The

Com

ing

of th

e

Com

fort

er

Stud

ies

on th

e C

omin

g an

d W

ork

of th

e Th

ird

Pers

on o

f the

G

odhe

ad

By

LeR

oy E

dwin

Fro

om

] Pu

bli8

hed

by t

he

REV

IEW

AND

HER

ALD

PU

BLI

SHIN

G A

SSO

CIA

TIO

N

TAK

OM

A P

ARK

, W

ASH

ING

TON

, D.

C.

PEEK

SKIL

L, N

. Y

. SO

UTH

BEN

D, I

ND

.

'I

Cop

yrig

ht 1

928

B

y th

e R

evie

w a

nd H

eral

d Pu

blis

hing

Ass

ocia

tion

DED

ICA

TIO

N

To t

he G

ospe

l M

inis

try

of t

he A

dven

t M

ovem

ent,

who

, th

roug

h th

e en

ablin

g po

wer

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it in

•

the,

Lat

ter

Rai

n, a

re d

es-,

tined

to b

e th

e in

stru

men

-ta

litie

s fo

r fin

ishi

ng

our

com

mis

sion

ed

wor

ld

task

, th

is v

olum

e is

pra

yerf

ully

IN

SCR

IBED

CO

NTE

NTS

By

Way

of I

ntro

duct

ion

7

PART

I

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

15

The

Scri

ptur

al F

ound

atio

n fo

r th

e Pr

omis

e of

the

Spir

it 17

Th

e Pr

omis

e of

the

Spir

it -

19

My

Kin

g D

ivin

e 71

PART

II

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

-73

Th

e Sc

ript

ural

Fou

ndat

ion

for

the

Com

ing

of t

he S

piri

t 75

Th

e C

omin

g of

the

Spi

rit

79

Hea

venl

y Po

wer

-

134

PART

III

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

137

The

Scri

ptur

al F

ound

atio

in f

or t

he F

illin

g of

the

Spir

it 13

9 Th

e Fi

lling

of t

he S

piri

t -

141

The

Div

ine

Call

to P

raye

r 20

6

BY W

AY

OF

INTR

OD

UC

TIO

N

THE

stud

ies

on t

he H

oly

Spir

it co

mpr

isin

g th

is v

olum

e w

ere

first

pre

sent

ed to

the

dele

gate

s an

d w

orke

rs o

f th

e Co

lum

bia,

East

ern

Cana

-di

an,

and

Atla

ntic

Uni

ons

at th

eir

quad

renn

ial

min

iste

rial

inst

itute

s he

ld i

n co

njun

ctio

n w

ith

the

conf

eren

ce s

essio

ns i

n th

e sp

ring

of

1928

. Th

e gr

acio

us p

rese

nce

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it in

th

ese

gath

erin

gs

and

pres

enta

tions

is

m

ost

grat

eful

ly r

emem

bere

d, a

nd r

ever

ent

ackn

owl-

edgm

ent g

iven

to o

ur h

eave

nly

Fath

er th

eref

or.

At t

he u

rgen

t req

uest

of s

core

s of

min

iste

rs

who

wer

e pr

esen

t whe

n th

is m

atte

r w

as o

rally

de

liver

ed,

thes

e st

udie

s ar

e he

re p

lace

d in

mor

e pe

rman

ent a

nd a

cces

sible

form

. M

ay th

e Sp

irit

of t

ruth

, w

hom

the

y se

t fo

rth,

bles

s in

thi

s w

ider

circ

le o

f in

fluen

ce.

By r

eque

st, t

he i

ntro

duct

ory

rem

arks

pre

-ce

ding

the

pre

sent

atio

ns a

re h

ere

repr

oduc

ed

as a

ccur

atel

y as

mem

ory

will

per

mit,

so

that

th

e en

tire

setti

ng m

ay b

e as

nea

rly id

entic

al a

s po

ssib

le.

* *

* A

mos

t so

lem

n se

nse

of r

espo

nsib

ility

res

ts

upon

me

as I

con

tem

plat

e th

e ho

urs

we a

re

8 9

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

to s

pend

tog

ethe

r in

ear

nest

, se

arch

ing

stud

y.

A

sobe

ring

cons

ciou

snes

s of

ac

coun

tabi

lity

to G

od o

vers

hado

ws

all

othe

r co

nsid

erat

ions

. Fr

ankl

y, I

did

not

cho

ose

this

lin

e of

stu

dy.

The

cons

train

t of

a

grea

t pr

essu

re h

as f

or

mon

ths

rest

ed d

own

upon

me,

-a c

onvi

ctio

n th

at I

cou

ld n

ot c

ast

off,

lead

ing

alon

g in

the

re

sear

ch.

I am

pro

foun

dly

conv

ince

d th

at G

od

has

led

me

to s

ense

my

own

need

and

the

nee

d of

my

fello

w w

orke

rs.

This

has

led

to a

mig

hty

outc

ry i

n m

y ow

n so

ul f

or t

he o

ne a

dequ

ate

prov

ision

for

our

com

mon

nee

ds.

And

I p

ray

that

the

se s

tudi

es i

n pr

inte

d fo

rm m

ay p

rove

a

genu

ine

bles

sing

and

help

, ho

wev

er f

aulti

ly

and

inad

equa

tely

the

y ar

e pr

esen

ted.

W

e ha

ve n

ot g

athe

red

to h

ear

one

anot

her

prea

ch, h

owev

er p

rope

r th

at m

ay b

e. N

or a

re

we h

ere

to b

e en

terta

ined

by

clev

er,

orig

inal

tu

rns

to t

houg

hts

nor.

to i

ndul

ge i

n sp

ecul

ativ

e th

eory

. R

athe

r, we

hav

e as

sem

bled

for

dee

p,

sobe

r st

udy

and

for

earn

est,

inte

nsiv

e se

arch

af

ter

grea

t tr

uths

, mig

hty

prin

cipl

es,

and ade-

quat

e pr

ovisi

ons

com

men

sura

te w

ith a

n ho

ur

like

this.

*

* *

It is

foun

datio

nally

nec

essa

ry to

und

erst

and

certa

in f

acto

rs a

t th

e ou

tset.

We

live

in a

ra

pidl

y ch

angi

ng w

orld

,-a

wor

ld r

unni

ng r

iot

By

Way

of I

ntro

duct

ion

with

new

for

ces.

Wild

pas

sions

loo

sed

from

th

e pi

t ha

ve p

rodu

ced

a ne

w w

orld

situ

atio

n du

ring

the

last

dec

ade

or s

o. H

uman

ity d

oes

not

unde

rsta

nd t

he m

alig

n in

fluen

ces

that

are

dr

ivin

g th

e ra

ce a

way

from

God

in in

diffe

renc

e,

defia

nce,

and

rebe

llion

. A

nd t

he s

ituat

ion

is in

tens

ifyin

g an

d co

mpl

icat

ing

with

eac

h pa

ssin

g ye

ar. New

and

gra

ve p

robl

ems

sprin

ging

fro

m a

ne

w a

nd s

inis

ter

attit

ude

of m

ind

and

hear

t to

war

d Go

d an

d di

vine

aut

horit

y co

nfro

nt a

nd

chal

leng

e us

. W

e ar

e pa

ssin

g th

roug

h a

tran

-si

tion

perio

d fr

om

sobe

r, se

rious

, re

vere

nt

thou

ght

to l

ight

, tri

fling

, an

d de

filin

g am

use-

men

t. It

is m

y co

nvic

tion

that

men

and

wom

en

are

hard

er to

rea

ch w

ith o

ur re

dem

ptiv

e go

spel

mes

sage

tha

n th

ey w

ere

ten

or t

wen

ty y

ears

ag

o.

The

trem

endo

us c

ities

of t

he w

orld

, yea

rly

grow

ing

bigg

er,

conf

ront

us

with

a s

tagg

erin

g ta

sk.

With

in a

rad

ius

of 1

35 m

iles

of S

prin

g-fie

ld,

Mas

s., w

here

the

Atla

ntic

Uni

on m

inis-

teria

l in

stitu

te w

as h

eld,

a p

opul

atio

n of

13,

-00

0,00

0 re

side

; w

hile

with

in a

rad

ius

of 1

00

mile

s of

N

ew

Yor

k's

City

H

all

20,0

00,0

00

soul

s ar

e sa

id t

o liv

e. A

nd w

e ar

e sc

arce

ly

touc

hing

the

se c

itade

ls of

men

, w

omen

, an

d ch

ildre

n w

ith t

he ti

ps o

f our

fing

ers.

Yet

they

m

ust h

ear

God

's m

essa

ge t

o m

en.

10

11

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

The

battl

e w

ith e

vil f

orce

s co

nsta

ntly

gro

ws

shar

per

and

mor

e si

nist

er.

I am

per

suad

ed

that

the

re is

onl

y on

e so

lutio

n to

the

pro

blem

w

e fa

ce i

ndiv

idua

lly a

nd d

enom

inat

iona

lly,

one

prov

ision

for

our

nee

d,-a

nd t

hat i

s th

e po

wer

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

the

outp

ourin

g of

the

latte

r ra

in i

n ou

r liv

es a

nd s

ervi

ce.

This

pro

mise

d pr

ovis

ion

falli

ng u

pon

the

hera

lds

of H

eave

n's

last

mes

sage

to e

arth

is o

ur s

upre

me

nece

ssity

. Th

is a

lone

will

ena

ble

us to

cop

e w

ith t

his

pend

ous

situ

atio

n an

d to

fin

ish t

he w

ork

com

-m

itted

to

us.

I ha

d be

lieve

d th

is f

or y

ears

, bu

t so

meh

ow i

t ha

d ne

ver

grip

ped

me

befo

re.

I pr

ay t

hat

this

sam

e di

vine

com

pulsi

on m

ay

grip

eac

h ev

ange

lical

w

orke

r of

th

e ad

vent

m

ovem

ent.

In p

repa

ratio

n fo

r th

ese

stud

ies,

follo

win

g a

close

sur

vey

of e

very

tex

t in

the

Bib

le o

n th

e H

oly

Spiri

t, I

read

eve

ry r

efer

ence

the

reto

in

the

tw

enty

-thre

e vo

lum

es o

f th

e sp

irit

of

prop

hecy

, as

wel

l as

man

y ar

ticle

s ap

pear

ing

in

the

past

in

our

deno

min

atio

nal

jour

nals

fr

om

the

pen

of M

rs.

E. G

. W

hite

. Fr

om

this

enc

ompa

ssin

g ar

ray

of m

ater

ial

the

out-

stan

ding

sta

tem

ents

and

pr

inci

ples

wer

e se

-le

cted

. (T

hey

appe

ar s

catte

red

thro

ugh

the

stud

ies.

) Th

ese

wer

e ta

ken

as t

he g

uide

and

st

anda

rd i

n st

udyi

ng f

urth

er s

ome

fifty

vol

-

By

Way

of

Intr

oduc

tion

urne

s on

th

e H

oly

Spir

it re

pres

entin

g th

e ch

oice

st ge

ms

wri

tten

in m

oder

n tim

es,

and

scan

ning

m

any

mor

e as

co

llate

ral

read

ing.

Th

us w

ere

form

ed t

he t

hree

div

ision

s of

thi

s vo

lum

e on

the

Pro

mis

e, t

he C

omin

g, a

nd t

he

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit. *

* *

Bef

ore

appr

oach

ing

the

stud

ies,

the

read

er

is a

sked

to

pond

er c

aref

ully

and

pra

yerf

ully

th

e tw

o ex

tract

s w

hich

fol

low

: ..

The

prom

ise

of t

he S

piri

t is

a

mat

ter

thou

ght

of;

and

the

resu

lt is

onl

y w

hat

mig

ht b

e ex

-pe

cted

,-sp

iritu

al d

rout

h, s

piri

tual

dar

knes

s, s

piri

tual

de

clen

sion

and

dea

th.

Min

or m

atte

rs o

ccup

y th

e at

-te

ntio

n, a

nd t

he d

ivin

e po

wer

whi

ch i

s ne

cess

ary

for

the

grow

th a

nd p

rosp

erity

of

the

chur

ch,

and

whi

ch

wou

ld b

ring

all

othe

r bl

essi

ngs

in i

ts tr

ain,

is la

ckin

g,

thou

gh o

ffer

ed i

n its

inf

inite

ple

nitu

de."

-" T

estim

o-ni

es,"

Vol

. VI

II, p

. 21.

l<

Jus

t pr

ior

to H

is l

eavi

ng H

is d

isci

ples

for

the

he

aven

ly c

ourts

, Jes

us e

ncou

rage

d th

em w

ith th

e pr

om-

ise

of th

e H

oly

Spir

it.

This

pro

mis

e be

long

s as

muc

h to

us

as i

t di

d to

the

m,

and

yet

how

rar

ely

it is

pre

-se

nted

bef

ore

the

peop

le, a

nd it

s re

cept

ion

spok

en o

f in

the

chur

ch.

In c

onse

quen

ce o

f th

is s

ilenc

e up

on t

his

mos

t im

port

ant t

hem

e, w

hat p

rom

ise

do w

e kn

ow le

ss

abou

t by

its p

ract

ical

fulfi

llmen

t tha

n th

is ri

ch p

rom

ise

of t

he g

ift

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it, w

here

by e

ffici

ency

is

to b

e gi

ven

to a

ll ou

r sp

iritu

al l

abor

? Th

e pr

omis

e of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is c

asua

lly b

roug

ht i

nto

our

dis-

cour

ses,

is

inci

dent

ally

tou

ched

upo

n, a

nd t

hat

is al

l. Pr

ophe

cies

hav

e be

en d

wel

t upo

n, d

octr

ines

hav

e be

en

12

13

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

expo

unde

d; b

ut t

hat

whi

ch i

s es

sent

ial

to t

he c

hurc

h in

ord

er th

at th

ey m

ay g

row

in s

piri

tual

str

engt

h an

d ef

ficie

ncy,

in

orde

r th

at th

e pr

each

ing

may

car

ry c

on-

vict

ion

with

it, a

nd so

uls

be c

onve

rted

to G

od, h

as b

een

larg

ely

Zeft

out o

f min

iste

rial

eff

ort.

This

sub

ject

has

be

en s

et a

side

, as

if s

ome

time

in t

he f

utur

e w

ould

be

give

n to

its

cons

ider

atio

n.

Oth

er b

less

ings

and

pri

vi-

lege

s ha

ve b

een

pres

ente

d be

fore

the

peo

ple

until

a

desi

re h

as b

een

awak

ened

in th

e ch

urch

for

the

atta

in-

men

t of t

he b

less

ing

prom

ised

of

God

; bu

t the

impr

es-

sion

conc

erni

ng th

e H

oly

Spir

it ha

s be

en t

hat t

his

gift

is

not

for

the

chur

ch n

ow, b

ut th

at a

t som

e tim

e in

the

futu

re i

t wo

uld

be n

eces

sary

for

the

chu

rch

to r

e-ce

ive

it.

"Thi

s pr

omis

ed

bles

sing

, if

cla

imed

by

fai

th,

wou

ld b

ring

all

othe

r ble

ssin

gs in

its

trai

n, a

nd i

t is

to

be g

iven

lib

eral

ly t

o th

e pe

ople

of

God

. Th

roug

h th

e cu

nnin

g de

vice

s of

the

enem

y th

e m

inds

of

God

's pe

o-pl

e se

em to

be

inca

pabl

e of

com

preh

endi

ng a

nd a

ppro

-pr

iatin

g th

e pr

omis

es o

f G

od.

They

see

m t

o th

ink

that

onl

y th

e sc

antie

st s

how

ers

of g

race

are

to

fall

upon

the

thi

rsty

sou

l. Th

e pe

ople

of

God

hav

e ac

-cu

stom

ed th

emse

lves

to th

ink

that

they

mus

t rel

y up

on

theI

r ow

n ef

forts

, tha

t litt

le h

elp

is to

be

rece

ived

from

he

aven

; and

the

resu

lt is

tha

t the

y ha

ve l

ittle

ligh

t to

com

mun

icat

e to

oth

er s

ouls

who

are

dyi

ng i

n er

ror

and

dark

ness

. Th

e ch

urch

has

lon

g be

en c

onte

nted

w

ith l

ittle

of

the

bles

sing

of

God

; th

ey h

ave

not

felt

the

need

of

reac

hing

up

to t

he e

xalte

d pr

ivile

ges

pur-

chas

ed

for

them

at

in

finite

co

st.

Thei

r sp

iritu

al

stre

ngth

has

bee

n fe

eble

, the

ir e

xper

ienc

e of

a d

war

fed

and

crip

pled

cha

ract

er,

and

they

are

dis

qual

ified

for

th

e w

ork

the

Lord

wou

ld h

ave

them

to

do.

They

are

no

t ab

le t

o pr

esen

t th

e gr

eat

and

glor

ious

tru

ths

of

God

's H

oly

Wor

d th

at w

ould

con

vict

and

con

vert

sou

ls

By

Way

of I

ntro

duct

ion

thro

ugh

the

agen

cy o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it.

The

pow

er o

f G

od a

wai

ts th

eir

dem

and

and

rece

ptio

n.

A h

arve

st o

f jo

y w

ill b

e re

aped

by

thos

e w

ho s

ow th

e ho

ly s

eeds

of

trut

h."-

H T

estim

onie

s to

Min

iste

rs a

nd G

ospe

l Wor

k-er

s," p

p. 17

.1" 1

75.

L. E

. Fa

OOM

. W

ashi

ngto

n, D

. C.

ApriZ

22,

1928

.

.-.-""" o.c V)

d.) ..c: 0..j..) .-d.)iLJ

S 0 """ Q. d.)

..c: f-4

THE

SCR

IPTU

RA

L FO

UN

DA

TIO

N F

OR

TH

E PR

OM

ISE

OF

THE

SPIR

IT

" LI

TTLE

chi

ldre

n, y

et a

litt

le w

hile

I am

with

you

. Y

e sh

all s

eek

Me:

and

as

I sa

id u

nto

the

Jew

s, W

hith

er

I go

, ye

can

not

com

e; s

o no

w I

say

to

you .

...

Sim

on

Pete

r sai

d un

to H

im, L

ord,

whi

ther

goe

st T

hou?

Je

sus

answ

ered

him

, Whi

ther

I go

, tho

u ca

nst

not f

ollo

w M

e no

w;

but

thou

sha

lt fo

llow

M

e af

terw

ards

."

John

13

: 33-

36.

" Le

t not

you

r hea

rt b

e tr

oubl

ed: y

e be

lieve

in G

od,

belie

ve a

lso

in M

e. In

My

Fath

er's

hou

se a

re m

any

man

sion

s; i

f it

wer

e no

t so

, I

wou

ld h

ave

told

you

. I

go t

o pr

epar

e a

plac

e fo

r yo

u.

And

if

I go

and

pre

-pa

re a

pla

ce f

or y

ou,

I w

ill c

ome

agai

n, a

nd r

ecei

ve

you

unto

Mys

elf:

th"

at w

here

I a

m,

ther

e ye

may

be

also

. A

nd w

hith

er I

go

ye k

now

, an

d th

e w

ay y

e kn

ow."

Jo

hn 1

4: 1

-4.

" Ph

ilip

saith

unt

o H

im, L

ord,

sho

w u

s the

Fat

her,

an

d it

suf

ficet

h us

. Je

sus

saith

unt

o hi

m,

Hav

e I

been

so

lon

g tim

e w

ith y

ou,

and

yet

hast

tho

u no

t kn

own

Me,

Phili

p? h

e th

at h

ath

seen

Me

hath

see

n th

e Fa

ther

; an

d ho

w s

ayes

t th

ou t

hen,

Sho

w u

s th

e Fa

ther

? B

e-Iie

vest

thou

not

that

I am

in th

e Fa

ther

, and

the

Fath

er

in M

e? th

e w

ords

that

I sp

eak

unto

you

I s

peak

not

of

Mys

elf:

but

the

Fath

er t

hat

dwel

leth

in

Me,

He

doet

h th

e w

orks

. B

elie

ve M

e th

at I

am

in

the

Fath

er,

and

the

Fath

er i

n M

e: o

r el

se b

elie

ve M

e fo

r th

e ve

ry

wor

ks' s

ake.

V

erily

, ve

rily,

I s

ay u

nto

you,

He

that

be

lieve

th o

n M

e, th

e w

orks

tha

t I

do s

hall

he d

o al

so;

and

grea

ter

wor

ks t

han

thes

e sh

all

he d

o; b

ecau

se I

go

unt

o M

y Fa

ther

."

Ver

ses

8-12

. 2

17

18

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

" I

will

pra

y th

e Fa

ther

, and

He

shal

l giv

e yo

u an

-ot

her

Com

fort

er, t

hat H

e m

ay a

bide

wit

h yo

u fo

reve

r;

even

the

Spi

rit

of t

ruth

; w

hom

the

wor

ld c

anno

t re

-ce

ive,

bec

ause

it s

eeth

Him

not

, nei

ther

kno

wet

h H

im:

but y

e kn

ow H

im; f

or H

e dw

elle

th w

ith y

ou, a

nd s

hall

be i

n yo

u.

I w

ill n

ot l

eave

you

com

fort

less

; I

will

co

me

to y

ou.

Yet

a l

ittle

whi

le,

and

the

wor

ld s

eeth

M

e no

mor

e; b

ut y

e se

e M

e: b

ecau

se I

liv

e, y

e sh

all

live

also

. A

t tha

t da

y ye

sha

ll kn

ow t

hat

I am

in

My

Fath

er,

and

ye i

n M

e, an

d I

in y

ou."

V

erse

s 16

-20.

"

Jesu

s an

swer

ed a

nd s

aid

unto

him

, If

a m

an lo

ve

Me,

he w

ill k

eep

My

wor

ds:

and

My

Fath

er w

ill l

ove

him

, an

d w

e w

ill c

ome

unto

him

, an

d m

ake

our

abod

e w

ith h

im.

He

that

lov

eth

Me

not

keep

eth

not

My

sayi

ngs;

and

the

wor

d w

hich

ye

hear

is

not

Min

e, b

ut

the

Fath

er's

whi

ch s

ent

Me.

Thes

e th

ings

hav

e I

spok

en u

nto

you,

bei

ng y

et p

rese

nt w

ith y

ou."

V

erse

s 23

-25.

" N

ever

thel

ess

I te

ll yo

u th

e tr

uth:

It

is e

xped

ient

fo

r yo

u th

at I

go a

way

: fo

r if

I go

not

aw

ay, t

he C

om-

fort

er w

ill n

ot c

ome

unto

. you

; bu

t if

I d

epar

t, I

will

se

nd H

im u

nto

you.

A

nd w

hen

He

is c

ome,

He

will

re

prov

e th

e w

orld

of

sin,

and

of

righ

teou

snes

s, a

nd o

f ju

dgm

ent:

Of

sin,

bec

ause

the

y be

lieve

not

on

Me;

of

righ

teou

snes

s, b

ecau

se I

go

to' M

y Fa

ther

, an

d ye

see

M

e no

mor

e; o

f ju

dgm

ent,

beca

use

the

prin

ce o

f th

is

wor

ld i

s ju

dged

. I

have

yet

man

y th

ings

to s

ay u

nto

you,

but

ye

cann

ot b

ear

them

now

. H

owbe

it w

hen

He,

the

Spi

rit o

f tru

th, i

s co

me,

He

will

gui

de y

ou i

nto

all t

ruth

: fo

r H

e sh

all n

ot s

peak

of h

imse

lf; b

ut w

hat-

soev

er H

e sh

all h

ear,

tha

t sha

ll H

e sp

eak:

and

He

will

sh

ow y

ou t

hing

s to

com

e.

He

shal

l glo

rify

Me:

for

He

shal

l re

ceiv

e of

Min

e, a

nd s

hall

show

it

unto

you

. A

ll th

ings

tha

t th

e Fa

ther

hat

h ar

e M

ine:

the

refo

re s

aid

I, th

at H

e sh

all

take

of

Min

e, a

nd s

hall

show

it

unto

yo

u:"

John

16:

7-1

5.

THE

PRO

MIS

E O

F TH

E SP

IRIT

IT w

as n

ight

in

Jeru

sale

m -

the

sadd

est

nigh

t sin

ce m

an s

epar

ated

him

self

from

God

. Th

e ci

ty w

as t

hron

ged

with

wor

ship

ers.

The

little

gro

up

of m

en w

ho

had

follo

wed

th

eir

Lord

thro

ugh

the

year

s of

His

pub

lic m

inis

try

had

gath

ered

with

Him

abo

ut th

e pa

scha

l tab

le

in t

he u

pper

, roo

m.

. Typ

e w

as t

ouch

ing

anti-

type

. Th

e So

n of

God

, gi

rdin

g H

imse

lf w

ith

a to

wel

as

a se

rvan

t, ha

d kn

elt

befo

re s

infu

l m

en a

nd w

ashe

d th

eir

feet

with

His

sta

inle

ss,

imm

acul

ate

hand

s. Th

ey h

ad e

aten

the

brok

en b

read

and

dru

nk

the

pour

ed-o

ut

win

e,-s

ymbo

ls of

H

is

ap-

proa

chin

g pa

ssio

n.

Onl

y a

few

min

utes

sep

a-ra

ted

the

scen

es o

f th

e up

per

room

fro

m t

he

stru

ggle

in

the

gard

en.

Just

a f

ew m

omen

ts,

com

para

tivel

y, b

etw

een

the

bloo

d on

the

bro

w

and

the

bloo

d on

the

doo

rpos

t. Fo

r a

little

w

hile

the

She

pher

d ha

d be

en w

ith t

he s

heep

, bu

t so

on t

he S

heph

erd

wou

ld b

e sm

itten

and

th

e sh

eep

scat

tere

d.

Juda

s ha

d le

ft t

he g

roup

, an

d th

e ot

her

disc

iple

s w

ere

fille

d w

ith s

adne

ss.

It i

s no

t ne

cess

ary

to a

naly

ze t

heir

so.

rrow

. Th

ere

was

20

21

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

muc

h of

se

lfish

ness

in

term

ingl

ed

with

it.

B

ut t

he s

hado

w o

f th

e ap

proa

chin

g se

para

tion

had

falle

n up

on t

hem

. It

was

a m

omen

tous

ho

ur.

How

the

y lis

ten

to J

esus

' ev

ery

wor

d!

His

decl

arat

ion

that

He

was

goi

ng w

here

the

y co

uld

not

follo

w,

brou

ght

sorro

w a

nd g

rief

to

thei

r he

arts

. Th

ey h

ad n

ot b

efor

e se

nsed

the

re

ality

of

the

com

ing

sepa

ratio

n.

The

Mas

ter

proc

eeds

to

appl

y co

mfo

rt to

th

eir h

earts

. H

e te

lls o

f m

ansio

ns H

e is

goi

ng

to p

repa

re f

or t

hem

. B

ut t

hat

does

not

com

-pe

nsat

e.

Man

sions

can

not

take

the

pla

ce o

f th

e pe

rson

al

pres

ence

of

th

eir

livin

g Lo

rd.

'Nha

t w

ould

the

y do

whe

n H

e w

as g

one?

To

w

hom

cou

ld th

ey t

urn?

A

s so

me

one

has

said

, Pa

int

a st

arle

ss s

ky.

Dra

pe t

he m

ount

ains

w

ith d

arkn

ess.

Han

g so

mbe

r cu

rtain

s of

bla

ck

on

ever

y sh

ore.

Dar

ken

the

past

. Le

t th

e fu

ture

be

even

mor

e bl

eak.

Fi

ll th

e pi

ctur

e w

ith s

ad-fa

ced,

sor

row

-shr

oude

d m

en.

Such

w

as th

e di

scip

les'

situ

atio

n, a

s th

ey f

aced

the

ir

Lord

's de

partu

re.

Then

He

proc

eede

d to

unf

old

to t

hem

the

gr

eat p

rovi

sion

of "

ano

ther

Com

forte

r."

This

st

atem

ent i

mpl

ies

that

Jes

us w

as th

e fir

st C

om-

forte

r. A

com

forte

r is

a "h

elp

in t

ime

of

need

." If

one

is a

n or

phan

, he

need

s a

pare

nt;

if s

ick,

he

ne

eds

a do

ctor

; if

per

plex

ed,

a

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

law

yer;

if h

e is

goin

g to

bui

ld,

an a

rchi

tect

; if

in

troub

le,

a fr

iend

. A

ll th

is a

nd i

nfin

itely

m

ore

is ou

r he

aven

ly C

omfo

rter.

The

disc

iple

s w

ere

not

to b

e le

ft or

phan

s, be

reft

of a

div

ine

pare

nt to

car

e fo

r, pr

otec

t, an

d he

lp t

hem

. A

t th

e m

ost

impr

essio

nabl

e m

omen

t of

the

ir liv

es

He

taug

ht t

hem

of

the

com

ing

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it as

th

e cu

lmin

atio

n of

H

is

wor

k on

ea

rth

for

them

. To

rec

eive

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

was

the

ir s

u-pr

eme

priv

ilege

, an

d is

likew

ise t

o be

the

su-

prem

e pr

ivile

ge o

f ev

ery

disc

iple

of

our

Lord

, w

hile

wai

ting

for

His

visi

ble,

bodi

ly r

etur

n to

re

ceiv

e th

em t

o th

e he

aven

ly m

ansio

ns.

" In

the

tea

chin

gs o

f C

hris

t, th

e do

ctri

ne o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

mad

e pr

omin

ent.

Wha

t a v

ast t

hem

e is

this

for

co

ntem

plat

ion

and

enco

urag

emen

t!

Wha

t tr

easu

res

of tr

uth

did

He

add

to th

e kn

owle

dge

of H

is

disc

iple

s in

His

inst

ruct

ion

conc

erni

ng th

e H

oly

Spir

it,

the

Com

fort

er!

He

dwel

t up

on t

his

them

e in

ord

er to

co

nsol

e H

is d

isci

ples

in

the

grea

t tri

al t

hey

wer

e so

on

to e

xper

ienc

e, th

at th

ey m

ight

be

chee

red

in th

eir g

reat

di

sapp

oint

men

t...

. Th

e w

orld

's R

edee

mer

sou

ght t

o br

ing

to t

he h

eart

s of

the

sor

row

ing

disc

iple

s th

e st

rong

est

sola

ce.

But

fro

m a

lar

ge f

ield

of s

ubje

cts,

H

e ch

ose

the

them

e of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

whi

ch w

as t

o in

spir

e an

d co

mfo

rt t

heir

hea

rts.

A

nd y

et,

thou

gh

Chr

ist

mad

e m

uch

of t

his

them

e co

ncer

ning

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

how

litt

le i

s it

dw

elt

upon

in

the

chur

ches

!"

-Mrs

. E.

G. W

hite

, in

the

Bibl

e Ec

ho,

Nov

. 15

, 18

93.

22

23

The

Com

ing

of t

he C

omfo

rter

Befo

re v

acat

ing

His

ow

n ea

rthl

y of

fice

as

teac

her,

Jesu

s in

trodu

ced

His

suc

cess

or,

in H

is

vale

dict

ory

disc

ours

e.

" C

umbe

red

with

hum

anity

, Chr

ist c

ould

not

be

in

ever

y pl

ace

pers

onal

ly.

Ther

efor

e it

was

for

the

ir in

-te

rest

tha

t H

e sh

ould

go

to t

he F

athe

r, a

nd s

end

the

Spir

it to

be

His

suc

cess

or o

n ea

rth

."-"

The

Des

ire

of

Age

s,"

p. 6

69.

He

unfo

lded

the

trem

endo

us f

act

of th

e di

s-pe

nsat

ion

of t

he S

pirit

, and

thi

s di

spen

satio

nal

aspe

ct c

anno

t be

ove

rem

phas

ized

. It

is

base

d on

the

ear

thly

wor

k of

Chr

ist,

and

was

im

pos-

sible

unt

il th

at w

ork

was

fin

ished

and

He

as-

cend

ed.

In J

ohn

14 a

nd 1

6, J

esus

ope

ned

be-

fore

the

m t

he t

hree

mig

hty

trut

hs o

f-1.

The

pro

mis

ed c

omin

g of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

2. Th

e ch

arac

ter

and

pers

onal

ity

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

3. Th

e m

issio

n or

wor

k of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

I Ta

king

the

se i

n or

der,

obse

rve

the

expl

icit

decl

arat

ion

of t

he c

omin

g of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

One

mus

t be

im

pres

sed

with

the

fac

t th

at j

ust

as t

ruly

as

the

prop

hets

ann

ounc

ed J

esus

' ad

-ve

nt,

so H

e an

noun

ces

the

adve

nt o

f an

othe

r, co

equa

l w

ith

Him

self,

an

d th

e su

cces

sor

of

Him

self.

A

s on

e as

cend

ed,

so t

he o

ther

de-

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

scen

ded.

A

nd t

he s

ame

reco

gniti

on o

f au

thor

-ity

and

def

eren

ce p

aid

by t

he d

iscip

les

to t

heir

Lo

rd w

as t

o be

giv

en t

o th

e H

oly

Spir

it as

C

hris

t's v

icar

on

earth

. A

s C

hris

t ha

d a

time

miss

ion,

so

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

has

a de

finite

tim

e m

issio

n, H

is s

peci

al

disp

ensa

tion

bein

g fr

om P

ente

cost

to t

he s

econ

d ad

vent

. H

e is

a pe

rson

of

the

God

head

who

ca

me

in a

def

inite

way

to

eart

h at

a d

efin

ite

time

for

a de

finite

wor

k, a

nd h

as b

een

here

eve

r sin

ce a

s re

ally

as

Jesu

s w

as h

ere

on H

is s

peci

al

miss

ion

durin

g th

e th

irty-

thre

e ye

ars.

" Th

e di

spen

satio

n in

whi

ch w

e ar

e no

w l

ivin

g is

to

be,

to

thos

e th

at a

sk,

the

disp

ensa

tion

of t

he H

oly

Spi

rit.

"-"

Test

imon

ies

to M

inis

ters

," p

. 51

1.

Wea

re u

nder

the

dire

ct,

pers

onal

gui

danc

e of

the

thi

rd p

erso

n of

the

God

head

, as

tru

ly

as t

he d

iscip

les

wer

e un

der

the

lead

ersh

ip o

f th

e se

cond

per

son.

Pe

ntec

ost

was

, as

it

wer

e, t

he i

naug

ural

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

for t

his

spec

ial w

ork,

thou

gh th

e H

oly

Spir

it w

as e

xist

ent

and

oper

ativ

e fr

om

the

ages

pas

t. M

any

a bi

ogra

phy

of C

hris

t be-

gins

w

ith

Beth

lehe

m

and

ends

w

ith

Oliv

et,

thou

gh

He

was

fr

om

the

days

of

et

erni

ty.

Eigh

ty-e

ight

tim

es a

nd i

n tw

enty

-two

of t

he

thirt

y-ni

ne b

ooks

of

the

O

ld

Test

amen

t, th

e Sp

irit

is m

entio

ned.

Th

e fo

otpr

ints

of

the

24

25

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

thir

d pe

rson

of

the

God

head

may

be

trace

d th

roug

h th

e ce

ntur

ies

from

the

beg

inni

ng o

f th

e w

orld

. A

t cr

eatio

n th

e H

oly

S..Jir

it w

as p

rese

nt,

broo

ding

ove

r ch

aos,

and

was

the

age

ncy

in

prod

ucin

g co

smos

. H

e is

also

sp

oken

of

in

stri

king

co

nnec

tion

with

m

en.

But

be

fore

Pe

ntec

ost H

e ca

me

mor

e as

a t

rans

ient

visi

tor,

for

the

purp

ose

of e

quip

ping

a f

ew m

en f

or

thei

r sp

ecia

l w

ork.

H

is a

ctio

n w

as m

ore

in-

term

itten

t th

an c

onst

ant.

He

cam

e up

on i

n-di

vidu

als,

wor

king

thr

ough

or

clot

hing

the

m

with

mig

hty

pow

er fo

r sp

ecia

l dee

ds.

He

stro

ve

with

men

(G

en.

6: 3

); H

e ga

ve B

ezal

eel

skill

(E

x.

31: 3

-5);

H

e ga

ve

Sam

son

stre

ngth

(J

udge

s 14

:6).

Th

us

did

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

mak

e m

en H

is in

stru

men

ts,

doin

g a

wor

k or

de

liver

ing

mes

sage

s th

roug

h th

em,

as

with

Jo

shua

(N

um.

27: 1

8);

Gid

eon

(Jud

ges

6:

34);

Sau

l (1

Sam

. 10:

10)

; and

Dav

id '(

I Sa

m.

16:1

3).

" D

urin

g th

e pa

tria

rcha

l ag

e, t

he in

fluen

ce o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it h

ad o

ften

bee

n re

veal

ed i

n a

mar

ked

man

-ne

r, b

ut n

ever

in

its f

ulln

ess.

N

ow,

in o

bedi

ence

to

the

wor

d of

the

Sav

iour

, th

e di

scip

les

offe

red

thei

r su

pplic

atio

ns f

or th

is g

ift,

and

in h

eave

n C

hris

t add

ed

His

int

erce

ssio

n.

He

clai

med

the

gif

t of

the

Spi

rit,

that

He

mig

ht p

our

it u

pon

His

peo

ple.

"-"

The

Act

s of

the

Apos

tles,

" p.

S7.

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

It is

a s

igni

fican

t fac

t tha

t in

the

Old

Test

a-m

ent t

he S

piri

t is

neve

r spo

ken

of a

s th

e" C

om-

fort

er/'

or th

e" S

piri

t of J

esus

" (P

hil.

1: 1

9),

or th

e" S

piri

t of H

is [G

od's]

Son

" (G

al. 4

: 6),

an

d si

mila

r ex

pres

sions

, bu

t as

of

Go

d th

e Fa

ther

. V\

hy

are

all

thes

e ne

w t

itles

fou

nd

in t

he N

ew T

esta

men

t?

Ah!

som

ethi

ng h

as

happ

ened

! A

n ev

ent

has

occu

rred

that

has

ch

ange

d th

ings

! Je

sus

was

bor

n an

d be

cam

e de

ad,

aros

e fr

om t

he g

rave

and

asc

ende

d; a

nd

whe

n Je

sus

com

plet

ed H

is w

ork

on e

arth

and

as

cend

ed w

ith H

is g

lorif

ied

hum

anity

, ta

king

H

is pl

ace

in th

e he

aven

lies,

then

the

cond

ition

s w

ere

fulfi

lled,

and

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

cam

e do

wn

as C

hris

t's o

fficia

l re

pres

enta

tive

and

succ

esso

r to

mak

e in

divi

dual

ly e

ffica

cious

tha

t re

dem

p-tiv

e w

ork.

