The Throne Of The Holy Spirit
(Chapter 26 from Dr. Hyle's excellent book, Meet The Holy Spirit)
God the Father sits on His throne. Psalm 11:4, "The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in Heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men." Psalm 47:8, "God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness." God's throne is in Heaven and there He sits overseeing the universe and providing for His own people.
Jesus has a throne. Hebrews 1:3, "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Hebrews 8:1, "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." Hebrews 10:12, "But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God." Notice especially the words, "sat down at the right hand of God." Much of the book of Hebrews reveals to us the priestly work of Christ as typified by the Old Testament priesthood. So as God the Father is sitting on His throne, even so Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father.
The Holy Spirit has a throne. I Corinthians 3:16, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" I Corinthians 6:19, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" The throne of the Holy Spirit is in the body of the believer.
A Christian is rightly disturbed when someone tries to sit on the throne of the Father. This is why we are admonished in Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your father upon the earth." No man has a right to sit on God the Father's throne. Hence, the believer who addresses a clergyman as "father" is placing him upon a throne which he does not deserve and which is reserved only for God the Father. When such a clergyman uses such a title for himself or admonishes others to use that title toward him, he is usurping a throne which is not his. It is infinitely more sacrilegious when we choose one man in the world and call him Pope (Papa or Father). When we call him by these names, we are placing him on a throne that is not his. When we bow down before him, we are giving to him a throne that is reserved only for God the Father. When we address him as the Holy Father, we are giving him a place reserved for no human being, but rather for our Father which is in Heaven. It is a wicked thing for one to usurp the throne of our Heavenly Father!
Likewise some have tried to sit on Jesus' throne. His position in this age is at the right hand of the Father as our priestly intercessor. Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." I Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." This means that our access to God is only through Jesus Christ. When we claim access to God through the virgin Mary, we are placing her on a throne that belongs only to Jesus. How sad that some have tried to put in a place reserved only for the dear Son of God this good woman who mothered the physical body of our Lord.
Likewise some attempt to find access to God through a clergyman. How foolish and how futile! Hebrews 10:11, "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins."
A dear lady is dying. She was a wonderful Christian. She called for her pastor to come and be with her at her Home-going. Since he was not available, a friend called her pastor who was of a different theological persuasion. This pastor came to the bedside of the dying saint and asked her if he could absolve any of her sins before she died. With a look of Christ on her face she replied, "Yes, if you can qualify." "What must I do to qualify?" the clergyman asked. The little lady faintly said, "Let me see your right hand." The clergyman extended her right hand. Then she said, "Let me see your left hand." The clergyman extended his left hand. Very sweetly the dying saint said, "Sir, you cannot absolve my sins. My Saviour has scars in His hands."
A true believer abhors such and intrusion into the priestly work reserved only for our Saviour as He sits at the right hand of God.
The spiritual Christian rightly abhors another's intrusion on the throne of God the Father and another's intrusion to the position of our Saviour at the right hand of the Father. There is, however, another throne which is often usurped. This throne is that of the Holy Spirit. With righteous indignation we show our disfavor when one takes the throne of God the Father. With abhorrence we chaff when one takes the place reserved only for our Saviour, and yet multitudes of us commit a sin of equal significance when we usurp the throne of the Holy Spirit. It is the hob of the blessed Spirit to lead us. Romans 8:14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." When we are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." When we lead ourselves, make our own decisions and go our own way, we are placing self at the place reserved for the Holy Spirit.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to teach us. When we study and learn without His leading, we take a position reserved only for Him. When we sing in the flesh, preach in the flesh, teach in the flesh, pray in the flesh or witness in the flesh we are placing ourselves on His throne.
There are many other duties of the Holy Spirit. He convicts. John 16:8, "And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." He strives. Genesis 6:3, "And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." He regenerates. Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." He baptizes. I Corinthians 12:13, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
He indwells. John 14:16, 17, "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." He seals. II Corinthians 1:21, 22, "Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." He assures. Romans 8:16, "The Spirit Itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."
He teaches. John 16:12-14, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you." He comforts. John 14:16, 17, "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, but it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." He gives gifts. I Corinthians 12:28, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." He bears fruit. Galatians 5:22, 23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." He fills. Ephesians 5:18, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."
Hence, when the believer enters into any of these ministries reserved for the Holy Spirit, he places himself on a throne reserved for the dear Spirit of God. The believer SHOULD be concerned when the Pope or another sits on the throne of the Father. A Christian SHOULD be concerned when a clergyman sits on the throne of the Saviour. He should have EQUAL CONCERN when he himself sits on the throne of the Holy Spirit!
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"I am an old-fashioned preacher of the old-time religion, that has warmed this cold world's heart for two thousand years." —Billy SUNDAY
