To Finney's amazement, he learned afterwards that the place was
called Sodom, because of its extreme wickedness, and the old man
who had invited him to preach was called Lot, because he was the
only God-fearing man in the place. Evidently the Holy Spirit
worked through Finney to accomplish these results. And such
inspiration is not uncommon with those who are filled with the
Spirit.
But this reinforcement of the mind and memory by the Holy Spirit
does not do away with the need of study. The Spirit quickens that
which is already in the mind and memory, as the warm sun and
rains of spring quicken the sleeping seeds that are in the
ground, and only those.
The sun does not put the seed in the soil, nor does the Holy
Spirit without our attention and study put the word of God in our
minds. For that we should prayerfully and patiently study.
"We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the
ministry of the word," said the Apostles.
"Study to show thyself approved of God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed; rightly dividing the word of truth," wrote
Paul to Timothy.
Those men have been best able to rightly divide the word, and
have been most mightily used by the Holy Spirit, who have most
carefully and prayerfully studied the word of God, and most
constantly and lovingly meditated upon it.
4. This preaching is _healing and comforting.
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