H

e co

mes

tra

nsce

nden

tly a

s th

e Sp

irit

of J

esus

. It

may

be

of in

tere

st in

pas

sing

to n

ote

that

th

e H

oly

Spiri

t is

men

tione

d tw

o hu

ndre

d six

ty-

two

times

in

the

New

Tes

tam

ent -

a ve

ritab

le

batta

lion

of te

xts.

Behi

nd i

t al

l is

the

finish

ed

wor

k an

d th

e gl

orifi

ed p

erso

n of

our

ado

rabl

e Lo

rd.

Reas

onin

g ba

ck f

rom

a g

lorif

ied

Jesu

s, we

see

it

was

bec

ause

of

His

obed

ience

unt

o de

ath

to b

ring

us to

God

, th

rou Q

"h th

e vi

cario

us

subs

titut

ion

of H

is ow

n sin

less

life

and

ato

ning

de

ath,

mee

ting

the

dem

ands

of

right

eous

ness

26

27

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

and

just

ice

as w

ell a

s ho

lines

s. Th

us t

he H

oly

Spir

it ca

me

in r

ecog

nitio

n of

the

Fat

her's

ac-

cept

ance

, and

for

the

ass

uran

ce o

f m

an.

"By

one

offe

ring

He

hath

per

fect

ed f

orev

er t

hem

th

at a

re s

anct

ified

. W

here

of t

he H

oly

Gho

st als

o is

a w

itnes

s to

us.

" H

eb.

10: 1

4, 1

5.

Cons

ider

th

e tw

ofol

d w

ork

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

In th

e Ol

d Te

stam

ent H

e w

orke

d up

on

men

mor

e fr

om w

ithou

t in

war

d, b

ut d

id n

ot

dwell

or

abid

e in

the

m p

erm

anen

tly.

He

ap-

pear

ed to

the

m a

nd e

mpo

wer

ed t

hem

, bu

t di

d no

t ofte

n ta

ke u

p H

is ab

ode

in th

em.

But

from

Pe

ntec

ost

onw

ard

ther

e is

a g

reat

cha

nge,

a

spec

ial

wor

k di

ffer

ing

from

tha

t of

pre

cedi

ng

ages

. Pr

ovis

ion

is m

ade

for

Hiin

to e

nter

and

liv

e in

all

Chr

istia

n be

lieve

rs, a

nd to

wor

k fr

om

with

in o

utw

ard,

fill

ing

and

abid

ing.

Th

is p

er-

sona

l ind

wel

ling

of th

e D

ivin

e Sp

irit

is th

e di

s-tin

ctiv

e gl

ory

of t

he C

hris

tian

disp

ensa

tion.

Ev

eryt

hing

in th

e pa

st w

as p

repa

rato

ry to

this

. Th

e O

ld T

esta

men

t pr

ovisi

on w

as t

he p

rom

ise

and

prep

arat

ion;

the

New

, th

e fu

lfillm

ent

and

poss

essio

n.

The

diffe

renc

e is

bet

wee

n sim

ply

inw

orki

ng a

nd in

dwel

ling.

A

nd i

t is

a pe

rma-

nent

her

itage

; He

is to

abi

de t

hus

with

us

for-

ever

. The

com

ing

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it w

as a

s th

e gi

ft o

f th

e Fa

ther

thro

ugh

the

Son.

Jo

hn 1

4:

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

'

16,

R. V

. C

hris

t's"

pray

ing,

" or

ask

ing

the

Fath

er, i

ndic

ates

, in

the

Gre

ek w

ord,

a p

etiti

on

from

one

on

a pe

rfec

t eq

ualit

y.

Yet

He

did

not

ask

for

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

in t

he m

arve

lous

pr

ayer

whi

ch i

mm

edia

tely

foH

ows

in c

hapt

er

17.

Why

? -

Beca

use

His

pas

sion

was

not

yet

ac

com

plish

ed.

Whe

n th

e Sp

irit

cam

e, it

was

in

vind

icat

ion

of th

e ch

arac

ter o

f the

min

istr

y an

d th

e co

mpl

eted

sac

rific

ial

miss

ion

of t

he S

on.

John

14:

23-

26.

It w

as b

ased

upo

n th

e fin

-ish

ed w

ork

of C

alva

ry.

It w

as t

he g

lorif

ied

Chr

ist

who

aske

d fo

r, re

ceiv

ed,

and

sent

the

H

oly

Spir

it up

on th

e w

aitin

g di

scip

les.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

is H

imse

lf th

e gi

ft. o

f Go

d to

m

an.

He

cann

ot b

e bo

ught

, ea

rned

, di

s-co

vere

d, o

r ev

olve

d.

Map

had

no

clai

m u

pon

God

for

such

a g

ift.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

was

not

po

ured

out

in

answ

er t

o an

y m

ere

pray

er o

f m

an, o

r in

res

pons

e to

any

mer

it of

man

. B

ut

beca

use

of t

he w

ork

Jesu

s w

roug

ht,

and

the

satis

fact

ion

give

n, t

he r

ight

eous

God

sen

t th

e H

oly

Spir

it fo

r th

e in

itiat

ion

of a

new

mov

e-m

ent a

mon

g m

en,

and

to u

sher

in t

he n

e'w d

is-pe

nsat

ion.

Th

e gi

ft o

f the

Spi

rit H

imse

lf m

ust

be d

istin

guis

hed

from

the

'gift

s th

e H

oly

Spir

it be

stow

s. A

s th

e Ro

man

em

pero

rs,

mak

ing

a tr

ium

phal

ent

ry' i

nto

Rom

e, ca

st t

he c

oin

of

the

conq

uere

d ki

ngdo

ms

to t

he m

ultit

udes

, so

28

29

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Chr

ist,

afte

r H

is tri

umph

al

proc

essio

n in

to

heav

en,

gave

thi

s G

ift s

upre

me

to m

en.

Of

cour

se, t

he m

ost c

onsp

icuo

us c

ulm

inat

ion

of a

ll th

e gi

fts th

e H

oly

Spir

it be

stow

s up

on t

he r

em-

nant

chu

rch

has

been

the

rest

orat

ion

of th

e gi

ft

of th

e sp

irit

of p

roph

ecy.

B

ut t

hat i

s a

diffe

r- . Th

e ba

ptis

m o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

decl

ared

by

Joh

n th

e B

aptis

t to

be

the

esse

ntia

l, vi

tal

purp

ose

of t

he m

inis

try o

f Je

sus

Chr

ist.

"I

inde

ed b

aptiz

e yo

u w

ith w

ater

unt

o re

pent

ance

: bu

t He

tha

t co

met

h af

ter

me

is m

ight

ier

than

I,

who

se s

hoes

I a

m n

ot w

orth

y to

bea

r: H

e sh

all b

aptiz

e yo

u w

ith th

e H

oly

Gho

st, a

nd w

ith

fire.

" M

att.

3:11

. (S

ee

also

John

1:3

3.)

John

's m

essa

ge c

once

rnin

g C

hris

t w

as t

wof

old

-th

e bl

ood

of th

e La

mb

taki

ng a

way

sin

, an

d th

e ba

ptis

m o

f th

e Sp

irit

to k

eep

from

sin

-C

alva

ry a

nd P

ente

cost.

Th

e cu

lmin

atio

n of

C

alva

ry f

or t

his

disp

ensa

tion

is fo

und

in t

he

gift

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

by J

esus

Chr

ist.

They

ar

e tw

o in

sepa

rabl

e tru

ths.

V\

1ith

out

Cal

vary

th

ere

coul

d be

no

Pent

ecos

t; an

d w

ithou

t Pen

te-

cost,

Cal

vary

is o

f no

ava

il.

" Th

e H

oly

Spir

it w

as th

e hi

ghes

t of a

ll gi

fts

that

H

e co

uld

solic

it fr

om H

is F

athe

r fo

r th

e ex

alta

tion

of

His

peo

ple.

Th

e Sp

irit

was

to b

e gi

ven

as a

reg

ener

at-

ing

agen

t, an

d w

ithou

t th

is t

he s

acrif

ice

of C

hris

t

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

wou

ld h

ave

been

of

no a

vail.

Th

e po

wer

of

evil

had

been

str

engt

heni

ng f

or c

entu

ries,

and

the

sub

mis

sion

of

men

to

this

sat

anic

cap

tivity

was

am

azin

g.

Sin

coul

d be

re

sist

ed

and

over

com

e on

ly

thro

ugh

the

mig

hty

agen

cy o

f th

e th

ird

pers

on o

f th

e G

odhe

ad,

who

wou

ld c

ome

with

no

mod

ified

ene

rgy,

but

in

the

fulln

ess

of d

ivin

e po

wer

. It

is t

he S

piri

t th

at m

akes

ef

fect

ual

wha

t ha

s be

en w

roug

ht o

ut b

y th

e w

orld

's R

edee

mer

. It

is b

y th

e Sp

irit

that

the

hea

rt i

s m

ade

pure

. Th

roug

h th

e Sp

irit

the

belie

ver

beco

mes

a 'p

ar-

take

r of t

he d

ivin

e na

ture

. C

hris

t has

giv

en H

is S

piri

t as

a d

iVIn

e po

wer

to

over

com

e al

l he

redi

tary

and

cul

-tiv

ated

tend

enci

es to

evi

l, an

d to

impr

ess

His

ow

n ch

ar-

acte

r up

on

His

chu

rch.

"-H

The

D

esir

e of

A

ges,

" pa

ge 6

71.

If it

wer

e no

t fo

r th

e at

mos

pher

e th

at s

ur-

roun

ds o

ur e

arth

, the

sun

, tho

ugh

a ba

ll of

fire

, w

ould

shi

ne u

pon

us c

oldl

y lik

e a

twin

klin

g st

ar.

The

atm

osph

ere

enve

lopi

ng th

e ea

rth

re-

ceiv

es i

ts r

ays

and

trans

mut

es th

em i

nto

colo

r, he

at,

and

light

. Li

kew

ise,

wer

e it

not

for

the

H

oly

Spiri

t, C

hris

t se

ated

at

the

righ

t han

d of

th

e Fa

ther

cou

ld b

e w

orsh

iped

onl

y as

a r

isen,

as

cenc

led L

ord.

B

ut t

he H

oly

Spir

it re

veal

s H

im to

'our

hea

rts a

s th

e lig

ht, t

he li

fe,

and

the

trut

h.

And

as

whe

n we

loo

k th

roug

h th

e te

le-

scop

e, we

see

not

the

lens

but

the

obje

ct th

e le

ns

brin

gs n

ear,

so t

hrou

gh t

he H

oly

Spir

it we

see

no

t Him

, but

" Je

sus

only

." Th

e cr

oss

is m

uch

mor

e ea

sily

com

preh

ende

d, f

or th

e po

urin

g ou

t of

the

bloo

d is

visib

le a

nd o

utw

ard,

and

is

for

30

31

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

all;

whi

le t

his

gift

of

the

Spir

it is

inw

ard

and

invi

sible

, and

is f

or th

e lo

ving

, obe

dien

t disc

iple

. H

is in

dwel

ling,

bei

ng s

pirit

ual,

is no

t so

read

ily

gras

ped

and

mad

e a

prac

tical

re

ality

. Th

e bl

ood

of C

alva

ry c

lean

ses

the

soul

tem

ple.

Yet

th

ere

is m

ore

in G

od's

prov

ision

. Th

en n

othi

ng

less

th

an

occu

panc

y th

roug

h th

e in

dwel

ling

Spir

it w

ill s

atis

fy e

ither

God

or

man

. Th

e ba

ptis

m

of

the

Spir

it w

as

not

ac-

com

plish

ed d

urin

g th

e th

ree

year

s of

Chr

ist's

ea

rthly

min

istry

. It

was

impo

ssib

le b

ecau

se o

f th

e lo

caliz

atio

n an

d lim

itatio

ns o

f H

is h

uman

-. ity

, an

d fo

r th

e re

ason

th

at"

the

Hol

y G

host

was

not

yet

giv

en;

beca

use

that

Jes

us w

as n

ot

yet

glor

ified

." Jo

hn 7

: 39.

So

Jesu

s ne

ver

bapt

ized

w

ith

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

durin

g H

is ea

rthl

y ca

reer

. A

mon

g H

is la

st w

ords

was

the

ch

arge

to w

ait f

or t

he p

rom

ised

bapt

ism

aft

er

His

de

partu

re.

"And

, be

ing

asse

mbl

ed

to-

geth

er w

ith t

hem

, co

mm

ande

d th

em t

hat

they

· sh

ould

not

dep

art f

rom

Jer

usal

em, b

ut w

ait f

or

the

prom

ise o

f th

e Fa

ther

, w

hich

, sa

ith H

e, ye

ha

ve h

eard

of

Me.

For

John

tru

ly b

aptiz

ed

with

wat

er;

but

ye s

hall

be b

aptiz

ed w

ith t

he

Hol

y G

host

not

man

y da

ys

henc

e."

Act

s 1:

4,

5. H

e w

ho w

as t

o ba

ptiz

e H

is f

ollo

wer

s w

ith

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

was

the

exa

mpl

e of

all

He

de-

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

sire

s to

put

int

o ou

r liv

es.

He

was

beg

otte

n of

the

Spi

rit.

He

grew

up

unde

r th

e po

wer

an

d tu

tela

ge o

f th

e Sp

irit.

At

the

thre

shol

d of

His

min

istry

He

was

spe

cial

ly a

noin

ted

for

serv

ice

by t

he S

pirit

. He

liv

ed H

is l

ife,

per-

form

ed H

is m

iracl

es,

and

taug

ht H

is p

rinci

ples

in

the

pow

er o

f th

e Sp

irit.

And

He

aros

e fr

om

the

dead

by

the

pow

er o

f th

e Sp

irit.

From

the

crad

le to

the

grav

e H

e w

as in

dwel

t by

the

Hol

y G

host.

"

Chr

ist's

hum

anity

was

uni

ted

with

div

inity

; H

e w

as f

itted

for

the

con

flict

by

the

indw

ellin

g of

the

H

oly

Spir

it.

And

He

cam

e to

mak

e us

par

take

rs o

f th

e di

vine

nat

ure.

"-"

The

Des

ire

of A

ges,

" p.

123

.

Be i

t rem

embe

red

that

Chr

ist's

inca

rnat

ion,

sin

less

life

, and

ato

ning

dea

th, H

is r

esur

rect

ion,

as

cens

ion,

an

d en

tranc

e up

on

His

heav

enly

m

edia

toria

l w

ork,

w

ere

abso

lute

ly

indi

spen

-sa

ble,

and

at t

he s

ame

time

wer

e pr

elim

inar

y ste

ps t

owar

d th

is o

ne t

hing

: "C

hris

t ha

th r

e-de

emed

us

from

the

cur

se o

f th

e la

w,

bein

g m

ade

a cu

rse

for

us:

for

it is

writ

ten,

Cur

sed

is ev

eryo

ne t

hat

hang

eth

on a

tre

e: t

hat

the

bles

sing

of A

brah

am m

ight

com

e on

the

Gen

-til

es t

hrou

gh J

esus

Chr

ist;

that

we

mig

ht r

e-ce

ive

the

prom

ise o

f th

e Sp

irit

thro

ugh

faith

."

Gal.

3: 1

3, 1

4.

And

thi

s go

al o

f pr

esen

t re

-de

mpt

ion

was

im

poss

ible

bef

ore

His

glor

ifica

-

32

33

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

tion.

Jo

hn 7

: 39.

Th

us P

eter

say

s: "

The

re-

fore

bei

ng b

y th

e ri

ght

hand

of

God

exal

ted,

an

d ha

ving

rec

eive

d of

the

Fat

her

the

prom

ise

of t

he H

oly

Gho

st,

He

hath

she

d fo

rth

this,

w

hich

ye

now

see

and

hear

."

Act

s 2:

33.

The

rock

in H

oreb

was

a ty

pe.

The

smiti

ng

of th

e ro

ck b

roug

ht th

e flo

win

g w

ater

. So

the

ou

tpou

ring

of t

he H

oly

Spiri

t w

as i

n an

swer

to

Chr

ist's

ato

ning

dea

th.

His

deat

h re

mov

ed .

ev

ery

barr

ier

betw

een

God

and

the

sinn

er.

2 Co

r. 5:

19.

Th

e Fa

ther

's ac

cept

ance

of

the

Son'

s sa

crifi

ce w

as t

he i

ndisp

ensa

ble

cond

ition

to

our

jus

tific

atio

n.

But

onl

y th

e co

min

g of

th

e H

oly

Spir

it co

uld

appl

y th

e re

sults

of

that

sa

crifi

ce, m

akin

g ef

fect

ual i

n us

wha

t Jes

us d

id

for

us.

Hav

ing

perf

ecte

d H

is hu

man

nat

ure,

Je

sus

coul

d no

w c

omm

unic

ate

wha

t w

as p

re-

viou

sly im

poss

ible

. A

nd th

e H

oly

Spir

it's

wor

k in

thi

s di

spen

satio

n is

that

of

appl

ying

and

co

mm

unic

atin

g th

e at

onin

g w

ork

of C

hris

t to

in

divi

dual

hum

an h

earts

, re

gene

ratin

g, j

ustif

y-in

g, s

anct

ifyin

g, a

nd c

omm

unic

atin

g th

e ve

ry

life

of o

ur r

isen

Lor

d, a

s w

e aw

ait

His

sec

ond

bodi

ly c

omin

g.

II

Now

thi

nk o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it's

char

acte

r. H

e is

"ano

ther

Com

forte

r."

This

iden

tifie

s

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

the

prom

ised

Spir

it w

ith t

he p

rom

Ism

g Lo

rd

in b

eing

, ch

arac

ter,

purp

ose,

and

act

ivity

. H

e is

Chr

ist's

oth

er s

elf,

as i

t w

ere,

iden

tical

in

natu

re a

nd c

hara

cter

. If

a c

rude

sim

ile m

ay

be

they

are

like

tw

o sid

es o

f a

tri-

angl

e -

alik

e bu

t di

ffere

nt.

"The

Hol

y Sp

irit

was

not

yet

ful

ly m

anif

este

d;

for

Chr

ist h

ad n

ot y

et b

een

glor

ified

. Th

e m

ore

abun

-da

nt i

mpa

rtat

ion

of t

he S

piri

t di

d no

t ta

ke p

lace

till

af

ter

Chr

ist's

asc

ensi

on.

Not

unt

il th

is w

as r

ecei

ved

coul

d th

e di

scip

les

fulfi

ll th

e co

mm

issi

on t

o pr

each

the

gosp

el to

the

wor

ld.

But

the

Spir

it w

as n

ow g

iven

for

a

spec

ial

purp

ose.

B

efor

e th

e di

scip

les

coul

d fu

lfill

thei

r of

ficia

l du

ties

in c

onne

ctio

n w

ith t

he c

hurc

h,

Chr

ist

brea

thed

His

Spi

rit

upon

the

m.

He

was

com

-m

ittin

g to

them

a m

ost s

acre

d tr

ust,

and

He

desi

red

to

impr

ess

them

with

the

fac

t th

at w

ithou

t th

e H

oly

Spir

it t

his

wor

k co

uld

not

be a

ccom

plis

hed.

jI

Th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

the

brea

th o

f sp

iritu

al li

fe in

th

e so

ul.

The

impa

rtat

ion

of t

he S

piri

t is

the

im

-pa

rtat

ion

of th

e lif

e of

Chr

ist.

It im

bues

the

rece

iver

w

ith th

e at

trib

utes

of C

hris

t."-

" Th

e D

esir

e of

Age

s,"

page

805

. Je

sus

said

of

Him

self:

"T

he S

piri

t of

the

Lo

rd is

upo

n M

e, be

caus

e H

e ha

th a

noin

ted

Me

to p

reac

h th

e go

spel

to t

he p

oor;

He

hath

sen

t M

e to

hea

l th

e br

oken

-hea

rted,

to

prea

ch d

e-liv

eran

ce t

o th

e ca

ptiv

es,

and

reco

verin

g of

si

ght

to t

he b

lind,

to

set

at l

iber

ty t

hem

tha

t ar

e br

uise

d, t

o pr

each

the

acc

epta

ble

year

of

the

Lord

."

Luke

4: 1

8, 1

9.

You

can

not

heal

•

34

35

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

the

brok

en-h

earte

d w

ithou

t th

e C

omfo

rter

,-on

e al

ongs

ide

to h

elp.

They

wer

e to

lose

Him

, th

e fir

st C

omfo

rter,

so H

e w

ould

sen

d an

othe

r. A

s lo

ng a

s' C

hris

t liv

es,

so l

ong

that

ple

dge

stan

ds.

But

" C

omfo

rter

" is

an in

adeq

uate

tran

sla-

tion

of t

he G

reek

wor

d Pa

rakl

etos

, th

e ne

w·

nam

e fo

r th

e ne

w m

inis

try u

pon

whi

ch t

he

Spir

it w

as a

bout

to e

nter

. Pa

racl

ete

is be

tter

trans

late

d "a

dvoc

ate,

" m

ost

scho

lars

say

. It

als

o m

eans

rep

rese

ntat

ive,

int

erce

ssor

, pl

eade

r, co

nsol

er.

Real

ly it

is a

n un

trans

lata

ble t

erm

. It

is

the

sam

e w

ord

used

of C

hris

t with

ref

eren

ce

to H

is w

ork

befo

re th

e Fa

ther

: "

My

little

chi

l-.

dren

, the

se th

ings

writ

e I

unto

you

, th

at y

e si

n no

t. A

nd i

f any

man

sin

, we

have

an

advo

cate

w

ith t

he F

athe

r, Je

sus

Chr

ist

the

right

eous

." 1

John

2: 1

. In

Gre

ece

and

Rom

e, du

ring

New

Te

stam

ent t

imes

, the

adv

ocat

e he

lped

the

clie

nt

in tw

o di

ffer

ent w

ays:

Som

etim

es h

e sp

oke

for

him

bef

ore

the

tribu

nal,

plea

ding

his

case

for

hi

m;

at o

ther

tim

es h

e m

erel

y pr

epar

ed h

is sp

eech

for

him

, th

at t

he c

lient

mig

ht s

peak

fo

r hi

mse

lf.

So C

hris

t is

our a

dvoc

ate

with

the

Fath

er, a

nd th

e H

oly

Spiri

t is

Chr

ist's

adv

ocat

e w

ith u

s. A

s C

hris

t ple

ads

for

us, s

o th

e Sp

irit

plea

ds f

or C

hris

t in

our

hear

ts.

Shal

l w

e wh

o do

all

hono

r to

the

rep

rese

ntat

ives

of

earth

ly

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

gove

rnm

ents,

be

guilt

y of

disr

espe

ct a

nd n

egle

ct

of th

is A

dvoc

ate

of th

e he

aven

ly K

ing,

Chr

ist's

re

pres

enta

tive

to t

he c

hurc

h an

d to

the

wor

ld?

The

disc

ussio

n of

the

char

acte

r of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

lead

s us

dire

ctly

int

o a

cons

ider

atio

n of

His

per

sona

lity.

It

is e

asy

to t

hink

of

the

Fath

er as

a p

erso

n, a

nd J

esus

as

a pe

rson

. W

e se

em to

" v

isua

lize"

them

, as

it w

ere.

But

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is co

nsid

ered

so

mys

terio

us,

and

is so

inv

isibl

e, so

an

d H

is ac

ts a

re s

o re

-m

oved

fro

m t

he s

ense

s, th

at H

is pe

rson

ality

is

ques

tione

d be

caus

e co

ntra

sted

with

the

oth

er

pers

ons

of th

e G

odhe

ad.

He

has

of c

ours

e ap

-pe

ared

visi

bly

to th

e hu

man

sen

ses,

taki

ng f

or

the

occa

sion

the

form

of

a do

ve.

(See

Luk

e 3:

22,

R.

V.)

Then

, to

o, m

uch

is s

aid

of H

is in

fluen

ce,

grac

es,

pow

er,

and

gifts

. So

we

are

pron

e to

thi

nk o

f H

im o

nly

as a

n in

fluen

ce,

a po

wer

, an

ener

gy.

Such

sym

bols

as "

win

d,"

"fir

e,"

"oil,

" "w

ater

," a

nd s

o fo

rth,

have

te

nded

in

that

dire

ctio

n.

The

fact

tha

t th

e na

me

"Spi

rit,"

in

the

Gre

ek,

is n

eute

r, an

d in

fol

low

ing

prec

ise g

ram

mat

ical

con

struc

tion

the

impe

rson

al p

rono

un"

itsel

f" is

use

d in

the

Aut

horiz

ed V

ersio

n in

Rom

ans

8: 1

6, 2

6, h

as

had

a la

rge

bear

ing

on th

e po

pula

r un

ders

tand

-in

g,-"

The

Spi

rit

itsel

f be

aret

h w

itnes

s w

ith

our

spiri

t, th

at w

e ar

e th

e ch

ildre

n of

God

;"

36

37

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

"lik

ewis

e th

e Sp

irit

also

hel

peth

our

inf

irm-

ities

: fo

r w

e kn

ow n

ot w

hat

we

shou

ld p

ray

for

as w

e ou

ght:,

but

the

Spi

rit

itsel

f m

aket

h in

terc

essi

on f

or u

s w

ith g

roan

ings

whi

ch c

an-

not

be u

ttere

d."

Thes

e ha

ve b

een

corre

cted

, ho

wev

er,

in t

he R

evise

d V

ersio

n to

har

mon

ize

with

His

per

sona

lity.

Th

is i

s no

t a

mer

e te

chni

cal,

acad

emic

, or

im

prac

tical

que

stion

. It

is

of u

tmos

t im

por-

tanc

e an

d hi

ghes

t pr

actic

al v

alue

. If

He

is a

di

vine

per

son,

and

we

thin

k of

Him

as

an im

-pe

rson

al i

nflu

ence

, we

ar

e ro

bbin

g a

divi

ne

pers

on o

f th

e de

fere

nce,

hon

or,

and

love

tha

t is

H

is d

ue.

Aga

in,

if th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

a m

ere

influ

ence

or

pow

er,

we s

hall

try

to g

et h

old

of

and

use

it.

But

if

we r

ecog

nize

H

im a

s a

pers

on,

we s

hall

stud

y ho

w t

o yi

eld

to H

im,

so t

hat H

e m

ay u

se u

s. If

we t

hink

we

have

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

we s

hall

be i

nclin

ed t

o st

rutti

ng

and

self-

infla

tion;

but

the

oth

er,

the

true

con

-ce

pt, l

eads

to s

elf-

renu

ncia

tion,

sel

f-ab

nega

tion,

an

d se

lf-hu

mili

atio

n.

Not

hing

is

mor

e ca

lcu-

late

d to

lay

the

glor

y of

man

in

the

dust

. On

th

is p

oint

let

us

note

the

spi

rit

of. p

roph

ecy:

U

W

e ca

nnot

use

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

; th

e Sp

irit

is t

o us

e us

. Th

roug

h th

e Sp

irit,

God

wor

ks in

His

peo

ple

'to

will

and

to

do o

f H

is g

ood

plea

sure

.' B

ut m

any

will

not

subm

it to

be

led.

Th

ey w

ant t

o m

anag

e th

em-

selv

es.

This

is

why

the

y do

not

rec

eive

the

hea

venl

y

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

gift

. O

nly

to th

ose

who

wai

t hu

mbl

y up

on G

od,

who

w

atch

for

His

gui

danc

e an

d gr

ace,

is

the

Spir

it gi

ven.

Th

is p

rom

ised

ble

ssin

g, c

laim

ed b

y fa

ith,

brin

gs a

ll ot

her

bles

sing

s in

its

tra

in.

It i

s gi

ven

acco

rdin

g to

th

e ric

hes

of th

e gr

ace

of C

hris

t, an

d H

e is

rea

dy t

o su

pply

eve

ry so

ul a

ccor

ding

to th

e ca

paci

ty to

rece

ive.

" -" G

ospe

l W

orke

rs,"

p.

285.

No,

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is no

t a

thin

, sh

adow

y ef

fluen

ce e

man

atin

g fr

om th

e Fa

ther

. H

e is

not

an i

mpe

rson

al s

omet

hing

to

be v

ague

ly r

ecog

-ni

zed,

jus

t an

inv

isibl

e pr

inci

ple

of l

ife.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

has

in th

e m

inds

of

mul

titud

es b

een

sepa

rate

d fr

om

pers

onal

ity,

mad

e in

tang

ible

, un

real

, hi

dden

in

mis

ts a

nd s

hrou

ded

with

un-

real

ity.

But

the

grea

test

uns

een

real

ity in

the

w

orld

to-

day

is th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. H

e is

a ho

ly

pers

onal

ity.

Jesu

s w

as t

he m

ost

mar

ked

and

influ

entia

l pe

rson

ality

eve

r in

thi

s ol

d w

orld

, an

d th

e H

oly

Spir

it w

as t

o su

pply

His

vac

ated

pl

ace.

Noo

ne b

ut a

per

son

coul

d ta

ke th

e pl

ace

of t

hat

won

drou

s Pe

rson

. No

mer

e in

fluen

ce

wou

ld e

ver

suffi

ce.

Ther

e is

dan

ger o

f lim

iting

our

idea

of p

er-

sona

lity

to

bodi

ly

man

ifest

atio

ns.

It s

eem

s di

fficu

lt to

gra

sp t

he i

dea

of p

erso

nalit

y ap

art

from

the

tan

gibl

e bo

dily

for

m o

f hu

man

ity,

-ex

isten

ce w

ith a

lim

ited,

hum

an,

bodi

ly s

hape

. B

ut p

erso

nalit

y an

d su

ch c

orpo

real

ity a

re t

o be

cle

arly

dis

tingu

ishe

d, t

houg

h th

ey a

re o

ften

38

39

The

Com

ing

of t

he C

omfo

rter

conf

used

. Pe

rson

ality

do

es

not

requ

ire

the

limita

tions

of h

uman

ity.

Her

e ag

ain

the

spir

it of

pro

phec

y sp

eaks

: "T

he H

oly

Spir

it is

Chr

ist's

rep

rese

ntat

ive,

but

di

vest

ed o

f th

e pe

rson

ality

of

hum

anity

, an

d in

de-

pend

ent

ther

eof.

Cum

bere

d w

ith h

uman

ity,

Chr

ist

coul

d no

t be

'in e

very

pla

ce p

erso

nally

. Th

eref

ore

it

was

for

thei

r int

eres

t tha

t He

shou

ld g

o to

the

Fath

er,

and

send

the

Spi

rit t

o be

His

suc

cess

or o

n ea

rth.

N

o on

e co

uld

then

hav

e an

y ad

vant

age

beca

use

of h

is lo

ca-

tion

or h

is p

erso

nal c

onta

ct w

ith C

hris

t. B

y th

e Sp

irit

th

e Sa

viou

r w

ould

be

acce

ssib

le t

o al

l. In

thi

s se

nse

He

wou

ld b

e ne

arer

to

them

tha

n if

He

had

not

as-

cend

ed o

n hi

gh."

-" T

he D

esir

e of

Age

s,"

p. 6

69.

God

the

Spir

it is

not

to b

e m

easu

red

by

hum

an s

tand

ards

. W

e ca

nnot

exp

ress

the

in-

finite

in

finite

ter

ms.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

is in

ca-

pabl

e of

con

cise,

final

def

initi

on.

We

need

not

so

lve

the

mys

tery

of

His

nat

ure.

A

gain

st t

his

we

are

spec

ifica

lly w

arne

d:

" It i

s no

t ess

entia

l for

us

to b

e ab

le to

def

ine

just

w

hat t

he H

oly

Spir

it is

. C

hris

t tel

ls u

s th

at th

e Sp

irit

is t

he C

omfo

rter,

'the

Spir

it o

f tr

uth,

whi

ch p

roce

ed-

eth

from

the

Fath

er.'

It is

pla

inly

dec

lare

d re

gard

ing

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

tha

t in

His

wor

k of

gui

ding

men

into

al

l tru

th, '

He

shal

l not

spe

ak o

f H

imse

lf.'

" Th

e na

ture

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it is

a m

yste

ry.

Men

ca

nnot

exp

lain

it,

beca

use

the

Lord

has

not

rev

eale

d it

to th

em.

Men

hav

ing

fanc

iful

vie

ws

may

bri

ng to

-ge

ther

pas

sage

s of

Scr

iptu

re a

nd p

ut a

hum

an c

on-

stru

ctio

n on

the

m;

but

the

acce

ptan

ce o

f th

ese

view

s w

ill n

ot s

tren

gthe

n th

e ch

urch

. R

egar

ding

suc

h m

ys-

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

teri

es,

whi

ch a

re to

o de

ep f

or h

uman

und

erst

andi

ng,

sile

nce

is

gold

en."

-" T

he

Act

s of

th

e Ap

ostle

s,"

pp. 5

1, 5

2.

"The

re a

re t

hose

who

, in

the

ir p

rese

nt s

tate

, w

ould

int

erpo

se b

etw

een

God

and

thos

e w

ho n

eed

the

light

. Th

ey w

ould

not

und

erst

and

the

wor

k of

the

H

oly

Spir

it; t

hey

have

nev

er u

nder

stoo

d it

; in

the

past

it

has

bee

n to

them

as

grea

t a m

yste

ry a

s w

ere

Chr

ist's

le

sson

s to

th

e Je

ws.

Th

e w

orki

ng

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

of G

od i

s no

t to

crea

te c

urio

sity

. It

is n

ot f

or

men

to d

eCid

e w

heth

er th

ey sh

a111

ay t

heir

han

ds u

pon

the

man

ifes

tatio

ns o

f th

e Sp

irit

of G

od.

We

mus

t let

G

od w

ork.

"-"

Cmln

sels

to T

each

ers,"

p. 3

'13.

But

the

sam

e in

spire

d in

stru

ctio

n es

tab-

lishe

s fo

reve

r th

e fa

ct o

f H

is p

erso

nalit

y:

"Evi

l ha

d be

en a

ccum

ulat

ing

for

cent

urie

s, a

nd

coul

d on

ly b

e re

stra

ined

and

res

iste

d by

the

mig

hty

pow

er o

f the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

the

thir

d pe

rson

of t

he G

od-

head

, who

wou

ld c

ome

with

no

mod

ified

ene

rgy,

but

in

the

fulln

ess

of d

ivin

e po

wer

."-"

Tes

timon

ies

to M

in-

ister

s,"

p. 39

2.

"The

Fat

her

is a

ll th

e fu

llnes

s of

the

God

head

bo

dily

, and

is in

visi

ble

to m

orta

l sig

ht.

" Th

e So

n [o

f God

] is

all

the

fulln

ess

of th

e G

od-

head

man

ifest

ed.

The

wor

d of

God

dec

lare

s H

im t

o be

'th

e ex

pres

s im

age

of H

is p

erso

n.'

'God

so

love

d th

e w

orld

, th

at H

e ga

ve H

is o

nly

bego

tten

Son,

tha

t w

hoso

ever

bel

ieve

th in

Him

shou

ld n

ot p

eris

h, b

ut h

ave

ever

last

ing

life.

' H

ere

is sh

own

the

pers

onal

ity o

f the

Fa

ther

. "T

he C

omfo

rter

tha

t C

hris

t pr

omis

ed t

o se

nd

afte

r H

e as

cend

ed.

to. h

eave

n, i

s th

e Sp

irit

in a

ll th

e

40

41

'I

The

Com

ing

of th

e Co

mfo

rter

fulln

ess

of t

he G

odhe

ad,

mak

ing

man

ifes

t th

e po

wer

of

div

ine

grac

e to

all

who

rec

eive

and

bel

ieve

in C

hris

t as

a p

erso

nal S

avio

ur.

Ther

e ar

e th

ree

livin

g pe

rson

s of

the

heav

enly

tri

o; in

the

nam

e of

thes

e th

ree

grea

t·

pow

ers -

the

Fath

er, t

he S

on, a

nd t

he H

oly

Sp

irit

-th

ose

who

re

ceiv

e C

hris

t by

liv

ing

fait

h ar

e ba

p-tiz

ed,

and

thes

e po

wer

s w

ill c

o-op

erat

e w

ith t

he o

be-

dien

t su

bjec

ts o

f he

aven

in

thei

r ef

forts

to

live

the

new

life

in C

hris

t."-

Mrs

. E.

G.

Whi

te, i

n "

Testi

mo-

nies

," Se

ries

B, N

o.7,

pp.

62,

63.

'

God

is no

t a

mag

nifie

d or

sub

limat

ed m

an.

God

alon

e ha

s pe

rfec

t pe

rson

ality

. H

is pe

r-fe

ct p

erso

nalit

y ha

s ex

isted

sin

ce t

he d

ays

of

eter

nity

, lo

ng b

efor

e a

singl

e hu

man

bei

ng,

with

his

limita

tions

, ca

me

to b

e. Th

ere

are

four

thi

ngs

that

are

pre

dica

ted

of p

erso

nalit

y:

(1)

Will

; (2

) In

telli

genc

e;

(3)

Pow

er;

'(4)

Cap

acity

for

love

. Pe

rson

ality

invo

lves

a s

elf-

cons

cious

, se

lf-kn

owin

g, s

elf-w

illin

g, a

nd s

elf-

dete

rmin

ing

bein

g.

A p

erso

n is

ther

efor

e' a

bein

g w

ho i

s ap

proa

chab

le,

who

can

be

trus

ted

or d

oubt

ed,

love

d or

hat

ed,

ador

ed o

r in

sulte

d.

Thes

e es

sent

ials

of

pers

onal

ity a

re b

ut l

imite

d an

d im

perf

ect

in m

an,

but

limitl

ess

and

per-

fect

in

God.

So t

he p

erso

nalit

y of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is

not

to

be c

onfin

ed t

o co

mpa

rison

s w

ith m

an.

