Holy Spirit in the Schools
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times more than it was wont to be heated.” These faithful youth were
cast into the fire, but God manifested his power for the deliverance
of his servants. One like unto the Son of God walked with them in
the midst of the flame, and when they were brought forth, not even
the smell of fire had passed on them. “Then Nebuchadnezzar spake,
and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,
who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him,
and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they
might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.”
Thus these youth, imbued with the Holy Spirit, declared to the
whole nation their faith, that He whom they worshiped was the only
true and living God. This demonstration of their own faith was the
most eloquent presentation of their principles. In order to impress
idolaters with the power and greatness of the living God, his servants
must reveal their own reverence for God. They must make it manifest
that he is the only object of their honor and worship, and that no
consideration, not even the preservation of life itself, can induce them
to make the least concession to idolatry.
These lessons have a direct and vital bearing upon our experience
in these last days. My soul is deeply stirred at the things that have
been represented before me. I feel an indignation of spirit that in our
institutions so little honor has been given to the living God, and so
much honor to what is supposed to be human talent, but with which the
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Holy Spirit has no connection. The Spirit of God is not acknowledged
and respected; men have passed judgment upon it; its operations have
been condemned as fanaticism, enthusiasm, undue excitement.
God sees that which the blind eyes of the educators cannot discern,
that immorality of every kind and degree is striving for the mastery,
working against the manifestations of the power of the Holy Spirit.
The commonest of conversation, and low, perverted ideas are woven
into the texture of character, and defile the soul.
The low, common, pleasure parties, gatherings for eating and
drinking, singing and playing on instruments of music, are inspired
by a spirit that is from beneath. They are an oblation unto Satan. The
exhibitions in the bicycle craze are an offense to God. His wrath is
kindled against those that do such things. For in these gratifications
the mind becomes besotted, even as in liquor-drinking. The door is
opened to vulgar associations. The thoughts, allowed to run in a low