Revelation 5:6 - Homilies By S. Conway

The goings forth of the Holy Ghost.

"The seven Spirits of God which are sent forth," etc. In all possible ways the Church declares her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his redemption. By the name, Christian; by the sacrament of the Holy Supper; by symbols—the cross everywhere; by her literature, etc. And all this is right; the example of it is given in Scripture, for Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the Bible: "Him first, him last, him midst, and without end." But this is not all the truth. For it is equally true that the holy and perfect Spirit of God is sent forth into all the earth—working in, upon, for, and around us everywhere. The doctrine is most blessed, and an essential part of the gospel of Christ, though it has not the prominence in our thought or speech that "the truth as it is in Jesus" receives. We do not realize as we should that the Holy Spirit is the Christ within us, and whose coming made it "expedient" that the Christ who in our nature died. for us upon the cross "should go away." Note—

I. THE EVIDENCE FOR THE GOING FORTH OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD . We see the Spirit striving with men in the days of Noah; as yet earlier and more successfully—because the striving was with matter, not with mind—we see him bringing order out of chaos at the Creation. "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?" asks the psalmist; "or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" David piteously pleads, "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me!" His presence is recognized in every part of the sacred history, and in the New Testament Pentecost is told of, and the truths concerning him are dwelt upon still more at large. In this Book of Revelation we read once and again of his gracious work (cf. Revelation 1:4 ; Revelation 3:1 ; Revelation 4:5 ; Revelation 5:6 . Cf. also conclusion of all the letters to the seven Churches, Revelation 2:1-29 and Revelation 3:1-22 .). At Revelation 19:10 we are told that "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." The Holy Spirit confirms the "voice from heaven" ( Revelation 14:13 ), which declares, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Yea, saith the Spirit," etc. It was under the influence of the Spirit the book was written: "I was in the Spirit," St. John repeatedly affirms. And at the end of the book the Spirit is heard along with the bride and others, bidding all come and take the water of life freely. Scripture, therefore, does plainly tell of a Spirit—the Spirit of God, "sent forth into all the earth."

II. THE MANNER OF HIS GOING FORTH . This seen:

1 . In nature.

2 . Amongst men. Here it is that the Divine Spirit's work may be most manifestly seen.

3 . In the Church. Here, of course, it is most of all to be seen. Let the waters of a lake be agitated by any cause, the greatest movements will be seen nearest the point where that which stirred the waters came into contact with them, although the movements will not stay until the whole body of the lake has been more or less affected thereby. And so, because the Church is the point of contact, amid the wide extent of humanity at large, with the blessed power of the Spirit of God, therefore in the Church will his power most of all be seen, though his power goes forth far beyond. In the Church it is seen in all stages of the spiritual life—in conviction, conversion, inward peace, bright hope, growing holiness. And in all the manifestations of that life—trust, fidelity, charity, zeal, self-denial, love, joy, peace, etc. It is more evidently seen in great spiritual movements like that at Pentecost, in which vast numbers of human hearts are touched, moved, and saved thereby. Then everybody notes it, and asks, "What strange thing is this?" But it may be seen, also, in equally real operation in the case of individuals who, one by one, the Holy Spirit draws to God. And this going forth shall be seen again:

4 . At the resurrection. "The Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies," etc. ( Romans 8:11 ). Each spring season is God's perpetual parable of the resurrection. The whence, the whither, and the cause are all portrayed when

"The spring-tide hour

Brings leaf and flower."

CONCLUSION . If we be asked—Why, if it be so that the Spirit of God thus goes forth, why is the world no better? we can only reply:

1 . The higher the life the longer its development demands. What wonder, then, that "the end is not yet"?

2 . The Spirit may be resisted; is so. The old fable of the sirens is of everyday fulfilment. The sweet, seductive song of the siren-like world lures souls in myriads to abandon the leading of the Spirit of God. Is it not so? The wonder is, not that so few escape, but that any do. No wonder, therefore, that his work is slow.

3 . But it is sure. The Spirit is likened to fire—to torches of fire (see Revelation 4:1-11 .), which will stand the rough blasts of the world and the tempests of sin, and yet burn on. And as fire transforms and strives strenuously till it gains its ends, so we believe the Spirit will, for we "believe in the Holy Ghost."

4 . What reception has he from us? Doubt him not, resist him not, but seek his aid for yourselves, for others, and, as you so do, you will increasingly believe in, see, and rejoice in, the goings forth of the Spirit of God.—S.C.