It w

ill h

elp

us t

o lis

ten

to J

esus

on'

this

po

int

here

in

thes

e tw

o ch

apte

rs o

f Jo

hn,

the

four

teen

th a

nd s

ixte

enth

. 'N

ot a

wor

d do

es

The

Prom

ise o

f the

Spi

rit

Jesu

s ut

ter

that

can

be

cons

trued

as

impl

ying

th

at th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

simpl

y an

influ

ence

. H

e ad

dres

ses

Him

' and

tre

ats

Him

as

a pe

rson

. H

e ca

lls H

im t

he P

arac

lete

, w

hich

is

the

title

of

a p

erso

n.

It is

an

offic

e th

at c

ould

be

held

on

ly

by

a pe

rson

. Th

e id

ea

of p

erso

nalit

y do

min

ates

the

gra

mm

atic

al c

onst

ruct

ion

of H

is se

nten

ces.

Twen

ty-f

our

times

in.

John

14,

' 15,

and

16 t

he p

erso

nal

pron

ouns

"H

e,"

"Him

,"

"Who

m,"

occ

ur,

appl

ied

to

the

Spiri

t. H

e vi

olat

ed G

reek

syn

tax

and

gram

mat

ical

usa

ge

to

indi

cate

pe

rson

ality

, us

ing

the

mas

culin

e pe

rson

al p

rono

un w

ith th

e ne

uter

nou

n.

(For

ex

ampl

e, -n

ote

John

15:

26

and

16: 1

3.)

Not

th

at th

e pe

rson

s of

the

God

head

are

mas

culin

e as

con

trast

ed w

ith f

emin

ine,

but

per

sona

l as

co

ntra

sted

with

im

pers

onal

. In

cer

tain

tex

ts

the

pers

onal

ity o

f th

e Sp

irit i

s he

ld s

ubor

dina

te

to e

mph

asis

of s

ome

othe

r ch

arac

teris

tic.

If

the

pers

onal

ity is

und

ersto

od, t

he p

rono

un "

it "

is w

holly

pro

per.

The

Spir

it is

set

for

th b

y C

hris

t as

tea

chin

g, s

peak

ing,

bea

ring

witn

ess,

guid

ing,

hea

ring,

and

dec

larin

g.

Her

e is

in-

telli

genc

e,

disc

rimin

atio

n,

and

ther

efor

e pe

r-so

nalit

y.

Now

let u

s ta

ke a

rap

id s

urve

y of

the

Bibl

e te

stim

ony

as t

o th

e pe

rson

ality

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

Pers

onal

qu

aliti

es,

pers

onal

ac

tions

,

42

43

The

Com

ing

of th

e Co

mfo

rter

and

pers

onal

rel

atio

ns a

re a

scrib

ed to

Him

. It

is

know

ledg

e, fe

elin

g, w

ill,

and

love

, no

t ha

nds

or fe

et,

that

are

the

mar

ks o

f pe

rson

ality

. 1.

Kno

wle

dge.

-" W

hat

man

kno

wet

h th

e th

ings

of

a m

an,

save

the

spi

rit

of m

an w

hich

is

in h

im?

even

so

the

thin

gs o

f Go

d kn

owet

h .

no m

an,

but t

he S

piri

t of

God

." 1

Cor.

2: 1

1.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

is a

pers

on q

ualif

ied

to d

eal

with

per

sona

l be

ings

con

scio

usly

and

in

telli

-ge

ntly

, ca

usin

g th

em t

o kn

ow w

hat

is in

the

he

art

of G

od f

or t

hem

, an

d w

hat

is in

the

ir·

own

hear

ts.

It is

pre

post

erou

s to

spe

ak o

f an

in

fluen

ce,

ener

gy,

or p

ower

as

havi

ng s

uch

un-

ders

tand

ing.

2.

Wil

l.-"

All

thes

e w

orke

th t

hat

one

and

the

selfs

ame

Spiri

t, di

vidi

ng

to

ever

y m

an

seve

rally

as

He

will

." 1

Cor.

12: 1

1.

Her

e is

the

stro

nges

t pro

of o

f pe

rson

ality

. Th

e w

ill i

s th

e m

ost d

istin

ctiv

e el

emen

t in

any

pers

onal

ity.

3. M

ind.

-" H

e th

at s

earc

heth

the

hea

rts

know

eth

wha

t is

the

min

d of

the

Spiri

t, be

caus

e H

e m

aket

h in

terc

essi

on f

or th

e sa

ints

acc

ordi

ng

to t

he w

ill o

f G

od."

Rom

. 8:

27.

This

in

the

Gre

ek i

mpl

ies

both

tho

ught

and

pur

pose

. A

n ex

hibi

tion

of th

is is

fou

nd i

n A

cts

15: 2

8: "

It

seem

ed g

ood

to t

he H

oly

Gho

st, a

nd t

o us

, to

la

y up

on y

ou n

o gr

eate

r bur

den

than

thes

e ne

c-es

sary

thin

gs."

The

Prom

ise o

f the

Spi

rit

"Thr

ough

the

pow

er o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it, e

very

w

ork

of G

od's

appo

intm

ent

is t

o be

ele

vate

d an

d en

-no

bled

, and

mad

e to

witn

ess

for

the

Lord

. M

an m

ust

plac

e hi

mse

lf u

nder

the

con

trol

of t

he e

tern

al m

ind,

w

hose

dic

tate

s he

is

to o

bey

in e

very

par

ticu

lar.

"-"

Coun

sels

on H

ealth

," p

. 52

4.

4. Lo

ve.-

" N

ow I

bes

eech

yo

u, b

reth

ren,

fo

r th

e Lo

rd J

esus

Chr

ist's

sak

e, a

nd f

or t

he

love

of

the

Spir

it."

Rom

. 15

: 30.

N

ot b

lind

pow

er,

but

a pe

rson

·who

lov

es w

ith t

ende

rest

af

fect

ion.

5.

Com

mun

ion.

-" T

he g

race

of

the

Lord

Je

sus

Chr

ist,

and

the

love

of

God,

and

the

com

mun

ion

. of

the

Hol

y G

host,

be

w

ith y

ou

all."

2

Cor.

13: 1

4.

He

is th

us b

ound

up

with

th

e su

prem

e pe

rson

aliti

es,

the

Fath

er

and

the

Son,

in th

e ap

osto

lic b

ened

ictio

n.

And

co

mm

unio

n w

ith t

he H

oly

Spir

it is

only

con

-ce

ivab

le o

n th

e ba

sis

of p

erso

nalit

y.

It im

plie

s pa

rtner

ship

and

rec

ipro

city

. 6.

Gri

ef.-

" G

rieve

not

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

of

God,

whe

reby

ye

are

seal

ed u

nto

the

day

of

rede

mpt

ion.

" Ep

h. 4

: 30.

H

ow th

e re

aliz

atio

n of

thi

s th

ough

t as

rel

ated

to

this

hol

y pe

rson

w

ill s

hape

the

who

le lif

e!

7. I

nsul

ted,

Tem

pted

, an

d Li

ed T

o.-"

Of

how

muc

h so

rer

puni

shm

ent,

supp

ose

ye,

shal

l he

be

thou

ght w

orth

y, w

ho h

ath

trodd

en u

nder

-

44

45

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

foot

the

Son

of G

o.d, a

nd h

ath

coun

ted

the

bloo

d of

the

cov

enan

t, w

here

with

he

was

san

ctifi

ed,

an u

nhol

y th

ing,

and

hat

h do

ne d

espi

te u

nto

the

Spir

it of

gra

ce?"

H

eb.

10: 2

9.

" Th

en

Pete

r sa

id u

nto

her,

How

is

it t

hat

ye h

ave

agre

ed

toge

ther

to

te

mpt

the

Sp

irit

of t

he

Lord

? be

hold

, th

e fe

et o

f th

em

whi

ch

have

bu

ried

thy

husb

and

are

at th

e do

or,

and

shal

l ca

rry

thee

ou

t."

Act

s 5:

9.

"Pet

er

said

, A

nani

as,

why

hat

h Sa

tan

filled

thi

ne h

eart

to

lie to

the

Hol

y G

host?

...

Tho

u ha

st n

ot l

ied

unto

men

, but

unt

o G

od."

Act

s 5:

3, 4

. Th

us

He

is su

scep

tible

to p

erso

nal

mis

treat

men

t. In

the

fou

r G

ospe

ls th

e m

ost

solem

n w

arn-

ing

ever

utte

red

by J

esus

in th

e he

arin

g of

men

de

clar

ed t

hat i

f H

is o

wn

wor

ds o

r pe

rson

wer

e re

ject

ed,

the

reje

cter

cou

ld b

e fo

rgiv

en,

but

he

coul

d no

t be

for

give

n if

he

grie

ved

and

sinne

d ag

ains

t the

Hol

y Sp

irit

and

final

ly r

efus

ed H

is

teac

hing

s. It

is i

ncon

ceiv

able

tha

t m

an s

houl

d so

sin

aga

inst

an

influ

ence

or e

nerg

y as

to b

ring

him

self

into

dan

ger

of u

npar

dona

ble

sin.

Let

us n

ext

swee

p th

roug

h th

e ac

ts a

nd

deed

s as

crib

ed to

Him

, tha

t onl

y a

pers

on c

ould

pe

rfor

m.

Thin

k of

His

insp

iring

of

the

Sacr

ed

Writ

ings

, H

is c

omm

ands

and

for

bidd

ings

, H

is

appo

intm

ents

of

min

iste

rs,

His

inte

rces

sions

an

d pr

ayer

s, H

is te

achi

ng a

nd w

itnes

sing,

His

The

Prom

ise o

f the

Spi

rit

conv

ictin

g an

d st

rivin

g.

Ther

e ar

e so

me

twen

ty d

iffer

ent

actio

ns d

ecla

red,

the

gre

ates

t ac

ts p

ossib

le f

or i

ntel

ligen

t pe

rson

ality

, w

hich

co

uld

not

be p

erfo

rmed

by

an i

nflu

ence

. B

ut t

he H

oly

Spir

it is

mor

e th

an a

per

-so

nalit

y.

He

is a

divi

ne p

erso

nalit

y.

He

is ca

lled

God

(Act

s 5:

3,

4),

the

"thi

rd p

erso

n of

th

e G

odhe

ad."

He

poss

esse

s di

vine

at

-tr

ibut

es,-

omni

pote

nce

(Luk

e 1:

35)

; om

ni-

pres

ence

(P

s.

139:

7-1

0) ';

and

eter

nal

life

(Heb

. 9:

14)

. Th

ese

perta

in o

nly

to G

od,

yet

they

are

attr

ibut

es o

f the

Spi

rit.

He

is gr

eate

r th

an t

he a

ngel

s, fo

r H

e, as

the

rep

rese

ntat

ive

of C

hris

t, di

rect

s al

l th

e an

gels

on e

arth

in

battl

e w

ith t

he le

gion

s of

dar

knes

s. "

All

the

inte

llige

nces

of

heav

en a

re in

thi

s ar

my.

A

nd m

ore

than

ang

els

are

in t

he r

anks

. Th

e H

oly

Spir

it, th

e re

pres

enta

tive

of th

e C

apta

in o

f th

e Lo

rd's

host

, co

mes

dow

n to

dir

ect t

he b

attl

e."-

" Th

e D

esir

e of

Age

s,"

p. 35

2.

Aga

in, d

ivin

e w

orks

are

pre

dica

ted

of H

im,

-cr

eatio

n (J

ob 3

3: 4

) ; re

gene

ratio

n (J

ohn

3:

5-8)

; re

surr

ectio

n (1

Pet

er 3

: 18)

; au

thor

ship

of

pro

phec

y (2

Pet

er 1

: 21)

. Th

ese

wor

ks

coul

d be

acc

ompl

ished

onl

y by

God

. Th

eref

ore

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is no

t on

ly a

per

son,

but

a d

i-vi

ne p

erso

n.

In t

he d

ivin

e pl

an,

His

min

istry

in

clud

es

crea

tion,

in

spira

tion,

co

nvic

tion,

re

-

46

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Th

e Pr

omis

e of

the

Spir

it 47

gene

ratio

n, s

anct

ifica

tion,

an

d eq

uipm

ent

for

Him

self

to h

uman

ity, t

he G

odhe

ad w

as s

till H

is o

wn.

" -"

The

Des

ire

0/ A

ges,

" pp

. 663

, 664

.ef

fect

ive

serv

ice.

Aga

in,

in s

peak

ing

of t

he c

omin

g of

the

This

brin

gs u

s to

a b

rief s

urve

y of

the

rela

-H

oly

Spiri

t, H

e sa

id:

tions

hip

of th

e H

oly

Spiri

t to

the

othe

r pe

rson

s I

will

pra

y th

e Fa

ther

, an

d H

e sh

all

give

you

Hof

th

e G

odhe

ad.

In o

ur c

once

ptio

n of

th

e an

othe

r C

omfo

rter

, ..

. th

e Sp

irit

of t

ruth.•

.. I

Trin

ity w

e ar

e so

met

imes

inc

lined

to

conc

eive

will

not

lea

ve y

ou c

omfo

rtle

ss:

J w

ill c

ome

to y

ou."

of th

ree

Gods

ins

tead

of

one.

Our

God

is

one

John

14:

16-

18.

"My

Fath

er w

ill l

ove

him

, an

d w

e

God.

Deu

t. 6:

4.

But

ther

e ar

e th

ree

pers

ons

will

com

e un

to h

im,

and

mak

e ou

r ab

ode

with

him

."V

erse

23.

in th

e on

e G

odhe

ad.

Our

diff

icul

ty a

rises

fro

m

tryi

ng to

con

ceiv

e of

spi

ritua

l be

ings

in

term

s So

the

pre

senc

e of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

invo

lves

of

phy

sical

thou

ght.

But

per

haps

a c

rude

illu

s-th

e pr

esen

ce o

f Jes

us a

nd th

e Fa

ther

. In

oth

er

wor

ds,

the

fulln

ess

of th

e G

odhe

ad i

s op

erat

ive

trat

ion

may

be

sugg

estiv

e.

A t

riang

le i

s on

e an

d pr

esen

t in

the

wor

ld i

n th

is d

ispen

satio

nfig

ure,

but i

thas

thre

e sid

es.

So G

od, b

eing

one

, by

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

Thus

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is,m

anife

sts

Him

self

as F

athe

r, So

n, an

d H

oly

as i

t w

ere,

Jesu

s' ot

her

self.

A

nd J

esus

thu

sSp

irit.

Jesu

s sa

id, "

I a

nd M

y Fa

ther

are

one

." m

akes

His

uni

vers

al a

nd a

bidi

ng p

rese

nce

inJo

hn 1

0: 3

0.

all

His

peop

le.

" 'I

f ye

had

kno

wn

Me,'

Chr

ist

said

, 'y

e sh

ould

H

Th

ose

who

see

C

hris

t in

His

tru

e ch

arac

ter,

have

kno

wn

My

Fath

er a

lso;

and

fro

m h

ence

fort

h ye

an

d re

ceiv

e H

im in

to t

he h

eart

,' ha

ve e

verl

astin

g lif

e.kn

ow H

im,

and

have

see

n H

im.'

But

not

yet

did

the

di

scip

les

unde

rsta

nd.

'Lor

d, s

how

us

the

Fath

er,'

ex-

It is

thr

ough

the

Spi

rit t

hat

Chr

ist

dwel

ls i

n us

; an

d th

e Sp

irit

of G

od,

rece

ived

int

o th

e he

art

by f

aith

, is

clai

med

Phi

lip, '

and

it s

uffic

eth

us.'

the

begi

nnin

g of

the

life

ete

rnal

."_H

The

Des

ire

of"

Am

azed

at h

is d

ulln

ess

of c

ompr

ehen

sion

, Chr

fst

Ages

," p

. 388

.as

ked

with

pai

ned

surp

rise

, 'H

ave

I be

en s

o lo

ng ti

me

with

you

, an

d ye

t ha

st t

hou

not

know

n M

e, Ph

ilip

?'

Befo

re C

hris

t cam

e in

the

flesh

, th

e Fa

ther

Is

it

poss

ible

tha

t yo

u do

not

see

the

Fat

her

in t

he

was

the

mos

t co

nspi

cuou

s pe

rson

of

the

God-

Do

you

not

belie

ve t

hat

wor

ks H

e do

es t

hrou

gh M

e?

head

, fil

ling

the

horiz

on;

whe

n Je

sus

cam

e, th

eI

cam

e to

tes

tify

of t

he F

athe

r?

'How

say

est

thou

th

en,

Show

us

the

Fath

er?'

'H

e th

at h

ath

seen

Me

seco

nd p

erso

n fil

led th

e ho

rizon

; and

in t

his

dis-

hath

see

n th

e Fa

ther

.' C

hris

t ha

d no

t ce

ased

to

be

pens

atio

n of

the

Spi

rit,

the

thir

d pe

rson

fill

s G

od w

hen

He

beca

me

man

. Th

ough

He

had

hum

bled

th

e ho

rizon

, th

is l

atte

r be

ing

the

culm

inat

ion

48

49

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

of G

od's

prog

ress

ive

prov

ision

s. In

the

disp

en-

satio

n of

the

Fat

her

the

stan

dard

of

the

law

w

as o

utst

andi

ng; i

n th

e di

spen

satio

n of

the

Son,

reco

ncili

atio

n is

adde

d; a

nd i

n th

e di

spen

satio

n of

th

e Sp

irit,

sanc

tifyi

ng,

equi

ppin

g po

wer

. Th

us t

hey

are

cum

ulat

ive.

Ea

ch r

e-en

forc

es

and

supp

lem

ents

the

othe

r. In

eac

h di

spen

satio

n th

e sp

iritu

ality

of

chur

ch h

as b

een

cond

ition

ed u

pon

adhe

renc

e to

th

e pr

inci

pal .

trut

h of

the

econ

omy

in w

hich

it

lives

. Th

e st

anda

rd o

f rig

hteo

usne

ss h

as b

een

set f

orth

, the

mea

ns 0

1 re

conc

iliat

ion

and

aton

e-m

ent

mad

e m

anife

st,

and

last

ly t

he a

gent

for

ap

plyi

ng th

is be

nefit

to m

an n

ow c

onsp

icuo

usly

oc

cupi

es

the

field

. Th

e th

ree

grea

t hi

stor

ic

test

s of

fai

th a

s re

gard

s go

dlin

ess

are,

Fir

st,

in th

e pe

riod

befo

re t

he in

carn

atio

n, th

e te

st. o

f "

one

God

" ve

rsus

pol

ythe

ism,

and

God

's ri

ght

to r

ule,

with

the

law

as

the

stan

dard

and

the

Sa

bbat

h as

the

sig

n; s

econ

d, a

s to

whe

ther

, at

C

hris

t's f

irst

adve

nt,

thos

e wh

o ha

d m

et t

he

first

te

st w

ould

ac

cept

Je

sus

as

the

divi

ne

Son

and

Rede

emer

; the

n, t

hird

, hav

ing

acce

pted

th

e fir

st tw

o, a

s to

whe

ther

we

will

sub

mit

fully

to

the

Hol

y Sp

irit t

o m

ake

effic

acio

us i

n us

all

that

has

bee

n w

roug

ht o

ut f

or u

s. Th

ese

are

broa

d fu

ndam

enta

ls, a

nd sw

eep

ever

ythi

ng v

ital

into

thei

r em

brac

e.

The

P1'om

ise o

f the

Spi

rit

The

plur

ality

of

the

God

head

is

first

ind

i-ca

ted

in G

enes

is 1

: 26,

whe

n Go

d sa

id, "

Let

us

mak

e m

an i

n ou

r im

age.

" Th

e Fa

ther

is t

he

sour

ce, t

he S

on t

he i

nter

med

iary

, an

d th

e H

oly

Spiri

t is

the

med

ium

thr

ough

whi

ch t

he c

rea-

tion

cam

e in

to b

eing

. Th

e tr

inity

of

the

God-

head

is s

ever

al ti

mes

impl

ied

in t

he O

ld Te

sta-

men

t. In

Num

bers

6: 2

4-27

, "T

hey

shal

l pu

t M

y na

me

upon

the

chi

ldre

n of

Isr

ael,"

and

it

proc

eeds

with

the

exp

ansio

n, "

The

Lor

d .

. .

the

Lord

. .

. t

he L

ord,

" no

t fo

ur t

imes

, no

r tw

o, b

ut th

ree:

" T

he L

ord

bles

s th

ee, a

nd k

eep

thee

: th

e Lo

rd m

ake

His

face

shi

ne u

pon

thee

, an

d be

gra

ciou

s un

to th

ee:

the

Lord

lif

t up

His

coun

tena

nce

upon

the

e, an

d gi

ve t

hee

peac

e."

This

thre

efol

d re

petit

ion

para

llels

pre

cise

ly th

e ap

osto

lic b

ened

ictio

n of

the

New

Tes

tam

ent

in

2 Co

rinth

ians

13:

14:

"T

he g

race

of

the

Lord

Je

sus

Chris

t, an

d th

e lov

e of

God

, and

the

com

-m

unio

n of

the

Hol

y G

host,

be

with

you

alL

" H

ere

in N

umbe

rs th

e na

me

of t

he S

pirit

is a

s-so

ciat

ed w

ith t

he F

athe

r an

d th

e So

n in

the

on

e na

me

of G

od.

Furt

her,

in I

saia

h 6:

1-3

we

read

: "I

n t

he y

ear

that

Kin

g U

zzia

h di

ed I

saw

als

o th

e Lo

rd s

ittin

g up

on a

thr

one,

hig

h an

d lif

ted

up, a

nd

His

tra

in f

illed

the

tem

ple.

A

bove

it

stoo

d th

e se

ra-

phim

: ea

ch o

ne h

ad s

ix w

ings

; w

ith t

wai

n he

cov

ered

hi

s fa

ce, a

nd w

ith tw

ain

he c

over

ed h

is f

eet,

and

with

4

50

51

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

twai

n he

did

fly

. A

nd o

ne c

ried

unto

ano

ther

, an

d sa

id, H

oly,

hol

y, h

oly,

is

the

Lord

of

host

s: t

he w

hole

ea

rth

is f

ull

of H

is g

lory

."

Her

e we

fin

d an

othe

r th

reef

old

ascr

iptio

n of

pra

ise

to t

he o

ne p

erso

n.

Aga

in,

in I

saia

h 48

:16:

"

Com

e ye

nea

r un

to M

e, he

ar y

e th

is:

I ha

ve n

ot

spok

en i

n se

cret

fro

m t

he b

egin

ning

; fr

om t

he t

ime

that

it

was

, th

ere

am I

: an

d no

w t

he L

ord

God

, an

d H

is S

piri

t, ha

th s

ent M

e."

Her

e we

fin

d th

e "

Lor

d" a

nd t

he"

Spir

it"

and

"Me"-

the

Com

ing

One.

As

soon

as

Je

sus

wal

ked

on e

arth

as

an i

ndiv

idua

l am

ong

men

, it

was

ine

vita

ble

that

the

dis

tinct

ions

in

the

God

head

sh

ould

be

cl

early

re

cogn

ized

. A

nd t

here

is

no B

iblic

al r

easo

n fo

r be

lievi

ng

in th

e de

ity a

nd p

erso

nalit

y of

the

Fat

her

and

the

Son,

that

doe

s no

t equ

ally

est

ablis

h th

at o

f th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. A

t Je

sus'

bapt

ism

(M

att.

3: 1

6, 1

7)

the

Fath

er's

voice

ann

ounc

es p

leas

ure

in t

he S

on,

and

the

anoi

ntin

g Sp

irit

desc

ends

. H

ere

is a

clea

r-cu

t di

stin

ctio

n of

the

thr

ee o

n on

e oc

ca-

sion.

In

the

grea

t com

miss

ion

(Mat

t. 28

: 19)

th

e ba

ptis

mal

for

mul

a ha

s th

e na

me

of t

he

Spir

it pl

aced

on

an e

qual

ity w

ith t

hose

of

the

Fath

er a

nd t

he S

on.

In P

eter

's Pe

ntec

osta

l se

rmon

he

said

:

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

" Th

eref

ore

bein

g by

the

rig

ht h

and

of G

od e

x-al

ted,

and

hav

ing

rece

ived

of

the

Fath

er t

he p

rom

ise

of th

e H

oly

Gho

st,

He

hath

she

d fo

rth

this

, w

hich

ye

now

see

and

hea

r."

Act

s 2:

33.

And

in

the

chap

ters

und

er c

onsi

dera

tion:

"I

will

pra

y th

e Fa

ther

, an

d H

e sh

all

give

you

an

othe

r C

omfo

rter

, th

at H

e m

ay a

bide

with

you

for

-ev

er."

"T

he C

omfo

rter,

whi

ch i

s th

e H

oly

Gho

st,

who

m th

e Fa

ther

will

sen

d in

My

nam

e, H

e sh

all t

each

yo

u al

l th

ings

, an

d br

ing

all

thin

gs t

o yo

ur r

emem

-br

ance

, w

hats

oeve

r I

have

sai

d un

to y

ou."

Jo

hn 1

4:

16,2

6.

" W

hen

the

Com

fort

er i

s co

me,

who

m I

will

sen

d un

to y

ou f

rom

the

Fat

her,

eve

n th

e Sp

irit

of

trut

h,

whi

ch p

roce

edet

h fr

om t

he F

athe

r, H

e sh

all t

estif

y of

M

e."

John

15:

26.

"

How

beit

whe

n H

e, t

he S

piri

t of

trut

h, i

s co

me,

He

will

gui

de y

ou in

to a

ll tr

uth:

for

He

shal

l not

spe

ak

of H

imse

lf;

but

wha

tsoe

ver

He

shal

l he

ar,

that

sha

ll H

e sp

eak:

and

He

will

sho

w y

ou t

hing

s to

com

e. H

e sh

all g

lori

fy M

e: f

or H

e sh

all r

ecei

ve o

f Min

e, a

nd sh

all

show

it u

nto

you.

A

ll th

ings

that

the

Fath

er h

ath

are

Min

e: t

here

fore

sai

d I,

that

He

shal

l ta

ke o

f M

ine,

and

shal

l sho

w i

t un

to y

ou."

Jo

hn 1

6: 1

3-15

.

To t

his

shou

ld b

e ad

ded

Paul

's st

atem

ent:

"Thr

ough

Him

[C

hris

t] w

e bo

th h

ave

acce

ss

by o

ne S

piri

t un

to t

he F

athe

r."

Eph.

2: 1

8.

And

in H

ebre

ws

10: 9

-15,

the

Fat

her

will

s, th

e So

n w

orks

, an

d th

e Sp

irit

witn

esse

s. Co

ncer

ning

thi

s un

fath

omab

le m

yste

ry w

e ha

ve a

bsol

utel

y no

theo

ry to

adv

ance

. W

e m

ake

52

53

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

no a

ttem

pt to

def

ine

or t

o an

alyz

e th

e Tr

inity

as

to n

atur

e.

It is

sim

ply

a tr

uth

reve

aled

and

de

clar

ed.

Wea

re to

acc

ept i

t, th

ough

we

can-

not f

atho

m it

. Ju

st a

wor

d m

ore,

bef

ore

leav

ing

the

divi

-sio

n on

the

cha

ract

er' o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it.

A,

brie

f re

cita

l of

the

his

tory

of

the

perv

ersi

on

of th

is t

ruth

will

be

help

ful.

In t

he t

hird

cen

-tu

ry,

that

tim

e of

dev

elop

ing

apos

tasi

es,

Pq.ul

of

Sam

osat

ar a

dvan

ced

a th

eory

den

ying

the

pe

rson

ality

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

reg

ardi

ng t

he

Hol

y Sp

irit

mer

ely

as a

n in

fluen

ce,

an e

xerti

on

of d

ivin

e en

ergy

and

pow

er,

an i

nflu

ence

mov

-in

g ou

t fr

om G

od a

nd e

xerte

d on

men

. Th

en

abou

t th

e tim

e of

the

Pro

test

ant

Ref

orm

atio

n tw

o m

en,

Lael

eus

Soci

nus

and

his

neph

ew,

Faus

tus

Soci

nus,

revi

ved

the

theo

ry a

nd m

any

acce

pted

it.

The

chill

ing

influ

ence

of

this

con

cept

has

to

ld o

n al

l th

e Pr

otes

tant

chu

rche

s. In

our

A

utho

rized

Ver

sion

of

1611

, th

e pe

rson

al p

ro-

noun

app

lied

by C

hris

t to

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is

tran

slat

ed b

y th

e ne

uter

"it

," o

r "i

tsel

f,"

in

Rom

ans

8: 1

6, 2

6.

This

is

an in

dex

of t

he· a

t-tit

ude

of t

he t

ime,

for

Chr

istia

n pe

ople

the

n sp

oke

of t

he S

piri

t as

"it

."

It is

sig

nific

ant

that

the

utte

ranc

es o

f th

e Sp

irit

of p

roph

ecy

wer

e sq

uare

ly a

gain

st p

reva

iling

sen

timen

t on

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

the

part

of

som

e of

the

pio

neer

s of

the

mov

e-m

ent,

who

wer

e in

clin

ed to

thi

s im

pers

onal

idea

of

an

influ

ence

, an

d di

scou

nted

the

doc

trine

of

the

Trin

ity.

Ver

ily th

e so

urce

of t

hose

insp

ired

wri

tings

is h

eave

n, a

nd n

ot -e

arth

. N

ot o

nly

was

the

per

sona

lity

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it at

tack

ed in

thos

e ea

rly

cent

urie

s, b

ut H

is

deity

was

cha

lleng

ed i

n th

e fo

urth

cen

tury

by

Ari

us,

a pr

esby

ter

of A

lexa

ndria

. H

e ta

ught

th

at G

od w

as o

ne e

terr

ial

pers

on,

infin

itely

su-

peri

or to

the

ang

els,

and

that

His

only

beg

otte

n So

n ex

erci

sed

supe

rnat

ural

pow

er i

n th

e cr

ea-

tion

of t

he t

hird

per

son,

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

Th

e di

ffer

ence

bet

wee

n th

e tw

o he

resi

es,

Soci

nian

-is

m a

nd A

riani

sm,

lies

in t

he l

atte

r's r

ecog

-ni

tion

of t

he p

erso

nalit

y of

the

H

oly

Spir

it w

hile

den

ying

His

pro

per

deity

. A

ccor

ding

to

Ari

us,

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is a

cre

ated

per

son.

If

cr

eate

d, th

en n

ot th

e cr

eato

r; a

nd if

not

cre

ator

, no

t di

vine

. So

muc

h fo

r th

e pe

rson

ality

of

the

Spir

it.

III

And

now

we

turn

to

the

thir

d ph

ase,

the

m

issi

on o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it.

He

has

a fiv

efol

d of

fice: 1.

He

firs

t of

all

reve

als

Chr

ist

as a

n ab

id-

ing

pres

ence

.

54

55

r

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

2. H

e re

veal

s G

od's

trut

h, m

akin

g it

a r

eal-

ity in

the

inm

ost b

eing

. 3.

He

is in

trust

ed to

brin

g ho

lines

s to

man

. 4.

He

testi

fies

of C

hris

t. 5.

He

glor

ifies

Chr

ist.

Of

all

the

utte

ranc

es o

f Je

sus,

none

per

-pl

exed

the

disc

iple

s m

ore

than

this

: "

Nev

erth

eles

s I

tell

you

the

trut

h: i

t is

expe

dien

t fo

r yo

u th

at I

go

away

: fo

r if

I g

o no

t aw

ay,

the

C

omfo

rter

will

not

com

e un

to y

ou."

Jo

hn 1

6: 7

. H

ow i

t m

ust

have

sta

gger

ed t

hem

! Fo

r th

ree

year

s H

e ha

d go

ne i

n an

d ou

t am

ong

them

. Th

ey h

ad l

iste

ned

to t

he m

usic

of

wor

ds.

They

had

gaz

ed a

t th

e w

onde

r of

His

de

eds.

Thei

r de

ares

t ho

pes

wer

e ce

nter

ed i

n'

Him

. B

ut H

e de

clar

es H

is d

epar

ture

will

be

thei

r ga

in.

Why

? -

Beca

use

in t

he f

lesh

He

coul

d co

mm

unic

ate

with

the

m o

nly

by t

he o

ut-

war

d to

uch,

thr

ough

mes

sage

s ad

dres

sed

in im

-pe

rfec

t hu

man

lan

guag

e.

It w

as a

n ex

tern

al

pres

ence

and

com

mun

ion.

Fu

rther

mor

e, H

is p

rese

nce

was

loc

aliz

ed,

limite

d, a

nd i

ndiv

idua

lized

. If

in

Jude

a, H

e w

as n

ot i

n Eg

ypt;

if i

n Je

rusa

lem

, no

t in

C

aper

naum

. W

hen

He

had

taug

ht H

is p

rin-

cipl

es, w

hen

He

had

orda

ined

and

com

miss

ione

d H

is d

iscip

les,

and

had

offe

red

Him

self

once

for

al

l, H

is b

odily

miss

ion

was

ful

fille

d.

And

His

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

depa

rtur

e w

as a

nec

essa

ry p

relim

inar

y to

the

Sp

irit'

s co

min

g, a

nd th

at c

omin

g w

ould

be

gain

. B

ette

r th

an H

is bo

dily

pre

senc

e du

ring

the

Chr

istia

n er

a, w

ould

be

His

abo

de t

hrou

gh t

he

Spir

it w

ithin

His

fol

low

ers.

Thro

ugh

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

He

has

com

mun

ion

and

fello

wsh

ip w

ith

innu

mer

able

hea

rts a

ll ov

er th

e w

orld

. N

ow H

e is

ever

ywhe

re p

rese

nt w

ith g

eogr

aphi

cal l

imita

-tio

ns e

nded

. W

hen

Chr

ist

was

on

earth

, H

e w

as a

t a

mat

eria

l di

stanc

e, b

ecau

se o

utsid

e of

m

en.

Thro

ugh

the

prov

ision

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

this

dis

tanc

e is

anni

hila

ted.

H

e is

infin

itely

ne

arer

now

than

whe

n H

e w

ashe

d th

e di

scip

les'

feet

. "Pen

teco

st b

roug

ht t

hem

the

pre

senc

e of

the

C

omfo

rter,

of w

hom

Chr

ist

had

said

, H

e ' s

hall

be i

n yo

u.'

And

He

had

furt

her

said

, 'I

t is

exp

edie

nt f

or

you

that

I g

o aw

ay:

for

if I

go

not

away

, th

e Co

m-

fort

er w

ill n

ot c

ome

unto

you

; bu

t if

I d

epar

t, I

will

se

nd H

im u

nto

you.

' H

ence

fort

h th

roug

h th

e Sp

irit,

C

hris

t w

as t

o ab

ide

cont

inua

lly i

n th

e he

arts

of

His

ch

ildre

n.

Thei

r uni

on w

ith H

im w

as c

lose

r th

an w

hen

He

was

per

sona

lly w

ith th

em.

The

light

, and

love

, and

po

wer

of

the

indw

ellin

g C

hris

t sh

one

out

thro

ugh

them

, so

that

men

, beh

oldi

ng, '

mar

vele

d; a

nd th

ey to

ok

know

ledg

e of

them

, th

at th

ey h

ad b

een

with

Jes

us.'

" _

" S

teps

to C

hris

t," p

p. 7

4, 7

5, p

ocke

t ed

ition

. .

The

impo

rtanc

e of

thi

s tre

men

dous

tru

th

cann

ot b

e ov

erem

phas

ized

. Le

t us

rere

ad J

ohn

14: 1

6-18

, 21

, 23

:

56

57

The

Com

ing

of t

he C

omfo

rter

"I w

ill p

ray

the

Fath

er,

and

He

shal

l gi

ve y

ou

anot

her

Com

fort

er,

that

He

may

abi

de w

ith y

ou

ever

; eve

n th

e Sp

irit

of

trut

h; w

hom

the

wor

ld c

anno

t re

ceiv

e, b

ecau

se i

t se

eth

Him

not

, ne

ither

kno

wet

h H

im:

but y

e kn

ow H

im; f

or H

e dw

elle

th w

ith y

ou, a

nd

be i

n yo

u."

"He

that

hat

h M

y co

mm

andm

ents

, an

d ke

epet

h th

em, h

e it

is t

hat l

ovet

h M

e: a

nd h

e th

at

love

th M

e sh

all

be lo

ved

of M

y Fa

ther

, and

I w

ill lo

ve

him

, an

d w

ill m

anif

est

Mys

elf

to h

im."

"J

esus

sw

ered

and

sai

d un

to h

im, If

a m

an l

ove

Me,

he w

ill

keep

My

wor

ds:

and

My

Fath

er w

ill l

ove

Him

, an

d w

e w

ill c

ome

unto

him

, an

d m

ake

our

abod

e w

ith

him

." Th

roug

h th

e ag

es p

ast

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

had

been

with

men

, bu

t fro

m

Pent

ecos

t fo

rwar

d G

od's

purp

ose

was

tha

t H

e "s

hall

be

in y

ou."

This

is

to b

e a

sacr

ed r

ealit

y.

The

wor

ld r

e-ce

ives

Him

not

bec

ause

it se

es H

im n

ot.

The

wor

ld's

devo

tion

is to

· the

visi

ble,

the

mat

eria

l. B

ut th

e C

hris

tian

is to

rea

lize

the

pers

onal

oc-

cupa

ncy

and

indw

ellin

g of

God

the

Spiri

t. Th

e fir

st a

nd s

econ

d pe

rson

s of

the

God

head

now

ho

ld t

heir

resid

ence

on

eart

h th

rou Q

'h th

e th

ird.

He

is th

e ab

idin

g re

pres

enta

tive.

Th

e pr

esen

ce

of t

he o

ne i

nvol

ves

the

pres

ence

of

the

othe

rs.

Thus

we

are

mad

e aw

are

of C

hris

t's p

rese

nce.

To

kno

w t

he F

athe

r we

mus

t kn

ow t

he S

on

(Mat

t. 11

: 27)

, an

d to

kno

w t

he S

on w

e m

ust

know

the

Spiri

t. So

the

Son

reve

als

the

Fath

er,

and

the

Spir

it re

veal

s th

e So

n.

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

Thus

our

orp

hana

ge c

ease

s. Th

ere

is no

J de

sola

tion,

no

lone

lines

s. M

en h

unge

r fo

r th

e t

pers

onal

pre

senc

e of

Chr

ist.

And

as

we y

ield

I to

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

we h

ave

that

tran

sfor

min

g pr

esen

ce.

