
WHAT perpetual references to the work of the Holy Spirit, under the symbol of  the Anointing Oil, meet us in these chapters. It becomes us to ask ourselves  very seriously whether we lay an equal stress on it in our daily experience. Is  it true of us, as of those to whom the Beloved Apostle wrote, that the anointing  which we received abideth in us? It is not enough to have the Spirit in us for  sanctification; He must be on us for service and ministry.
But He cannot  come on the flesh of the natural man; He descends only to those who are washed,  consecrated, set apart for God. Many claim the Holy Spirit's anointing, and try  to reckon they have received it; but they find it fail, because they desire it  for the flesh.
There must be no yielding to fleshly appetite. - When we  were in the flesh, sinful passions wrought in our members. But there must be no  permission given in these directions. A calm, reverent, self-disciplined nature  is alone fitted to be the seat of the Holy Ghost, His nest and  home.
There must be no gratification to worldly pride and ambition. - Too  many are eager for the Holy Ghost, that they may be able to make a name, or  gather an audience; but God is not likely to give us His river of throne-water  to turn the mill-wheels of personal ambition.
There must be no fleshly  striving after it. - We wrestle and struggle to win the Spirit, and miss Him. It  is only when our hope of attaining this blessing by our own efforts dies down,  and we are humbled and broken before God; when we cry out to Him to give what we  cannot win, that He draws near and gives the best of all His donations.