Think of the Holy Spirit as a Moral Flame

By A. W. Tozer
 
For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace:. . .But ye are not in the flesh,
but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in
you. . . . Romans 8:6. 9
 
One of the most telling blows which the enemy ever
struck at the life of the Church was to create in her a
groundless fear of the Holy Spirit! He has been and is
so widely misunderstood that the very mention of His
Name in some circles is enough to frighten many
people into resistance.
 
   Perhaps we may help by examining that fire which is
the symbol of the Spirit's Person and Presence.
 
  The Holy Spirit is first of all a moral flame. It is not an
accident of language that He is called the HOLY Spirit,
for whatever else the word holy may mean it does
undoubtedly carry with it the idea of moral purity.
And the Spirit, being God, must be absolutely and
infinitely pure!
 
   It  follows  then  that  whoever would be filled and
indwelt by the Spirit should first judge his life for any
hidden iniquities; he should courageously expel from
his heart everything which is out of accord with the
character of God as revealed by the holy Scriptures.
 
   At the base of all true Christian experience must lie a
sound and sane morality. No joys are valid, no delights
legitimate where sin is allowed to live in life or conduct.
No transgression of pure righteousness dare excuse itself
on the ground of superior religious experience.
 
   "Be ye holy" is a serious commandment from the Lord
of the whole earth. The true Christian ideal is not to be
happy but to be holy. The holy heart alone can be the
habitation of the Holy Spirit!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.