Read

it:

"T

he w

ork

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it i

s im

mea

sura

bly

grea

t. It

is f

rom

thi

s so

urce

that

pow

er a

nd e

ffici

ency

co

me

to th

e w

orke

r for

God

; and

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is th

e C

omfo

rter

, as

the

per

sona

l pr

esen

ce o

f C

hris

t to

the

so

ul."

-Mrs

. E.

G.

Whi

te,

in th

e Re

view

and

Her

ald,

N

ov. 2

9, 1

892.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

com

es a

s Go

d to

tak

e po

s-se

ssio

n of

the

life

. Th

ere

is co

nsci

ousn

ess

of

the

livin

g, g

lorif

ied

Lord

. A

nd H

e w

ill i

mpa

rt

him

self

to e

ach

soul

as

com

plet

ely

as i

f he

wer

e th

e on

ly o

ne o

n ea

rth

in w

hom

God

dw

ells.

And

thi

s in

terc

ours

e m

ay b

e un

brok

en.

"Whil

e th

e hi

stor

ical

Chr

ist

is ab

solu

tely

ne

cess

ary,

ye

t H

e do

es n

ot s

ave

from

the

pow

er o

f sin

. W

e m

ust

have

a p

rese

nt,

livin

g Sa

viou

r, th

e C

hris

t of

hist

ory

beco

min

g th

e C

hris

t of

expe

-rie

nce.

4' Th

e H

oly

Spir

it !'

leeks

to a

bide

in

each

BO

UI.

If

it is

wel

com

ed a

s an

hon

ored

gue

st,

thos

e w

ho r

ecei

ve

it w

ill b

e m

ade

com

plet

e in

Chr

ist.

The

good

wor

k be

gun

will

be

finis

hed;

the

hol

y th

ough

ts,

heav

enly

af

fect

ions

, an

d C

hris

tlike

act

ions

will

tak

e th

e pl

ace

of im

pure

thou

ghts

, per

vers

e se

ntim

ents

, and

rebe

lliou

s ac

ts."

-tt C

ouns

els

on H

ealth

," p

. 561

.

58

59

f·

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

"And

sha

ll be

in

you!

" Fo

r th

is, m

an

was

cre

ated

. Fo

r th

is,

Jesu

s liv

ed a

nd d

ied .

. Fo

r wan

t of t

his,

the

life

of th

e di

scip

le is

hon

ey-

com

bed

with

fai

lure

, w

hile

the

tru

e C

hris

tian

life

is ju

st J

esus

livi

ng o

ut H

is lif

e in

us.

We

are

to b

e ch

arge

d w

ith t

he s

ense

of

His

pres

-en

ce.

Hen

cefo

rth H

e is

the

one,

grea

t, liv

ing

real

i ty,

fillin

g th

e w

hole

horiz

on.

The

Son

of m

an c

ame

into

the

wor

ld t

o un

ite th

e ve

ry li

fe o

f Go

d w

ith t

he h

uman

life

of

man

. W

hen

He

com

plet

ed H

is w

ork

by H

is ob

edien

ce,

deat

h, a

nd r

esur

rect

ion,

He

was

ex-

alte

d to

His

thro

ne,

that

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

whi

ch

had

dwel

t in

Him

mig

ht c

ome

as t

his

all-p

re-

vaili

ng s

over

eign

pre

senc

e, a

nd· t

he d

iscip

le b

e-co

mes

the

par

ticip

ant

of H

is v

ery

life.

Th

us

f th

e lif

e of

the

Cre

ator

pen

etra

tes

the

life

of

!'

the

crea

ture

s.

Thus

we

find

wha

t th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

doin

g in

us.

f 1 H

Tr

ansf

orm

atio

n of

cha

ract

er i

s th

e te

stim

ony

II to

the

wor

ld o

f an

ind

wel

ling

Chr

ist.

The

Spir

it o

f I, I

God

pro

duce

s a

new

life

in

the

soul

, br

ingi

ng t

he

, I.

thou

ghts

and

des

ires

into

obe

dien

ce t

o th

e w

ill o

f C

hris

t; an

d th

e in

war

d m

an i

s re

new

ed i

n th

e im

age

of G

od."

-" P

roph

ets

and

Kin

gs,"

p. 2

33.

Now

He

also

does

thi

s fo

r u

s,-

He

will

gu

ide

us "

into

all

trut

h."

For

He

is H

imse

lf th

e" S

piri

t of

trut

h."

John

16:

13.

A

nd H

e

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

is to

te

ach

us

"all

th

ings

."

John

14

: 26.

Th

ere

is no

t a

trut

h w

e ne

ed t

o kn

ow i

nto

whi

ch t

he H

oly

Spir

it is

unpr

epar

ed t

o gu

ide

us.

And

we

neve

r ge

t be

yond

tha

t ne

ed.

Ther

e w

as a

gui

de i

n th

e de

serts

of

Ara

bia

who

w

as

said

ne

ver

to

lose

hi

s w

ay.

He

carr

ied

in h

is br

east

a h

omin

g pi

geon

with

a

fine

cord

atta

ched

to

its l

eg.

Whe

n in

dou

bt

as t

o th

e pa

th t

o ta

ke,

he t

osse

d th

e pi

geon

in

th

e ai

r, an

d th

e pi

geon

qu

ickl

y st

rain

ed

at t

he c

ord

as i

t tri

ed t

o fly

in

the

dire

ctio

n of

hom

e. So

it l

ed i

ts m

aste

r un

errin

gly

hom

e, an

d pe

ople

calle

d hi

m t

he "

dov

e m

an."

Si

mi-

larly

, th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

the

heav

enly

dov

e, ab

le a

nd w

illin

g to

lea

d if

onl

y al

low

ed t

o do

so

. Th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

the

inne

r lif

e of

tru

th,

the

grea

t fa

ct o

f tr

uth,

the

liv

ing,

pe

rson

al

Teac

her.

H Th

e C

omfo

rter

is

calle

d 'th

e Sp

irit

of

trut

h:

His

wor

k is

to d

efin

e an

d m

aint

ain

the

trut

h.

He

firs

t dw

ells

in

the

hear

t as

the

Spi

rit

of t

ruth

, an

d th

us

He

beco

mes

the

Com

fort

er.

Ther

e is

com

fort

and

pe

ace

in th

e tr

uth,

but

no

real

pea

ce o

r co

mfo

rt c

an b

e fo

und

in f

alse

hood

."-"

The

Des

ire

of A

ges,

" p.

671

. "

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

com

es t

o th

e w

orld

as

Chr

ist's

re

pres

enta

tive.

It

not

onl

y sp

eaks

the

trut

h, b

ut it

is

the

trut

h -

the

faith

ful

and

true

Witn

ess.

It

is

the

grea

t Se

arch

er o

f he

arts

, an

d is

acq

uain

ted

with

the

ch

arac

ters

of a

ll."

_lt C

ouns

els

to T

each

ers,"

p. 6

8.

';r{:'

60

The

Com

ing

of t

he C

omfo

rter

Th

e Pr

omis

e of

the

Spir

it 61

·

And

with

out

the

Spir

it of

tru

th,

ther

e, is

C

hurc

h.

But

he

forg

ot t

hat

the

one

abid

ing

no s

avin

g tr

uth

for

us t

o-da

y.

Chr

ist

is Hi

m-:

cent

er o

f au

thor

ity i

n m

atte

rs o

f fa

ith

and

self

the

trut

h (J

ohn

14: 6

), a

nd n

one

but

the

doct

rine

and

adm

inis

trat

ion

is th

e H

oly

Spir

it.

Spir

it of

tru

th c

an g

uide

us

to a

re

aliz

atio

n Th

at "

Jesu

s is

Lor

d" i

s th

e ul

timat

e ce

nter

of t

he c

hara

cter

and

wor

k, t

he s

uffe

ring

and

of

al

l C

hris

tian

doct

rine.

Ev

eryt

hing

el

se

deat

h, o

f C

hris

t. W

hen

the

Spir

it of

tru

th

grow

s ou

t of

it,

but

"no

man

can

say

, th

at

Jesu

s is

the

Lor

d,

but

in t

he H

oly

Gho

st."

flood

s an

d ill

umin

ates

the

hea

rt,

the

Bibl

e be

-co

mes

a

new

bo

ok.

Wha

t lig

ht

is

to

the

1

Cor.

12: 3

. Th

is L

ords

hip

of C

hris

t is

the

ba

sis

of a

ll ou

r la

tter-

day

doct

rine.

mar

iner

's co

mpa

ss a

t ni

ght,

just

that

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is to

the

wor

d.

"Chr

ist,

His

cha

ract

er a

nd w

ork,

is

the

cent

er

and

circ

umfe

renc

e of

all

trut

h.

He

is th

e ch

ain

upon

"We

can

atta

in to

an

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

God

's w

ord

whi

ch t

he j

ewel

s of

doc

trin

e ar

e lin

ked.

In

Him

is

only

thr

ough

the'

illum

inat

ion

of t

hat

Spir

it by

whi

ch

foun

d th

e co

mpl

ete

syst

em o

f tr

uth

."-

Mrs

. E.

G.

the

wor

d w

as

give

n."-

" St

eps

to

Chr

ist,"

p.

109,

W

hite

, in

the

Revi

ew a

nd H

eral

d, A

ug. 1

5, 1

893.

pock

et e

ditio

n.

In t

his

conn

ectio

n,

it i

s m

ost

sign

ifica

nt

" To

this

end

Chr

ist b

oth

died

, and

rose

, and

that

Joe

l's p

roph

ecy

of t

he p

rom

ised

ear

ly a

nd

revi

ved,

tha

t H

e m

ight

be

Lord

bot

h of

the

latt

er r

ain

give

s as

the

mar

gina

l re

adin

g fo

r de

ad a

nd l

ivin

g."

Rom

. 14

: 9.

The

dist

inct

ive

feat

ure

of th

e pa

pacy

, with

-H

fo

rmer

rai

n" (

Joel

2: 2

3) t

hat

He

will

sen

d ou

t w

hich

the

re w

ould

be

no p

apac

y, i

s th

e"

a te

ache

r of r

ight

eous

ness

."

Wha

t mar

velo

us

clai

m t

hat

the

pope

is

the

vica

r or

suc

cess

orha

rmon

yI

Wha

t a

grac

ious

pro

visi

on!

Even

of

Chr

ist.

The

dist

inct

ive

feat

ure

of P

rote

s-in

O

ld

Test

amen

t tim

es

the

prop

het

wro

te,

" Th

ou g

aves

t al

so T

hy g

ood

Spir

it to

ins

truc

t ta

ntis

m,

with

out

whi

ch

ther

e w

ould

be

no

Pr

otes

tant

ism

, is

that

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is th

eth

em."

N

eh.

9: 2

0.

The

seat

of

divi

ne a

utho

rity

on

eart

h is

tr

ue v

icar

or

succ

esso

r of

C

hris

t on

ea

rth.

To

dep

end

qn o

rgan

izat

ion,

or

lead

ers,

or w

is-

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

C

ardi

nal

New

man

en

tere

d do

m o

f m

en,

is t

o pu

t th

e hu

man

in

plac

e of

the

Rom

an C

hurc

h be

caus

e he

sou

ght

for

ulti-

the

divi

ne,

and

in e

ffect

to

adop

t th

e R

oman

mat

e au

thor

ity,

and

he f

ound

a s

peci

es o

f re

st

prin

cipl

e.in

th

e pu

rpor

ted

auth

ority

of

th

e Ca

thol

ic

62

63

W',

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Ther

e ha

ve b

een

thre

e gr

eat m

ovem

ents

out

of a

nd a

way

fro

m t

he p

apac

y,-t

he R

efor

ma-

tion

of th

e si

xtee

nth

cent

ury,

hea

ded

by L

uthe

r;

the

evan

gelic

al r

eviv

al l

ed b

y W

esle

y an

d hi

s as

soci

ates

; and

this

last

-day

mes

sage

and

mov

e-m

ent.

Luth

er's

Ref

orm

atio

n w

as

nece

ssar

y,

for

in th

e ea

rly c

entu

ries

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

was

de

thro

ned

and

Con

stan

tine

was

mad

e th

e pa

-tro

n of

the

chur

ch.

Thro

ugh

mat

eria

listic

con

-ce

pts

they

los

t si

ght

of j

ustif

icat

ion

by f

aith

be

caus

e th

ey l

ost

thei

r lo

yalty

to

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

So

they

los

t th

e ap

plic

atio

n of

the

de

ath.

of

Chr

ist

by t

he H

oly

Spir

it in

res

pons

e to

per

sona

l fa

ith.

The

evan

gelic

al r

eviv

al w

as n

eces

sary

be-

caus

e th

e ch

urch

of

the

Ref

orm

atio

n ha

d lo

st its

visi

on o

f sa

nctif

icat

ion,

an

d W

esle

y w

as

rais

ed u

p to

pro

mot

e ho

lines

s. It

was

hid

den

beca

use

the

chur

ch f

aile

d to

he

ed

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

He

is so

ca

lled,

no

t be

caus

e ho

lier

than

the

oth

er p

erso

ns o

f th

e G

odhe

ad,

but

beca

use

one

of H

is s

peci

al f

unct

ions

is

to c

ul-

tivat

e ho

lines

s in

man

. Th

e fo

x-hu

ntin

g pa

r-so

ns s

o co

mm

on

in

the

eigh

teen

th

cent

ury,

ca

red

little

for

God

or fo

r the

sal

vatio

n of

sou

ls.

But

Wes

ley

and

the

Hol

y Cl

ub

of

Oxf

ord

brou

ght

forth

aga

in t

he t

ruth

of

sanc

tific

atio

n of

hum

an li

ves

for

serv

ice.

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

This

twen

tieth

cen

tury

ref

orm

atio

n, o

r ad

-ve

nt m

ovem

ent,

was

ini

tiate

d in

the

pur

pose

of

God

to

co

mpl

ete

thes

e pr

evio

us,

arre

sted

re

form

atio

ns o

f th

e p.

ast.

It c

alls

for

the

full

repu

diat

ion

of a

ll th

e pe

rver

sion

s in

trodu

ced

by t

he p

apac

y an

d re

tain

ed b

y ap

osta

te P

rot-

esta

ntis

m o

n th

e on

e ha

nd,

and

com

plet

e re

s-to

ratio

n of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

to

His

rig

htfu

l, so

vere

ign

plac

e in

bel

ief,

life,

and

ser

vice

, on

th

e ot

her

hand

. It

is

the

full

acce

ptan

ce o

f th

is t

hat

brin

gs t

he l

atte

r ra

in,

in t

he t

ime

of

whi

ch w

e ha

ve b

een

livin

g sin

ce 1

888,

but

the

po

wer

of

whi

ch s

till

larg

ely

awai

ts u

s. Th

e in

evita

ble

logi

c of

thi

s is

una

ssai

labl

e.

How

we

need

to

be a

wak

e an

d al

ive

to

mee

t th

e si

tuat

ion!

Y

ears

ago

a s

team

er w

as

mak

ing

its w

ay d

own

Nor

th R

iver

at

nigh

t. Th

e pi

lot

gave

a

shar

p si

gnal

to

slow

up

. Th

ere

was

a b

righ

t moo

nlig

ht,

and

no o

bsta

cles

ah

ead.

"W

hy d

id y

ou r

ing

to s

low

up?

" t

he

engi

neer

ask

ed,

as h

e ca

me

on d

eck

to l

earn

th

e ca

use.

"The

re is

a m

ist

gath

erin

g.

The

nigh

t is

getti

ng d

ark,

and

I -

can'

t -se

e -th

e -w

ay,"

w

as

the

pilo

t's f

alte

ring

repl

y.

The

engi

neer

loo

ked

into

the

pilo

t's f

ace,

and

saw

he

was

, dyi

ng.

Ah,

the

re i

s m

ore

than

on

e sp

iritu

al p

ilot

who

is dy

ing

spiri

tual

ly,

and

cann

ot s

ee t

o gu

ide

on t

he t

rue

cour

se.

65

r 64

Th

e Co

min

g of

the

Com

fort

er

I I Go

d gi

ve u

s ne

w l

ife f

rom

the

sou

rce

of l

ife

f in

thi

s tre

ache

rous

hou

r. IV

So m

uch

for

the

Hol

y Sp

irit's

wor

k w

ith

the

belie

vers

. W

e tu

rn n

ow t

o H

is w

ork

with

th

e un

rege

nera

te w

orld

. Jo

hn 1

4 de

als

pri-

mar

ily w

ith

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

in

the

priv

ate

life

and

prep

arat

ion

of t

he d

iscip

le.

John

16

sets

forth

H

is w

ork

in c

onne

ctio

n w

ith t

he

wor

ker's

pub

lic l

abor

and

witn

essi

ng.

In t

he

first

He

is in

the

belie

ver,

and

by th

a,t i

ndw

ell-

ing

ther

e is

unio

n w

ith C

hris

t. B

ut t

he H

oly

Spir

it als

o st

rives

with

the

wor

ldlin

g as

the

Sp

irit

of c

onvi

ctio

n.

"Whe

n H

e is

com

e, H

e w

ill r

epro

ve t

he w

orld

of

sin,

and

of r

ight

-eo

usne

ss,

and

of j

udgm

ent:

Of

sjn,

beca

use

they

beli

eve

not

on M

e; o

f rig

hteo

usne

ss,

be-

caus

e I

go t

o M

y Fa

ther

, an

d ye

see

Me

no

mor

e; o

f ju

dgm

ent,

beca

use

the

prin

ce o

f th

is

wor

ld is

jud

ged.

" Jo

hn 1

6: 8

-11.

Th

e co

min

g of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

brin

gs a

ne

w s

ense

of

sin t

o th

e so

ul.

Thin

k ba

ck t

o th

e up

per

room

, as

the

disc

iple

s w

ere

abou

t to

pa

rtak

e of

the

embl

em o

f th

e bo

dy to

be

and

the

bloo

d ou

tpou

red,

yet

qua

rrel

ing

over

pr

emie

r po

sitio

ns.

This

wou

ld h

ave

been

ab-

solu

tely

im

po'ss

ible

if t

hey

had

had

a tr

ue

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

sens

e of

sin

. Th

ere

are

ofte

n in

cred

ible

thi

ngs

in t

he l

ives

of

Chr

istia

ns,

inex

plic

able

exc

ept

on t

he b

asis

of a

lac

k of

a r

eal

sens

e of

the

si

n in

volv

ed.

Stri

fe fo

r for

emos

t pos

ition

, env

y,

mal

ice,

evil

thin

king

, im

pure

act

s, ha

tred

of

one

anot

her -

thes

e ex

ist s

impl

y be

caus

e of

an

appa

lling

lac

k of

the

sen

se o

f si

n.

But

tur

n to

the

epi

stles

of

Pete

r, an

d re

ad th

e ut

tera

nces

of

Joh

n af

ter

Pent

ecos

t. Th

e co

min

g of

the

H

oly

Spir

it ha

d m

ade

real

the

hol

ines

s of

God

an

d th

e ut

ter

loat

hsom

enes

s, ha

tefu

lnes

s, an

d bl

ackn

ess

of s

in.

The

outlo

ok o

f th

e si

nner

is s

in,

right

eous

-ne

ss,

judg

men

t -to

uchi

ng p

ast,

pres

ent,

and

futu

re.

They

are

ins

epar

ably

con

nect

ed.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

take

s th

ese

thre

e ca

rdin

al f

acts

an

d pl

aces

them

in t

heir

true

ligh

t. A

nd t

hree

pe

rson

s ar

e in

volv

ed -

man

, Chr

ist,

and

Sata

n.

So h

ere

is th

e he

art

of t

he g

reat

con

trove

rsy

and

the

prob

lem

of

sin.

Conv

ictio

n of

rig

ht-

eous

ness

al

way

s pr

eced

es

the

expe

rienc

e of

rig

hteo

usne

ss.

And

con

vict

ion

of j

udgm

ent

is in

disp

ensa

ble

as w

e pr

esen

t the

san

ctua

ry tr

uth

and

the

first

ang

el's

mes

sage

, th

at m

en s

hall

stan

d w

ithou

t exc

use,

havi

ng n

egle

cted

the

tes-

timon

y of

God

aga

inst

them

selv

es.

We

are

baffl

ed,

bew

ilder

ed.

conf

ound

ed h

y ou

r utte

r ina

bilit

y to

con

vinc

e m

en o

f sin

, rig

ht-

s

66

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

eous

ness

, an

d ju

dgm

ent.

We

cann

ot d

o it,

for

th

at i

s th

e Sp

irit's

wor

k.

"Wit

hout

the

div

ine

wor

king

, m

an c

ould

do

no

good

thi

ng.

God

cal

ls e

very

man

to

repe

ntan

ce,

yet

man

can

not e

ven

repe

nt u

nles

s th

e H

oly

Spir

it w

orks

up

on h

is h

eart

."-H

Tes

timon

ies,

" Vo

l. VI

II, p

. 64.

H

N

one

are

so v

ile,

none

hav

e fa

llen

so l

ow, a

s to

be

bey

ond

the

wor

king

of

this

pow

er.

In a

ll w

ho w

ill .

su

bmit

them

selv

es t

o th

e H

oly

Spir

it a

new

pri

ncip

le

of l

ife

is t

o be

im

plan

ted;

the

los

t im

age

of G

od i

s to

be

rest

ored

in h

uman

ity.

" B

ut m

an c

anno

t tra

nsfo

rm h

imse

lf b

y th

e ex

er-

cise

of h

is w

ill.

He

poss

esse

s no

pow

er b

y w

hich

thi

s ch

ange

ca

n be

ef

fect

ed.

The

leav

en -

som

ethi

ng

who

lly f

rom

with

out -

mus

t be

put

into

the

mea

l be-

fore

the

des

ired

chan

ge c

an b

e w

roug

ht in

it.

So t

he

grac

e of

God

mus

t be

rec

eive

d by

the

sin

ner

befo

re

he c

an b

e fit

ted

for

the

king

dom

of g

lory

. A

ll th

e cu

l-tu

re a

nd e

duca

tion

whi

ch th

e w

orld

can

giv

e, w

ill f

ail

of m

akin

g a

degr

aded

chi

ld o

f si

n a

child

of

heav

en.

The

rene

win

g en

ergy

mus

t co

me

from

G

od.

The

chan

ge c

an b

e m

ade

only

by

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

A

ll w

ho w

ould

be

save

d, h

igh

or lo

w,

rich

or

poor

, m

ust

subm

it to

the

wor

king

of

this

pow

er."

_H C

hris

t's

Obj

ect

Less

ons,"

pp.

96,

97.

But

not

ice

how

,-w

hen

He i

s to

com

e to

yo

u, H

e w

ill c

onvi

ct t

he w

orld

! A

s, Sp

irit-

filled

, we

go

out i

nto

all t

he w

orld

in

this

hou

r of

the

jud

gmen

t to

ple

ad w

ith m

en,

the

Spir

it w

ill g

o w

ith u

s, w

itnes

sing

to

the

mes

sage

, co

nvin

cing

of s

in a

s th

e re

prov

er,

and

reve

alin

g j

right

eous

ness

onl

y in

Chr

ist.

He

conv

icts

not

I

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

·67

of u

nbel

ief,

but

of s

in t

hrou

gh u

nbel

ief.

He

revo

lutio

nize

s m

an's

idea

s of

sin

-th

e si

n of

m

an a

nd t

he j

udgm

ent o

f Go

d, an

d th

e m

eans

of

esc

apin

g by

the

cle

ansin

g bl

ood

of C

hris

t an

d th

e re

igni

ng S

pirit

with

in.

He

reve

als

the

aton

emen

t pro

vide

d, t

hus

brin

ging

com

fort

with

con

vict

ion.

Th

is to

uche

s th

e st

anda

rd o

f th

e la

w.

It in

volv

es S

abba

th b

reak

ing

and

all

othe

r tra

nsgr

essi

ons,

digr

essio

ns,

and

apos

ta-

sies.

Thus

the

thr

eefo

ld w

ork

of C

hris

t as

pr

ophe

t, pr

iest

, an

d K

ing

is ap

plie

d by

thi

s th

reef

old

conv

ictio

n of

the

Spi

rit.

Cons

cienc

e br

ings

the

conv

ictio

n of

des

pair,

w

hile

the

Hol

y Sp

irit -

brin

gs t

he c

onvi

ctio

n of

ho

pe.

The

sam

e w

ind

that

toss

es t

he A

tlant

ic

into

res

tless

hea

ps,

quie

tly f

ans

it in

tra

nqui

l ca

lm.

Not

co

nscie

nce,

but

cons

cien

ce

illu-

min

ated

by

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

and

the

wor

d, i

s th

e w

orld

's ne

ed.

Not

unt

il se

ated

at t

he r

ight

ha

nd o

f th

e Fa

ther

had

Chr

ist p

erfe

cted

rig

ht-

eous

ness

for

us.

He"

was

del

iver

ed f

or o

ur

offe

nses

," H

e "w

as r

aise

d ag

ain

for

our

jus-

tific

atio

n"

(Rom

. 4:

25)

, an

d H

e w

as

en-

thro

ned

for

our

assu

ranc

e.

This

miss

ion

of

the

Spir

it ha

s no

t be

en

the

wor

k of

a d

ay.

It m

ay s

eem

slo

w t

o m

en,

but

God

is bu

ildin

g fo

r et

erni

ty; "

and

wha

teve

r God

doe

th, i

t sha

ll be

for

ever

."

68

69

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

The

Hol

y Sp

irit'

s w

ork

is to

con

vict

men

of

the

terr

ible

sin

of

reje

ctin

g C

hris

t -" o

f sin

, be

caus

e th

ey b

eliev

e no

t on

Me."

Jo

hn 1

6: 9

. (S

ee a

lso J

ohn

3: 1

8.)

That

is t

he i

ssue

, an

d it

invo

lves

all

else.

The

one

supr

eme

resp

on-

sibi

lity

of t

he s

inne

r is

the

pers

onal

rej

ectio

n of

the

all-s

uffic

ient

life

and

dea

th o

f Jes

us.

God

has

caus

ed m

an's

eter

nal

salv

atio

n to

hin

ge o

n fa

ith i

n Je

sus

Chr

ist.

This

unb

elie

f is

the

mot

her

of a

ll sin

. Th

e pr

oble

m o

f al

l hu

man

de

stin

y is

the

atta

inm

ent

unto

the

rig

hteo

us-

ness

of G

od, f

or w

ithou

t thi

s no

man

can

sta

nd

in

the

pres

ence

of

Go

d. H

eb.

12: 1

0,

14.

Chr

ist w

as m

ade

H si

n fo

r us

," t

hat"

we

mig

ht

be m

ade

the

right

eous

ness

of

God

in H

im."

2,

Cor.

5: 2

1.

This

is t

he i

ssue

in

salv

atio

n, a

nd

not

mer

ely

the

ques

tion

of o

ur o

utw

ard

mor

al

life.

A

nd t

his

mus

t be

the

hea

rt o

f ou

r m

es-

sage

as

we l

ift

up t

he s

tand

ard

and

vind

icat

e th

e do

wnt

rodd

en l

aw o

f Go

d in

thi

s re

belli

ous

gene

ratio

n.

How

we

need

the

pow

er o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it to

giv

e au

thor

ity to

the

pre

sent

atio

n of

the

aw-

ful

trut

hs o

f fin

al j

udgm

ent,

the

inev

itabl

e da

y of

wra

th im

pend

ing,

and

the

trium

ph o

f ri

ght-

eous

ness

to

empo

wer

the

mes

sage

of

the

rem

-na

nt

chur

ch!

Men

go

ab

out

to

esta

blis

hH

thei

r ow

n rig

hteo

usne

ss"

rath

er

than

com

e

The

Prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

unde

r th

e be

stow

ed r

ight

eous

ness

of

Chr

ist.

A

divi

ne p

ower

is

need

ed.

N a

hum

an p

ower

or

argu

men

t is

suffi

cien

t to

enl

ight

en a

dar

kene

d so

ul c

once

rnin

g th

e ne

cess

ary

step

s in

to t

he

path

of

life.

A

nd t

his

is t

he w

ork

assig

ned

to t

he a

ll-su

ffici

ent S

piri

t: "E

ven

if o

ur g

ospe

l is

veile

d, i

t is

veile

d in

the

m t

hat

peris

h: i

n w

hom

the

god

of

this

wor

ld h

ath

blin

ded

the

min

ds o

f th

e un

belie

ving

, th

at t

he l

ight

of

the

gosp

el o

f th

e gl

ory

of C

hris

t, wh

o is

the

imag

e of

God

, 'sh

ould

not

daw

n up

on t

hem

."

2 Co

r. 4 :

3,

4, A.

R.

V.

Than

k Go

d fo

r th

e H

oly

Spiri

t, w

ho h

as

com

e as

. the

div

ine

subs

titut

e, t

he d

ivin

e pr

es-

ence

, th

e di

vine

ins

truct

or,

the

divi

ne m

ento

r, th

e di

vine

tes

tifie

r, th

e di

vine

con

vict

or,

the

divi

ne c

omfo

rter.

Did

you

eve

r pi

ctur

e w

hat

the

eart

h w

ould

hav

e be

en h

ad n

ot t

he H

oly

Spir

it co

me?

No

com

fort,

no

abid

ing

pow

er,

the

wor

k of

Chr

ist

of n

o av

ail;

no c

onvi

ctio

n of

sin

, so

no

repe

ntan

ce a

nd n

o fa

ith i

n th

e Lo

rd J

esus

Chr

ist,

and

no f

orgi

vene

ss o

f si

n;

no

balm

for

th

e tro

uble

d co

nsci

ence

, no

de

-liv

eran

ce f

rom

the

pow

er o

f sin

, no

Tea

cher

an

d G

uide

-Ju

st o

rpha

ns,

hom

eles

s w

ande

rers

in

a h

ostil

e w

orld

! Th

e tu

rnin

g po

int

betw

een

the

dark

ness

and

the

light

in

this

dis

pens

atio

n w

as "

whe

n th

e C

omfo

rter

" ca

me.

70

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Th

e Pr

omis

e of

the

Spir

it 71

Ti

tian,

the

gre

at p

aint

er,

met

a y

oung

sol

-B

ut,

oh,

Jesu

s ha

s do

ne s

o m

uch

mor

e fo

r di

er w

ith a

gif

t of

art

that

see

med

pro

mis

ing.

us

than

that

! Th

roug

h th

e H

oly

Spir

it H

e ha

s H

e ur

ged

him

to

give

up

his

mili

tary

life

and

do

ne H

is b

est

for

us;

and

now

we

mus

t gi

ve

devo

te h

is t

alen

ts t

o pa

intin

g.

This

he

did,

ou

r be

st t

o H

im.

Then

thr

ough

ete

rnal

age

s an

d la

bore

d lo

ng u

pon

an a

mbi

tious

pai

ntin

g.

our

lives

will

sta

nd s

ide

by s

ide

with

His

life

But

he

cam

e to

a p

oint

whe

re h

e fe

lt th

at h

is in

the

ete

rnal

gal

lery

of t

he a

ges,

the

Para

dise

ge

nius

had

fai

led.

In

des

pair,

he

thre

w d

own

of G

od.

his

brus

h.

Titia

n fo

und

him

wee

ping

in

de-

spai

r. Th

e m

aste

r ar

tist d

idn'

t ask

the

reas

on,

but g

oing

into

the

studi

o, r

ealiz

ed,

as h

e lo

oked

M

Y K

ING

DIV

INE

at

the

pai

ntin

g, t

hat

the

lad

had

reac

hed

his

limit.

So

Titi

an t

ook

up t

he b

rush

, an

dre-

1. J

ESU

S, T

hou

radi

ant K

ing,

M

onar

ch d

ivin

e;

mai

ned

at w

ork

until

he

finish

ed t

he p

ictu

re.

Rei

gn T

hou

with

in t

his

hear

tTh

e ne

xt d

ay t

he y

oung

man

cam

e to

the

Th

y lo

ve h

as w

on.

stud

io r

esol

ved

to t

ell

Titia

n he

wou

ld t

ry a

rt

Take

Tho

u th

is y

ield

ed th

rone

, Th

y w

ill b

e do

ne;

no

mor

e. B

ut a

s he

ent

ered

, th

ere

on

the

Live

Tho

u Th

y lif

e w

ithin

, ea

sel

stood

the

fin

ished

pic

ture

. Th

at w

here

in

My

Kin

g di

vine

. he

had

fai

led

he s

aw t

hat

a m

aste

r ha

nd h

ad

mad

e up

. H

e kn

ew i

nstin

ctiv

ely

that

his

mas

-C

HO

RU

S:

My

Kin

g di

vine

, my

Kin

g di

vine

, te

r ha

d co

mpl

eted

it.

With

tea

rs o

f ap

prec

ia-

Live

Tho

u Th

y lif

e w

ithin

, my

Kin

g di

vine

. ·ti

on h

e sa

id to

him

self:

"I

cann

ot a

band

on m

y ar

t. I

mus

t co

ntin

ue f

or T

itian

's sa

ke.

He

2. K

eep

thro

ugh

tem

ptat

ion'

s ho

ur,

has

done

so

muc

h fo

r m

e,. I

mus

t fo

rget

my-

t Sa

viou

r di

vine

; r

self

and

live

for

him

; fo

r no

w h

is f

ame

is m

y M

eet T

hou

the

wily

foe,

Th

y po

wer

dis

play

. fa

me.

H

e ha

s do

ne h

is b

est

for

me;

I w

ill

Giv

e vi

ct'ry

hou

r by

hou

r,do

my

best

for

him

."

And

to-

day

his

pict

ures

0'

er a

ll th

e w

ay;

hang

sid

e by

sid

e w

ith T

itian

's on

the

gal

lery

Le

ad o

n tr

ium

phan

tly,

My

Kin

g di

vine

. w

alls

of t

he w

orld

.

72

The

Com

ing

of t

he C

omfo

rter

3. U

se m

e in

tim

e's

last

hou

r,

Mas

ter

divi

ne;

Fit

me

for

serv

ice,

Lor

d,

Thy

love

to

tell.

W

in s

ouls

Thy

self

thro

ugh

me,

Th

y pr

aise

to s

wel

l; G

rant

Tho

u m

y he

art's

des

ire,

My

Kin

g di

vine

.

• [I

t w

as d

urin

g th

e tim

e of

st

udy

for

•th

ese

pres

enta

tions

, w

hen

the

hear

t w

as f

ull

of l

ove

and

won

der

over

new

glim

pses

of

God

's m

atch

less

pro

-Pa

rt I

Ivi

sion

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

for

our

nee

d, a

nd t

he u

tter

cl

aim

of

His

lov

e up

on u

s w

as s

een

as n

ever

bef

ore,

th

at th

is h

ymn

was

bo

rn,-

the

mus

ic a

t the

noo

n ho

ur

and

the

wor

ds i

n th

e ev

enin

g of

the

sam

e da

y.

So i

t T

he C

omin

g of

' the

Spi

rit

righ

tful

ly

belo

ngs

wit

h th

ese

stud

ies

on

the

Hol

y

Sp

irit

.-L.

E.

F.]

I I

THE

SCR

IPTU

RA

L FO

UN

DA

TIO

N F

OR

THE

COM

ING

OF

THE

SPIR

IT

U TH

EN o

pene

d H

e th

eir

unde

rsta

ndin

g, t

hat t

hey

mig

ht u

nder

stan

d th

e Sc

ript

ures

, and

sai

d un

to th

em,

Thus

it is

wri

tten,

and

thus

it b

ehoo

ved

Chr

ist t

o su

ffer

an

d to

ris

e fr

om t

he d

ead

the

thir

d da

y: a

nd th

at re

-•

pent

ance

and

rem

issi

on o

f si

ns s

houl

d be

pre

ache

d tn

His

nam

e am

ong

all

natio

ns,

begi

nnin

g at

Jer

usal

em.

And

ye

are

witn

esse

s of

thes

e th

ings

. A

nd,

beho

ld,

I se

nd th

e pr

omis

e of

My

Fath

er u

pon

you:

but

tarr

y ye

in

the

city

of J

erus

alem

, unt

il ye

be

endu

ed w

ith p

ower

fr

om o

n hi

gh.

And

He

led

them

out

as

far

as t

o B

etha

ny, a

nd H

e lif

ted

up H

is h

ands

, and

ble

ssed

them

. A

nd i

t ca

me

to p

ass,

whi

le H

e bl

esse

d th

em,

He

was

pa

rted

fro

m t

hem

, an

d ca

rrie

d up

int

o he

aven

. A

nd

they

wor

ship

ed H

im,

and

retu

rned

to J

erus

alem

with

gr

eat j

oy: a

nd w

ere

cont

inua

lly in

the

tem

ple,

pra

isin

g an

d bl

essi

ng G

od."

Luke

24:

45-

53.

" Th

e fo

rmer

trea

tise

have

I m

ade,

0 T

heop

hilu

s, of

all

that

Jes

us b

egan

bot

h to

do

and

teac

h, u

ntil

the

day

in w

hich

He

was

tak

en u

p, a

fter

that

He

thro

ugh

I th

e H

oly

Gho

st h

ad g

iven

com

man

dmen

ts u

nto

the

apos

tles w

hom

He

had

chos

en: t

o w

hom

als

o H

e sh

owed

H

imse

lf al

ive

afte

r H

is p

assi

on b

y m

any

infa

llibl

e \

proo

fs,

bein

g se

en o

f th

em f

orty

day

s, an

d sp

eaki

ng

of t

he th

ings

per

tain

ing

to th

e ki

ngdo

m o

f G

od:

and,

be

ing

asse

mbl

ed to

geth

er w

ith th

em, c

omm

ande

d th

em

\ th

at t

hey

shou

ld

not

depa

rt f

rom

Je

rusa

lem

, bu

t w

ait f

or th

e pr

omis

e of

the

Fath

er, w

hich

, sai

th H

e, y

e ha

ve h

eard

of

Me.

For

John

tru

ly b

aptiz

ed w

ith

wat

er;

but

ye s

hall

be b

aptiz

ed w

ith t

he H

oly

Gho

st

76

77

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

not m

any

days

hen

ce.

