Holy Spirit
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lacking, though offered in its infinite plenitude.—
Testimonies for the
Church 8:21
.
Some Idly Waiting for Season of Refreshing
There are some who, instead of wisely improving present opportu-
nities, are idly waiting for some special season of spiritual refreshing
by which their ability to enlighten others will be greatly increased.
They neglect present duties and privileges, and allow their light to
burn dim, while they look forward to a time when, without any effort
on their part, they will be made the recipients of special blessing, by
which they will be transformed and fitted for service.—
The Acts of
the Apostles, 54
.
Christ’s Successor
The Holy Spirit is Christ’s representative, but divested of the per-
sonality of humanity, and independent thereof. Cumbered with hu-
manity, Christ could not be in every place personally. Therefore it was
for their interest that He should go to the Father, and send the Spirit
to be His successor on earth. No one could then have any advantage
because of his location or his personal contact with Christ. By the
Spirit the Saviour would be accessible to all. In this sense He would
be nearer to them than if He had not ascended on high.—
The Desire
of Ages, 669
.
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Holy Spirit at Work from Beginning
From the beginning God has been working by His Holy Spirit
through human instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His pur-
pose in behalf of the fallen race. This was manifest in the lives of the
patriarchs. To the church in the wilderness also, in the time of Moses,
God gave His “good Spirit to instruct them.” And in the days of the
apostles He wrought mightily for His church through the agency of
the Holy Spirit. The same power that sustained the patriarchs, that
gave Caleb and Joshua faith and courage, and that made the work of
the apostolic church effective, has upheld God’s faithful children in
every succeeding age. It was through the power of the Holy Spirit that
during the Dark Ages the Waldensian Christians helped to prepare the