Feeling Versus Faith

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1)

If God wills to pour out His Spirit upon us, why do not more Christians and more churches receive an experience of power like that of the early Church? That some have so received is joyfully admitted, but why is the number so few? When the provision is so broad and the promise so sure, what doth hinder us?

One obstacle to the reception of power is a widespread fear of our emotions wherever they touch the religious life.

This anti-emotionalism is an unwarranted inference, not a scriptural doctrine, and is in violent opposition to psychology and common sense. Where in the Bile are feeling and faith said to be at odds?

The fact is that faith engenders "feeling". We can have feeling without faith, it is true, but we can never have faith without feeling. Faith as a cold, unemotional light is wholly unknown in the Scriptures. The faith of those Bible heroes listed in the Book of Hebrews invariably aroused emotion and led to positive action in the direction of their faith.

If we love Him, He can make us supremely happy.

~A. W. Tozer~

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The Holy Spirit is Gracious

"And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him" (Luke 3:22)

Another hindrance to receive the power from the Holy Spirit is fear of fanaticism. Instinctive revulsion from fleshly excesses and foolish undisciplined conduct on the part of some who profess lofty spiritual attainments has closed the door to a life of power for many of God's true children.

They have made the mistake of putting all teaching concerning the Holy Spirit in the same category, and consequently will have nothing to do with any of it. This is as much to be regretted as it is easy to understand.

Such victims must be taught that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus, and is as gracious and beautiful as the Saviour Himself. Paul's words should be kept in mind, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

The Holy Spirit is the "cure" for fanaticism, not the cause of it.

The heart in which the Holy Spirit lives will always be characterized by gentleness, lowliness, quietness, meekness and forbearance.

~A. W. Tozer~