Evidence of Liberty in the Spirit (3)

(3) With the freedom of the Spirit, there is courage and strength of faith against opposition. When the Spirit reveals with conviction the excellence of the state we are in, and the vileness of the state we are moved to by opposition—what is all opposition to a spiritual man? It gives him courage and strength to resist. The more opposition, the more courage he has. When the early Christians had the Spirit of God (Acts 4:29), they resisted opposition, and the more they were opposed, the more they grew. They were cast in prison and rejoiced. And the more they were imprisoned, the more courageous they were still.
There is no setting against this wind or quenching of this fire by any human power; for the Spirit of God, where he truly sets a man at liberty, gathers strength by opposition. See how the Spirit triumphed in the martyrs over fire, and imprisonment, and all opposition. The Spirit in them set them at liberty from such base fears, that he prevailed in them over everything. The Spirit of God is a victorious Spirit, freeing the soul from base fears of any creature. 'If God be for us, who can be against us?' (Rom. 8:31).
It is said of Stephen that they could not withstand the Spirit by which he spoke (Acts 6:10). And Christ promises a Spirit that no enemies will be able to withstand. God's children, in the time of opposition, when they understand themselves and what they stand for, are given by God a Spirit against which no enemies can stand. The Spirit of Christ in Stephen put such a glory upon him that he looked as if he were an angel (Acts 6:15). The Spirit of liberty gives boldness, strength, and courage against opposition. Those, therefore, who are daunted by every small thing when standing in a good cause do not have the Spirit of Christ; for where he is, he frees men from these fears, especially if the cause belongs to God.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 56-57 [62-63]
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