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Tongues of Fire, January 15
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat
upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:3, 4
.
If you search the Scriptures with a meek and teachable spirit, your efforts
will be richly rewarded. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned” (
1 Corinthians 2:14
). The Bible should
be studied with prayer. We should pray as did David, “Open thou mine eyes,
that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (
Psalm 119:18
). No man
can have insight into the Word of God without the illumination of the Holy
Spirit. If we will but come into the right position before God, His light will
shine upon us in rich, clear rays.
This was the experience of the early disciples. The Scriptures declare that
“when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord
in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there
appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of
them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (
Acts 2:1-4
). God is willing
to give us a similar blessing, when we seek for it as earnestly.
The Lord did not lock the reservoir of heaven after pouring His Spirit
upon the early disciples. We, also, may receive of the fullness of His blessing.
Heaven is full of the treasures of His grace, and those who come to God in
faith may claim all that He has promised. If we do not have His power, it is
of our spiritual lethargy, our indifference, our indolence. Let us come out of
this formality and deadness.
There is a great work to be done for this time, and we do not half realize
what the Lord is willing to do for His people. We talk about the first angel’s
message, and the second angel’s message, and we think we have some under-
standing of the third angel’s message; but we should not be satisfied with our
present knowledge. Our petitions, mingled with faith and contrition, should
go up to God, for an understanding of the mysteries that God would make
known to His saints.—
The Review and Herald, June 4, 1889
.
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