© 19 Colin Melbourne, Transcribed and annotated from The Latter Rain publication of the Stone Church 1923
As Free As The Spirit
There are three things in particular, that we must understand concerning the Baptism of the Spirit.
Any Assembly, I don’t care what it is, that puts its hand upon the working of the Spirit, will surely bring trouble to that Assembly.
The Assembly must be as free as the Spirit as possible, and you must allow a certain amount of extravagance when people are “getting through to God”.
I notice that unless we are very wise, we can easily interfere, and quench the power of God which is upon us.
It is an evident fact that; one man in a meeting, filled with unbelief, can make a place for the Devil to have a seat. [6]
And it is very true to fact that, if we are not careful, we may quench the Spirit of some person who is innocent, and is incapable (on the line of innocence) to help himself. Rom. 15:1 KJV;
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
You must be careful in that. [7]
Life: Not Religious Bondage
If you want an Assembly full of life, you must have an Assembly in which the Spirit of God is manifested. And in order to keep at the boiling pitch of molted heat, of that blessed incarnation of the Spirit, you must be; as simple as babies, you must be as harmless as doves, and wise as serpents.
Grace for Grace
In this, I always ask God for a leading of grace.
It takes grace to be in a meeting, because it is so easy, if you are not careful, to get on the natural side. [ie. God’s Grace must be ruling in the meeting, not bondage to forms and rituals. Ed.]
The man who is a preacher, if he has lost the unction [ie. missed the anointing. Ed.], will be well repaid if he will carefully, inwardly repent, and get right with God, and get the unction back.
Always In The Spirit
It never pays us to be less than always spiritual, and we must have a divine language always on the line, and the language must be of God.
Tender-hearted: Not Critical
Beloved, if you come into real perfect line of the Grace of God, one thing will certainly take place in your life: You will change from that old position, of the world’s line, where you were judging everybody, and where you were not trusting anyone, and come into a place where you will have a heart that will believe all things; where you will have a heart that under no circumstances reviles again, when you are reviled.
I know, many of you present this morning, think many times before you speak once.
Here is a great word, Rom. 16:19 KJV;
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Innocent.
No inward corruption or defilement that is full of distrusts, but just a holy, divine likeness of Jesus that dares believe that God Almighty will surely watch over all. Halleluia!
Ps. 91:10-11 KJV;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
The child of God who is rocked in the Bosom of the Father, has the sweetest touch of Heaven, and the honey of the word is always in it. [8]
Oh if the saints only knew how precious they are in the sight of God, they would be scarcely able to sleep, for thought of His watchful, loving care.
Continue reading:
Smith Wigglesworth on The Active Life of the Spirit-filled believer
[6] one man in a meeting, filled with unbelief: Smith once sensed the Devil trying to disturb his preaching. It was a member of a cult who had come to pray against him. Smith immediately walked to the bench the man was sitting on, and tipped it up commanding him to get out. The cult member fled, and there was liberty in the meeting.
[7] You must be careful in that: Smith is here warning us not to be heavy-handed in controlling new believers, and thereby inhibiting them and quenching the Spirit in them.
[8] …will surely watch over all: This is a very profound point SW makes, and the reader will benefit from long meditation on it.
© 19 Colin Melbourne, Transcribed and annotated from The Latter Rain publication of the Stone Church 1923
