Menu•SiteMap |
Doctrine
Addressing the Holy Spirit
– F. E. Raven, J. Taylor,
A. G. Brown, P. Haddad
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.
- I had seen some accounts – mostly critical or condemnatory – of the brethren whose history and ministry is presented on 'My Brethren' but was pleasantly surprised when, as a young man, I first made contact in 1949-50.
- The orderly and sober conduct of their meetings, the edifying ministry and their hospitable welcome to a young man, otherwise alone in the world, was impressive and cheering to my soul.
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.
- I shortly became aware that several brothers – some of whom had been particularly friendly and helpful – were concerned as to, and even opposed to, recent ministry as to addressing and worshipping the Spirit.
- In looking into the matter – despite, and perhaps because of, my youth and inquiring spirit – I could readily see the rightness of thus recognizing and honouring the Holy Spirit as a Divine Person.
- However, I soon discerned that some – in an unbalanced way – were making too much of this new found liberty to the detriment of other features of our relations with the Father and the Son,
- and some self-appointed zealots were harassing those who had difficulties rather than prayerfully and in a brotherly way helping them. Thankfully this subsided and shortly even those who had at first opposed were themselves convinced.
- The above refers to Toronto where I was local. Sadly, as A. G. Brown relates, the harassment went to extraordinary lengths in England. None of this can be justified and rather throws the truth in to reproach rather than forwarding it.
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.
- It is even more difficult to understand what the zealots thought to accomplish, and what their real motives were.
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: "To Whom do you Pray?"; and
G.A.R.
Page Top Introduction Top
| F. E. RAVEN |
|---|
The following extract was apparently inadvertently omitted from the 'New Series' of Letters of F. E. Raven. Source Gordon Simmonds Dec. 12, 2005.
|
|---|
3, 8,'92."In regard to the point that you mention, I have not said more than what I have said to you.
- I think the Spirit indwelling the individual Christian is an entirely distinct thought from the Spirit in the house,
- but I judge that the presence of the Spirit cannot be objective in its character – like Christ –
- or He would necessarily be an object of worship".
Page Top Article Top
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
- if He were viewed objectively then He must be worshipped. I thought it was a helpful remark in view of what we understand of the truth now.
- * See quotation of F. E. Raven above.
J.T. I do not see why the early brethren did not take on the thought of the Spirit of God as we have now. It was evidently not brought out at that time.
- I have no doubt, however, at all that if Mr. Raven had what we have now he would fully agree with it, and Mr. Darby as well. I fully believe that.
Page Top Article Top
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.
- The Review is a chronicle of the rejection by some of separate address to and worship of the Holy Spirit, and of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit – a rejection with which the editors of MB do not agree.
- However it covers a short but very significant period of which – to our knowledge – there is no other comparable existing historical record, and affords a rare view of the rapid rise of the legal and repressive spirit which characterised the later decline of 1959-1970. It is for this reason that AGB's account is presented on MB.
- * We link above to AGB's account in the History group to avoid repetition. His quotations from ministry are reliable but – while we do respect him personally as a brother – we believe his conclusions are completely unjustified. We do not, however, question the facts as to the unbrotherly actions he relates. Note the qualifying comments of MB's editors in this format throughout his Review. GAR.
|
Page Top Article Top
PHILIP HADDAD
– Addressing the Holy Spirit |
|---|
| This is an interesting summation of the basis for 'Addressing the Spirit'. I never met Mr. Haddad personally, but did speak on the 'phone when he was in Toronto visiting Mr. R. W. N. Saunders. I am thankful for his kindness in supplying the ministry of Mr. G. R. Cowell which now appears on 'My Brethren'. GAR.
|
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.
- There is much that is not actually enjoined, but which is involved or implied in the teaching and truth of 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.
- On the other hand, when we give thanks for the emblems we give thanks to the Lord Jesus Himself.
- We are assured this is right by 1 Corinthians 11: 23-25, although it might be said that in this matter we are not really doing what the Lord did Himself.
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.
- Now the One who dwells in the temple is the Spirit of God. So if we enquire in God’s temple, we enquire of the One who dwells there – the Spirit of God;
- and as the temple is the place of enquiry, we enquire in the spirit of worship.
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.
- He does so sovereignly – “as he pleases” – because He is God.
- So in relation to this service that He operates, we may speak to him in due recognition of His service and place.
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.
- Rebecca said to Eliezar, who is typical of the Spirit,
- “Drink, my Lord! and she gave him to drink”, and then she said, “I will draw water for thy camels also.” Genesis 24: 18-19.
- First for himself, then for his camels, which speak of his service.
7. So in John, chapters 14-16, where the Lord says much of the Holy Spirit.
- The first reference in chapter 14: 15-17 is to the Spirit personally, not His service;
- the other references in chapters 14: 25-26; 15: 26; 16: 13-14, are to His service: teaching, testifying, guiding.
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
- the love of the Father – John 2: 15;
- the love of Christ – 2 Corinthians 5: 14;
- and the love of the Spirit – Romans 15: 30.
- We respond to the love of the Father, and the love of Christ. May we not respond to the love of the Spirit?
11. Every true Christian holds firmly the truth that while God is one there are three Persons in the Godhead.
- The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God.
- Now the scripture enjoins us to worship God – Matthew 4: 10; John 4: 24; Revelation 19: 10.
- So we worship the Father, we worship the Son, and we worship the Holy Spirit. This appears to be clearly involved in the teaching of scripture.
12. So that on the basis of these scriptural considerations there is liberty, we may say,
- to ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in prayer or hymns, and to ascribe praise and worship to Him similarly.
13. While the hymn book we use is neither inspired nor perfect – only scripture is –
- there is nothing in it that dishonours the Holy Spirit – quite the opposite – so that all would be free to sing hymns addressed to Him.
14. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse sheweth the work of his hands”, Psalm 19: 1.
- Also, “By his spirit the heavens are adorned”, Job 26: 13.
- The Holy Spirit’s deity and glory thus shine before us as the Creator. As his creatures we should indeed praise Him.
15. The Lord Jesus enjoins His disciples to go and make disciples of all the nations, and to baptize them
- “to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”, Matthew 28: 19.
- And in Psalm 48: 10 it says: “According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth”.
- It is our great privilege therefore to render our praise and worship to Each and All of the Divine Persons.
16. We know how sovereignly the Holy Spirit, in His own right as a Divine Person, operates in the book of Acts.
- There is Philip in chapter 8.
- There is Peter in chapter 10, who hearing the “voice to him”, answers, “in no wise, Lord [Despot – God]”.
- But afterwards he obeys the voice when the “Spirit said to him” to go down, “nothing doubting”.
17. There is also chapter 13; the assembly hears the Spirit speaking:
- “Separate me know Barnabas and Saul”;
- and then the Spirit sends them forth – verse 4.
- These persons, and others in the Acts and elsewhere, were obviously gratefully conscious of having to do with Him in holy and blessed relationship in the testimony.
- Have they never thanked Him or communed with Him?
18. The apostles and disciples would have needed no written liturgical instructions to address the Holy Spirit.
- They, conscious of His presence with them and in them – as the Lord had said in John 14 – forever;
- and as Paul says: “ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you”, 1 Corinthians 3: 16,
- they would have liberty to have recourse to Him in all their matters.
19. In addition to weighing the scriptural considerations suggested above, we should ask ourselves these questions:
- Does this line of teaching as to the Holy Spirit enhance Him personally in our hearts?
- Does it enlarge our apprehension of His deity and glory?
- Does it increase our liberty with Him?
- If it does, this would confirm and commend the teaching.
Page Top Article Top