths.
Compare Guests: My Answer 1: "To Whom do you Pray?"; and
G.A.R.
| F. E. RAVEN |
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The following extract was apparently inadvertently omitted from the 'New |
3, 8,'92."In regard to the point that you mention, I have not said more than what I have said to you.
| J. TAYLOR |
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| From 'Readings on Daniel', Indianapolis, November 1949, J.Taylor 78: 223-26 See: The Spirit as Seen Objectively in the Book of Acts, Toronto, 1942. |
T.U. Is it proper to pray to the Holy Spirit?
J.T. I think it is proper to pray to the Holy Spirit. Look at Acts 10, how divine Persons may be regarded and used, and whether the Spirit is not involved in all that.
N.B. Practically speaking, we need much help to speak about the Spirit. Many of the brethren are not yet at all free.
J.T. What are we not free about? The Spirit of God is God Himself and He is here to look after things, to give help, and to operate, so why should not we look into the fact and see whether He is ready to be used in a certain way? Why cannot we use Him now as in Acts 10?
C.H.H. Are you referring to when the sheet was let down and there was a voice from heaven without saying who is speaking? And then it says, "The Spirit said to him".
J.T. Our brother asks, is it right to pray to Him? What does Peter say? He says something to Him. He answers the voice. And Peter said, "In no wise, Lord"; the Spirit is asking him something and he says something to Him.
J.T. Yes, an angel, but I was speaking of the communications to Peter, what he says to the voice.
C.H.H. "The Spirit said to him, Behold three men seek thee; but rise up, go down, and go with them, nothing doubting, because I have sent them".
R.W.S. In Ezekiel 2 the prophet converses with the Spirit. It says,
J.T. Quite so. These are important scriptures to have before us.
J.W. He went up on the house-top to pray, a direct allusion to the Spirit?
J.T. Quite so.
C.H.H. "Ye know how it is unlawful for a Jew to be joined or come to one of a strange race, and to me God has shewn to call no man common or unclean".
J.T. Showing how the divine Persons are available to us; from experience we know how we can speak to them. That is important in having experience with God.
C.H.H. And then Cornelius says, "Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God".
E.G.M. Chapter 11, verse 15, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them", indicates that it was God, the Holy Spirit, acting.
J.T. We know He does that.
T.U. I was wondering if there would be the principle of prayer in regard to Rebecca, as ministering to the Spirit. She addresses the question to the servant. Would it be the principle of prayer in that she had a desire?
J.T. The actual types are just as important and instructive as the New Testament is in direct teaching as in Peter, James and John. You can use that scripture about the servant in Abraham's house as a type of the Holy Spirit.
J.K. Would the scripture in Luke come in? "Say to the master of the house".
J.T. Quite so. And, "How much rather shall the Father who is of heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
A.B. It says in Luke 2 in relation to Simeon, "It was divinely communicated to him by the Holy Spirit".
J.T. Quite so.
J.P. So Daniel would be a model for us. He was in the good of current ministry. He understood from the books.
J.T. That is an important point, we shall come to that in chapter 9, God willing.
J.P. I was speaking of it as to whether we are familiar with the written ministry in regard to the Spirit now.
S.McC. I think what is in the minds of some is that in the notes of the Auckland meetings someone asked you if you would pray to the Spirit, and the reply was, 'I would not pray to the Spirit'.
J.T. At that time, I was not clear myself about it as I have been since. If you are not clear, it is right to make it clear that you are hesitant.
S.McC. I am sure what you say is helpful, I do not think we should abide by statements made years ago and hold fast to them, saying the truth is authoritative and hold to them. There may be adjustment.
J.T. I do not think Mr. Darby was as clear about that point as we are now. God has helped us and I know no one who would be more delighted than he were he here. He would be delighted, he would say, thank God.
E.J.M. I believe be said in one of his letters, 'I have no objection to call the Holy Ghost Lord as a general title in glory and Godhead'.
J.T. I think there was something like that.
R.W.S. Paul says, "Especially the parchments", would that be the latest ministry perhaps – notes sent around before publishing? We should be on the qui vive to get the latest.
C.H.H. Mr. Raven said if we could regard the Spirit in an objective way He would be an object of worship, but he said we cannot do that. But since then we have been taught we can view Him objectively.
J.T. Quite so. We have a book on that point.
| J. TAYLOR |
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| From The Service of Song, Teddington, 1950, J.Taylor 70: 386 |
W.S.S. In one of Mr. Raven's letters,* as brethren will generally know, he writes on the assumption that the Spirit is not viewed objectively and says
| A. G. BROWN |
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| The Departure from the Truth After its Recovery: A Historical Review |
The history of the opening up* of the Scriptures re addressing the Spirit, and the opposition by some, is documented by A. G. Brown in his 1970 Historical Review.
| PHILIP HADDAD – Addressing the Holy Spirit |
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1. Any enquiry on this subject, as with any part of Divine truth, must be based on scripture.
2. This does not mean that everything we may or should do is actually enjoined in scripture.
3. For example, if we take the greatest assembly occasion, the Lord's Supper, we know that the Lord Jesus in giving thanks would give thanks to God.
4. We have been much helped in thinking of the assembly as the temple of God – 1 Corinthians 3: 16. And we often refer to it as the place of enquiry – Psalm 27: 4.
5. Similarly, if we think of the assembly as the body of Christ, we recognize that the Spirit is the one who operates in the body – 1 Corinthians 12: 11-12, 27.
6. He dwells in the temple – this is more connected with his Person; He operates in the body, which is more connected with His service.
7. So in John, chapters 14-16, where the Lord says much of the Holy Spirit.
8. The Lord in these chapters of John speaks of the Holy Spirit in a personal way, and by titles not found in any other writers in scripture – Comforter, the Spirit of truth.
9. If He teaches us and guides us, we may surely ask Him in relation to His teaching and also for His guidance.
10. The scriptures speak of
11. Every true Christian holds firmly the truth that while God is one there are three Persons in the Godhead.
12. So that on the basis of these scriptural considerations there is liberty, we may say,
13. While the hymn book we use is neither inspired nor perfect – only scripture is –
14. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse sheweth the work of his hands”, Psalm 19: 1.
15. The Lord Jesus enjoins His disciples to go and make disciples of all the nations, and to baptize them
16. We know how sovereignly the Holy Spirit, in His own right as a Divine Person, operates in the book of Acts.
17. There is also chapter 13; the assembly hears the Spirit speaking:
18. The apostles and disciples would have needed no written liturgical instructions to address the Holy Spirit.
19. In addition to weighing the scriptural considerations suggested above, we should ask ourselves these questions: