Friday July 18
Further Study: Ellen G. White, "The Power Promised," pp. 19-23, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8; "The Gift of the Spirit," pp. 47-56, in The Acts of the Apostles.
"At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer." — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 669, 670.
"The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He [Jesus] could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer." -Page 671.
Amen!! This is why Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again of the Spirit. Then man becomes a partaker of the divine nature because his heart is possessed by the Spirit.
Discussion Questions:
Given the human tendency to self-exaltation, what lessons does the humble and subordinate operation of the Holy Spirit teach us?
In dialogue with Nicodemus, Jesus compared the Spirit to the wind. What spiritual lessons may we learn from that comparison?
Some people claim that the evidence of being "filled with the Spirit" is to be able to speak in what is commonly referred to as "tongues." How should we respond to this claim?
Very simply share the truth of the power of grace to transform the life. Many who have been deceived need to see the simplicity of the gospel. They need to see their error in believing they are saved in sin. They need to be convicted of the sin in their lives and the power of grace to keep one from sinning. Tney need to know of the real power of the Spirit, not to speak gibberish, but to love the unlovable.
We tend to think of the work of the Holy Spirit on an individual, one-to-one basis, which is, of course, correct. At the same time, how can we, as a corporate body, experience the reality of His presence in our church as a whole?
That is an interesting question that has more than one answer. The Spirit does not always work in the same manner with people or with a church. Those who resist the Spirit will have a different outcome than those who submit to Him. Some churches and some conferences who continue in rebellion against the Spirit will reap what they have sown. No matter what we do as a corporate body, we will experience the reality of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our church. He is working in every church until there is no more hope. As for the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a whole, it will see revival and reformation through the working of the Spirit. Today, the Spirit is attempting to convict sinners and reveal the loveliness of Jesus. The Laodicean message is being given in the churches. The straight testimony is going forth and it is causing a shaking. The corporate body will appear as it is about to fall, but will not. Many will be shaken out, but there are many waiting to come in. The world and the church are in turmoil, but all who accept the Holy Spirit into their hearts have peace in the middle of the storm. God has His witnesses in the world and in His church. The end is approaching. Let us look up, our redemption draweth nigh! What is the Spirit saying to you today? What will be your response? Today decides tomorrow. What we are beholding is what we become.
