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Human Work Made Effective by the Spirit, June 23
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:
how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to
them that ask him?
Luke 11:13
.
The promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit is not comprehended as it should
be; the privileges to be enjoyed through its acceptance are not appreciated as
they might be. God desires that His church should lay hold by faith upon His
promises, and ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to help them in every place.
He assures us that He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those that
ask Him, than parents are to give good gifts unto their children. Since it is
possible for everyone to have the heavenly unction, “ye need not that any man
teach you” (
1 John 2:27
), and there is no excuse for shunning responsibilities;
no duty should be unwelcome, no obligation evaded. Christ Himself is the
renewing power, working in and through every soldier by the agency of the
Holy Spirit. The efficiency of the Spirit of God will make effective the labors
of all who are willing to submit to His guidance.
God is moving upon every mind that is open to receive the impressions
of His Holy Spirit. He is sending out messengers that they may give the
warnings in every locality. God is testing the devotion of His churches, and
their willingness to render obedience to the Spirit’s guidance. Knowledge is
to be increased. The messengers of heaven are to be seen running to and fro,
seeking in every way possible to warn the people of the coming judgments,
and presenting the glad tidings of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The standard of righteousness is to be exalted.
The Spirit of God is moving upon men’s hearts, and those who respond
to His influence will become lights in the world. Everywhere they are seen
going forth to communicate to others the light they have received, as they did
after the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. And as they let
their light shine they receive more and more of the Spirit’s power. The earth
is lighted with the glory of God.—
(Australasian) Union Conference Record,
April 1, 1898
.
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