Wbe

n th

ey th

eref

ore

wer

e co

me

toge

ther

, the

y as

ked

of H

im, s

ayin

g, L

ord,

wilt

Tho

u at

th

is t

ime

rest

ore

agai

n th

e ki

ngdo

m t

o Is

rael

? A

nd

He

said

unt

o th

em, I

t is

not f

or y

ou t

o kn

ow t

he ti

mes

or

the

seas

ons,

whi

ch t

he F

athe

r ha

th p

ut in

His

ow

n po

wer

. B

ut y

e sh

all r

ecei

ve p

ower

, aft

er th

at th

e H

oly

Gho

st is

com

e up

on y

ou: a

nd y

e sh

all b

e w

itnes

ses

unto

M

e bo

th in

Jer

usal

em, a

nd in

all

Jude

a, a

nd in

Sam

aria

, an

d un

to th

e ut

term

ost p

art o

f the

ear

th."

A

cts

1: 1

-8.

" W

hen

the

day

of P

ente

cost

was

ful

ly c

ome,

they

w

ere

all

with

one

acc

ord

in o

ne p

lace

. A

nd s

udde

nly

ther

e ca

me

a so

und

from

hea

ven

as o

f a

rush

ing

mig

hty

win

d, a

nd i

t fil

led

all

the

hous

e w

here

the

y w

ere

sitti

ng.

And

the

re a

ppea

red

unto

the

m c

love

n to

ngue

s lik

e as

of

fire,

and

it s

at u

pon

each

of

them

. A

nd th

ey w

ere

all fi

lled

with

the

Hol

y G

host

, and

beg

an

to s

peak

with

oth

er to

ngue

s, a

s th

e Sp

irit

gave

the

m

utte

ranc

e.

And

the

re w

ere

dwel

ling

at J

erus

alem

Je

ws,

dev

out

men

, ou

t of

eve

ry n

atio

n un

der

heav

en.

Now

whe

n th

is w

as n

oise

d ab

road

, the

mul

titud

es c

ame

toge

ther

, an

d w

ere

conf

ound

ed,

beca

use

that

eve

ry

man

hea

rd t

hem

spe

ak i

n hi

s ow

n la

ngua

ge.

And

th

ey w

ere

all

amaz

ed a

nd m

arve

led,

say

ing

one

to

anot

her,

Beho

ld,

are

not

all

thes

e w

hich

spe

ak G

ali-

lean

s?"

Act

s 2:

1-7

. "W

e do

hea

r th

em s

peak

in o

ur to

ngue

s th

e w

on-

derf

ul w

orks

of

God

. A

nd t

hey

wer

e al

l an

d w

ere

in d

oubt

, sa

ying

one

to

anot

her,

Wha

t m

eane

th

this

? O

ther

s m

ocki

ng s

aid,

The

se m

en a

re fu

ll of

new

w

ine.

B

ut P

eter

, st

andi

ng u

p w

ith t

he e

leve

n, l

ifte

d up

his

voi

ce,

and

said

unt

o th

em,

Ye

men

of

Jude

a,

and

all y

e th

at d

wel

l at J

erus

alem

, be

this

kno

wn

unto

yo

u, a

nd h

eark

en t

o m

y w

ords

: fo

r th

ese

are

not

drun

ken,

as

ye s

uppo

se, s

eein

g it

is b

ut th

e th

ird

hour

of

the

day

. B

ut t

his

is th

at w

hich

was

spo

ken

by

The

Scri

ptur

al F

ound

atio

n

the

prop

het J

oel:

And

it s

hall

com

e to

pas

s in

the

last

da

ys,

saith

God

, I

will

pou

r ou

t of

My

Spir

it up

on

all

flesh

: an

d yo

ur s

ons

and

your

dau

ghte

rs s

hall

prop

hesy

, an

d yo

ur y

oung

men

sha

ll se

e vi

sion

s, an

d yo

ur o

ld m

en s

hall

drea

m d

ream

s: a

nd o

n M

y se

rvan

ts

and

on M

y ha

ndm

aide

ns I

will

pou

r ou

t in

thos

e da

ys

of M

y Sp

irit

; and

they

sha

ll pr

ophe

sy."

V

erse

s 11

-18.

"

And

it

shal

l co

me

to p

ass,

tha

t w

hoso

ever

sha

ll ca

ll on

the

nam

e of

the

Lord

shal

l be

save

d."

. Ver

se 2

1.

" Th

is J

esus

hat

h G

od r

aise

d up

, w

here

of w

e al

l ar

e w

itnes

ses.

Th

eref

ore

bein

g by

the

rig

ht h

and

of

God

exa

lted,

and

hav

ing

rece

ived

of

the

Fath

er t

he

prom

ise

of t

he H

oly

Gho

st,

He

hath

she

d fo

rth

this

, w

hich

ye

now

see

and

hea

r."

Ver

ses

32, 3

3.

"The

refo

re l

et a

ll th

e ho

use

of I

srae

l kn

ow a

s-su

redl

y, t

hat

God

hat

h m

ade

that

sam

e Je

sus,

who

m

ye h

ave

cruc

ified

, bo

th L

ord

and

Chr

ist.

Now

whe

n th

ey h

eard

this

, th

ey w

ere

pric

ked

in t

heir

hea

rt,

and

said

unt

o Pe

ter

and

to t

he r

est

of t

he a

post

les,

Men

an

d br

ethr

en,

wha

t sh

all

we

do?

Then

Pet

er s

aid

unto

them

, Rep

ent,

and

be b

aptiz

ed e

very

one

of y

ou i

n th

e na

me

of J

esus

Chr

ist f

or th

e re

mis

sion

of s

ins,

and

ye s

hall

rece

ive

the

gift

of

the

Hol

y G

host

. Fo

r th

e pr

omis

e is

unt

o yo

u, a

nd t

o yo

ur c

hild

ren,

and

to

all

that

are

afa

r of

f, ev

en a

s m

any

as t

he L

ord

our

God

sh

all c

all."

Ver

ses

36-3

9.

THE

COM

ING

OF

THE

SPIR

IT

WH

EN

Jes

us w

as g

athe

ring

a do

zen

men

ab

out

Him

thr

ough

who

m t

o fo

und

the

Chris

-tia

n ch

urch

, H

e di

d no

t se

ek

them

in

th

e ve

nera

ble

scho

ols

of t

he

rabb

is,

nor

in

the

excl

usiv

e ci

rcle

of

the

Sanh

edrin

. H

e di

d no

t se

nd t

o G

reec

e, th

e ce

nter

of

philo

soph

y an

d cu

lture

, fo

r H

is d

iscip

les.

N or

did

He

go t

o Ro

me,

the

hom

e of

legi

slativ

e ge

nius

and

mili

-ta

ry p

row

ess,

to f

ind

His

apos

tles.

No,

He

trod

the

shin

ing

shor

es o

f G

alilee

, an

d se

lect

ed

hum

ble

men

who

se h

earts

wer

e bi

g en

ough

to

adm

it th

e Lo

rd

of g

lory

; m

en

who

wou

ld

final

ly b

e w

illin

g to

be

noth

ing

that

Chr

ist

mig

ht b

e ev

eryt

hing

; m

en t

hrou

gh w

hom

the

H

oly

Spir

it co

uld

wor

k, u

nham

pere

d by

hum

an

soph

istry

, or

selfi

shne

ss, o

r su

perio

rity.

Y

et to

brin

g th

em t

o th

is e

ssen

tial

stat

e of

m

ind

and

hear

t was

a l

ong,

diff

icul

t ta

sk.

Not

du

ring

Chr

ist's

phy

sical

, per

sona

l sta

y on

ear

th

was

it

acco

mpl

ished

. Fo

r th

ree

and

a ha

lf

year

s th

ey li

stene

d to

a g

reat

er t

han

Solo

mon

. Th

ey h

eard

fro

m H

is ow

n lip

s th

e tr

uths

of

the

gosp

el.

They

wer

e ey

e w

itnes

ses

of H

is To

the

m t

he i

nner

mea

ning

s of

His

80

81

The

Com

ing

of t

he C

omfo

rter

para

bles

w

ere

expl

aine

d.

If

all

that

m

en

need

ed w

as a

Tea

cher

, an

d le

sson

s of

div

ine

wisd

om,

then

the

disc

iple

s sh

ould

hav

e be

en

of a

ll m

en b

est q

ualif

ied

to c

arry

out

the

gre

at

com

miss

ion

to e

vang

eliz

e al

l na

tions

im

med

i-at

ely

upon

C

hris

t's a

scen

sion.

Y

et w

ith a

ll th

eir

pric

eles

s pr

ivile

ges

they

wer

e w

holly

un-

qual

ified

, as

the

str

ife

for

supr

emac

y, t

he f

or-

saki

ng,

the

deni

al,

and

the

desp

air

so c

lear

ly

indi

cate

. Th

ey w

ere

who

lly u

nfitt

ed f

or t

heir

de

sign

ated

ta

sk u

ntil

they

had

re

ceiv

ed

the

grea

t eq

uipm

ent

prom

ised.

Je

sus

gave

the

m

life,

but

not

pow

er;

trut

h, b

ut n

ot t

he e

ffica

cy

of t

ruth

whe

n w

ith th

em o

n ea

rth.

For a

littl

e tim

e th

e cr

oss

extin

guis

hed

thei

r ho

pe.

They

ha

d fo

llow

ed

Him

w

hom

th

ey'

love

d.

Then

the

y sa

w t

he d

etes

ted

Rom

ans

scou

rge

that

ble

ssed

ba

ck

and

pier

ce

thos

e ho

ly h

ands

and

fee

t. Th

ey w

ere

utte

rly

over

-co

me

as t

hey

saw

Him

exp

ire o

n th

e cr

oss.

How

sin

cere

was

the

ir s

ad s

igh,

"W

e ho

ped

that

it

was

H

e w

ho s

houl

d re

deem

Is

rael

."

Luke

24:

21,

A.

R. V

. Th

ey d

id n

ot s

ee t

hat

His

dea

th m

eant

life

to

them

. Th

ey d

id n

ot

unde

rsta

nd t

hat

appa

rent

def

eat

was

the

way

to

vic

tory

, an

d th

at d

arkn

ess

was

the

pric

e of

lig

ht.

Even

af

ter

the

resu

rrec

tion

they

as

ked,

"W

ilt

Thou

at

this

tim

e re

stor

e ag

ain

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

the

king

dom

to I

srae

l?"

Act

s 1:

6.

You

see

, th

ey h

ad m

ade

no p

rogr

ess.

They

wer

e st

ill

boun

d by

mat

eria

lism

and

fet

tere

d by

nat

iona

l pr

ejud

ices

. Th

ey d

id n

ot u

nder

stan

d th

e M

es-

siah

's m

issio

n.

They

dre

amed

of

rest

orat

ion

of t

he o

ld,

whi

le H

e ca

me

to i

naug

urat

e th

e ne

w.

Thei

r lo

ve a

nd c

onfid

ence

wer

e de

ep a

nd

inte

nse.

Th

ey h

ad f

orsa

ken

all

to f

ollo

w H

im.

They

kn

ew

the

resu

rrec

tion

was

a

glor

ious

fa

ct.

Yet

the

y w

ere

utte

rly

unfit

for

the

ir

appo

inte

d w

ork.

In

han

ding

ove

r th

e gr

eat

com

miss

ion

to

the

apos

tles

afte

r H

is e

arth

ly w

ork

was

fini

shed

an

d H

e w

as r

eady

to

take

His

sea

t on

hig

h,

ther

e w

ere

thre

e th

ings

tha

t w

ere

emph

asiz

ed:

"Jes

us c

ame

and

spak

e un

to t

hem

, sa

ying

, A

ll po

wer

is g

iven

unt

o M

e in

hea

ven

and

in e

arth

. Go

ye

ther

efor

e, a

nd te

ach

all n

atio

ns,

bapt

izin

g th

em i

n th

e na

me

of t

he F

athe

r, a

nd o

f th

e So

n, a

nd o

f th

e H

oly

Gho

st:

teac

hing

them

to o

bser

ve a

ll th

ings

wha

tsoe

ver

I ha

ve c

omm

ande

d yo

u: a

nd, 1

0, I

am w

ith y

ou a

lway

, .

I. '-Jt ev

en u

nto

the

end

of th

e w

orld

."

Mat

t. 28

: 18-

20.

It 1.

The

pow

er t

hat

they

nee

ded

was

ves

ted

I, in

Chr

ist.

2. Th

eref

ore

they

wer

e to

"go

," t

each

ing

all n

atio

ns, "

bap

tizin

g" n

ot o

nly

into

the

nam

e of

the

Fat

her

and

Son,

but

also

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

thro

ugh

who

m t

he p

ower

wou

ld b

e ap

-pl

ied.

6

82

83

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

3. Th

ey w

ere

to t

each

the

obse

rvan

ce o

f al

l th

ings

. B

ut t

his

coul

d be

don

e on

ly t

hrou

gh

the

min

istry

of

the

divi

ne T

each

er,

Rem

em-

bran

cer,

and

Gui

de

fore

told

in

John

14:

26

and

16: 1

3.

Yet

whe

n C

hris

t as

cend

ed,

He

left

the

dis-

cipl

es

in

utte

r im

pote

nce

amid

th

e de

adly

en

mity

of

the

wor

ld.

The

one

thin

g ne

edfu

l w

as p

ower

fro

m o

n hi

gh,

the

pow

er o

f th

e pr

omise

d H

oly

Spiri

t. A

nd

the

one

thin

g th

ey

wer

e to

ld

to

do

was

to

w

ait

for

the

com

ing

of th

e pr

omise

d Sp

irit.

How

tra

gica

lly

hope

less

ever

ythi

ng w

ould

hav

e be

en w

ithou

t th

e po

wer

. Th

us w

e re

ad C

hris

t's

last

com

man

d: "

Beh

old,

I s

end

the

prom

ise

of M

y Fa

ther

upo

n yo

u: b

ut t

arry

ye

in t

he

city

of

Jeru

sale

m,

until

ye

be e

ndue

d w

ith

pow

er f

rom

on

high

." Lu

ke 2

4 :4

9.

"Tar

ry y

e!"

until

end

ued,

no

mat

ter

how

long

it t

akes

. Th

e w

ords

wer

e ut

tere

d by

non

e ot

her

than

the

sam

e Lo

rd w

ho h

ad j

ust

said

, "

Go y

e!"

Sure

ly th

e ch

arge

mus

t hav

e ca

used

th

e m

ost

inte

nse

surp

rise,

spe

cula

tion,

and

ex-

pect

atio

n.

And

He

was

tal

king

to t

he p

reac

h-er

s, te

ache

rs,

past

ors,

evan

gelis

ts,

who

m

He

had

calle

d an

d co

mm

issio

ned.

"W

hat?

-tar

ry

long

er,

with

a g

reat

per

ishi

ng w

orld

to

war

n,

a tre

men

dous

wor

k to

do

, an

d a

chur

ch t

o

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

upbu

ild?

We

have

no

time

to l

ose.

We

are

bela

ted

now

." B

ut t

hey

wer

e do

omed

to

fail-

ure

unle

ss t

hey

tarr

ied.

N

oone

is

equi

pped

fo

r go

spel

serv

ice

unle

ss "

endu

ed"

with

thi

s he

aven

ly

pow

er.

Kno

wled

ge

is no

t en

ough

; ac

tivity

is n

ot e

noug

h; o

ne m

ust h

ave

the

pow

er

of th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. N

ot e

ven

was

the

auth

ority

co

nfer

red

upon

the

m to

cas

t out

dem

ons

(Luk

e 9:

10;

10:

1,

8, 19

) su

ffici

ent.

With

inc

reas

ing

serio

usne

ss t

he c

hurc

h is

heed

ing

the

divi

ne i

njun

ctio

n, "

Go

ye."

But

it

has

not

yet

sens

ed t

he s

olem

n ne

cess

ity o

f th

e se

cond

dic

tum

, "T

arry

ye,

" w

hich

is

its

inse

para

ble

coro

llary

. W

eare

mor

e w

illin

g to

at

tem

pt th

e fir

st t

han

to o

bey

the

seco

nd.

Yet

th

e sa

me

Lord

utte

red

both

com

man

ds.

" W

hat w

e ne

ed is

the

bapt

ism

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it.

With

out

this

, we

are

no m

ore

fitte

d to

go

fort

h to

the

w

orld

tha

n w

ere

the

disc

iple

s af

ter

the

cruc

ifixi

on o

f th

eir

Lord

. Je

sus

knew

the

ir d

estit

utio

n, a

nd t

old

them

to

tarr

y in

Jer

usal

em u

ntil

they

sho

uld

be e

n-do

wed

with

pow

er fr

om o

n hi

gh."

-Mrs

. E. G

. Whi

te,

in th

e Re

view

and

Her

ald,

Feb

. 18

,189

0.

" Th

e pr

each

ing

of t

he w

ord

will

be

of n

o av

ail

with

out

the

cont

inua

l pr

esen

ce a

nd a

id o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it.

This

is

the

only

eff

ectu

al t

each

er o

f di

vine

tr

uth.

O

nly

whe

n th

e tr

uth

is ac

com

pani

ed t

o th

e he

art

by t

he S

piri

t, w

ill i

t qu

icke

n th

e co

nsci

ence

or

tran

sfor

m t

he I

ife.

"-"

The

Des

ire

of A

ges,

" p.

671

.

84

85

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

.. If

div

ine

pow

er d

oes

not

com

bine

with

hum

an

effo

rt, I

wou

ld n

ot g

ive

a st

raw

for a

ll th

at th

e gr

eate

st

man

cou

ld d

o.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

is

wan

ting

in o

ur

wor

k."-

Mrs

. E.

G. W

hite

, in

the

Rev

iew

and

Her

ald,

Fe

b. 1

8,18

90.

The

Lord

is

not

in a

hur

ry,

thou

gh m

en

may

be.

God

sent

Mos

es i

nto

the

dese

rt fo

r fo

rty

year

s to

fit

him

for

his

task

, whe

n he

was

al

read

y fo

rty y

ears

of

age,

and

the

child

ren

of

Isra

el w

ere

smar

ting

unde

r th

e la

sh

of t

he

task

mas

ter

and

wai

ting

for

a de

liver

er.

As

in th

e ex

odus

mov

emen

t, so

in

the

adve

nt m

ove-

men

t, Go

d w

ill f

it H

is le

ader

s an

d m

inis

ters

be

fore

He

deliv

ers

His

peop

le fr

om s

pirit

ual

Egyp

t. H

e se

nt P

aul

into

Ara

bia

for

thre

e ye

ars,

afte

r th

e vi

sion

of h

is Lo

rd,

prep

arin

g hi

m f

or t

he f

irst

wor

ld-m

issio

n m

ovem

ent,

and

the

anci

ent w

orld

was

wai

ting

in d

arkn

ess.

Is

less

dem

ande

d in

the

las

t w

orld

-miss

ion

move

,:,,'

men

t?

Jesu

s sp

ent

thir

ty y

ears

pre

para

tory

for

th

ree

and

a ha

lf y

ears

' w

ork.

If

our

sin

less

Lo

rd

did

not

ente

r up

on

His

publ

ic

min

-is

try

until

H

e w

as

spec

ifica

lly

anoi

nted

by

th

e H

oly

Spiri

t, ho

w d

are

sinf

ul,

falli

ble

men

at

tem

pt t

o w

in s

ouls

with

out

bein

g fil

led w

ith

the

Spir

it?

How

dar

e we

ru

sh i

n to

wor

k w

here

Jes

us,

apos

tles,

and

prop

hets

fea

red

to

trea

d?

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

The

sam

e in

spire

d w

riter

, Lu

ke,

cont

inue

s th

e na

rrat

ive

of h

is G

ospe

l in

Act

s 1:

4,

5:

., A

nd,

bein

g as

sem

bled

to

geth

er

with

th

em,

[Jes

us]

com

man

ded

them

that

the

y sh

ould

not

dep

art

from

Je

rusa

lem

, bu

t w

ait

for

the

prom

ise

of t

he

Fath

er,

whi

ch,

saith

He,

ye

have

hea

rd o

f M

e. Fo

r Jo

hn t

ruly

bap

tized

with

wat

er;

but

ye s

hall

be b

ap-

tized

with

the

Hol

y G

host

nof

man

y da

ys h

ence

."

Pier

son

has

aptly

su

gges

ted

that

th

e "

Act

s" s

houl

d be

nam

ed "

The

Act

s of

the

H

oly

Spir

it."

Her

e ag

ain

they

wer

e ad

mon

-ish

ed t

o "w

ait"

for

"th

e pr

omis

e."

Ther

e ar

e m

any

prom

ises

in t

he d

ivin

e w

ord.

B

ut

ther

e is

only

one

tha

t w

as d

esig

nate

d by

Jes

us

as

"the

" pr

omis

e,-s

tand

ing

pre-

emin

ently

am

ong

all

the

"exc

eedi

ng g

reat

and

pre

ciou

s pr

omise

s It

of o

ur G

od.

And

thi

s pr

omise

con

-ne

cted

the

miss

ion

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it w

ith t

he

evan

geliz

atio

n of

the

wor

ld.

How

har

d it

is to

wai

t! Th

is is

exe

mpl

ified

in

fill

ing

the

vaca

ncy

mad

e by

the

tre

ason

of

Juda

s.

The

disc

iple

s ha

d ha

d no

voi

ce i

n th

e ch

oosin

g of

the

tw

elve

. Je

sus

had

mad

e th

e se

lect

ions

per

sona

lly,

and

with

out

cons

ultin

g ot

hers

. B

ut J

esus

had

now

gon

e aw

ay_

He

had

told

the

apo

stles

no

t to

tak

e an

y st

eps

unti

l" th

e pr

omise

It w

as f

ulfil

led.

Th

ey w

ere

to w

ait,

to t

arry

unt

il th

e H

oly

Spir

it ca

me.

86

87

The

Com

ing

of th

e Co

mfo

rter

But

they

sel

ecte

d ce

rtain

nam

es, a

nd p

roce

eded

to

cas

t lo

ts up

on t

hem

bef

ore

the

Lord

, an

d M

atth

ias

was

dec

lare

d el

ecte

d.

God

does

not

fo

rsak

e, e

ven

thou

gh m

an i

s di

sobe

dien

t. H

e is

so l

ong-

suffe

ring.

B

ut e

vide

ntly

Mat

thia

s w

as n

ever

the

Hol

y Sp

irit'

s re

al c

hoice

. Je

sus

had

gone

, th

e di

vine

Adm

inis

trato

r ha

d no

t ye

t co

me,

and

a va

lid e

lect

ion

was

im

poss

ible

. Th

e di

scip

les

shou

ld

have

w

aite

d;

but

they

pr

ocee

ded

with

the

app

oint

men

t. Tw

o ye

ars

late

r Sa

ul o

f Ta

rsus

was

th

e on

e ca

lled

of

God.

"Pau

l, an

apo

stle,

(no

t of

men

, ne

ither

by

man

, bu

t by

Jes

us C

hris

t, an

d Go

d th

e Fa

ther

, w

ho

rais

ed

Him

fr

om

the

dead

)."

Gal.

1:

1.

In

the

foun

datio

ns

of

the

New

Je

rusa

lem

, in

whi

ch a

re e

ngra

ved

the

nam

es

of t

he t

wel

ve a

postl

es,

the

nam

e of

Pau

l w

ill

undo

ubte

dly

appe

ar a

s th

e tw

elfth

. It

is

no m

ore

poss

ible

to

righ

tly a

ppoi

nt

an o

ffice

r of t

he c

hurc

h th

an to

pre

ach

a se

rmon

, sa

ve b

y th

e Sp

irit

of G

od.

Too

ofte

n th

ere

is a

sho

w o

f han

ds in

stea

d of

a p

raye

rful

wai

t-in

g fo

r th

e di

rect

ion

of t

he H

oly

Spiri

t, a

subs

titut

ion

of t

he v

oice

of

hum

an c

hoice

in-

stea

d of

the

voice

of t

he S

pirit

. B

ut a

sho

w o

f ha

nds

is of

littl

e va

lue

unle

ss th

ey a

re s

tretc

hed

out

tow

ard

Him

who

hol

deth

the

sta

rs o

f th

e ch

urch

es in

His

hand

. Re

v. 2

: 1.

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

A m

inis

ter i

s no

t an

accr

edite

d m

esse

nger

of

God

unle

ss c

alle

d an

d an

oint

ed b

y th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. "Tho

se o

nly

who

are

thu

s ta

ught

of

God

, th

ose

only

who

pos

sess

the

inw

ard

wor

king

of t

he S

piri

t, an

d in

who

se l

ife t

he C

hris

t lif

e is

man

ifes

ted,

can

sta

nd

as

true

re

pres

enta

tives

of

the

Sa

viou

r."-

lt G

ospe

l W

orke

rs,"

p.

285.

It is

His

wor

k to

app

oint

for

serv

ice

as w

ell

as t

o em

pow

er i

n se

rvic

e. In

apo

stolic

tim

es

the

past

ors

wer

e se

lect

ed b

y th

e H

oly

Spiri

t, no

t si

mpl

y by

suf

frag

e of

the

peo

ple.

They

co

ncur

red

and

reco

gniz

ed t

he S

piri

t's c

all.

"Tak

e he

ed t

here

fore

unt

o yo

urse

lves

, an

d to

all

the

flock

, ove

r th

e w

hich

the

H or

-y G

host

hat

h m

ade

you

over

seer

s, t

o fe

ed t

he c

hurc

h of

God

, w

hich

He

hath

pu

rcha

sed

with

His

ow

n bl

ood.

" A

cts

20: 2

8.

" A

s th

ey m

inis

tere

d to

the

Lord

, an

d fa

sted

. th

e H

oly

Gho

st s

aid,

Sep

arat

e M

e B

arna

bas

and

Saul

for

th

e w

ork

whe

reun

to I

hav

e ca

lled

them

. A

nd w

hen

they

had

fas

ted

and

pray

ed,

and

laid

the

ir h

ands

on

them

, the

y se

nt th

em a

way

. So

they

. bei

ng s

ent

fort

h by

the

Hol

y G

host

, de

part

ed u

nto

Sele

ucia

; an

d fr

om

then

ce th

ey s

aile

d to

Cyp

rus.

" A

cts

13: 2

-4.

And

the

re is

a d

ivin

e ap

poin

tmen

t of

offi

ce

as w

ell a

s of

per

sons

to

fill

them

. ..

He

gave

som

e, a

post

les;

and

som

e, p

roph

ets;

an

d so

me.

eva

ngel

ists

; an

d so

me,

past

ors

and

teac

h-er

s:'

Eph.

4:

11.

88

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Th

e C

omin

g of

the

Spir

it 89

IU

nles

s th

e Pa

racl

ete

choo

ses

and

uses

and

bl

esse

s, al

l is

in

vain

. If

the

re w

ere

less

di

plom

acy

and

mor

e pr

ayer

, le

ss m

anip

Ula

ting

and

mor

e pl

eadi

ng, t

he H

oly

Spir

it w

ould

hav

e gr

eate

r op

portu

nity

to i

ndic

ate

His

will

. Fo

r th

e ch

urch

or

a co

mm

ittee

to

take

it

upon

it-

self

to fi

ll of

fices

acc

ordi

ng to

its

own

pref

eren

ce

and

will

, is

noth

ing

shor

t of

an

affr

ont

to t

he

Hol

y Sp

irit.

The

Jeru

sale

m c

ounc

il w

as a

type

of

all

true

cou

ncils

, an

d of

the

dec

ision

s we

re

ad: "It

seem

ed g

ood

to t

he H

oly

Gho

st, a

nd t

o us

, to

lay

upon

you

no

grea

ter b

urde

n th

an th

ese

nece

ssar

y th

ings

."

Act

s 15

: 28.

It

is

to b

e ob

serv

ed t

hat

the

Hol

y Sp

irit's

ch

oice

is fi

rst.

Pent

ecos

t w

as t

he I

nsta

llatio

n D

ay o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it as

the

div

ine

adm

inis

trato

r of

the

ch

urch

. Th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

the

true

and

onl

y vi

car

of C

hris

t on

ear

th.

And

the

ent

ire a

d-m

inis

tratio

n of

the

chur

ch is

com

mitt

ed to

Him

un

til C

hris

t ret

urns

in g

lory

at

the

seco

nd a

d-ve

nt.

From

the

day

of

Pent

ecos

t on

war

d H

e ha

s oc

cupi

ed a

n en

tirel

y ne

w p

ositi

on.

But

He

can

fully

wor

k on

ly t

hrou

gh m

en

who

have

gi

ven

Him

ful

l po

sses

sion

of t

heir

lives

, an

d ov

er

who

m

He

is ab

le

to

exer

cise

ab

solu

te

cont

rol.

This

was

tru

e in

ap

osto

lic

times

, so

we

read

in

the

Act

s of

the

Apo

stles

, H

e se

lect

ed

(13:

2);

sen

t fo

rth

(13:

4);

em

pow

ered

(13

: 9)

; su

stai

ned

(13:

52)

; se

ttled

que

stion

s (1

5:

28) ;

and

forb

ade

(16:

6, 7

). In

1 C

orin

thia

ns

12 t

he t

houg

ht i

s ite

rate

d an

d re

itera

ted,

tha

t th

e di

vers

ities

of

gifts

in

the

chur

ch a

re a

p-po

inte

d by

"o

ne

and

the

selfs

ame

Spiri

t."

(See

ver

ses

4-13

.) Th

is i

s H

is b

less

ed p

re-

roga

tive.

"T

he w

heel

-like

com

plic

atio

ns t

hat

appe

ared

to

the

prop

het

to b

e in

volv

ed i

n su

ch c

onfu

sion

, w

ere

unde

r th

e gu

idan

ce o

f an

inf

inite

han

d.

The

Spir

it of

G

od,

reve

aled

to

him

as

mov

ing

and

dire

ctin

g th

ese

whe

els,

brou

ght

harm

ony

out

of c

onfu

sion

; so

the

w

hole

wor

ld w

as u

nder

His

con

trol

."-"

Tes

timon

ies,

" Vo

l. V,

p.

752.

" W

ait!

" w

as t

he c

omm

and

befo

re P

ente

-co

st.

How

har

d it

is t

o w

ait

on G

od!

It i

s ea

sy t

o th

ink

we

are

losin

g tim

e if

we

wai

t on

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

for

pow

er.

So,

too

ofte

n w

e go

to

wor

k fo

r Go

d w

ithou

t fir

st r

ecei

ving

an

unc

tion

from

God

. B

ut th

ere

is no

use

of

runn

ing

befo

re o

ne i

s se

nt;

no u

se o

f la

borin

g w

ithou

t un

ctio

n.

Man

y ar

e in

too

muc

h of

a

hurr

y to

wai

t fo

r th

e he

art

prep

arat

ion

su-

prem

ely

need

ed.

We

live

in

the

days

of

m

ultip

lyin

g la

bor,

forg

ettin

g qu

ality

of

labo

r in

our

anx

iety

for

qua

ntity

.

90

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

If It

is o

ur p

rivile

ge to

tak

e G

od a

t His

wor

d.

As

Jesu

s w

as a

bout

to l

eave

His

dis

cipl

es,

to a

scen

d in

to

heav

en,

He

com

mis

sion

ed t

hem

to

bear

the

gos

pel

mes

sage

to

all

natio

ns,

tong

ues,

and

peo

ples

. H

e to

ld

them

to ta

rry

in J

erus

alem

till

they

wer

e en

dued

with

po

wer

fro

m o

n hi

gh.

This

was

ess

entia

l to

thei

r su

c-ce

ss.

The

holy

unc

tion

mus

t co

me

upon

the

ser

vant

s of

God..

..

"Thi

s is

the

ver

y co

urse

tha

t sh

ould

be

purs

ued

by th

ose.

who

act

a p

art i

n th

e w

ork

of p

rocl

aim

ing

the

com

ing

of t

he L

ord

in t

he c

loud

s of

hea

ven;

for

a

peop

le a

re to

be

prep

ared

to s

tand

in th

e gr

eat d

ay o

f G

od.

Alth

ough

Chr

ist

had

give

n th

e pr

omis

e to

His

di

scip

les

that

they

sho

uld

rece

ive

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

this

di

d no

t re

mov

e th

e ne

cess

ity o

f pr

ayer

. Th

ey p

raye

d al

l th

e m

ore

earn

estly

; the

y co

ntin

ued

in p

raye

r w

ith

one

acco

rd.

Thos

e w

ho a

re n

ow e

ngag

ed in

the

sole

mn

wor

k of

pre

pari

ng a

peo

ple

for t

he c

omin

g of

the

Lord

, sh

ould

als

o co

ntin

ue i

n pr

ayer

. Th

e ea

rly

disc

iple

s w

ere

of o

ne a

ccor

d.

They

had

no

spec

ulat

ions

, no

cu

rious

the

ory

to a

dvan

ce a

s to

how

the

pro

mis

ed

bles

sing

was

to

com

e. Th

ey w

ere

one

in f

aith

and

sp

irit.

Th

ey w

ere

agre

ed."

_" G

ospe

l Wor

kers

" (e

di-

tion

1893

), pp

. 370

, 371

. O

ur t

empt

atio

n is

to p

erpe

tual

act

ivity

, to

th

e ex

clus

ion

of t

ime

im?e

rativ

e to

pr

ayer

, st

udy,

and

spi

ritua

l m

edita

tion.

W

e co

nten

d th

at w

e ar

e ta

rdy

with

our

tas

k.

Men

ar

e dy

ing,

and

we

face

the

las

t cr

isis

; so

we

worK

on

fre

nzie

dly,

muc

h lik

e th

e to

iling

disc

iple

s w

ho la

bore

d al

l nig

ht a

nd c

augh

t not

hing

. B

ut

in t

he e

arly

gra

y of

the

daw

n, a

few

min

utes

in

the

dire

ct p

rese

nce

and

unde

r th

e sp

ecifi

c

:··.. f\:.··' Th

e Q

omin

g of

the

Spir

it 91

I.

dire

ctio

n of

the

Mas

ter

filled

the

ir e

rstw

hile

1

empt

y ne

ts.

One

is fo

rced

to

the

conc

lusio

n th

at i

n th

e ca

se o

f th

ousa

nds

this

fou

ndat

iona

l pr

inci

ple

and

dire

ct c

omm

and

is la

rgel

y ig

nore

d.

Al-

toge

ther

too

few

hav

e ta

rrie

d fo

r th

e he

aven

ly

equi

pmen

t fo

r C

hris

tian

serv

ice.

I am

per

-su

aded

tha

t th

is i

s ou

r co

loss

al bl

unde

r. I

conf

ess

it h

as b

een

min

e. V\T

e ar

e no

t to

" go

"

until

we

are

"end

ued.

" Go

d ca

n do

m

ore

thro

ugh

us i

n fiv

e m

inut

es w

hen

we a

re e

n-du

ed,

than

we

can

do i

n a

wee

k al

one.

Whi

le

true

lov

e be

gins

at

the

cros

s, al

l tr

ue s

ervi

ce

begi

ns a

t ou

r pe

rson

al P

ente

cost.

"

Lega

l rel

igio

n w

ill n

ot a

nsw

er f

or th

is a

ge.

We

may

per

form

all

the

outw

ard

acts

of

serv

ice,

and

yet

be

as

dest

itute

of t

he q

uick

enin

g in

fluen

ce o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it as

the

hills

of

Gilb

oa 'w

ere

dest

itute

of

dew

and

ra

in."

-" T

estim

onie

s,"

Vol.

VI,

pp. 4

17, 4

18.

And

not

ice

that

the

disc

iple

s w

ere

to w

ait

at J

erus

alem

, w

ith i

ts b

abel

of

voice

s an

d its

cr

owde

d st

reet

s -th

e ve

ry c

ity th

at h

ad c

ruci

-fie

d th

eir L

ord

only

a fe

w w

eeks

bef

ore.

It

was

st

ill h

ostil

e in

its

hatre

d.

It w

as t

he v

ery

city

th

at h

ad s

purn

ed a

nd d

espi

sed

the

prop

hets

, and

ov

er w

hich

Chr

ist h

ad m

ourn

ed: "

0 J

erus

alem

, Je

rusa

lem

, w

hich

ki

llest

th

e pr

ophe

ts,

and

ston

est

them

th

at a

re s

ent

unto

th

ee;

how

92

93

The

Com

ing

of th

e

ofte

n w

ould

I h

ave

gath

ered

thy

chi

ldre

n to

-ge

ther

, as

a h

en d

oth

gath

er h

er b

rood

und

er

her

win

gs,

andy

e w

ould

not

! Be

hold

, yo

ur

hous

e is

lef

t un

to y

ou d

esol

ate.

" Lu

ke 1

3:

34,

35.

It w

as th

e la

st p

lace

in th

e w

orld

they

wou

ld

ever

thi

nk o

f. It

pro

ves

God

can

bles

s pe

ople

an

ywhe

re.

If t

hey

had

gone

in

to t

he q

uiet

co

untry

, the

mou

ntai

ns o

f Ju

dea,

or

the

shor

es

of G

alile

e, ou

t of

tou

ch w

ith t

he c

ryin

g ne

eds

of h

uman

ity,

they

wou

ld h

ave

been

tem

pted

se

lfish

ly to

rem

ain

ther

e, a

s Pe

ter

sugg

este

d at

th

e tra

nsfig

urat

ion,

for

getfu

l of

a w

orld

's de

s-pe

rate

nee

d.

Now

we

com

e to

the

mar

velo

us w

ords

of

Act

s 1:

8:

"Ye

shal

l re

ceiv

e po

wer

, af

ter

that

th

e H

oly

Gho

st is

com

e up

on y

ou:

and

ye s

hall

be w

itnes

ses

unto

Me

both

in

Jeru

sale

m,

and

in a

ll Ju

dea,

and

in

Sam

aria

, an

d un

to t

he

utte

rmos

t pa

rt o

f th

e ea

rth.

" Th

ese

wor

ds w

ere

utte

red

imm

edia

tely

be-

fore

the

asc

ensio

n, a

nd w

ere

follo

wed

by'

the

retu

rn t

o Je

rusa

lem

and

the

see

king

of

the

uppe

r ro

om,

whe

re t

he d

iscip

les

wai

ted.

Je

sus

had

redi

rect

ed t

heir

tho

ught

s in

to a

ne

w c

hann

el m

ovin

g fr

om H

imse

lf as

cen

ter,

and

with

the

new

con

cept

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it as

th

e ad

min

istr

ator

or

divi

ne e

xecu

tive

of t

he

The

Gom

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

God

head

in

the

new

dis

pens

atio

n.

