268. EZE 36:27. THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT

Eze_36:27. The Promise of the Spirit

"And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments to do them."’97Eze_36:27

The text is connected with several great and precious promises. God engages to make his people a separate people, ver. 24; to purify and make them holy, ver. 25; to give them new hearts, &c., ver. 26; and, in ver. 27, to give them his Holy Spirit, &c. It is clear that the text is only realized by those who have believed, and thus have been made children of the family of God.

Consider, then,

I. The Blessing promised.

"I will put my spirit," &c.

1. The gift of the Spirit.

In redemption we are directed to the work of all the glorious distinctions in the Deity. God contrived the mysterious, yet gracious scheme. Jesus meritoriously effected it. And the Holy Spirit applies its benefits to the hearts of all believers.

The Spirit of God is revealed to us,

(1) As the Good Spirit. "Let thy good spirit lead me," &c. Psa_143:10; Neh_10:20. He is the essence and the source of all goodness; the opposite of the evil and malignant spirit.

(2) As the Holy Spirit. "Take not thy holy spirit," &c. Psa_51:11. "If ye, being evil," &c. Luk_11:13. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit," &c. Eph_4:30. He is essentially holy, the Author of holiness, &c.

(3) Described as a Spirit of Prayer.

"And I will pour out," &c. Zec_12:10.

"Likewise the spirit," Rom_8:26.

(4) He is also the Spirit of Adoption. Rom_8:14, Rom_8:15. He takes out of the kingdom of Satan, &c. His indwelling the sign, &c.

(5) He is styled the Comforter and Guide of his people. Joh_14:16, Joh_14:17.

2. That Spirit is to be put within us.

Not merely external influence, as in creation, Gen_1:2. Or occasional impulse; but to be within our hearts. "Dwell" in us, Rom_8:9.

The signs of the Spirit dwelling in us will be,

(1) The expulsion of enemies from the heart. It is Satan’s palace. He dwells and reigns over the children of disobedience. Reigning sins also occupy the throne of the heart. But when the Spirit dwells in us, "Body dead," &c. Rom_8:10.

(2) We shall be led by the Spirit. "As many are led," &c. "He will guide you," &c. Apply the truth; make it clear, &c.

(3) We shall have free access to God. See Eph_2:18. He will excite us, influence us, prepare us for fellowship with God.

(4) We shall have a confident expectation of glory. See Rom_8:16-17; 2Co_1:21. The Spirit is the "earnest," or "firstfruits," of future glory.

(5) We shall be increasingly conformed to the image of Christ. Make us fruitful in every good work, Gal_5:22; 2Co_3:18.

Observe

II. The practical Influence this Blessing is to produce.

"And cause you to walk in my statutes," &c.

The Spirit will,

1. Impart the nature and disposition to serve God.

This must be the new nature the new heart, the right spirit, the obedient mind. This we obtain when we are born of the Spirit. When all "old things," &c. The Spirit,

2. Will give us ability to serve God.

We require strength, power, &c. So Eph_3:16; 2Co_4:16.

3. He will enable us to advance in the service of God.

Hence we are to "walk" in God’s statutes. Hence we are directed to "walk in the Spirit." Now the Spirit will sustain and keep, uphold, &c.

Application

1. Let us seek largely the influences of the Holy Spirit. It is obtained by believing prayer.

2. Let us yield ourselves freely to his Divine influence.

3. Let us be careful that we quench not and grieve not the Spirit of God.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS