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How Jesus Related to Family Problems
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Him. Still the convicting Spirit of God followed them, and they had
to build up barriers to withstand the mightiest agency that can be
brought to bear upon the human heart.
God does not blind the eyes of men or harden their hearts. He
sends them light to correct their errors; by rejection of this light the
eyes are blinded and the heart hardened. Often the process is almost
imperceptible. But when one ray of light is disregarded, there is a
partial benumbing of spiritual perceptions, and the second revealing
of light is less clearly discerned. So the darkness increases, until
it is night in the soul. Thus it had been with these Jewish leaders.
They attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. In doing this
they deliberately chose deception, and henceforth were controlled
by Satan’s power.
Closely connected with Christ’s warning in regard to the sin
against the Holy Spirit is a warning against idle and evil words.
Words are an indication of character. “Out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh.” Words also have power to react on the
character. Men are influenced by their own words. Often under a
momentary prompting by Satan, they give utterance to that which
they do not really believe; but the expression reacts on the thoughts,
and they come to believe what was spoken at Satan’s instigation.
Having once expressed an opinion or decision, often they are too
proud to retract it. They try to prove themselves right, until they
believe they are.
It is dangerous to utter a word of doubt, dangerous to question
and criticize light. Careless and irreverent criticism reacts upon
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the character, fostering irreverence and unbelief. Many a man has
gone on until he was ready to criticize and reject the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give
account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt
be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
Then Jesus added a warning to those who had been impressed
by His words, but had not surrendered themselves for the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,
he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then
he saith, I will return unto my house from whence I came out; and
when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then