Thei

r m

inds

w

ere

lifte

d fr

om th

e ea

rthl

y an

d m

ater

ial t

o th

e sp

iritu

al.

It w

as a

wor

ld v

ision

tha

t He

plac

ed

befo

re th

em, a

nd P

ente

cost

al p

ower

com

es o

nly

on t

hat b

asis

. Th

eir

hear

ts w

ere

expa

nded

to

incl

ude

the

wor

ld.

That

is

why

the

pow

er o

f il

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

was

vis

ited

upon

the

apo

stolic

ch

urch

in

the

earl

y ra

in;

and

it w

ill c

ome

as

the

latte

r ra

in u

pon

the

rem

nant

chu

rch

with

th

e sa

me

visio

n.

Dur

ing

the

inte

rven

ing

year

s, w

hen

the

visio

n w

as d

imm

ed,

the

pow

er o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it ha

s ne

ver b

een

seen

in

His

fulln

ess.

Now

for

for

ty y

ears

, or

sin

ce 1

888,

we

have

be

en l

ivin

g in

the

tim

e of

the

lat

ter

rain

. O

n M

arch

29,

184

8, f

or a

tim

e no

wat

er

pass

ed o

ver

the

vast

Nia

gara

Fal

ls.

Ice

of

rem

arka

ble

thic

knes

s fo

rmed

on

La

ke E

rie.

Th

e w

ind

brok

e it

up

and

caus

ed t

he g

reat

ca

kes

of ic

e to

for

m a

mig

hty

ice d

am a

t th

e en

tran

ce to

Nia

gara

Riv

er,

as i

f a

gian

t mas

on

had

pile

d up

a w

all

so r

esis

tant

tha

t the

out

let

of L

ake

Eri

e w

as b

lock

ed.

The

wat

er b

elow

pa

ssed

ove

r th

e fa

lls.

The

rapi

ds v

anish

ed,

and

hist

ory

reco

rds

the

phen

omen

on o

f a

dry

Nia

gara

. B

ut u

nder

the

war

m r

ays

of t

he

sun

the

ice b

arri

er g

ave

way

, an

d th

e va

st

pow

er o

f N

iaga

ra f

low

ed

on

agai

n.

Than

k Go

d fo

r th

e re

turn

ing

pow

.er o

f the

lat

ter

rain

.

94

95

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

I U

nque

stion

ably

the

wor

d" p

ower

" is

the

key

wor

d of

the

text

. Co

min

g fro

m t

he G

reek

w

ord

duna

mis

, fro

m w

hich

we

deriv

e dy

nam

ic,

dyna

mite

, dyn

amo,

it i

s m

ost

vita

l an

d su

gges

-tiv

e. O

nly

by t

his

duna

mis

can

the

ada

man

t w

alls

of in

diffe

renc

e, s

in, f

orm

alism

, and

selfi

sh-

ness

be

blas

ted

thro

ugh.

O

nly

by th

is d

unam

is

can

com

e th

e po

wer

tha

t w

ill s

peed

up

the

whe

els

of t

his

divi

nely

app

oint

ed m

achi

nery

of

the

adve

nt m

ovem

ent.

Onl

y th

roug

h th

is d

una-

mis

are

the

hum

an w

ires

that

are

des

igne

d to

ca

rry

the

heav

enly

cur

rent

, "al

ive.

" O

nly

thus

w

ill w

e ha

ve t

he n

eede

d lig

ht, h

eat,

and

pow

er

to fi

ll th

e ea

rth

with

the

glor

y of

God

. Th

ink

now

of

th

ree

phas

es:

The

pow

er

need

ed;

the

natu

re o

f th

e po

wer

av

aila

ble;

th

e pu

rpos

e fo

r w

hich

it i

s be

stow

ed.

"Com

e an

d I

will

sho

w y

ou t

he g

reat

est,

unus

ed p

ower

in A

mer

ica,

" sa

id a

bus

ines

s m

an

to a

Chr

istia

n w

orke

r, as

he

led h

im to

Nia

gara

Fa

lls.

"The

re!"

he

excl

aim

ed,·

as h

e po

inte

d to

tha

t mig

hty

torr

ent w

ith it

s in

here

nt p

ower

. "

No,

" re

spon

ded

the

Chr

istia

n w

orke

r, "

the

grea

test

unu

sed

pow

er in

the

wor

ld is

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

of t

he l

ivin

g G

od."

True

! A

nd t

hat

is th

e po

wer

we

nee4

,-he

aven

ly p

ower

, not

hum

an, n

atur

al, o

r ear

thly

.

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

Pow

er f

rom

ou

tside

an

d ab

ove

ours

elve

s to

ac

hiev

e w

hat

we c

anno

t ou

rsel

ves

acco

mpl

ish.

Thos

e ap

ostle

s ne

eded

a f

ourfo

ld p

ower

: Fi

rst,

spir

itual

pow

er t

o liv

e a

holy

life

, no

twith

-st

andi

ng t

he f

leshl

y pr

open

sitie

s st

ill r

esid

ent

in t

he f

lesh.

Pow

er t

o liv

e tri

umph

antly

, to

se

rve

acce

ptab

ly,

and

to

win

so

uls.

They

ne

eded

the

pow

er o

f a

new

affe

ctio

n an

d w

ill.

Trem

endo

us f

orce

s w

ere

arra

yed

agai

nst t

hem

. Pe

rsec

utio

n aw

aite

d th

em.

At t

he p

lace

of t

est-

ing

they

had

for

sake

n C

hris

t an

d fle

d. Th

ey

need

ed i

ntel

lect

ual

powe

r, be

caus

e of

the

ir ig

-no

ranc

e an

d in

abili

ty t

o un

ders

tand

Chr

ist's

m

issio

n an

d th

eir t

ask.

A

nd th

ey n

eede

d po

wer

in

ser

vice

to

acco

mpl

ish t

he r

esul

ts a

t w

hich

th

ey w

ere

to a

im.

The

root

ide

a of

Chr

istia

nity

is G

od's

men

an

d w

omen

ca

rryi

ng o

n G

od's

wor

k in

th

e po

wer

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

whi

ch f

its t

hem

for

se

rvic

e. It

is

indi

spen

sabl

e po

wer

, ge

nuin

e po

wer

, in

com

para

ble

pow

er,

obta

inab

le p

ower

, pe

rson

al p

ower

, an

d ef

fect

ual p

ower

. A

nd t

his

pow

er is

mea

sure

d by

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

Inde

ed,

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is H

imse

lf th

e em

bodi

men

t of

th

at p

ower

. C

hris

t ne

ver

spok

e of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

as a

n in

fluen

ce o

r an

attr

ibut

e, li

ke lo

ve

or m

ercy

. Th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

a pe

rson

who

de

sires

to

live

in u

s, an

d to

mak

e av

aila

ble

to

96

97

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

us t

he p

ower

res

iden

t in

Him

. It

is n

ot g

iven

to

us,

but t

o H

im.

As

we r

ecei

ve H

im, w

e ar

e em

pow

ered

bot

h to

will

and

to w

ork.

B

ut w

e ca

nnot

hav

e th

e po

wer

with

out h

avin

g th

e H

oly

Spir

it H

imse

lf.

He

is th

e di

spen

ser

and

the

agen

t. H

e co

mes

, no

t for

me

to u

se, b

ut a

s an

al

l-pow

erfu

l Per

son

who

des

ires t

o us

e m

e. Th

e fin

al c

hoice

res

ts w

ith m

e as

to w

heth

er I

sha

ll lim

it th

e po

wer

of H

th

e H

oly

One

." Ps

. 78:

41.

O

rigin

ally

God

put

pow

er i

n th

e ha

nds

of

man

, but

he lo

st it

thro

ugh

the

fall.

Go

d ca

nnot

no

w i

ntru

st u

s w

ith i

t. B

ut H

e ha

s pu

t "a

ll

pow

er"

in C

hris

t, w

ho a

dmin

iste

rs i

t th

roug

h th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. A

nd H

e be

stow

s it

on

us i

n H

im.

N or

is

the

pow

er g

iven

mer

ely

for

the

aski

ng.

Ther

e ar

e co

nditi

ons

to b

e m

et.

We

have

som

ethi

ng to

do

befo

re w

e ar

e re

ady

to r

e-ce

ive

it.

This

will

be

late

r. B

ut th

e la

ws

of p

ower

are

fixe

d la

ws.

In th

e sp

iritu

al

real

m,

as i

n th

e ph

ysic

al,

whe

neve

r yo

u ob

ey

the

law

of

pow

er,

the

pow

er i

s pl

edge

d to

op

erat

e.

Thin

k no

w o

f the

nat

ure

of th

e po

wer

ava

il-ab

le.

It is

not

inte

llect

ual f

orce

, as

man

ifest

ed

in m

ight

y elo

quen

ce.

Ther

e w

ere

grea

ter

or-

ator

s an

d m

ore

lear

ned

men

in

the

audi

ence

at

Pent

ecos

t th

an w

as P

eter

. A

man

may

mov

e hi

s fe

llow

s by

his

eloqu

ence

and

per

suas

iven

ess.

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

Bu.t

that

is n

ot th

e po

wer

indi

cate

d.

It m

ay b

e ad

ded

to g

ifts

of

lear

ning

or

eloqu

ence

lik

e Pa

ul's;

but

it

may

be

give

n to

the

unl

earn

ed

like

Pete

r an

d Jo

hn.

The

skill

ed a

ctor

and

sil

ver-t

ongu

ed o

rato

r ca

n sw

ay a

n au

dien

ce

mig

htily

, pr

oduc

ing

deep

em

otio

nal

effe

cts

or

trem

endo

us e

nthu

sias

m.

Thei

r sk

ill a

nd i

n-ge

nuity

are

adm

ired

and

cove

ted

by a

ll.

But

th

at i

s no

t th

e po

wer

of

th

e H

oly

Spiri

t.f

The

glow

ing

fire

of i

ntel

lect

ualis

m c

an o

ver-

pow

er u

ntil

the

effe

ct m

ay s

eem

sup

erna

tura

l, 11

but

inte

llect

and

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

mus

t no

t be

II r co

nfou

nded

. Th

e hig

hest

reac

h of

hum

an g

eniu

s fa

lls s

hort

of

the

low

est

degr

ee o

f th

is d

ivin

e I I

pow

er.

To e

lect

rify

one's

hea

rers

is o

ne t

hing

; to

bri

ng t

hem

tru

ly r

epen

tant

to

the

feet

of

Jesu

s is

quite

ano

ther

. O

ne i

s in

wor

d on

ly;

the.

othe

r is

in

the

pow

er o

f th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. Th

ere

is a

psy

chol

ogic

al e

ffect

ofte

n se

en i

n re

ligio

us m

eetin

gs

whi

ch m

ay s

eem

ak

in i

n ap

pear

ance

to th

e Sp

irit's

wor

k, b

ut th

ey a

re a

s fa

r ap

art

as t

he p

oles

. Po

wer

ful

emot

iona

l ef

fect

s are

pro

duce

d by

sple

ndid

mus

ic a

nd sk

ill-

ful

actin

g.

But

this

is

simpl

y a

psyc

holo

gica

l ap

peal

to

the

emot

ions

. Le

t th

ere

be n

o co

n-fu

sion

her

e.

Tear

s in

a c

hurc

h se

rvic

e ar

e no

t in

here

ntly

hol

ier

than

tea

rs i

n a

Cha

utau

qua

prog

ram

. Ev

en t

he r

elig

ious

ora

tor's

sci

ntil-

7

i

98

99

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

latin

g, lo

gica

l pre

sent

atio

n of

div

ine

thin

gs th

at

delig

hts

the

hear

ers

and

impr

esse

s th

e im

agin

a-tio

n an

d th

e un

ders

tand

ing,

may

be

utte

rly

dest

itute

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit's

pow

er.

It is

not

m

ere

abst

ract

tru

th a

s su

ch,

but

the

pow

er o

f th

e H

oly

Spiri

t w

itnes

sing

to t

he t

ruth

, th

at

prod

uces

spi

ritua

l re

sults

. O

ften

thes

e ex

pedi

ents

of t

he f

lesh

are

a hi

ndra

nce

to t

he e

ffect

ual w

orki

ng o

f th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. Th

e Sp

irit-f

illed

sou

l w

inne

r is

fre-

quen

tly. s

uppl

ante

d by

the

relig

ious

ora

tor

who

com

es i

n to

fill

all w

ith h

imse

lf.

Not

unt

il al

l co

nfid

ence

in e

ntic

ing

spee

ch h

as b

een

put a

way

, ca

n Go

d us

e th

e fo

olish

thi

ngs

of th

e w

orld

to

conf

ound

the

wise

. O

ften

it is

the

plai

nest

sp

eech

utte

red

by th

e hu

mbl

est i

nstru

men

ts th

at

is m

ost m

arke

dly

used

. Rh

etor

icia

ns c

an n

ever

te

ach

us t

he s

ecre

t of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit's

pow

er.

Imm

ersio

n in

the

divi

ne w

ord,

and

utte

r ab

an-

donm

ent

into

the

han

ds o

f Go

d, to

be

subj

ect

solel

y to

His

will

and

sw

ayed

by

His

Spiri

t, is

the

one

true

path

way

to s

pirit

ual p

ower

. Pa

ul

lear

ned

this

les

son.

In

his

mas

terf

ul o

ratio

n at

Ath

ens h

e m

et lo

g-ic w

ith lo

gic

and

philo

soph

y w

ith p

hilo

soph

y.

But

he

left

no c

hurc

h -th

ere,

and

ther

e is

no e

pistl

e to

the

Ath

enia

ns.

But

th

ere

are

two

addr

esse

d to

th

e Co

rinth

ian

chur

ch.

Com

ing

to t

hem

, Pa

ul s

aid,

" I

dete

r-

The

Com

ing

0/ th

e Sp

irit

min

ed n

ot t

o kn

ow a

nyth

ing

amon

g yo

u, sa

ve

Jesu

s Ch

rist,

and

Him

cru

cifie

d."

1 Co

r. 2:

2.

Aga

in, w

e re

ad:

" In

the

savi

ng o

f th

e so

uls

of m

en,

God

does

all

the

wor

k, m

akin

g m

an H

is i

nstru

men

t. M

an c

anno

t m

anag

e th

e w

ork

of G

od i

n hi

s ow

n w

ay, f

or th

e ou

t-w

ard

wor

k is

vai

n un

less

God

wor

ks w

ith i

t. D

ivin

e po

wer

mus

t m

ingl

e w

ith h

uman

effo

rt, o

r w

e ca

nnot

be

lab

orer

s to

geth

er w

ith G

od."

-Mrs

. E.

G.

Whi

te,

in th

e Re

view

and

Her

ald,

May

6,1

890.

A

gain

, th

e po

wer

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is no

t th

e po

wer

of o

rgan

izat

ion,

num

bers

, or

wea

lth.

Muc

h of

the

visib

le po

wer

of

the

chur

ch to

-day

is

the

resu

lt of

org

aniz

ed fo

rces

. M

any

a "

suc-

cess

ful "

pre

ache

r owe

s hi

s so

-call

ed "

succ

ess "

to

she

er p

erfe

cted

bus

ines

s m

ethod

s on

whi

ch

the

wor

ld a

bout

is r

un.

His

influ

ence

and

pre

s-tig

e ar

e th

e re

sult

of p

erfe

cted

mac

hine

ry.

And

th

is m

ay in

volv

e no

spi

ritua

l po

wer

, th

ough

it

is no

t inc

onsis

tent

with

it,

for

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

wor

ks t

hrou

gh c

hann

els

of o

rder

and

sys

tem

. B

ut i

t m

ay b

e sim

ply

eccl

esia

stica

l m

achi

nery

, _

a re

ligio

us b

usin

ess

ente

rpris

e, w

hich

the

pr

each

er

build

s. W

hen

hum

an

ambi

tion

achi

eves

the

suc

cess

, it

is

prec

isely

the

sam

e as

if

one

foun

ded

and

deve

lope

d a

wor

ldly

fin

anci

al e

nter

prise

. Th

en i

s th

e ch

urch

lik

e th

e sh

ip o

f de

ath

drift

ing

acro

ss t

he o

cean

, m

anne

d by

life

less

I I I,

i ': Th

e C

omin

g of

the

Spir

it 10

110

0 Th

e C

omin

g of

the

Com

fort

er

i,:i",", I fo

rms.

Dea

d m

en i

n th

e rig

ging

, de

ad m

en a

t th

e he

lm,

dead

men

in

the

bunk

s, dr

iftin

g in

sil

ence

acr

oss

the

dism

al s

ea.

Ther

e is

man

y a

form

al c

hurc

h w

ith a

dea

d m

an in

the

pU

lpit

and

dead

soul

s in

the

pew

s, so

far

as t

he v

ibra

nt

life

of t

he H

oly

Spiri

t is

conc

erne

d.

And

the

fin

ger

from

hea

ven

writ

es, "

Tho

u ha

st a

nam

e th

at th

ou l

ives

t, an

d ar

t de

ad."

Sure

ly t

here

is

noth

ing

mor

e un

seem

ly,

as o

ne w

rite

r pu

ts

it, th

an a

dea

d pr

each

er in

the

pulp

it pr

each

ing

to d

ead

men

in

the

pew

s. W

hat t

hen

is th

e na

ture

of

this

pow

er, a

nd

how

does

it

oper

ate?

Th

e po

wer

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit c

onvi

cts

of s

in.

It m

akes

the

hea

rers

see

th

emse

lves

as

God

sees

the

m.

It s

ends

peo

ple

hom

e, no

t adm

iring

the

prea

cher

, but

agi

tate

d,

troub

led,

ofte

n vo

win

g ne

ver t

o he

ar h

im a

gain

. Y

et th

ey k

now

in th

eir s

ouls

that

he is

rig

ht a

nd

they

are

wro

ng.

It is

the

pow

er o

f co

nvic

tion

whi

ch s

ays

to t

he h

eart,

" T

hou

art

the

man

."

Such

pre

ache

rs a

re n

ot o

ften

popu

lar,

but

they

ar

e po

wer

ful.

The

pers

onal

pow

er o

f Go

d ar

-ra

igns

the

sinn

er b

efor

e th

e ba

r of

justi

ce, a

nd

wro

ngs

are

right

ed a

nd c

onfe

ssio

ns m

ade.

Then

the

pow

er o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it lif

ts u

p C

hris

t an

d m

akes

Him

rea

l to

th

e he

arer

s. So

me

serm

ons l

eave

a v

ivid

impr

essio

n of

trut

h.

Oth

ers

leav

e an

im

peris

habl

e co

nsci

ousn

ess

of

the

Savi

our,

not

so m

uch

an i

dea

as a

Per

son.

Th

at is

tru

e sp

iritu

al p

reac

hing

. )'

Aga

in,

the

pow

er o

f th

e H

oly

Spiri

t le

ads

men

to

a de

cisio

n.

Not

mer

ely

do t

hey

know

so

met

hing

they

did

not

kno

w b

efor

e; n

ot s

impl

y do

the

y ha

ve n

ew t

houg

hts

and

conc

epts

to

carr

y aw

ay a

nd re

flect

upo

n or

feel

dee

ply

over

; bu

t th

e po

wer

of

the

Spiri

t pre

sses

to

decis

ive

actio

n.

This

is th

e te

st o

f po

wer

.

II

Next

thi

nk o

f th

e pu

rpos

e fo

r w

hich

the

po

wer

is

besto

wed

. Th

is en

duem

ent

of p

ower

is

for

witn

essin

g.

Our

bus

ines

s is

to t

estif

y as

witn

esse

s, no

t to

argu

e as

law

yers

. N

othi

ng

is so

effe

ctiv

e as

the

sim

ple

test

imon

y of

an

hone

st w

itnes

s. Th

e le

arne

d elo

quen

ce o

f th

e at

torn

ey m

ust g

ive

way

bef

ore

it.

And

not

hing

is

simpl

er.

It i

s ju

st t

ellin

g w

hat

we h

ave

seen

, he

ard,

or

expe

rienc

ed.

Jesu

s sa

id,

" W

e sp

eak

that

we

do k

now

, an

d te

stify

tha

t we

ha

ve s

een.

" Jo

hn 3

: 11.

Y

es,

a w

itnes

s m

ust

know

som

ethi

ng.

The

poor

est

peas

ant

can

go

into

cou

rt an

d sa

y, "

I w

itnes

sed

the

deed

, an

d te

stify

to w

hat I

saw

and

hea

rd."

A

witn

ess's

w

ords

are

writ

ten

dow

n in

bla

ck a

nd w

hite

. H

e is

guilt

y of

per

jury

if

he t

ells

augh

t bu

t "t

he t

ruth

, th

e w

hole

trut

h, a

nd n

othi

ng b

ut

102

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Th

e C

omin

g of

the

Spir

it 10

3ii'

the

truth

."

A w

itnes

s do

es n

ot k

eep

back

tes-

timon

y.

He i

s m

indf

ul o

f fac

ts, a

nd f

aith

fully

de

clar

es t

hem

. Ch

ristia

n w

itnes

sing

calls

for

per

sona

l ex

-pe

rienc

e in

the

dee

p th

ings

of

God.

It i

n-clu

des

wha

t one

kno

ws

by th

e di

vine

rev

elat

ion

of th

e W

ord.

Pe

rson

al, e

xper

imen

tal s

alva

tion

is im

pera

tive,

th

e re

aliz

atio

n of

the

th

ings

pr

each

ed.

No m

an h

as a

ny r

ight

to

reco

m-

men

d to

oth

ers

wha

t he

has

not h

imse

lf ta

sted

and

teste

d.

Som

e pe

ople

need

som

ethi

ng t

o te

ll m

ore

than

they

nee

d po

wer

to t

ell

it.

Too

ofte

n we

pre

ach

of th

ings

in w

hich

we

have

no

pers

onal

exp

erien

ce.

1 ea

rnes

tly .

ask:

\V

hat

have

you

to

tell

that

you

are

so

anxi

ous

for

God

to g

ive

you

pow

er t

o te

ll it?

W

hen

Pete

r tol

d th

e pe

ople

to "

repe

nt,"

he

had

him

self

repe

nted

of

his

own

lyin

g, d

enia

l, an

d pr

ofan

ity a

t th

e tim

e of

his

witn

essin

g.

So h

e w

itnes

sed

both

to

the

nece

ssity

of

re-

pent

ance

, an

d to

the

pow

er o

f Go

d to

tra

ns-

form

the

rep

enta

nt o

ne.

He

decl

ared

, II

We

are

His

witn

esse

s of

thes

e th

ings

." A

cts 5

: 32.

Are

you

and

I?

Ver

ily, e

xper

ienc

e lie

s at

the

foun

datio

n of

all

true

witn

essin

g.

And

let

us

not f

orge

t. we

are

to b

e w

itnes

ses

unto

Chr

ist

-ab

out H

im.

Man

y fa

il he

re.

Thus

we

read

in

Luk

e 24

: 46-

48:

"Thu

s it

is

writ

ten,

and

thus

it

beho

oved

Chr

ist

to s

uffe

r, an

d to

rise

,f:

from

th

e de

ad t

he t

hird

day

: an

d th

at r

e-pe

ntan

ce

and

rem

issio

n of

sin

s sh

ould

be

pr

each

ed i

n H

is na

me

amon

g al

l na

tions

, be

-gi

nnin

g at

Jer

usal

em.

And

ye

are

witn

esse

s of

thes

e th

ings

." Th

e w

itnes

s of

the

New

Tes

tam

ent

is co

n-ce

rnin

g C

hris

t: "I

f we

rec

eive

the

witn

ess

of

men

, th

e w

itnes

s of

God

is

grea

ter:

for

this

is th

e w

itnes

s of

God

whi

ch H

e ha

th t

estif

ied

of H

;is S

on."

1 Jo

hn 5

: 9.

If w

e ac

cept

God

's w

itnes

s co

ncer

ning

Chr

ist,

we h

ave

the

per-

sona

l w

itnes

s of

sal

vatio

n:

He

that

beli

eveth

U

on th

e So

n of

God

hat

h th

e w

itnes

s in

him

self:

he

tha

t be

lieve

th n

ot G

od h

ath

mad

e H

im a

lia

r; b

ecau

se h

e be

lieve

th n

ot t

he r

ecor

d th

at

God

gave

of

His

Son.

And

thi

s is

the

reco

rd,

that

God

hat

h gi

ven

to u

s et

erna

l life

, an

d th

is lif

e is

in H

is So

n."

Ver

ses

10,

11.

Then

it

is ou

r pr

ivile

ge a

nd d

uty

to w

itnes

s to

oth

ers,

telli

ng o

ther

s w

hat w

e kn

ow t

o be

tru

e.

This

is th

e gr

eate

st p

rivile

ge o

ffere

d to

sin

ners

sav

ed

by g

race

. Tr

ue w

itnes

sing

is im

poss

ible

save

in

co-

oper

atio

n w

ith

the

Supr

eme

Witn

ess.

The

Jew

ish

law

re

quire

d th

e te

stim

ony

of

two

witn

esse

s. A

nd w

hen

Pete

r pre

ache

d, t

he H

oly

Spiri

t w

as t

he s

econ

d an

d m

ajor

witn

ess.

As

105

104

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Jesu

s ca

me

to b

ear

witn

ess

to t

he t

ruth

, so

th

e H

oly

Spir

it be

ars

witn

ess

only

to

th

e tr

uth,

and

nev

er t

o a

lie,

a pe

rver

sion,

or

a di

stor

tion.

Th

us in

God

's pl

an th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

a j

oint

witn

ess

with

us

. "

Wea

re H

is w

itnes

ses

of t

hese

thi

ngs;

and

so

is al

so t

he

Hol

y G

host,

who

m G

od h

ath

give

n to

the

m t

hat

\' ob

ey H

im."

A

cts

5: 3

2.

Inde

ed,

we a

re n

ot

IIco

nstit

uted

tru

e w

itnes

ses

until

we

rece

ive

the

II po

wer

of t

he H

oly

Spiri

t. I

The

Engl

ish

wor

d" w

itnes

s" c

omes

fro

m

I! th

e A

nglo

-Sax

on "

wita

m,"

mea

ning

I k

now

. O

ne r

easo

n fo

r so

litt

le r

eal

witn

essi

ng i

s be

-ca

use

we

know

so

little

of

the

Lord

Je

sus

Chr

ist

ours

elve

s. W

e ca

nnot

witn

ess

if w

e ha

ve n

othi

ng t

o w

itnes

s to

. It

is

of f

urth

er

I' sig

nific

ance

tha

t th

e G

reek

wor

d fo

r w

itnes

s is

mar

tus,

fro

m w

hich

we

deriv

e th

e En

glis

h w

ord"

mar

tyr."

N

ow a

mar

tyr

is on

e w

ho i

s co

nvin

ced

of t

ruth

and

man

ifest

s it

in li

fe a

nd

deat

h.

The

fires

of

pers

ecut

ion

do n

ot m

ake

mar

tyrs

; th

ey s

impl

y re

veal

the

m.

The

man

wh

o is

not

alre

ady

a m

arty

r ne

ver

lays

dow

n hi

s lif

e fo

r th

e tr

uth.

Th

e m

arty

rs d

ied,

not

to

beco

me

mar

tyrs

, bu

t be

caus

e th

ey

wer

e m

arty

rs.

The

Mas

ter

did

not

cont

empl

ate

disc

iple

s es

peci

ally

tra

ined

to

argu

e an

d ov

erco

me

ob-

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

ject

ion,

or

for

them

to

depe

nd u

pon

lists

of

proo

f te

xts

and

met

hods

of

per

sona

l w

ork,

pr

oper

as

they

all

are;

but

in b

earin

g te

stim

ony

to t

he r

ealit

y of

the

joy

s of

sal

vatio

n in

the

ir ow

n so

uls.

If w

e ar

e sa

ved

from

dea

th th

roug

h th

e m

inis

try o

f som

e ph

ysic

ian,

we

do n

ot n

eed

spec

ial

train

ing

to f

it us

to

pers

uade

oth

ers

to

com

e to

him

. W

e ne

ed t

o re

turn

mor

e an

d m

ore

to s

impl

e, jo

yous

tes

tifyi

ng.

Such

is

the

prim

al p

urpo

se i

n th

e be

stow

al o

f th

e po

wer

of

.the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

III

Aft

er t

he a

scen

sion,

the

ins

pire

d Re

cord

sa

ys:

"The

n re

turn

ed t

hey

unto

Je

rusa

lem

fro

m t

he m

ount

cal

led

Oliv

et,

whi

ch i

s fro

m

Jeru

sale

m a

Sab

bath

day

's jo

urne

y.

And

whe

n th

ey w

ere

com

e in

, the

y w

ent u

p in

to a

n up

per

room

, w

here

abo

de b

oth

Pete

r, an

d Ja

mes

, an

d Jo

hn,

and

And

rew

, Ph

ilip,

and

Tho

mas

, B

ar-

thol

omew

, an

d M

atth

ew,

Jam

es t

he s

on o

f AI

-ph

reus

, an

d Si

mon

Ze

lotes

, an

d Ju

das

the

brot

her

of J

ames

. Th

ese

all

cont

inue

d w

ith

one

acco

rd in

pra

yer

and

supp

licat

ion,

with

the

wom

en,

and

Mar

y th

e m

othe

r of

Jes

us,

and

with

His

bre

thre

n."

Act

s 1:

12-

14.

"And

w

hen

the

day

of P

ente

cost

was

fu

lly c

ome,

107

106

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

they

wer

e al

l w

ith o

ne a

ccor

d in

one

plac

e."

Act

s 2:

1.

Pent

ecos

t w

as o

ne o

f th

e th

ree

grea

t Je

w-

ish f

easts

. It

held

the

cen

tral

plac

e be

twee

n th

e Pa

ssov

er a

nd th

e Fe

ast o

f Ta

bern

acle

s. It

w

as d

epen

dent

upo

n th

e Pa

ssov

er, a

nd w

as d

ated

fif

ty d

ays

afte

r th

e Pa

ssov

er.

If t

here

had

be

en n

o Pa

ssov

er,

ther

e w

ould

hav

e be

en n

o Pe

ntec

ost.

Sim

ilarly

, if t

here

had

bee

n no

Cal-

vary

, the

Hol

y Sp

irit w

ould

not

hav

e co

me.

Pict

ure

if y

ou w

ill t

hose

ten

day

s of

wai

t-in

g be

twee

n th

e as

cens

ion

and

Perit

ecos

t. Th

e an

gels'

wor

ds w

ere

still

ring

ing

in th

e di

scip

les'

ears

. Th

eir

Mas

ter

was

com

ing

back

visi

bly,

bo

dily

. B

ut u

ntil

He

cam

e th

e in

visib

le S

pirit

w

as to

take

His

plac

e. A

nd J

esus

' com

man

d to

"

tarr

y" w

as st

ill fr

esh

and

vivi

d. T

he"

they

" re

ferr

ed t

o w

ere

the

apos

tles,

certa

in w

omen

, an

d so

me

of

the

bret

hren

-on

e hu

ndre

d tw

enty

in

all.

Yet

the

re w

ere

over

fiv

e dr

ed b

reth

ren

who

saw

the

Lor

d af

ter

His

resu

rrec

tion

and

befo

re P

ente

cost.

1

Cor.

15:

6. So

onl

y ab

out

one

in f

our

tarr

ied

as d

i.. re

cted

. Th

ere

may

be

som

e en

cour

agem

ent f

or

us in

tha

t, in

the

lig

ht o

f co

nditi

ons

and

tend

-en

cies

of t

o-da

y.

If w

e ar

e lo

okin

g fo

r th

e wh

ole

chur

ch t

o re

ceiv

e th

e la

tter

rain

, th

at

day

will

nev

er c

ome.

It w

as a

n in

signi

fican

t

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

and

hum

ble

gath

erin

g -

a fe

w p

oor,

unle

arne

d fis

herm

en,

publ

ican

s, an

d ot

her l

owly

fol

k, an

d so

me

hum

ble

wom

en.

Dur

ing

the

ten

days

, jus

t one

thin

g oc

cupi

ed

all t

heir

hear

ts a

nd g

ave

cour

age

for

the

futu

re.

The

"all

" of

the

tex

t in

clud

ed b

oth

apos

tles,

disc

iples

, an

d th

e ot

her

follo

wer

s as

sem

bled

. T

he"

in o

ne p

lace

" w

as t

he t

rans

ient

pha

se,

but

the

"of

one

acco

rd"

is th

e et

erna

l co

n-di

tion.

Th

e pl

ace

mea

ns n

othi

ng t

o-da

y, b

ut

the

acco

rd,

or u

nity

, m

eans

eve

ryth

ing.

A

nd

they

wer

e "s

tead

fast

in

pray

er."

Th

e H

oly

Spiri

t ca

me

at a

pra

yer

mee

ting.

H

eart

bea

t w

ith h

eart,

and

pra

yer

min

gled

with

pra

yer.

And

eve

ry r

ecor

ded

insta

nce

of r

ecei

ving

the

'j

Hol

y Sp

irit i

n th

e N

ew T

esta

men

t, is

prec

eded

by

ear

nest

pra

yer.

I am

afr

aid

we t

o-da

y ar

e fa

iling

rig

ht h

ere.

And

how

ear

nest

ly t

hey

desir

ed t

he g

ift I

How

kee

n w

ere

thei

r reg

rets

ove

r the

ir pr

evio

us

unfa

ithfu

lnes

s. Ho

w de

ep a

nd h

eartf

elt

thei

r co

nfes

sions

one

to

anot

her.

How

the

y se

nsed

th

eir

utte

r he

lple

ssne

ss a

nd n

othi

ngne

ss.

As

each

day

pas

sed,

the

y w

onde

red

if t

he S

pirit

w

ould

com

e th

at d

ay.

Perp

etua

l oc

cupa

tion

may

be

a gr

eate

r los

s of

tim

e th

an d

evou

t wai

t-B

ut h

ow t

hey

need

ed t

he H

oly

Spiri

t! M

ultit

udes

wer

e dy

ing.

109

108

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

The

first,

sec

ond,

thi

rd,

four

th,

and

fifth

da

ys c

ome

and

go.

Why

has

He

not

com

e?

The

sixth

, se

vent

h, a

nd e

ight

h da

ys p

ass.

As

the

days

dra

gged

on,

how

easy

it

wou

ld h

ave

been

to

criti

cize

! N

o w

onde

r He

had

n't

com

e, w

ith T

hom

as a

mon

g th

em,

with

his

doub

ting

disp

ositi

on.

And

Sim

on P

eter

! Ju

st r

emem

-be

r hi

s oa

ths

and

curs

es.

.He

coul

d sc

arce

ly

be t

rust

ed.

And

of

cour

se th

ere

wer

e th

e so

ns

of Z

ebed

ee, w

ho h

ad a

ctua

lly a

sked

for

the

tw

o ch

ief s

eats.

Th

ey s

urel

y w

ere

self-

seek

ers

and

fireb

rand

s, ve

ritab

le "

sons

of

thun

der."

A

nd

then

the

re w

as M

ary

Mag

dale

ne.

Just

rec

all

her

past

. H

ow c

ould

the

Lor

d bl

ess?

Oh

, it

is so

eas

y to

tur

n th

e se

arch

light

on

othe

rs

inst

ead

of o

n se

lf,-

arou

nd i

nste

ad o

f w

ithin

. W

eare

pro

ne to

bla

me

othe

rs f

or o

ur l

ack

of

pow

er.

But

Pen

teco

st pr

oves

tha

t if

our

re-

pent

ance

is t

rue

and

deep

, no

ble

ssin

g is

with

-he

ld b

ecau

se o

f pas

t sin

s. Th

ank

God

for

that

! Le

t us

th

en

draw

tog

ethe

r, an

d dr

aw n

ear

to H

im.

The

nint

h da

y pa

ssed

une

vent

fully

. Pr

ob-

ably

the

y w

onde

red

if th

e Fa

ther

wou

ld f

ulfil

l th

e pr

omise

on

Pent

ecos

t. Th

at m

ust

be H

is pl

an.

The

last

ni

ght

was

do

ubtle

ss

spen

t w

atch

ing,

pra

isin

g, e

ntre

atin

g.

At

leng

th t

he

day

of a

ll da

ys d

awne

d.

Mom

ento

us d

ay!

both

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

for

the

pray

ing

disc

iple

s an

d fo

r th

e su

rgin

g cr

owds

with

out,

as w

ell a

s fo

r m

illio

ns y

et u

n-bo

rn. Th

is is

the

sacr

ed r

ecor

d: "

Sudd

enly

ther

e ca

me

a so

und

from

hea

ven

as o

f a

rush

ing

r1 m

ight

y w

ind,

and

it

filled

all

the

hous

e w

here

th

ey w

ere

sitti

ng.

And

the

re a

ppea

red

unto

th

em c

love

n to

ngue

s lik

e as

of

fire,

and

it sa

t up

on e

ach

of t

hem

."

Act

s 2:

2-4

. Su

dden

ly

ther

e w

as a

sou

nd l

ike

the

roar

of

a te

mpe

st.

It w

as n

ot l

ike

any

ordi

nary

win

d.

It c

ame

neith

er f

rom

nor

th,

east,

sou

th,

nor

wes

t, bu

t fro

m h

eave

n.

It w

as n

ot w

ind,

but

had

the

so

und

of w

ind.

It

was

not

agi

tate

d ai

r, bu

t so

und.

Th

ere

was

no

rush

ing

atm

osph

ere

to

lift

a ha

ir o

r to

fan

a c

heek

. I

repe

at;

it

sugg

este

d w

ind,

but

was

not

win

d.

This

soun

d as

of t

he h

urric

ane

was

hea

rd th

roug

h th

e ci

ty

by t

he m

ultit

udes

in

the

early

mor

ning

hou

r. (V

erse

6, A

. R. V

.) It

settl

ed u

pon

or c

ente

red

in o

ne p

lace

, fill

ing

the

hous

e w

here

the

disc

iple

s w

ere

gath

ered

. It

reca

lled

Jesu

s' st

atem

ent

to

Nic

odem

us, "

The

win

d bl

owet

h w

here

it li

steth

, an

d th

ou h

eare

st t

he s

ound

the

reof

, bu

t ca

nst

not t

ell w

henc

e it

com

eth,

and

whi

ther

it g

oeth

: so

is

ever

yone

tha

t is

born

of

the

Spiri

t."

