Would not results (8) and (9) be the best possible solution of the
constantly recurring Labor and Capital difficulty, and render a labor war
impossible, because unnecessary?
(10) Spirit-filled men will be strong in the Lord, spiritual giants, not
sickly, hunchbacked dwarfs (ver. 10).
(11) Spirit-filled men will be warriors, clad in the whole armor of God;
if not Spirit-filled they could not carry it (ver. 11).
(12) Spirit-filled soldiers will not be warring against flesh and blood;
internal foes having all been subdued, the civil war has ceased; their
enemies are now external, and they are free to concentrate all their
attention and God-inspired energies on them. Their enemies are (1) in the
world--principalities and world-rulers, and (2) in the heavenlies--powers
and spiritual hosts of wickedness (ver. 12).
(13) Spirit-filled men will be praying always in the Spirit (ver. 18). In
order to this vigilance is necessary "watching thereunto."
Such are some of the results, on the positive side, of being filled with
the Spirit. The effects on the negative side are manifest in Gal. v. 16,
17, "Walk in (by) the Spirit, and _ye shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh_. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against
the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other: that ye (walking
by the Spirit) may not do the things that ye would" (if ye were walking
by the flesh). (See Gal. v. 19-21.)
_3. Reaching the masses._
Another effect of a Spirit-baptized Church would be that the _masses would
be reached_. See how the early Church--which was a Spirit-baptized Church,
and persistently kept that truth in the foreground--reached the masses,
and with what blessed results! They were not amused or entertained, but
they were converted, saved, turned to the Lord.
"There were added unto them in that day about _three thousand_ souls."
Acts ii. 41.
"The number of the men came to be about _five thousand_." Acts iv. 4.
"Added to the Lord _multitudes_ both of men and women." Acts v. 14.
"The number of the disciples _multiplied_ in Jerusalem exceedingly, and
a _great company_ of the priests were obedient to the faith." Acts
vi. 7.
"The _multitudes_ (in Samaria) gave heed with one accord unto the things
that were spoken." Acts viii. 6.
"And _all_ that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned
to the Lord." Acts ix. 35.
"It became known throughout all Joppa; and many believed on the Lord."
Acts ix. 42.
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on _all_ them
which heard the word." Acts x. 44.
"And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a _great number_ that
believed, turned unto the Lord." Acts xi. 21.
"And the next Sabbath almost the _whole city_ was gathered together to
hear the word of God." Acts xiii. 44.
"And so spake that a _great multitude_ both of Jews and of Greeks
believed." Acts xiv. 1.
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