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Let the Holy Spirit Control, August 1
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22, 23
.
The question of religious liberty needs to be clearly comprehended by our
people in more ways than one. With outstretched arms men are seeking to steady
the ark, and the anger of the Lord is kindled against them because they think that
their position entitles them to say what the Lord’s servants shall do and what they
shall not do....
Moses was specially chosen to be the visible leader of the children of Israel.
Through long years of discipline he learned the lesson of humility, and he became
a man whom God could teach and guide. He endured as seeing Him who is
invisible. God trusted him—a daily learner in the school of Christ—with the
leadership of the host of Israel. God talked with him face to face, as a man talketh
with his friend. He was the meekest of all men. He did not seek to control the
Holy Spirit, but was himself controlled by the Spirit....
Every man has an individuality of his own, which is not to be submerged in
any other human being. The life of each one must be hid with Christ in God. Men
are under God’s control, not under the control of weak, erring human beings. They
are to be left free to be guided by the Holy Spirit, not by the fitful, perverse spirit
of unsanctified men....
Let God be recognized as the supreme Ruler of His heritage. Let every man
place himself under His control. Let Him be recognized in all our assemblies, in
every business meeting, every council, every committee. He sees all that is done,
and hears all that is said.
“Thou God seest me” (
Genesis 16:13
). Let these words be kept ever in mind.
They will be a safeguard against imprudent, passionate speeches, against all desire
to domineer. They will repress words that should never be spoken, and resolutions
that men have no right to make—resolutions that restrict the liberty of human
beings....
God calls upon men to act under His supervision, to accept His standard, to
take all their decisions and plans to Him for approval. His holiness, His justice, is
to keep them from unprincipled actions....
“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord
his God: which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which
keepeth truth for ever: which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth
food to the hungry.... The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all
generations. Praise ye the Lord” (
Psalm 146:5-10
).—
Manuscript 51, August 1,
1895
, “God to Control His Heritage.”
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