And

the

re a

ppea

red

"clo

ven

tong

ues

like

as o

f fir

e."

They

wer

e fo

rked

, di

vide

d, l

umi-

111 110

The Coming of the Com

forter

nou!, having the color and appearance of fire. They were not fire,

but only appeared as of fire.

Sitting one upon each, they were visible

to each person's neighbor, but not to himself.

These two sym

bols,-the rushing wind and

the fiery tongues,-appealing to the seeing and the hearing, w

ere only temporary m

anifesta-tions that called attention to the descent of the unseen, unheard Spirit who had com

e. They

were signs calling attention to the pow

er pres-ent, but w

ere not that power.

But the eye

joined the ear in testifying to

its presence. They w

ere mere accom

paniments, and had no

value except as signs for the mom

ent, marking

the official inauguration of the Holy Spirit as

Comforter throughout this dispensation.

The essential fact of Pentecost w

as neither of these sym

bols, but the coming of the Spirit, who, I

would

emphasize,

was

unseen and

unheard. The suprem

ely important thing is that the dis-

ciples were filled w

ith the Spirit. This essen-

tial provision was to rem

ain with the church.

'When N

ansen started on his Arctic expedi-

tion, he took a carrier pigeon with him

. A

fter a tim

e he wrote a tiny m

essage and fastened it to the bird.

Then he took the pigeon and tossed it into the air.

It made three circles,

and straight as an arrow it flew for a thousand

The Coming of the Spirit

miles over ice and a thousand m

iles over water,

and at last dropped into the cote at the home

of the explorer's wife, and she knew

that all w

as well.

So with the com

ing of the Holy Spirit.

It w

as Heaven's signal to earth that Jesus' sac-

rifice was accepted of the Father, and that H

e had taken H

is place at God's right hand, w

ith H

is full prerogatives. So all the Spirit's spe-

cial work for the w

orld during this dispensation found its initial realization and fulfillm

ent at Pentecost.

A new

day had dawned in hum

an history, a new

departure was initiated in the

economy of God, a new

era in intercourse be-tw

een God and man.

A new

order of things w

as ushered in at Pentecost, a new relation-

ship of which the Old Testam

ent types and shadow

s were the w

hisperings. They w

ere like gleam

s of early light or songs of hope in the night -

visions of glorious, coming things now

realized. .. W

hen Christ passed w

ithin the heavenly gates, H

e was enthroned am

idst the adoration of the angels. A

s soon as this ceremony w

as completed, the H

oly Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and C

hrist was indeed glorified, even w

ith the glory w

hich He had w

ith the Father from all eternity.

The Pentecostal outpouring w

as Heaven's com

munication

that the Redeem

er's inauguration was accom

plished.

113

112

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Acc

ordi

ng to

His

pro

mis

e H

e ha

d se

nt th

e H

oly

Spir

it fr

om h

eave

n to

His

follo

wer

s, as

a t

oken

tha

t H

e ha

d,

as p

ries

t and

kin

g, re

ceiv

ed a

ll au

thor

ity in

hea

ven

and

on e

arth

, and

was

the

Ano

inte

d O

ne o

ver

His

peo

ple.

" _

tt T

he A

cts

of th

e Ap

ostle

s,"

pp. 3

8, 3

9.

The

pow

ers

of t

he u

nsee

n w

orld

wer

e re

-le

ased

, an

d flo

oded

the

liv

es o

f th

e di

scip

les

in

the

uppe

r ro

om.

Ther

e w

as

new

lif

e an

d po

wer

in

th

e w

orld

. Th

e H

oly

Spir

it ha

d co

me,

not

as a

tem

pora

ry v

isito

r, up

on s

ome

lone

ly,

loya

l w

atch

er,

but

in p

erm

anen

t ab

id-

ing

maj

esty

, to

dwell

in a

ll yi

elde

d liv

es.

Sinc

e Pe

ntec

ost H

is re

siden

ce h

as b

een

on e

arth

, ju

st

as J

esus

' res

iden

ce w

as h

ere

durin

g th

e th

irty

-th

ree

year

s. Th

us w

as m

arke

d th

e in

augu

ra-

tion

of a

spe

cial

wor

k to

con

tinue

unt

il Je

sus

retu

rns

in g

lory

at

His

sec

ond

adve

nt.

So

we d

o no

t w

ait

for

His

com

ing.

Th

e H

oly

Spir

it ca

me

to 'a

dmin

iste

r th

e lif

e an

d po

wer

of

the

risen

Chr

ist,

and

to a

pply

to

tru

stin

g so

uls

the

actu

al v

alue

of

the

cros

s, w

orki

ng o

ut

in u

s th

e co

nseq

uenc

es

of H

is

rede

emin

g w

ork,

bot

h as

rel

ates

to

the

pow

er

and

the

guilt

of

sin.

So t

he c

omin

g of

the

Sp

irit,

mak

ing

effe

ctiv

e th

e pr

ovisi

on o

f th

e cr

oss,

was

the

daw

n of

the

brig

htes

t day

sin

ce

the

fall,

to

be o

utsh

one

only

by

the

crow

ning

da

y w

hen

Jesu

s re

turn

s bo

dily

and

visi

bly

to

recl

aim

His

per

fect

ed p

eopl

e w

ho a

re w

aitin

g

i Th

e C

omin

g of

the

Spir

it II

trans

latio

n da

y, a

nd th

ose

who

m H

e ca

lls f

rom

t ,"

thei

r du

sty

beds

. It

bro

ught

the

rea

lizat

ion

of d

ivin

e lif

e an

d po

wer

int

o m

an's

inne

r lif

e, i,

tow

ard

whi

ch t

he p

lan

of G

od h

ad b

een

mov

ing

in th

e pr

evio

us d

ispen

satio

n.

Ther

e ar

e va

rious

w

ays

in

'whi

ch

God

spea

ks o

f th

is g

reat

tra

nsac

tion.

H

e" g

ives

" th

e Sp

irit

(Luk

e 11

: 13;

Joh

n 14

: 16)

; H

e "

send

s" (

John

15:

26;

16:

7) ;

He

" su

pplie

s"

( Gal.

3:

5,

A.

R.

V.)

; H

e "p

ours

fo

rth"

(A

cts

2: 3

3;

Joel

2:

28)

; an

d H

e "p

uts

with

in"

(Eze

. 36

: 27)

. In

His

com

ing

He

" pr

ocee

ded"

( Jo

hn 1

5: 2

6),

He

" fe

ll" (

Act

s 10

: 44)

, and

He"

des

cend

ed"

(Joh

n 1:

32,

33)

. In

it a

ll th

ere

is di

vine

aut

horit

y, d

ivin

e gr

ace,

di

vine

sov

erei

gnty

, and

div

ine

solic

itude

. A

s th

e Be

thle

hem

man

ger

was

the

cra

dle

of C

hris

t, so

the

Jeru

sale

m u

pper

room

was

the

plac

e of

the

adve

nt o

f th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. Pe

nte-

cost

was

His

inst

alla

tion

day

in t

he s

ame

way

th

at w

e sp

eak

of t

hat

hour

in

Beth

lehe

m a

s th

e bi

rthd

ay o

f C

hris

t, th

ough

bot

h ex

isted

be-

fore

. A

nd i

n a

mar

velo

us s

ense

thi

s is

true,

fo

r on

tha

t da

y th

e H

oly

Spir

it be

gan,

und

er

new

co

nditi

ons

and

new

m

anife

stat

ions

, im

-po

ssib

le b

efor

e, H

is ca

reer

in

His

offic

ial c

a-pa

city

as

Adv

ocat

e on

ear

th o

f ou

r gl

orifi

ed

Lord

Jes

us C

hris

t in

hea

ven.

Th

ere

was

a

8

115

114

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

diffe

renc

e th

ence

forth

in H

is m

issio

n.

He

cam

e as

the

Spi

rit

of C

hris

t, to

brin

g H

is p

erso

nal

pres

ence

to

th

e so

ul.

He

unde

rsta

nds

our

need

s. He

is

able

to

succ

or.

He

is to

uche

d w

ith t

he f

eelin

gs o

f ou

r in

firm

ities

. H

e pr

ays

for

us w

ith g

roan

ings

tha

t ca

nnot

be

utte

red

in w

ords

. V,

hat

had

been

pr

omise

d in

th

e G

ospe

ls w

as e

xper

ienc

ed i

n th

e A

cts.

The

Mas

ter's

pr

omise

was

ful

fille

d to

the

let

ter.

The

dis-

cipl

es w

ere

ther

eby

com

plet

ely

chan

ged,

an

d tu

rned

the

wor

ld u

psid

e do

wn.

Be

fore

Pen

te-

cost

the

disc

iple

s lo

ved

thei

r Lo

rd,

but

wer

e un

able

to

witn

ess

effe

ctua

lly,

in t

he s

ense

Je-

sus

desig

ned.

Th

ey w

ere

devo

ted

but d

efea

ted.

A

fterw

ard,

cow

ards

bec

ame

brav

e, a

nd b

osom

s th

at h

eave

d w

ith r

ival

ry a

nd s

uspi

cion

wer

e fil

led w

ith h

umili

ty a

nd lo

ve.

Befo

re P

ente

cost,

Jam

es a

nd J

ohn

wer

e na

r-ro

w a

nd in

tole

rant

. W

hen

a fe

w t

imid

Sam

ar-

itans

re

fuse

d to

re

ceiv

e th

eir

Mas

ter,

thes

e ze

alot

s w

ante

d to

with

er t

hem

with

fire

. A

nd

they

w

ere

filled

w

ith

smal

l, un

wor

thy

am-

bitio

n -

they

wan

ted

the

fron

t se

ats

in t

he

king

dom

. A

fter

Pen

teco

st t

he l

ow

ambi

tion

and

bigo

try w

ere

gone

. J a

mes

be

cam

e th

e m

ig'ht

y m

an o

f pr

ayer

, an

d Jo

hn t

he s

pirit

ual

and

low

ly o

ne w

ho c

augh

t the

sw

eete

st w

hisp

ers

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

of d

ivin

e lov

e. Th

en t

here

was

the

tim

id s

on

of J

onas

who

cow

ered

lik

e a

shee

p be

fore

the

ta

untin

g qu

estio

n of

a s

erva

nt g

irl.

But

afte

r-w

ard

he s

tood

lik

e a

lion,

and

cha

rged

upo

n pr

iest

and

rab

ble

the

mur

der

of t

he S

on

of

God

until

the

cro

wd

beca

me

a re

vere

nt c

on-

greg

atio

n, a

nd t

hous

ands

crie

d ou

t to

God

for

m

ercy

. Co

unci

ls of

cle

ver

men

wer

e un

able

to

with

stan

d th

e di

scip

les.

They

wer

e th

e sa

me

men

, ye

t di

ffere

nt.

Each

ret

aine

d th

e sa

me

char

acte

ristic

s, ye

t w

as d

iffer

ent.

Wha

t m

ade

the

chan

ge?

Ther

e is

only

one

exp

lana

tion,

-

they

wer

e "f

illed

with

the

Spi

rit;

" th

ey

had

rece

ived

the

" po

wer

fro

m o

n hi

gh."

IV

And

wha

t do

es

this

m

ean

and

invo

lve?

D

urin

g ou

r Lo

rd's

thre

e ye

ars

of i

nter

cour

se

with

the

disc

iple

s, H

e sp

ared

no

pain

s to

tea

ch

and

trai

n th

em.

He

inst

ruct

ed,

adm

onish

ed,

and

plea

ded;

He

rebu

ked

and

exho

rted.

B

ut in

m

ost

resp

ects

the

disc

iple

s re

mai

ned

as t

hey

wer

e.

And

why

?-Be

caus

e th

ey h

ad o

nly

the

outw

ard

teac

hing

s of

an

exte

rnal

Chr

ist.

And

th

is w

as n

ot s

uffic

ient

to

rede

em t

hem

fro

m

the

pow

er o

f in

dwel

ling

sin.

He

was

wor

king

up

on t

hem

lar

gely

by

exte

rnal

wor

d an

d in

flu-

117

116

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

ence

, w

hen

here

in

the

flesh

. "B

ut t

he C

om-

forte

r, w

hich

is

the

Hol

y G

host,

w

hom

th

e Fa

ther

will

sen

d in

My

nam

e, H

e sh

all

teac

h yo

u al

l th

ings

, an

d br

ing

all

thin

gs t

o yo

ur

rem

embr

ance

, w

hatso

ever

I

have

sa

id

unto

yo

u."

John

14:

26.

"I

hav

e ye

t m

any

thin

gs

to

say

unto

yo

u,

but

ye c

anno

t be

ar t

hem

no

w.

How

beit

whe

n H

e, th

e Sp

irit

of t

ruth

, is

com

e, H

e w

ill g

uide

you

int

o al

l tr

uth.

" Jo

hn 1

6: 1

2, 1

3.

Thro

ugh

the

com

ing

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it at

Pe

ntec

ost

He

took

up

His

abod

e in

the

m a

s an

in

dwel

ling

pres

ence

. H

e fil

led t

he i

nner

mos

t re

cess

es o

f th

eir

bein

g, a

nd b

ecam

e th

e ve

ry

life

of t

heir

liv

es.

Thus

the

tra

nsfo

rmat

ion

befo

re u

nacc

ompl

ished

was

ach

ieve

d by

the

in-

dwel

ling

Chr

ist w

hen

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

desc

ende

d.

This

glor

ious

fac

t and

pro

visio

n w

as th

e so

urce

of

all

the

othe

r bl

essin

gs t

hat

cam

e at

Pen

te-

cost.

"It

is t

hrou

gh t

he S

piri

t th

at C

hris

t dw

ells

in

us;

and

the

Spir

it of

God

, re

ceiv

ed i

nto

the

hear

t by

fa

ith, i

s th

e be

ginn

ing

of th

e lif

e et

erna

1." -

" T

he D

e-si

re o

f Age

s,"

p. 38

8.

H O

n th

e da

y of

Pen

teco

st th

e pr

omis

ed C

omfo

rter

de

scen

ded,

and

the

pow

er f

rom

on

high

was

giv

en,

and

the

soul

s of

the

bel

ieve

rs t

hrill

ed w

ith

the

con-

scio

us p

rese

nce

of th

eir

asce

nded

Lor

d." _

H T

he G

reat

C

ontr

over

sy,"

p. 3

51.

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

<t Th

e in

exha

ustib

le su

pplie

s of

hea

ven

are

at th

eir

com

man

d.

Chr

ist

give

s th

em t

he b

reat

h of

His

ow

n Sp

irit,

the

life

of

His

ow

n li

fe."

-H G

ospe

l W

orke

rs,"

pa

ge 1

12.

"0

my

bret

hren

, will

you

gri

eve

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

an

d ca

use

it to

dep

art?

W

ill y

ou s

hut o

ut th

e bl

esse

d Sa

viou

r, be

caus

e yo

u ar

e un

prep

ared

for

His

pre

s-en

ce? "-

Mrs

. E. G

. Whi

te, i

n th

e Re

view

and

Her

ald,

M

arch

22,

188

7.

The

very

Spi

rit

who

mad

e th

e in

carn

atio

n of

Bet

hleh

em p

ossib

le, n

ow d

well

s in

sin

ful m

en.

It is

the

only

pos

sible

exp

lana

tion

of P

ente

cost.

Je

sus'

earth

ly s

tay

was

with

men

, ye

t ou

tside

of

men

. N

ow w

e ha

ve H

is lif

e in

us

thro

ugh

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

John

14

: 16-

18,

2,0.

The

chan

ge i

n co

war

dly

Pete

r ca

me

beca

use

the

cour

ageo

us v

icto

r, ev

en

Jesu

s H

imse

lf,

now

dw

elt

in H

im.

The

cour

age

of J

esus

w

as

com

mun

icat

ed t

o hi

s so

ul b

y vi

rtue

of P

eter

's un

ion

with

Him

. W

hen

He

took

up

His

abod

e in

Joh

n, t

he l

ove,

hum

ility

, th

e su

bjec

tion

to

the

Fath

er, t

he s

elf-s

acrif

ice,

of t

he lo

wly

Jes

us

Him

self

cam

e in

to a

nd a

nim

ated

him

. A

nd

the

chan

ge w

roug

ht w

ithin

the

disc

iple

s fit

ted

them

fo

r tr

ue

and

effe

ctiv

e se

rvic

e. Th

eir

new

visi

on w

as n

ot s

impl

y fro

m w

ithou

t, bu

t w

as t

he a

ctua

l ou

tshi

ning

of

His

life

. Be

fore

th

e cr

oss

they

had

ass

ocia

ted

with

the

ext

er-

nal

Chr

ist a

nd w

ere

reve

rent

. N

ow t

hey

wer

e co

mra

des

with

H

im

thro

ugh

His

ind

wel

ling

119

118

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

life.

A

nd

this

cha

nged

the

ir w

hole

outlo

ok

and

beha

vior

. It

was

thu

s th

ey w

ere

equi

pped

fo

r th

eir

appa

rent

ly im

poss

ible

tas

k.

This

al

so

is th

e on

ly

real

an

d ge

nuin

e w

ay t

o liv

e a

vict

orio

us,

triu

mph

ant

life,

and

ac

tual

ly t

o ov

erco

me

the

pow

er o

f si

n in

the

da

ily l

ife w

hile

liv

ing

in t

he f

lesh.

So m

any

have

the

ir ey

es f

ixed

on

the

exte

rnal

, hi

stor

ic

Chr

ist

of

nine

teen

hu

ndre

d ye

ars

ago,

an

d w

hom

we

mus

t kn

ow,

that

the

y fa

il to

rea

lize

that

Pen

teco

st pr

ovid

ed f

or H

is dw

ellin

g in

us

and

wor

king

in

us.

It i

s th

us t

hat

He

is m

ade

unto

us

"san

ctifi

catio

n,"

just

as

His

aton

ing

deat

h,

prec

eded

by

His

sinle

ss

life,

prov

ides

for

our

"ju

stif

icat

ion.

" O

ur g

lorif

ied,

asc

ende

d Lo

rd,

who

lived

in

the

flesh

am

ong

men

, no

w d

wel

ls in

men

by

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

impa

rting

the

ver

y ob

edien

ce

and

char

acte

ristic

s of

His

own

life

to t

hem

. In

thi

s di

spen

satio

n th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

near

er

than

with

men

, H

e is

with

in th

em.

It is

thi

s th

at m

akes

the

diff

eren

ce.

Thus

the

yie

lded

lif

e is

brou

ght

unde

r th

e im

med

iate

con

trol

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it fr

om w

ithin

as

an a

bid-

ing

Pres

ence

. Th

en

the

new

co

mm

andm

ent

can

be r

ealiz

ed.

The

sniri

t an

d lo

ve o

f Je

sus

fill

the

life

beca

use

He

fills

it.

"Tha

t H

e w

ould

gra

nt y

ou,

acco

rdin

g to

the

ric

hes

of

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

His

glor

y, t

o be

stre

ngth

ened

with

mig

ht b

y H

is S

piri

t in

the

inn

er m

an;

that

Chr

ist

may

dw

ell i

n yo

ur h

earts

by

faith

; th

at y

e, be

ing

root

ed a

nd g

roun

ded

in l

ove,

may

be

able

to

com

preh

end

with

all

sain

ts w

hat i

s th

e br

eadt

h,

and

leng

th,

and

dept

h,

and

heig

ht;

and

to

know

the

lov

e of

Chr

ist,

whi

ch p

asse

th k

now

l-ed

ge,

that

ye

mig

ht b

e fil

led

with

all

the

full-

ness

of G

od."

Eph.

3: 1

6-19

. B

ut b

e it

cle

arly

no

ted

that

thi

s is

the

dire

ct a

ntith

esis

and

an

tidot

e of

any

pan

thei

stic

phi

loso

phy,

or

of

the

ratio

nalis

tic

doct

rine

of

"div

ine

imm

a-ne

nce.

" To

wor

k fo

r Go

d is

one

thin

g; b

ut to

hav

e Go

d w

ork

thro

ugh

us i

s an

othe

r. It

is

one

thin

g to

for

sake

the

wor

ld t

o fo

llow

C

hris

t; it

is q

uite

ano

ther

to b

e on

e in

who

m t

he H

oly

Spiri

t dw

ells

abun

dant

ly w

ith H

is pl

enitu

de o

f po

wer

and

gra

ce.

Pent

ecos

t te

ache

s us

tha

t it

isn

't a

chan

ge o

f m

en t

hat

is ne

eded

, bu

t ch

ange

d m

en.

It is

the

old

pre

ache

rs w

ith a

ne

w

pow

er t

hat

will

fin

ish

our

wor

ld

task

. A

nd G

od c

anno

t do

som

ethi

ng

revo

lutio

nary

w

ith m

en u

ntil

He

has

first

don

e so

met

hing

re

volu

tiona

ry f

or

men

th

roug

h th

e in

com

ing

of t

he H

oly

Spiri

t. Th

at i

s w

hy i

t w

as n

eces

sary

for

Chr

ist

to g

o aw

ay, i

n or

der

that

the

Com

forte

r m

ight

121

120

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

com

e an

d liv

e in

us.

All

His

earth

ly w

ork

for

them

fou

nd i

ts f

ruita

ge

and

real

izat

ion

for

them

at P

ente

cost.

B

ut o

ne s

tep

mor

e re

mai

ns,

-H

is gl

orio

us b

odily

ret

urn

whe

n w

e sh

all

be l

ike

Him

, fo

r w

e sh

all

see

Him

as

He

is,

with

no

dim

min

g ve

il be

twee

n.

Then

sha

ll we

ta

lk o

penl

y to

Him

with

who

m w

e no

w c

om-

mun

e th

roug

h th

e H

oly

Spiri

t.

V N

ote

next

the

effe

ct u

pon

Pete

r, th

e bu

rn-

ing

prea

cher

of

Pent

ecos

t. A

n ho

ur b

efor

e th

e in

fillin

g of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

he w

as u

nfit

to w

itnes

s ef

fect

ually

; no

w h

e is

fitte

d.

Stud

y hi

s se

rmon

. Th

e ap

ostle

s an

d th

e se

vent

y ha

d pr

each

ed

man

y a

serm

on

befo

re

Pent

ecos

t, bu

t th

e H

oly

Spiri

t ne

ver

saw

fit

to r

ecor

d a

singl

e on

e of

them

. B

ut t

he s

erm

on o

f Pe

nte-

cost

reco

rded

at

leng

th b

y in

spira

tion

is fu

ll of

im

porta

nce

both

as

to t

he t

rue

met

hod

and

the

subj

ect

mat

ter

of p

reac

hing

, an

d th

e re

-su

lts a

s w

ell.

Obs

erve

tha

t Pe

ter

stoo

d up

. Th

at w

as n

ew a

nd r

evol

utio

nary

; it

was

dif-

fere

nt fr

om th

e ra

bbis

. Th

ey s

at, w

hile

her

alds

sto

od to

del

iver

thei

r mes

sage

s. So

the

apos

tles

wer

e no

t m

erel

y te

ache

rs,

but

hera

lds.

And

th

en P

eter

spo

ke f

orth

. H

e en

unci

ated

cle

arly

an

d co

rrect

ly, s

o th

at a

ll he

ard

and

unde

rsto

od.

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

Pete

r be

gan

with

th

e th

ings

th

ey k

new

an

d le

d th

em i

nto

the

unkn

own.

Th

at i

s th

e tr

ue a

rt o

f pr

each

ing.

Y

et t

he s

erm

on w

as

dest

itute

of

eith

er l

ogic

al a

rgum

ent

or r

heto

r-ic

al a

dorn

men

t. It

was

a s

impl

e st

atem

ent

of

grea

t fa

cts

to w

hich

he

gave

per

sona

l w

itnes

s. Th

ey s

eem

foo

lish

in th

eir

utte

r sim

plic

ity a

nd

wea

knes

s; ye

t th

ree

thou

sand

wer

e sa

ved

by

the

simpl

e re

cita

l. Th

e Sp

irit

mus

t eq

uip

the

prea

cher

, or

his

serm

on d

egen

erat

es i

nto

life-

less

rh

etor

ic

and

hear

tless

ar

gum

ent.

We

vitia

te th

e po

wer

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit b

y le

anin

g so

muc

h up

on o

ur h

uman

rea

soni

ngs.

Oh,

it

is t

he d

ivin

e po

tenc

y of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

that

w

e pr

each

ers

need

ab

ove

all

else.

Of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

Chr

ist

said

thr

ee t

hing

s:

"He

will

con

vict

the

wor

ld;"

" H

e w

ill g

uide

you

; "

and

" H

e w

ill g

lorif

y M

e."

So P

eter

's se

rmon

w

as f

ull

of C

hris

t. Th

e H

oly

Spir

it w

as l

ike

a m

ight

y tel

esco

pe,

as i

t w

ere,

.brin

ging

Chr

ist

near

. So

will

eve

ry P

ente

costa

l se

rmon

be

to-

day,

irr

espe

ctiv

e of

the

phas

e of

pre

sent

tru

th

bein

g se

t for

th.

Of

cour

se t

he c

ry o

f "f

anat

icis

m"

was

ra

ised

. A

Spi

rit-fi

lled

chur

ch o

r pr

each

er w

ill

pres

ent

to t

he w

orld

the

spe

ctac

le o

f su

per-

natu

ral

phen

omen

a. A

nd s

uch

pres

enta

tions

pr

oduc

e w

onde

r, pe

rple

xity

, an

d cr

itici

sm.

122

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Pete

r sp

oke

forth

bu

rnin

g co

nvic

tions

. Th

ere

wer

e no

pro

babi

litie

s or

sup

posit

ions

in

his

disc

ours

e, no

the

orie

s, no

com

prom

ises.

It

was

sta

lwar

tly c

oura

geou

s. It

pre

sent

ed t

he

fact

of

Jesu

s, an

d H

is pe

rfect

ion

of l

ife,

His

vica

rious

dea

th,

His

resu

rrec

tion

and

exal

taw

tion,

and

the

pou

ring

forth

of

u th

is."

Th

at

four

-lette

r w

ord,

T-H

-I-S,

is

the

key

wor

d of

th

e se

rmon

. Th

e m

ultit

ude

aske

d,

"Wha

t m

eane

th t

his?

" V

erse

12.

A

nd

Pete

r an

-sw

erin

g sa

id,

"Thi

s is

that

whi

ch w

as s

poke

n by

the

pro

phet

Joe

l" (

vers

e 16

); a

nd s

wee

p-in

g th

roug

h th

e se

rmon

, we

rea

ch t

he c

limax

H

in v

erse

33:

Th

eref

ore

bein

g by

the

rig

ht

hand

of

God

exal

ted,

and

re

ceiv

ed o

f th

e Fa

ther

the

pro

mise

of

the

Hol

y G

host,

H

e ha

th s

hed

forth

thi

s, w

hich

ye

now

see

and

hear

."

The

" th

is"

incl

uded

all

that

they

had

bo

th s

een

and

hear

d, a

nd w

hich

had

cau

sed

thei

r pe

rple

xity

. Li

nkin

g w

ith p

roph

ecy,

he

led.

dire

ctly

to t

he m

inis

tratio

n of

Chr

ist.

Then

wer

e m

en U

pr

icke

d in

the

ir h

eart,

" an

d "

thre

e th

ousa

nd s

ouls

" w

ere

adde

d to

the

Lo

rd.

It w

as n

ot th

e ou

tflow

of h

uman

ene

rgy,

ze

al, l

ogica

l ar

gum

ent,

wisd

om,

or e

loqu

ence

. No

adv

ertis

ing

nor o

rgan

izin

g po

wer

acc

ount

ed

for

thei

r cr

owds

and

res

ults.

It

was

the

con

-vi

ctin

g, c

onve

rting

pow

er o

f th

e H

oly

Spiri

t.

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

_ 12

3

It w

as th

e de

clar

atio

n of

the

Lord

ship

of

Jesu

s, in

the

pow

er o

f th

e Sp

irit,

back

ed b

y pe

rson

al

witn

essin

g to

the

rea

lity.

It

pro

duce

d co

n-vi

ctio

n an

d in

quiry

, in

stru

ctio

n an

d ex

horta

-tio

n,

obed

ience

an

d ad

ditio

n to

th

e ch

urch

. Th

at c

alle

d fo

r th

e H

oly

Spiri

t, no

w p

oure

d ou

t upo

n" al

l fles

h."

That

swee

ps in

the

whol

e ra

ce.

It ca

nnot

be

narro

wed

to a

nyth

ing

smal

-le

r tha

n th

e en

tire

hum

an fa

mily

. A

nd w

e ar

e in

deed

am

ong

the

"far

-off

" on

es o

f ve

rse

39:

"The

pro

mise

is

unto

you

, an

d to

you

r ch

il-dr

en,

and

to

all t

hat

are

afar

off,

eve

n as

m

any

as t

he L

ord

our

God

shal

l ca

ll."

As t

o th

e re

sult

of P

ente

cost,

th

ere

was

fir

st

a w

itnes

sing,

th

en

oppo

sitio

n;

soon

an

ou

tbre

ak o

f pe

rsec

utio

n, a

nd l

ater

mar

tyrd

om

for

man

y.

Pers

ecut

ion

scat

tere

d th

em f

rom

ce

ntra

lizat

ion.

Th

e sa

me

will

co

me

to

us.

Pent

ecos

t bro

ught

a n

ew c

onst

rain

t an

d a n

ew

conv

ictio

n.

It

clea

red

up

misc

once

ptio

ns.

Ther

e w

as

a gr

eat

wav

e of

ev

ery-

mem

ber

evan

gelis

m t

hat

spre

ad o

ut f

rom

Je

rusa

lem

. D

iscip

les

wen

t eve

ryw

here

pre

achi

ng th

e w

ord.

Th

e pe

rsec

utio

n tra

nsfo

rmed

the

m i

nto

mis-

siona

ries.

Mea

ns f

lowe

d in

to th

e tre

asur

y.

It

is m

y co

nvic

tion

that

the

sam

e pr

oces

s w

ill b

e re

peat

ed w

ith u

s, to

acc

ompl

ish o

ur d

ecen

tral-

izat

ion.

125

124

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

" Se

lling

thei

r ho

uses

or t

heir

land

s, th

ey b

roug

ht

the

mon

ey,

and

laid

it

at t

he a

post

les'

feet

, 'a

nd d

is-tr

ibut

ion

was

mad

e un

to e

very

man

acc

ordi

ng a

s he

ha

d ne

ed.'

This

libe

ralit

y on

the

part

of

the

belie

vers

w

as th

e re

sult

of th

e ou

tpou

ring

of t

he S

piri

t."-" T

he

Act

s of

the

Apos

tles,

" p.

70.

Such

was

the

stQ

ry Q

f the

ear

ly r

ain.

U

nder

the

dQwn

pQur

Qf t

he l

atte

r ra

in th

ese

thin

gs w

ill n

Qt Q

nly b

e pa

ralle

led,

but

surp

asse

d.

Mig

hty

thin

gs w

ill h

appe

n, a

nd t

hat

spee

dily

. PQ

wer

is al

way

s m

anife

sted

in

actiQ

n. Th

at

is th

e la

w Q

f PQ

wer.

May

GQd

qui

ckly

brin

g th

is h

Qly

actiQ

n to'

cu

t sh

Qrt

and

finish

the

wQ

rk i

n rig

hteQ

usne

ss.

Whe

n C

hris

t w

as Q

n ea

rth,

He

sPQk

e to

th

e de

ad a

nd c

alle

d th

em b

ack

to' l

ife.

But

I

am p

ersu

aded

tha

t it

is

a gr

eate

r th

ing

to'

influ

ence

suc

cess

fully

a l

ivin

g m

an's

stubb

Qrn

w

ill t

hat

is se

t ag

ains

t GQ

d. It

is a

gre

ater

m

iracl

e to'

qui

cken

spi

ritua

lly a

sin

ning

, ha

ting

man

th

an

to'

quic

ken

the

phys

ical

ly

dead

. Th

at is

und

Qub

tedl

y w

hat

Jesu

s m

eant

w

hen

He

decl

ared

to'

His

astQ

nish

ed d

iscip

les,

" G

reat

er w

Qrks

tha

n th

ese

shal

l he

dQ.

" JQ

hn

14: 1

2.

That

was

the

mira

cle

Qf P

entec

Qst,

as

thre

e th

Qus

and

SQuls

, fill

ed w

ith p

reju

dice

, mal

-ice

, bi

ttern

ess,

thei

r ha

nds

drip

ping

with

the

blQ

Qd Q

f Je

sus,

whQm

the

y de

teste

d, r

epen

ted

and

crQ

wne

d H

im b

Qth

LQrd

and

Chr

ist.

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

"The

se sc

enes

are

to b

e re

peat

ed, a

nd w

ith g

reat

er

pow

er.

The

outp

ouri

ng o

f the

Hol

y Sp

irit

on t

he d

ay

of P

ente

cost

was

the

for

mer

rai

n, b

ut t

he l

atte

r ra

in

will

be

mor

e ab

unda

nt.

The

Spir

it aw

aits

our

dem

and

and

rece

ptio

n.

Chr

ist

is a

gain

to

be r

evea

led

in H

is

fulln

ess

by t

he H

oly

Spir

it's

pow

er."

-" C

hris

t's O

b-je

ct L

esso

ns,"

p. 1

21.

"To

us t

o-da

y, a

s ve

rily

as

to t

he f

irst

disc

iple

s, th

e pr

omis

e of

the

Spi

rit

belo

ngs.

God

will

to-

day

endo

w m

en a

nd w

omen

with

pow

er f

rom

abo

ve,

as

He

endo

wed

tho

se w

ho o

n th

e da

y of

Pen

teco

st h

eard

th

e w

ord

of s

alva

tion.

A

t th

is v

ery

hour

His

Spi

rit

and

His

gra

ce a

re f

or a

ll w

ho n

eed

them

and

will

tak

e H

im a

t H

is w

ord.

"-H

Tes

timon

ies,

" Vo

l; VI

II,

p. 20

. "

The

grea

t wor

k of

the

gosp

el is

not

to c

lose

with

le

ss m

anif

esta

tion

of t

he p

ower

of

God

tha

n m

arke

d its

ope

ning

. Th

e pr

ophe

cies

whi

ch w

ere

fulfi

lled

in

the

outp

ouri

ng o

f th

e fo

rmer

rai

n at

the

ope

ning

of

the

gosp

el,

are

agai

n to

be

fulfi

lled

in t

he l

atte

r ra

in

at i

ts c

lose

. H

ere

are

(the

tim

es o

f re

fres

hing

' to

w

hich

the

apo

stle

Pet

er lo

oked

for

war

d w

hen

he s

aid,

( R

epen

t ye

ther

efor

e, a

nd b

e co

nver

ted,

tha

t you

r si

ns

may

be

blot

ted

out w

hen

the

times

of

refr

eshi

ng s

hall

com

e fr

om th

e pr

esen

ce o

f the

Lor

d; a

nd H

e sh

all s

end

Jesu

s.' " Se

rvan

ts o

f G

od, w

ith th

eir f

aces

ligh

ted

up a

nd

shin

ing

with

hol

y co

nsec

ratio

n, w

ill h

aste

n fr

om p

lace

to

pla

ce t

o pr

ocla

im t

he m

essa

ge f

rom

hea

ven.

B

y th

ousa

nds

of v

oice

s, al

l ov

er t

he e

arth

, th

e w

arni

ng

will

be

give

n.

Mira

cles

will

be

wro

ught

, th

e si

ck w

ill

be h

eale

d, a

nd s

igns

and

won

ders

will

fol

low

the

be-

lieve

rs.

Sata

n al

so w

orks

with

lyi

ng w

onde

rs,

even

br

ingi

ng d

own

fire

from

hea

ven

in t

he s

ight

of

men

. Th

us t

he i

nhab

itant

s of

the

ear

th w

ill b

e br

ough

t to

ta

ke th

eir

stan

d.

127

126

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

"The

mes

sage

will

be

carr

ied

not

so m

uch

by

argu

men

t as

by

the

deep

con

vict

ion

of t

he S

piri

t of

God

. Th

e ar

gum

ents

hav

e be

en p

rese

nted

. Th

e se

ed h

as b

een

sow

n, a

nd n

ow i

t w

ill s

prin

g up

and

be

ar f

ruit

."-"

The

Gre

at C

ontr

over

sy,"

pp.

611

, 61

2.

VI

Thro

ugho

ut t

he a

posto

lic e

ra t

he t

rium

phs

of t

he c

ross

con

tinue

d.

The

Lord

was

"w

ork-

ing

with

the

m,

and

conf

irmin

g th

e w

ord

with

sig

ns f

ollo

win

g."

Mar

k 16

: 20.

Idol

atry

was

sh

atte

red,

pag

an t

empl

es w

ere

empt

ied,

an

d co

nver

ts m

ultip

lied

by t

he t

hous

ands

. W

ith-

out

mon

ey t

hey

over

cam

e th

e co

mbi

natio

ns o

f w

ealth

abo

ut t

hem

; w

ithou

t sch

ools

they

put

to

conf

usio

n th

e le

arne

d ra

bbis

; w

ithou

t po

litic

al

or s

ocia

l po

wer

s th

ey

prov

ed

stro

nger

tha

n th

e Sa

nhed

rin; w

ithou

t a p

riesth

ood

they

def

ied

prie

st a

nd t

empl

e; a

nd w

ithou

t a

sold

ier

they

w

ere

mig

htie

r th

an th

e le

gion

s of

Rom

e. A

nd

so th

ey p

lant

ed th

e cr

oss a

bove

the

Rom

an e

agle

. B

ut n

ew p

rivile

ges

brin

g ne

w r

espo

nsib

il-iti

es, a

nd n

ew r

espo

nsib

ilitie

s cr

eate

new

per

ils.

The

chur

ch g

radu

ally

for

got

the

secr

et s

tair

-w

ay to

the

uppe

r roo

m.

By th

e fo

urth

cen

tury

th

e C

hris

tian

chur

ch h

ad t

rans

ferr

ed h

er d

e-pe

nden

ce f

rom

div

ine

pow

er t

o th

e sm

iles

of

roya

lty a

nd th

e pa

trona

ge o

f an

earth

ly th

rone

. Sh

e pl

aced

he

ncef

orth

he

r de

pend

ence

up

on

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

men

, m

etho

ds,

and

mon

ey.

