The Promise of the Spirit
J. Burns, D. D. Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them. I. THE BLESSING PROMISED. 1. The gift of the Spirit. The Spirit of God is revealed to us. (1) As the good Spirit. "Let Thy good Spirit lead me," etc. (Psalm 143:10; Nehemiah 9:20). He is the essence and the source of all goodness; the opposite of the evil and malignant spirit. (2) As the Holy Spirit. "Take not Thy Holy Spirit," etc. (Psalm 51:11). "If ye, being evil," etc. (Luke 11:13). "Grieve not the Holy Spirit," etc. (Ephesians 4:30). He is essentially holy, the Author of holiness, etc. (3) Described as the Spirit of prayer. "And I will pour out," etc. (Zechariah 12:10). "Likewise the Spirit," etc. (Romans 8:26). (4) He is also the Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:14, 15). He takes out of the kingdom of Satan, etc. His indwelling the sign, etc. (5) He is styled the Comforter and Guide of His people (John 14:16, 17). 2. That Spirit is to be put within us. The signs of the Spirit dwelling in us will be — (1) The expulsion of enemies from the heart. (2) We shall be led by the Spirit. "As many as are led," etc. "He will guide you," etc. (3) We shall have free access to God (Ephesians 2:18). He will excite us, influence us, prepare us for fellowship with God. (4) We shall have a confident expectation of glory (Romans 8:16, 17; 2 Corinthians 1:21). The Spirit is the "earnest," or "first-fruits," of future glory. (5) We shall be increasingly conformed to the image of Christ. Make us fruitful in every good work (Galatians 5:22; 2 Corinthians 3:18). II. THE PRACTICAL INFLUENCE THIS BLESSING IS TO PRODUCE. The Spirit will — 1. Impart the nature and disposition to serve God. This must be the new nature, the new heart, the right spirit, the obedient mind. 2. Will give us ability to serve God We require strength, power, etc. (Ephesians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 4:16). 3. Will enable us to advance in the service of God.Application — 1. Let us seek largely the influences of the Holy Spirit. It is obtained by believing prayer. 2. Let us yield ourselves freely to His Divine influence. 3. Let us be careful that we quench not and grieve not the Spirit of God. (J. Burns, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. WEB: I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my ordinances, and do them.