THE HOLY SPIRIT is the Administrator of the divine economy: - We deal with Him, else we are out of touch with Heaven. - We yield to His gracious promptings, or we submerge ourselves in the futility of self-will. - We receive of His strength, or we remain impotent. Our eyes will be unopened; our minds unenlightened; our hearts unaffected; our feet not led. The Holy Spirit is not only the Administrator of the divine economy, He is also the Author of divine Revelation. - He employed human instrumentality, but the Bible is His production. - Holy men of old were borne along by His power and direction (II Peter 1:21). - He wove the element of life into its lines as the wool is woven into the fabric (I Peter 1:23). - He infused into its texture the manna of Heaven to nourish the life it produces (Job 23:12; II Peter 1:3). - He electrified its content with hallowed illumination capable of dissipating the densest darkness along our wilderness pathway (Psalm 119:105). - He incorporated a power within its message to bulwark the believer against the militating forces of evil. - He built into its structure a potent provision capable of dismantling the strongholds of Satan. The Holy Spirit is the Lord of the harvest. He controls the workers in the field, which is the world, by empowering, directing and prospering. - Where there is a lack of acquaintanceship with Him, there will be proportionately a lack of service for Him. - Where there is a lack of service, there will be a lack of reward. Meanwhile, the work which He designed will be unaccomplished. Then declension ensues-spiritual darkness sets in; saints weaken; the church limps and lags; and the unconverted plunge unchecked toward disillusionment and doom. The Holy Spirit has power to regenerate, providing a new nature; - To sanctify, producing a new character; - To energize, promoting a new fruitfulness; - To illuminate, presenting a new vision. Yet, to the multitudes, this member of the Godhead is no more than a fantasy or a mere influence. We tremble at the consequences of inattention, indeed willful rejection, exhibited so prevailingly with regard to His presence and purpose. This can only invite sorrow, defeat and eternal loss. The considerations of the Spirit's ministry in this volume, although not exhaustive, cover a wide area of important, practical truth. May His tender entreaties and gracious promptings find in each of us a perceptible yieldedness, indeed a full surrender to His control! - S. F. L.
About the Author: S. Franklin Logsdon (1907-1987) was a respected evangelical pastor and popular Bible conference speaker. He pastored Moody Memorial Church in Chicago (from 1950 to 1952). Prior to that he pastored Central Baptist Church in London, Ontario (from 1942-50). He also pastored churches in Holland, Michigan (Immanuel Baptist from 1952-57), and Erie, Pennsylvania. He taught at London Bible Institute in Ontario, Canada. He preached at Bible conferences (such as Moody Founder's Week) with well-known evangelists and pastors such as Billy Graham and Paul Smith of People's Church in Toronto. Logsdon authored a number of popular books and commentaries published by Zondervan Publishing House. A notice on the cover of his book Lest Ye Faint states, "One of the most popular and best loved pastors is the author of this book. Mr. Logsdon is an uncompromising defender of the faith once delivered to the saints, and each Sunday in Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, thousands of people gather to have their souls refreshed from the divine springs of Christian truth."