Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits. are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20.

The gift of power from God brings an obligation, not to pride and self-exaltation but to greater humility and holiness. Christ taught His disciples how perilous a spirit of self-glorification can be, particularly in spiritual experiences relating to the power of the Holy Spirit. "Take my yoke upon you, arid learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart" (Matt. 11:29).

We need to be afraid of any attitude that boasts of spiritual experiences. The joy of being used by the Lord is not wholly without danger. The meek and lowly Christ does not boast of His own spiritual power and experience by the Holy Spirit. Only what Christ is able to do through our weak and feeble selves has any significance. We learn this lesson very slowly.

Any claim to self-exaltation by means of religion, springs from the belief that we are essentially superior because God has favored us with truth and power. God selects His prophets and apostles from among "the weakest of the weak:" Christ commanded the man cleansed from leprosy to say nothing to any man, not to publish abroad the miraculous healing. Why, in so many cases, was the miraculously healed person bidden to keep silent? Miracles, sensational manifestations, are just the thing to get a crowd. People are really impressed by this kind of thing. Today there are many occasions when professed Christians have occasion to tell of the sensational work of God, so-called.

It is easier to exalt this kind of startling events than to withdraw into a quiet place away from the excitable crowds. Great spiritual excitement often produces perilous attitudes. When we are drawn the closest to Christ, spiritual excitement and ecstasy are not really important. A sense of awe at God's presence, a quietness of voice and mind, possesses us. There is no occasion to call attention to ourselves, that we have been the recipient of special favors from God. In all our witness we are to give glory to God and never to ourselves. When Christ draws near to us He makes us partakers of His holiness and His humility.