Chapter 55—Promise of the Holy Spirit
Consequence of Silence on the Subject—Just prior to leaving
His disciples for the heavenly courts, Jesus encouraged them with
the promise of the Holy Spirit. This promise belongs to us as much
as to them, and yet how rarely is it presented to the people and its
reception spoken of in the church. In consequence of this silence upon
this most important theme, what promise do we know less about by
its practical fulfillment than this rich promise of the gift of the Holy
Spirit, whereby efficiency is to be given to all our spiritual labor? The
promise of the Holy Spirit is casually brought into the discourses, is
incidentally touched upon, and that is all. Prophecies have been dwelt
upon, doctrines have been expounded, but that which is absolutely
essential to the church in order that they may grow in spiritual strength
and efficiency, in order that the preaching may carry conviction with it,
and souls be converted to God, has largely been left out of ministerial
effort.—
Manuscript 12, 1891
.
Need of Presentation in Every Discourse—The Holy Spirit is to
be presented in every discourse. What wonderful statements Christ has
made concerning His representative to the world. This is the theme of
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encouragement to be kept before the people. In comprehending the
office of the Holy Spirit, we shall bring all blessings to ourselves. He
will make us complete in Christ.—
Manuscript 8, 1898
.
Cause of Spiritual Drought—Ministers preaching present truth
will assent to the necessity of the influence of the Spirit of God in the
conviction of sin and the conversion of souls, and this influence must
attend the preaching of the Word, but they do not feel its importance
sufficiently to have a deep and practical knowledge of the same. The
scantiness of the grace and power of the divine influence of the truth
upon their own hearts prevents them from discerning spiritual things
and from presenting its positive necessity upon the church. So they
go crippling along, dwarfed in religious growth, because they have in
their ministry a legal religion. The power of the grace of God is not felt
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