The Laws of the Spirit 385
A believer should never regard spiritual labor as altogether joyous
and jubilant, as though the presence of a burden is going to deprive
him of what he considers to be spiritual experience. Quite pitiful is
the one who is unaware of what real spiritual exertion in the burden
of the spirit is truly like. He who is willing to suffer for God and men
does not live for himself; but those who daily seek sensuous
pleasures and become apprehensive about bearing burdens for God
and the church are living only for themselves. Now in the light of
what has just been said, we must not consider ourselves as fallen or
as having erred whenever God imparts a burden to us. Satan is
extremely pleased if we interpret it as such for he shall thereby
escape our attacks. Let us not misunderstand ourselves. And let us
not listen to Satan, for if we do we shall be accused and tormented
further.
Genuine spiritual work is aggressive towards Satan and travails in
birth for believers. These in no wise can be termed joyous
undertakings. They require a more thorough death to self. That
explains why no soulish Christian is able to engage in true spiritual
effort. To enjoy sensuous pleasures daily is no evidence of
spirituality. On the contrary, those who go on with God and disregard
their own feelings are the truly spiritual ones. When a believer in
burden is contending with the enemy he often wishes to be alone,
separated from all human intercourse so as to concentrate on spiritual
warfare. Before the combat is over he can barely display a smiling
face. A spiritual Christian should welcome any burden which the
Lord brings his way.
We need to know the laws of the spirit and the way to cooperate
with God as well. Otherwise, we may prolong the burden to our
disadvantage or else lose the opportunity to labor together with God.
Every time we receive a burden in our spirit we should find out
immediately through prayer what that burden is. If it is a call to war,
to war we go; if a call to preach the gospel, the gospel we preach;