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ÒThe
Mind of the SpiritÓ Romans
8:27 ÒHe that
searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit.Ó — The Lord Jesus knows all about
us, even when we are puzzling and confusing to ourselves. His
Own Experience He knows the mind of the Spirit in the experience of every believer. Though our Lord
Jesus was altogether without the need of grace, because he was perfectly
righteous, yet as a man he lived in this world in perfect faith as the
God-man our Mediator. He was constantly ministered to by the Spirit. The
Spirit, who is given to us by measure, was given to Christ the Man without
measure (John 3:34). 23 All that he was
and did in his earthly life and ministry he ascribes to the Holy Spirit. Was he born of Mary? It was by the work of
the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). Was he consecrated
to God in his baptism? It was by the Spirit of God descending upon him
(Matthew 3:16). Was he led into the
wilderness to be tempted of the devil? It was God the Holy Spirit who
drove him into the wilderness of temptation (Matthew 4:1). Did he return from his temptation untouched
by it? He returned in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). Did he identify himself in the synagogue as
the One of whom Isaiah wrote? It was by declaring, ÒThe Spirit of the Lord
is upon meÓ (Luke 4:18). Did he cast
out demons? It was by the Spirit of God that he did so (Matthew
12:28). Did he offer himself
without spot to God? It was through the eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14). Did he rise again from the dead? It was
by the Spirit of holiness (Romans 1:4). He was Òjustified in the Spirit.Ó Even Now Even now, our Lord Jesus Christ
performs his work for us and in us by his Holy Spirit. All his works of grace
in us are Òaccording to the mind of the
SpiritÓ and by the Holy Spirit. Did he instruct the Apostles after his resurrection? It was through the
Holy Spirit (Acts 1:2). He gives dead sinners life in the new birth by his
Spirit (John 3:5-8). In the new birth, the Lord Jesus puts his Spirit in us
and causes his people to live in the Spirit. All who believe live in the
Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not an imaginary second
work of grace. It was the work of Christ at Pentecost, which we come to
experience in saving grace. If I have been born of God, I live in the Spirit
(Romans 8:9). The Lord Jesus comforts his redeemed
by the Holy Spirit, our Divine Comforter, Guide, and Teacher (John 16:7-20) In Us Our Lord Jesus lives in us
by his Spirit, making all who are born of God Òpartakers of the divine natureÓ(2 Peter 1:4), and by his Spirit
seals to our hearts all the blessings, gifts, benefits, and covenant promises
of the Triune God (Ephesians 1:13-14). Whatever
gifts of grace we possess are the gifts of God the Holy Spirit, who is the
ascension gift of Christ to his people (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). If we have faith, it is the fruit, operation,
and gift of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). If we have hope, it is Òthrough the power of the Holy GhostÓ (Romans
15:13). If the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts, it is by the Holy Ghost given to us (Romans 5:5). If
we pray, it is in the Spirit
and by the Spirit in us (Romans 8:26; Jude 20). If we sing, our singing is nothing, unless we sing in the Spirit (1
Corinthians 14:15). If I preach,
my preaching is altogether useless unless I preach in the Spirit (1 Peter
1:12). ÒEvery
virtue we possess, and every victory won, Every
thought of holiness, are His and His alone!Ó All
these things are the works and gifts of God the Holy Ghost in his saints.
Yet, there are times when our spiritual life is at such a low ebb that we
cannot see any grace in our souls, Even then, especially then, our Lord
Jesus, the Heart Searcher, knows all about us and tenderly cares for us. Even
when we know it not, ÒHe knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit.Ó (See Psalm 42:5-11). Don Fortner |
Pastor FortnerÕs |