The Pentecostal Gift – As An Endowment
By
S. A. Keen
The
gift of the Holy Ghost is the source of Christian effectiveness is not only an emancipation, but it is also an endowment.
It is a triune gift of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Let us notice specifically the elements of this endowment:
1.
It is a divine energy in the soul. “The spirit of power.” Jesus said to the disciples just before his ascension:
“Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Then he added, as a resultant: “Ye shall
receive power, the Holy Ghost coming upon you.” (R.V.) Here he declared the nature and secret of spiritual power; it
is the Holy Ghost in the believer, and coming upon him as He shall be depended upon, in the life and service.
The
power of the Spirit is a greatly misunderstood subject. There is no gift of power, as such, disconnected with the indwelling
of the Holy Ghost Himself. Power is not some new faculty, capability, or attachment put onto the spiritual life. It is God
Himself in us by the presence of the Holy Ghost, imparting to us the divine energy, which works through our personality, whether
it be great or small. The divine energy of the indwelling of the Spirit, modified by the intervention of human personality,
adapting it to impress and help our souls, is power. This freights our words, our manner, and our activities with a spiritual
avoirdupois. It is that breath in prayer, testimony, invitation, exhortation, and preaching, which awakens, comforts, illuminates,
and blesses souls. One word in the power of the Spirit is worth more than a hundred without it.
A
Christian woman said to a worldly man: “Albert, you ought not to lose your soul.” He could not get away from these
words; they weighed upon his heart until he broke down into contrition. Like words had been spoken to him before, but she
said them in the power of the Spirit. There are repeated instances of those who have been brought to Christ by a single line
written, a few words spoken, a simple testimony given, or a short prayer offered. What accounts of the unusual power of these
small things except the divine energy of the Indwelling Spirit in the souls whence they emanated. This divine energy often
works through the presence of the child of God.
The
cultured and skeptical Lord Chesterfield said to Fenelon, in whose company he had been thrown: “He will make a Christian
of me in spite of myself, if I stay long with him.”
Operators
in a mill in New England quit their lathes, fell to weeping and praying, as Charles G. Finney simply walked about the factory.
A look, a tone, a gesture given, has often had the power to smite down souls into penitence or lift them into life.
A
preacher in early Methodism, while discoursing on the story of Gideon's victory, shouted out, “The sword of the Lord
– and Gideon,” swayed his hand to the right and people fell by the score to the ground. He repeated the words,
swayed his hand to the left, and they fell in like numbers in that direction. There is such a thing as the power of the Holy
Ghost. While some of His manifestations are exceptional and phenomenal, yet they may accompany the ordinary Christian life,
so that He shall pray, testify, exhort, teach, and live with wonderful effectiveness. This, also, in the face of what seems
to be natural inaptitudes. Gifts, talents, training, etc., are not indispensable channels of His manifestations. If these
exist, the divine energy of the Spirit may use them; but when they do not exist, still their absence may not intercept the
spiritual force of the indwelling of the Spirit through us. Here is the secret of the wonderful achievements of many humble,
uncouth, and unlearned people – the Shamgars, with oxgoads; the Davids, with slings; and the fishermen, without letters
– routing enemies, slaying giants, and building the kingdom, while more gifted and better-equipped people quail and
fail.
We
know an estimable, cultured Christian woman, and educated, who has this singular infirmity, of which she herself is aware,
that when leading in public prayer or giving testimony, she is involved, incoherent, and often ungrammatical; yet we never
heard her pray when the heavens did not seem to bend, or speak for Jesus, that hearts were not moved by her simple testimony.
What was it that overreached her hesitation, her incoherence, her disjointed utterance, and made her words so gracious and
helpful to others? It was the power of the Spirit in her and through her. Though learned, she was simple enough to be a fool
for Christ's sake, and so God used her mightily in blessing others.
2.
It is a divine enthusiasm in the soul. “The spirit of love.” The experience of love which the Holy Ghost sheds
abroad in the heart comprises three modes: 1. Love to God; 2. Love for God; 3. Love as God loves. The baptism of the Holy
Ghost brings this experience of love to the degree of a passion; so that our love to God, and our love for God, and our love
as God loves, is with all the heart, soul, mind and strength. It becomes a divine enthusiasm of love. This enthusiasm of love
is an endowment of effectiveness in reaching others, manifests itself particularly in that mode in which the soul loves as
God loves. In a finite degree the soul comes to love as God loves in an infinite degree. Whatever channel God's love takes
toward others, our love cuts the same, and we love others as God loves us. Our love for souls is a miniature facsimile of
God's love for souls.
Paul
had this enthusiasm of love – this passion for souls – when he said, “The love of Christ constraineth me.”
Do you ask, brethren, he would say, the source of my ceaseless toils, my quenchless zeal, my boundless self-sacrifice? I can
only say, the love of Christ constraineth me.
David
Brainerd had this passion for souls when he said, “I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure, so that I
may save souls. When I sleep, I dream of them; when I awake, they are first in my thoughts.”
Robert
McCheyne had it when the old Scotch woman said to him, “He always preached as he would be dyin' to see yees saved.”
It is this love for souls that wins, it tells of itself. Love speaks when it does not know it. The conquest of souls for Christ
is to be a conquest of love. This world must be loved to God. The Holy Ghost will impart to every believer this enthusiasm
of love that will make him a successful soul winner. This divine enthusiasm of love is not only a passion for souls, but also
for the service – the warfare by which they are to be rescued. There are those who think they have a love for souls,
but have an aversion toward all aggressive spiritual movements in the interest of souls. When this endowment of love comes,
it puts into the soul and into the Church a martial ardor. They set up their banners, they originate, and prosecute campaigns
for souls. Indeed, every pastor, Sunday School teacher, official member, and child of God, anointed with the Holy Ghost, takes
the offensive against the kingdom of darkness, and pushes the battle for souls. The Church becomes a “Salvation Army.”
O the delightful enthusiasm this passion for souls puts into aggressive spiritual life! How eagerly it precipitates action,
leads assault, plans sieges for the salvation of people! The roar of the battle, the smoke of the field, and the shock of
the foe is inspiration to the heart that is filled with this divine enthusiasm.
3.
It is a divine wisdom in the soul. “The spirit of a sound mind.” This means holy tact – the art of winning
souls. “He that winneth souls is wise.” Many who are paragons of practical wisdom in business, in politics, in
social life, science, philosophy, and even theology, have little of the wisdom that cometh down from above; while unlearned
and simple ones after a worldly manner, are marvels as soul winners. Whence is this? The former lack the gift of spiritual
wisdom; the latter have it.
