We may learn a lot from history, or nothing at all –
it all depends on what we respect. We may pay too much credence to modern
teaching, when the teaching of the ancients like the Early Church Fathers might
have stood a better test of time. It’s good to be influenced by and to leverage
off those who have long since been taken to heaven.
John Charles Ryle (1816-1900), first Anglican
Archbishop of Liverpool, suggests there are 10
signs of the Spirit in the heart of the believer. These are outlined below,
along with my commentary:
1. The Spirit awakens a person’s heart.
New to belief in Jesus
Christ, the scales fall from our eyes, and we begin to see the truths and loves
of God. Once our hearts have been awakened we are able to think mindfully about
all sorts of things in and of the kingdom
of God. Only the Spirit
can open a person’s heart.
2. The Spirit teaches a person’s mind.
Now that the heart is no
longer a barrier to belief, the Spirit teaches the person’s mind. The concepts
of truth and love are both foreseeable and alluring. Only the Spirit can enliven
a passion for truth and love.
3. The Spirit leads to the Word.
There is a particular type
of passion that has emerged in the believer to read their Bible. It is a very
real source of life to them, and they may quickly struggle without it. Only the
Spirit can incline us to the Word and make that Word come alive as we ruminate
over it and digest its goodness. Its truth awakens the heart and mind as a
unit.
4. The Spirit convinces of sin.
The acquisition of
knowledge about one’s sinfulness is a strange but no less pivotal sign of the
Spirit’s sanctifying work in us. This is where we begin to acknowledge the
vastness of the chasm of holiness that exists between God and humanity. Our sin
does not condemn us any longer, however. Indeed, it polarises the power of
grace all the more. Only by the Spirit are we convicted of our sin and convinced of the power in grace to
overcome our guilt and more thoroughly thank our Father for Christ.
5. The Spirit draws to Christ.
As the unity in the
Godhead could never be more unified, we too are drawn by the Spirit into
Christ. Conversion therefore means full devotion. We have no other gods before
us. This is enough to make us ponder; have we acquired same? Only the Spirit
can free us of the bonds we have made for ourselves by our sinful natures.
6. The Spirit sanctifies.
Only the Spirit can make
us holy at accord with our deeds, even though we are made holy through our plain
belief in the Lord Jesus. Without the Spirit’s help, though we may do
impressive works, we do not grow one iota.
7. The Spirit makes a person spiritually
minded.
In the transformation of
the believer there is the letting go of the material world. They would much
rather let go of the pathetic grip for acquiring and accede to God in the
surrendering. The mindset is turned toward the things of the Spirit and away
from the world. Ambition is gone. Only the Spirit can convert us from
materialism to spiritualism.
8. The Spirit produces inward conflict.
Living the authentic
Christian life is no bed of roses. There is much inward conflict as the Spirit
wrangles with us toward repentance. But the believer will know that the
Christian life is a true life that is destined, and necessary, for every human
being. Only the Spirit can inspire this truth in us.
9. The Spirit makes a person love the
brethren.
A very salient proof: that
we love our neighbour as ourselves, routinely and consistently, though not
perfectly. We take very seriously what Jesus commanded us to do. It is the
second most important commandment within the New Covenant. Only the Spirit can
humble us and deal with our pride when we would struggle otherwise to forgive.
10. The Spirit teaches a person to pray.
Transcending all the legalistic
rules of prayer, the Spirit teaches a believer to pray in the faith, knowing
God’s Presence is immediately at hand. Prayers transcend words, just as prayers
can be felt. Only the Spirit can teach us how
to pray.
©
2014 S. J. Wickham.
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