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Feeling the Need for the Spiritual Gifts, July 31
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he
counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a
blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy,
because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was
exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1
Timothy 1:12-14
.
Those who would be successful in winning souls to Christ must carry
with them the divine influence of the Holy Spirit. But how little is known
concerning the operation of the Spirit of God. How little has been said of the
importance of being endowed by the Holy Spirit, and yet it is through the
agency of the Holy Spirit that men are to be drawn to Christ, and through
His power alone can the soul be made pure. The Saviour said: “And when
he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgment” (
John 16:8
).
Christ has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church, but how
little is this promise appreciated. How seldom is [the Spirit’s] power felt in
the church; how little is His power spoken of before the people. The Saviour
has said: “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (
Acts 1:8
). With the reception of
this gift, all other gifts would be ours; for we are to have this gift according to
the plentitude of the riches of the grace of Christ, and He is ready to supply
every soul according to the capacity to receive. Then let us not be satisfied
with only a little of this blessing, only that amount which will keep us from
the slumber of death, but let us diligently seek for the abundance of the grace
of God.
God grant that His converting power may be felt throughout this large
assembly. Oh, that the power of God may rest upon the people. What we
need is daily piety. We need to search the Scriptures daily, to pray earnestly
that by the power of the Holy Spirit God may fit every one of us up to work
in our place in His vineyard. No one is prepared to educate and strengthen
the church unless he has received the gift of the Holy Spirit.—
The Review
and Herald, March 29, 1892
.
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