The

rule

and

au-

thor

ity o

f th

e H

oly

Spiri

t w

as i

gnor

ed,

and

the

chur

ch p

lung

ed i

nto

the

mid

nigh

t of

the

D

ark

Age

s. In

the

grea

t apo

stasy

a h

iera

rchy

de

velo

ped,

and

at

last

the

usu

rpin

g he

ad s

et

him

self

up i

nste

ad o

f th

e H

oly

Spiri

t as

the

vi

car

of t

he S

on o

f Go

d, an

d be

cam

e th

e on

e "w

ho o

ppos

eth

and

exal

teth

him

self

abov

e al

l th

at i

s ca

lled

God,

or t

hat

is w

orsh

iped

; so

th

at H

e as

God

sitt

eth

in t

he t

empl

e of

God

, sh

owin

g hi

mse

lf th

at he

is G

od."

2 Th

ess.

2: 4

. Th

e ch

urch

pas

sing

und

er th

is d

ismal

ecl

ipse

of

the

Dar

k A

ges

was

aro

used

by

the

trum

pet

voice

of

Mar

tin L

uthe

r. Li

ttle

by l

ittle

the

re

turn

has

bee

n m

ade

thro

ugh

the

past

thr

ee

cent

urie

s, th

e H

oly

Spiri

t be

ing

agai

n gi

ven

His

right

ful p

lace

, unt

il to

-day

we

stan

d in

the

time

of th

e co

mpl

ete a

nd f

inal

ref

orm

atio

n an

d th

e la

tter r

ain.

W

ithou

t con

tro.v

ersy

the

grea

t-es

t ne

ed i

n th

e w

orld

to-

day

is a

Spiri

t-bor

n,

Spiri

t-cal

led,

Spi

rit-fi

lled,

Spi

rit-le

d m

inis

try to

le

ad th

e ad

vent

mov

emen

t to

the

finish

ing

of it

s al

lotte

d ta

sk.

And

thr

ough

the

gra

ce o

f Go

d, w

hat

ough

t to

be,

may

be;

and

wha

t m

ay b

e, m

ust b

e. B

ut th

e ap

osta

sy o

f th

e M

iddl

e A

ges

and

the

loss

of

the

Spiri

t ne

ed n

ot h

ave

been

. "I

saw

tha

t if

the

chu

rch

had

alw

ays

reta

ined

he

r pe

culia

r, ho

ly c

hara

cter

, th

e po

wer

of

the

Hol

y

129

128

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Spir

it w

hich

was

im

part

ed to

the

disc

iple

s w

ould

stil

l be

with

her

. Th

e si

ck w

ould

be

heal

ed,

devi

ls w

ould

be

reb

uked

and

cas

t ou

t, an

d sh

e w

ould

be

mig

hty,

an

d a

terr

or t

o he

r en

emie

s."-

u Ea

rly

Wri

tings

,"

page

227

. Pe

ntec

ost

did

not

exha

ust

the

prop

hecy

of

JoeL

Th

ere

is to

be

a fa

r m

ore

com

plet

e fu

l-fil

lmen

t in

the

se l

ast

days

of

the

disp

ensa

tion

of t

he S

pirit

. W

hat

we

need

is

a cl

ear

ap-

preh

ensi

on o

f the

per

son

and

wor

k of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

and

a co

mpl

ete

surr

ende

r to

His

con-

trol.

The

Spiri

t of

tru

th,

grie

ved

and

driv

en

away

by

apos

tasy

, pe

rver

sion,

rej

ectio

n,

and

subs

titut

ion

of t

he f

alse

, w

ill r

etur

n in

ful

l po

wer

to

the

rem

nant

chu

rch

that

is

seek

ing

to k

now

and

obe

y th

e fu

ll tr

uth.

To

no

othe

rs

coul

d H

e so

com

e. Th

e ap

osto

lic g

ener

atio

n (A

. D.

31-

64),

in w

hich

the

gos

pel

wen

t to

the

kn

own

wor

ld,

is a

type

of

this

las

t gen

erat

ion

of t

he g

ospe

l er

a, w

hen

unde

r th

e la

tter

rain

th

e "e

verl

astin

g go

spel

" go

es

to

the

who

le

wor

ld i

n fin

al c

onsu

mm

atio

n.

Wha

t a

solem

n an

d ye

t glo

rious

tim

e in

whi

ch to

liv

e!

(( I

saw

tha

t th

is m

essa

ge w

ill c

lose

with

pow

er

and

stre

ngth

far e

xcee

ding

the

mid

nigh

t cry

. Se

rvan

ts

of G

od, e

ndow

ed w

ith p

ower

fro

m o

n hi

gh,

with

thei

r fa

Ges

light

ed u

p, a

nd s

hini

ng w

ith h

oly

cons

ecra

tion,

w

ent

fort

h to

pro

clai

m t

he m

essa

ge f

rom

Hea

ven.

So

uls

that

wer

e sc

atte

red

all

thro

ugh

the

relig

ious

bo

dies

ans

wer

ed t

o th

e ca

ll, a

nd t

he p

reci

ous

wer

e

I l

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

hurr

ied

out o

f the

doo

med

chu

rche

s, a

s Lo

t was

hur

ried

ou

t of

Sod

om b

efor

e he

r de

stru

ctio

n.

God

's pe

ople

w

ere

stre

ngth

ened

by

the

exce

llent

glo

ry w

hich

res

ted

upon

the

m i

n ri

ch a

bund

ance

, an

d pr

epar

ed t

hem

to

endu

re t

he h

our

of t

empt

atio

n."-

" Ea

rly

Wri

tings

,"

pp.

278,

279

.

The

wor

k of

the

who

le ch

urch

is

to g

ive

the

who

le go

spel

to t

he w

hole

wor

ld i

n th

is

gene

ratio

n.

It h

as n

o ot

her

legi

timat

e bu

si-ne

ss.

It i

s th

e fo

cal

poin

t to

war

d w

hich

all

hist

ory

has

been

unf

oldi

ng, a

nd is

the

obj

ectiv

e fo

r whi

ch th

e w

hole

univ

erse

is w

aitin

g.

Und

er

Pent

ecos

t th

e di

scip

les

star

ted

out

to f

ill t

he

who

le w

orld

with

the

gos

pel.

We

coul

d no

t ha

ve th

e la

tter

rain

with

out u

nder

taki

ng a

cor

-re

spon

ding

tas

k.

The

reco

rd o

f Pe

ntec

ost

fills

us w

ith b

oth

hope

and

sha

me.

We

abso

lute

ly

mus

t hav

e Pe

ntec

osta

l pow

er to

fin

ish o

ur ta

sk.

It is

our

nee

d of

all

need

s. M

ore

than

tha

t, it

is

the

only

hop

e of

the

adv

ent

mov

emen

t. A

nd t

he c

hurc

h m

ust

retu

rn t

o Pe

ntec

ost

be-

fore

Pen

teco

st w

ill r

etur

n to

her

. Th

e H

oly

Spir

it is

the

chur

ch's

all-s

uffic

ient

eq

uipm

ent.

So c

ompl

ete

it t

hat

with

one

hu

ndre

d tw

enty

Spi

rit-f

illed

apo

stolic

mem

bers

th

ere

was

a g

reat

er e

xten

sion

than

has

eve

r be

en m

ade

in a

lik

e pe

riod

since

tha

t tim

e, a

ll ou

r fa

cilit

ies

notw

ithst

andi

ng.

And

thu

s we

ar

e fo

rced

to

the

conc

lusio

n th

at t

he r

emna

nt

•

131

130

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

chur

ch l

acks

and

sup

rem

ely

need

s th

e po

wer

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

that

was

pro

mise

d to

fit

her

for

her

final

wor

k.

Men

, gi

fts,

met

hods

, leg

-isl

atio

n, a

re a

ll de

ad m

achi

nery

unl

ess

vita

lized

an

d m

ade

effe

ctiv

e by

the

spi

rit

of P

ente

cost.

Th

e pr

ophe

t m

ay p

reac

h to

the

bon

es i

n th

e va

lley,

but

it

take

s th

e br

eath

fro

m h

eave

n to

ca

use

them

to

liv

e. O

ur g

reat

la

ck

is no

t m

ore

earn

estn

ess,

mor

e im

portu

nity

, m

ore

stre

ngth

, m

ore

activ

ity;

it i

s ou

r in

diff

eren

t at

titud

e to

war

d th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. W

e ar

e tr

y-in

g to

ren

der

acce

ptab

le s

ervi

ce i

n ne

glec

t of

th

e on

e po

wer

by

whi

ch i

t is

acco

mpl

ished

. In

th

e ch

urch

, as

in

the

wor

ld,

all

is ru

sh,

spee

d,

pres

sure

. W

e ar

e so

bus

y th

at w

e ha

ve n

o tim

e le

ft fo

r th

e m

ost

need

ful

thin

g.

Our

ha

nds

are

full,

but

our

hea

rts

are

too

ofte

n em

pty.

"T

he m

issi

onar

y m

ovem

ent

is fa

r in

ad

vanc

e of

the

mis

sion

ary

spir

it."

-" H

isto

r-ic

al

Sket

ches

,"

p. 29

4.

If w

e de

plor

e th

e lim

itatio

ns o

f ou

r ac

tivity

, ou

ght

we n

ot t

o be

m

ore

conc

erne

d ov

er o

ur d

eepe

r ne

ed?

The

chur

ch i

s up

-to-d

ate.

Sh

e ha

s a

won

-de

rful

org

aniz

atio

n.

She

has

a m

arve

lous

ma-

chin

ery.

Th

e w

heel

s ar

e ad

just

ed t

o a

nice

ty.,

But

she

lack

s po

wer

. In

spi

te o

f al

l ou

r fa

cil-

ities

, we

do

not

have

the

pow

er o

f co

nver

sion

whi

ch s

houl

d m

ark

the

rem

nant

chu

rch.

W

e

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

are

alte

ring

the

conf

lict

with

wor

ldlin

ess,

un-

belie

f, an

d un

right

eous

ness

. W

hile

the

chu

rch

is ev

ange

lizin

g th

e w

orld

, th

e w

orld

is

secu

lar-

izin

g th

e ch

urch

. Th

us h

er e

fforts

are

neu

-tra

lized

. To

attr

act

and

inte

rest

peo

ple,

min

-is

ters

are

res

ortin

g to

wor

ldly

met

hods

th

at

are

mise

rabl

e m

akes

hifts

for

the

pow

er f

rom

on

hig

h.

It is

hum

iliat

ing

to t

hink

of

som

e of

th

ese

wor

ldly

exp

edie

nts u

sed

-so

unn

eces

sary

. To

-day

the

wor

ld i

s co

vere

d by

our

mis-

sion

ary

activ

ities

. B

ut t

here

is

a di

stre

ssin

g w

ant

of p

ropo

rtion

bet

wee

n ou

r ac

tiviti

es a

nd

our

gifts

, an

d th

e ne

t re

sults

, in

mos

t se

ctio

ns.

Each

pas

sing

yea

r se

es a

ris

ing

cost

for

each

so

ul w

on,

coup

led

with

a d

ecre

asin

g re

turn

in

soul

s pe

r la

bore

r. It

oug

ht t

o st

artle

us,

yes,

to a

larm

us.

Why

so

little

fru

it fr

om s

o gr

eat

an a

rmy?

A

h, o

ur r

elat

ion

to t

he H

oly

Spir

it is

too

larg

ely

unre

cogn

ized

-an

d th

is i

n H

is

own

disp

ensa

tion.

W

here

are

the

men

fill

ed

with

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

as w

ere

men

in

apos

tolic

da

ys?

We

are

in g

rave

st p

eril

of d

epen

ding

on

man

, m

etho

ds,

and

mon

ey,

inst

ead

of o

n H

im w

ho a

lone

can

rai

se u

p m

en,

dire

ct a

nd

vita

lize

them

, eq

uip

them

with

rig

ht m

etho

ds,

and

rele

ase

and

bles

s th

e m

oney

nee

ded.

A

s th

ere

was

a h

isto

ric B

ethl

ehem

whe

re

the

Wor

d w

as m

ade

flesh

, so

ther

e is

a pe

rson

al

188

182

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Beth

lehe

m w

hen

Chr

ist

is fo

rmed

with

in t

he

hear

t thr

ough

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

Sim

ilarly

, the

re

was

a h

isto

ric P

ente

cost

whe

n th

e Sp

irit

was

po

ured

out

upo

n th

e ch

urch

, bu

t th

ere

is als

o a

pers

onal

Pen

teco

st w

hen

He

fills

the

indi

vid-

ual

belie

ver.

And

thi

s pe

rson

al P

ente

cost

is th

e bi

rthr

ight

of

ever

y ch

ild o

f Go

d. A

las,

man

y ar

e liv

ing

expe

rimen

tally

on

the

othe

r sid

e of

Pen

teco

st.

But

let

us

not

be d

eceiv

ed

into

look

ing

for

the

latte

r ra

in u

ntil

the

early

ra

in h

as fi

rst w

ater

ed o

ur o

wn

indi

vidu

al s

ouls.

Le

t us

rea

d th

ough

tfully

and

pra

yerf

ully

th

ese

stat

emen

ts f

rom

the

spi

rit

of p

roph

ecy:

"

The

latte

r ra

in, r

ipen

ing

eart

h's

harv

est,

repr

e-se

nts

the

spir

itual

gra

ce t

hat

prep

ares

the

chur

ch f

or

the

com

ing

of th

e So

n of

man

. B

ut u

nles

s th

e fo

rmer

ra

in h

as f

alle

n, t

here

will

be

no l

ife;

the

gre

en b

lade

w

ill n

ot s

prin

g up

. U

nles

s th

e ea

rly

show

ers

have

do

ne t

heir

wor

k, t

he l

atte

r ra

in c

an b

ring

no

seed

to

perf

ecti

on."

-" T

estim

onie

s to

Min

iste

rs,"

p.

506.

"

Man

y ha

ve in

a g

reat

mea

sure

fai

led

to r

ecei

ve

the

form

er r

ain.

Th

ey h

ave

not o

btai

ned

all t

he b

ene-

fits

that

God

has

thus

pro

vide

d fo

r the

m.

They

exp

ect

that

the

lack

will

be

supp

lied

by th

e la

tter r

ain.

W

hen

the

rich

est

abun

danc

e of

gra

ce s

hall

be b

esto

wed

, th

ey i

nten

d to

ope

n th

eir

hear

ts t

o re

ceiv

e it.

Th

ey

are

mak

ing

a te

rrib

le m

ista

ke.

The

wor

k th

at G

od

has

begu

n in

the

hum

an h

eart

in g

ivin

g H

is l

ight

and

kn

owle

dge,

mus

t be

con

tinua

lly g

oing

for

war

d. .

. .

B

ut th

ere

mus

t be

no n

egle

ct o

f the

gra

ce r

epre

sent

ed

by t

he f

orm

er r

ain.

O

nly

thos

e w

ho a

re l

ivin

g up

to

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

the

light

they

hav

e, w

ill r

ecei

ve g

reat

er li

ght.

Unl

ess

we

are

daily

adv

anci

ng i

n th

e ex

empl

ifica

tion

of t

he

activ

e C

hris

tian

virt

ues,

we

shal

l no

t re

cogn

ize

the

man

ifes

tatio

ns o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it in

the

lat

ter

rain

. It

may

be

falli

ng o

n he

arts

all

arou

nd u

s, bu

t we

shal

l no

t dis

cern

or r

ecei

ve i

t...

. "

The

bles

sing

s re

ceiv

ed u

nder

the

form

er ra

in a

re

need

ful t

o us

to th

e en

d.

Yet

thes

e al

one

will

not

suf

-fic

e. W

hile

we

cher

ish

the

bles

sing

of

the

earl

y ra

in,

we

mus

t not

, on

the

othe

r ha

nd, l

ose

sigh

t of

the

fact

th

at w

ithou

t th

e la

tter

rain

, to

fill

out

the

ear

s an

d ri

pen

the

grai

n, t

he h

arve

st w

ill n

ot b

e re

ady

for

the

sickl

e, a

nd t

he l

abor

of

the

sow

er w

ill h

ave

been

in

vain

. D

ivin

e gr

ace

is n

eede

d at

the

begi

nnin

g, d

ivin

e gr

ace

at e

very

ste

p of

adv

ance

, and

div

ine

grac

e al

one

can

com

plet

e th

e w

ork.

...

If

we

do n

ot p

rogr

ess,

if

we

do n

ot p

lace

our

selv

es in

an

attit

ude

to re

ceiv

e bo

th

the

form

er a

nd th

e la

tter

rai

n, w

e sh

all l

ose

our

soul

s, an

d th

e re

spon

sibi

lity

will

lie

at o

ur o

wn

door

."-I

d.,

pp.

507,

508

. A

s th

e H

oly

Spir

it ca

me

at P

ente

cost

afte

r th

e en

thro

nem

ent

of C

hris

t in

hea

ven,

so

it

is no

t un

til C

hris

t is

enth

rone

d K

ing

in t

he

indi

vidu

al h

eart

tha

t th

e pe

rson

al

Pent

ecos

t co

mes

. Th

is is

our

grea

test

ind

ivid

ual

need

, an

d th

eref

ore

our g

reat

est c

olle

ctiv

e ne

ed.

Som

etim

es

whe

n qu

arry

men

fin

d a

very

ha

rd k

ind

of r

ock,

the

y pi

ck a

litt

le g

roov

e in

to w

hich

to

driv

e th

eir

iron

wed

ges.

But

of

tent

imes

the

se f

ail

to s

plit

the

rock

. Th

en

they

tak

e ou

t th

e iro

n w

edge

s, an

d in

sert

woo

den

ones

, whi

ch a

re th

en so

aked

with

wat

er.

185

184

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

They

are

lef

t to

do

thei

r w

ork.

Th

e da

mp

wood

sw

ells.

The

stubb

orn

gran

ite

cann

ot

with

stan

d th

e st

rain

of

the

new

pow

er.

The

wat

er w

orks

on

wood

, an

d th

e wo

od o

n th

e sto

ne.

Aft

er a

bit,

the

roc

k yi

elds

and

sp

lits

wid

e op

en.

oroc

k of

indi

ffere

nce,

unbe

lief,

and

hosti

lity,

w

hen

wilt

thou

bre

ak?

Perh

aps

thou

art

wai

t-in

g fo

r th

e w

ater

-di

vine

ly c

hose

n sy

mbo

l of

th

e Sp

irit -

inst

ead

of t

he i

ron,

the

pro

duct

of

men

's ge

nius

. Go

d se

nd t

he n

eede

d po

wer

! H

Th

e w

ork

that

cen

turie

s m

ight

hav

e do

ne,

Mus

t cro

wd

the

hour

of

setti

ng s

un."

HEA

VEN

LY P

OW

ER

How

oft

the

pow

er o

f w

ords

pre

vails

, In

stea

d Th

y w

ord

of p

ower

; H

ow o

ft w

e tu

rn to

hum

an s

tren

gth,

W

hen

in t

hat

very

hou

r Th

y m

ight

y w

ord,

Th

at w

ord

of G

od,

In a

ll ita

tru

th s

houl

d to

wer

!

How

pro

ne w

e ar

e to

look

for

forc

e W

ithin

our

wor

ds a

nd a

ims,

And

the

n ex

pect

the

se h

uman

pla

ns

To s

erve

the

latte

r ra

ins-

The

Spir

it's

gift

. Th

at g

ift o

f G

od,

Whi

ch e

v'ry

dou

bt e

xpla

ins r

The

Com

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

How

muc

h Th

y Sp

irit

long

s to

do

Thes

e st

agg'

ring

task

s w

e fa

ce,

O'er

whi

ch w

e w

rest

le i

n ou

r st

reng

th,

And

fai

l of

t in

disg

race

r H

elp

us t

o fe

el

Our

nee

d of

The

e, A

nd a

ll Th

y po

wer

em

brac

e f

Lord

, sa

ve u

s fr

om t

hese

car

nal

way

s, Re

veal

Thy

Spi

rit's

mig

ht;

Thy

boun

dles

s st

ore

of h

elp

divi

ne

To t

urn

men

to

the

lig

ht-

The

light

of

God,

That

ligh

t fro

m h

eav'

n Th

at p

enet

rate

s ea

rth'

s ni

ght!

LO

UIS

E C.

KLE

USE

R.

[Wri

tten

by o

ne o

f th

e w

orke

rs d

urin

g th

e m

eet-

ings

of

the

Spiri

t-ble

ssed

Atla

ntic

Uni

on M

inis

teria

l In

stitu

te,

this

poe

m c

ame

into

bei

ng a

s an

ind

ivid

ual

resp

onse

to th

e m

essa

ges

pres

ente

d.

Not

des

igne

d fo

r pu

blic

atio

n, i

t ne

verth

eles

s ca

n pr

oper

ly a

ppea

r w

ith

thes

e st

udie

s on

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

whi

ch i

nspi

red

it.-

L. E

. F.]

.-.-'"'" Ct en v ..c

1-1 1-1 1-1 .......

0 b.Op.. .-Q .---b;.. v ..c

f-4

THE

SCRI

PTU

RAL

FOU

ND

ATI

ON

FO

R

THE

FILL

ING

OF

THE

SPIR

IT

"A C

ERTA

IN J

ew n

amed

Apo

llos,

born

at A

lexa

n-dr

ia,

an e

loqu

ent

man

, an

d m

ight

y in

the

Scr

iptu

res,

ca

me

to E

phes

us.

This

man

was

ins

truc

ted

in t

he

way

of

the

Lord

i an

d be

ing

ferv

ent

in t

he s

piri

t, he

sp

ake

and

taug

ht d

ilige

ntly

the

thi

ngs

of t

he L

ord,

kn

owin

g on

ly t

he b

aptis

m o

f Jo

hn.

And

he

bega

n to

sp

eak

bold

ly in

the

syna

gogu

e: w

hom

whe

n A

quila

and

Pr

isci

lla h

ad h

eard

, the

y to

ok h

im u

nto

them

, and

ex-

poun

ded

unto

him

the

way

of G

od m

ore

perf

ectly

. A

nd

whe

n he

was

dis

pose

d to

pas

s int

o A

chai

a, th

e br

ethr

en

wro

te,

exho

rtin

g th

e di

scip

les

to r

ecei

ve h

im:

who

, w

hen

he w

as c

ome,

help

ed t

hem

muc

h w

hich

had

be-

lieve

d th

roug

h gr

ace:

for

he

mig

htily

con

vinc

ed t

he

Jew

s, a

nd th

at p

ublic

ly, s

how

ing

by th

e Sc

ript

ures

that

Je

sus

was

Chr

ist.

I< A

nd i

t cam

e to

pas

s, t

hat,

whi

le A

pollo

s w

as a

t C

orin

th, P

aul h

avin

g pa

ssed

thro

ugh

the

uppe

r coa

sts

cam

e to

Eph

esus

: an

d fin

ding

cer

tain

dIs

cipl

es,

he

said

unt

o th

em, H

ave

;ve r

ecei

ved

the

Hol

y G

host

sin

ce

ye b

elie

ved?

A

nd th

ey s

aid

unto

him

, We

have

not

&0

muc

h as

hea

rd w

heth

er th

ere

be a

ny H

oly

Gho

st.

And

he

Mid

unt

o th

em, U

nto

wha

t the

n w

ere

ye b

aptiz

ed?

And

they

tsafd

, Unt

o Jo

hn's

bapt

ism

. Th

en s

aid

Paul

. Jo

hn v

erily

bap

tized

with

the

bap

tism

of

repe

ntan

ce,

sayi

ng u

nto

the

peop

le, t

hat t

hey

shou

ld b

elie

ve o

n H

im

whi

ch s

houl

d co

me

afte

r hi

m, t

hat i

s, on

Chr

ist

Whe

n th

ey h

eard

this

, the

y w

ere

bapt

ized

in th

e na

me

of th

e Lo

rd J

esus

. A

nd w

hen

Paul

had

laid

his

han

ds

upon

the

m,

the

Hol

y G

host

cam

e on

the

m;

and

they

140

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

spak

e w

ith to

ngue

s, a

nd p

roph

esie

d.

And

all

the

men

w

ere

abou

t tw

elve

. A

nd h

e w

ent i

nto

the

syna

gogu

e,

and

spak

e bo

ldly

for

the

spac

e of

thre

e m

onth

s, d

ispu

t-in

g an

d pe

rsua

ding

the

thin

gs c

once

rnin

g th

e ki

ngdo

m

of G

od."

Act

s 18

: 24-

28; 1

9: 1

-8.

"Whe

refo

re h

e sa

ith,

Aw

ake

thou

tha

t sl

eepe

st,

and

aris

e fr

om t

he d

ead,

and

Chr

ist

shal

l gi

ve t

hee

light

. Se

e th

en t

hat

ye w

alk

circ

umsp

ectly

, no

t as

fo

ols,

but a

s wise

, red

eem

ing

the

time,

bec

ause

the

days

ar

e ev

il.

Whe

refo

re b

e ye

not

unw

ise,

but

und

erst

and-

ing

wha

t the

will

of

the

Lord

is.

And

be

not

drun

k w

ith w

ine,

whe

rein

is

exce

ss;

but

be f

illed

with

the

Sp

irit

; sp

eaki

ng t

o yo

urse

lves

in

psal

ms

and

hym

ns

and

spir

itual

son

gs,

sing

ing

and

mak

ing

mel

ody

in

your

hea

rt to

the

Lord

; gi

ving

tha

nks

alw

ays

for

all

thin

gs u

nto

God

and

the

Fath

er i

n th

e na

me

of o

ur

Lord

Jes

us C

hris

t."

Eph.

5: 1

4-20

.

THE

FILL

ING

OF

THE

SPIR

IT

EPHE

SUS

was

a c

ity o

f Ly

dia

on t

he w

est

coas

t of

Asia

Min

or.

It w

as s

ituat

ed a

t th

e ju

nctio

n of

the

nat

ural

tra

de r

oute

s, ab

out

a m

ile f

rom

the

Icar

ian

Sea.

It w

as th

e m

eetin

g po

int

of g

reat

roa

ds.

Its h

arbo

r w

as p

artly

sil

ted

up; b

ut s

till i

t was

thr

onge

d w

ith v

esse

ls fro

m e

very

par

t of

the

civ

ilize

d w

orld

. Its

se

as a

nd r

iver

s w

ere

filled

with

fish

, an

d its

co

mm

erci

al p

ositi

on w

as u

nriv

aled

. It

s po

pu-

latio

n w

as g

reat

, an

d its

mar

kets

wer

e th

e V

anity

Fai

r of

Asia

. It

s in

habi

tant

s w

ere

arde

nt d

evot

ees

of p

leas

ure.

It

had

a g

reat

th

eate

r 49

5 fe

et i

n di

amet

er,

with

a

stag

e tw

enty

-two

feet

wid

e, an

orc

hestr

a of

one

hun

. dr

ed te

n, a

nd s

ixty

.six

row

s of

sea

ts to

acc

om.

mod

ate

24,5

00 p

erso

ns.

It p

osse

ssed

a

far-

fam

ed

relig

ious

sh

rine

for

the

wor

ship

of

D

iana

. A

nd c

omm

erci

al a

nd r

elig

ious

inte

rest

s bl

ende

d an

d ce

nter

ed i

n th

is t

empl

e. To

thi

s im

porta

nt m

etro

polis

cam

e A

pollo

s, an

Ale

xand

rian

Jew

who

had

bec

ome

a Ch

ris.

tian.

A

lexa

ndria

was

a c

ente

r of

Gre

ek l

earn

-in

g an

d cu

lture

, in

whi

ch P

hilo

was

the

out

-st

andi

ng f

igur

e. In

cide

ntal

ly,

the

influ

ence

of

143

142

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

the

Gre

ek m

ode

of t

hink

ing

had

inva

ded

the

Heb

rew

met

hod

of s

tudy

ing

thei

r ow

n Sc

rip-

ture

s. Th

is ba

ckgr

ound

is

help

ful

as w

e tu

rn

our

thou

ghts

to A

pollo

s. H

e w

as a

lea

rned

an

d el

oque

nt

man

, an

d w

as m

ight

y in

th

e Sc

riptu

res.

He

knew

ho

w to

pr

esen

t th

em

conv

inci

ngly

, an

d w

as c

aref

ul i

n hi

s te

achi

ng.

He

was

gift

ed i

n th

e ar

t of

ora

tory

and

bol

d in

utte

ranc

e.

He

was

ear

nest

and

fer

vent

in

spiri

t, po

ssib

ly h

avin

g im

bibe

d th

is i

nten

sity

fro

m J

ohn

the

Bap

tist.

He"

taug

ht a

ccur

atel

y th

e th

ings

co

ncer

ning

Je

sus."

A

cts

18: 2

5, A.

R.

V.

But

his

pres

enta

tions

wer

e th

eo-

retic

al.

And

he

coul

d ta

ke t

he p

eopl

e on

ly a

s fa

r as

he

had

gone

-no

t a

yard

bey

ond,

nor

a

foot

abo

ve.

Ther

e w

ere

two

hum

ble

laym

en

_ A

quila

an

d Pr

isci

lla -

who

knew

Je

sus

bette

r th

an h

e, fo

r th

ey k

new

H

im

expe

ri-m

enta

lly.

Thes

e in

stru

cted

him

mor

e fu

lly.

One

mig

ht t

hink

tha

t A

pollo

s w

ould

hav

e tu

rned

the

city

of E

phes

us u

psid

e do

wn

thro

ugh

his

eloqu

ence

, bu

t ve

ry l

ittle

is

reco

rded

con

-ce

rnin

g hi

s m

inis

try,

desp

ite t

he b

urni

ng e

lo-qu

ence

of

this

sin

cere

sou

l. Th

ere

was

but

lit

tle r

esul

t fro

m h

is st

renu

ous

labo

r, an

d he

pa

ssed

on

to C

orin

th.

Paul

, la

ter

com

ing

to

Ephe

sus,

soug

ht o

ut t

he c

hurc

h, a

nd w

as r

e-w

arde

d w

ith th

e di

scov

ery

of o

nly

twel

ve w

eak

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

disc

iples

. D

oubt

less

they

wer

e m

eetin

g in

som

e ob

scur

e ro

om,

exer

cisin

g lit

tle in

fluen

ce in

tha

t va

st, i

dola

trous

city

out

fro

m w

hich

the

gra

ce

of G

od h

ad d

raw

n th

em.

Paul

saw

ins

tant

ly t

hat

ther

e w

as s

ome-

thin

g la

ckin

g in

the

ir lif

e an

d w

itnes

s. H

e w

as c

onvi

nced

the

re w

as a

rea

son

why

the

y ex

erci

sed

no g

reat

er p

ower

. H

e w

as a

pen

e-tr

atin

g ob

serv

er,

and

he w

as l

ooki

ng f

or t

he

caus

e th

at p

rodu

ced

this

effe

ct.

Thei

r un

-sa

tisfa

ctor

y co

nditi

on w

as p

itiab

ly a

ppar

ent.

The

pove

rty o

f th

eir

livin

g C

hris

tian

expe

ri-en

ce,

the

barr

enne

ss o

f sp

onta

neou

s ac

tivity

, an

d th

e po

wer

less

ness

of

thei

r te

stim

ony

coul

d no

t be

hidd

en.

The

twelv

e m

en r

epre

sent

ed th

e pr

oduc

t of

the

ir el

oque

nt l

eade

r A

pollo

s. If

a

prea

cher

beg

ins w

ith m

ere

eloqu

ence

, he

usua

lly

ends

w

ith m

ere

inst

ruct

ion.

To

o of

ten

the

divi

ne d

ynam

ic w

ill b

e la

ckin

g; f

or a

man

can

lif

t ot

hers

onl

y to

the

lev

el on

whi

ch h

e hi

m-

self

lives

. U

Th

e pr

each

ing

of t

he w

ord

will

be

of n

o av

ail

with

out

the

cont

inua

l pr

esen

ce a

nd a

id o

f th

e H

oly

Spir

it.

This

is

the

only

eff

ectu

al t

each

er o

f di

vine

tr

uth.

O

nly

whe

n th

e tr

uth

is a

ccom

pani

ed t

o th

e he

art

by t

he S

piri

t, w

ill i

t qu

icke

n th

e co

nsci

ence

or

tran

sfor

m t

he li

fe.

One

mig

ht b

e ab

le t

o pr

esen

t the

le

tter

of th

e w

ord

of G

od,

he m

ight

be

fam

iliar

with

aU

its

com

man

ds a

nd p

rom

ises

; bu

t un

less

the

Hol

y

145

144

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Spir

it se

ts h

ome

the

trut

h, n

o so

uls

will

fal

l on

the

Ro

ck a

nd b

e br

oken

. N

o am

ount

of

educ

atio

n, n

o ad

-va

ntag

es,

how

ever

gre

at,

can

mak

e on

e a

chan

nel

of

light

with

out

the

co-o

pera

tion

of t

he S

piri

t of

God

. Th

e so

win

g of

the

gosp

el s

eed

will

not

be

a su

cces

s un

-le

ss t

he s

eed

is q

uick

ened

int

o lif

e by

the

dew

of

heav

en.

Bef

ore

one

book

of

the

New

Tes

tam

ent

was

w

ritte

n, b

efor

e on

e go

spel

ser

mon

had

bee

n pr

each

ed

afte

r C

hris

t's a

scen

sion

, th

e H

oly

Spir

it ca

me

upon

th

e pr

ayin

g ap

ostle

s. Th

en th

e te

stim

ony

of th

eir e

ne-

mie

s w

as,

'Ye

have

fill

ed J

erus

alem

with

you

r do

c-tr

ine.

' "-"

The

Des

ire

of A

ges,

" pp

. 671

.

With

out

prel

imin

arie

s Pa

ul w

ent

dire

ctly

to

the

cru

cial

poi

nt,

"Did

ye

rece

ive

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

whe

n ye

bel

ieve

d 7 "

he a

sked

. A

cts

19:

2, A.

R.

V.

And

the

ir r

eply

was

, "N

ay,

we

did

not

so m

uch

as h

ear

whe

ther

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

was

giv

en."

The

disc

iple

s of

Joh

n kn

ew

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it to

com

e, bu

t ha

d no

t ye

t re

ceiv

ed H

im.

Yet

this

exp

erie

nce

at E

phes

us

was

tw

enty

yea

rs a

fter

Pen

teco

st.

Paul

was

no

t as

king

con

cern

ing

the

spec

ial

gifts

of

the

Spiri

t, bu

t of

the

Gif

t su

prem

e -

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

Him

self.

A

nd t

heir

rep

ly in

dica

tes

they

so

und

ersto

od h

im.

He

wan

ted

to le

arn

if th

ey

had

rece

ived

the

fill

ing

of t

he H

oly

Spi

rit,

-th

e pe

rman

ent,

cent

ral

feat

ure

of P

ente

cost.

Fo

r th

ere

is an

exp

erie

nce

beyo

nd a

nd a

bove

th

e in

itial

ste

p by

whi

ch t

he H

oly

Spir

it fir

st

reve

als

sin,

and

bege

ts a

new

life

in

the

soul

,

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

and

that

is

to b

e fil

led

with

the

Spi

rit.

For

the

lack

of

this,

one

's te

stim

ony

is fe

eble

and

th

e sp

iritu

al l

ife b

ut p

artia

l. It

is o

ne t

hing

to

kno

w s

omet

hing

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit'

s op

era-

tions

; bu

t a

vast

ly d

iffer

ent

thin

g to

rec

eive

H

im a

s a

pers

onal

, in

dwel

ling

Gue

st.

And

th

ese

Ephe

sian

disc

iple

s w

ere

still

una

cqua

inte

d ex

perim

enta

lly w

ith t

his

grea

t fa

ct a

nd p

ro-

visio

n.

So P

aul a

t onc

e m

ade

them

con

vers

ant

with

the

gosp

el o

f the

ris

en a

nd a

scen

ded

Lord

, wh

o w

as g

lorif

ied

and

had

rece

ived

the

prom

ise

of th

e Sp

irit

from

the

Fath

er, w

hich

He

in tu

rn

had

sent

dow

n in

to t

he w

orld

for

eve

ry b

e-lie

ver

to r

ecei

ve.

And

the

n th

ey r

ecei

ved

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

in h

arm

ony

with

H

eave

n's

pro-

visio

n.

Ala

s, m

any

to-d

ay h

ave

gone

as

far

as t

he

bapt

ism

of

repe

ntan

ce,

but

no f

arth

er.

They

ar

e ho

nest,

sin

cere

, an

d ob

edie

nt t

o th

e ex

tent

of

the

ir k

now

ledg

e. B

ut th

ey a

re i

gnor

ant o

f th

e fu

ller,

brig

hter

, la

rger

lif

e.

Wha

teve

r kn

owle

dge

they

hav

e of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is va

gue,

in

defin

ite,

inad

equa

te.

His

per

sona

lity,

pow

er,

and

pres

ence

are

not

und

ersto

od.

They

are

la

rgel

y ig

nora

nt o

f His

pro

gram

and

pro

visio

ns,

and

are

sadl

y ba

rren

of

His

frui

ts.

It is

eas

y to

look

bac

k to

the

cro

ss a

s th

e ba

sis

of f

aith

, or

for

war

d to

the

thr

one

whi

ch w

e an

ticip

ate

10

147

146

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

with

hop

e. B

ut w

e liv

e in

the

tre

men

dous

pr

esen

t w

ith i

ts t

errif

ic p

robl

ems.

And

tho

u-sa

nds

have

not

yet

gra

sped

with

any

per

sona

l ap

prec

iatio

n an

d ap

prop

riatio

n th

e su

prem

e fa

ct a

nd r

ealit

y of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

We

are

in

wea

knes

s be

caus

e th

e gr

eate

st o

f G

od's

pro-

visio

ns f

or th

is d

ispen

satio

n is

cove

red

with

un-

real

ity.

We

unde

rsta

nd o

ther

trut

hs, b

ut h

ave

not l

aid

hold

of

this

one

: th

at th

e on

e su

prem

e fa

ct a

nd f

orce

and

nee

d in

the

wor

ld t

o-da

y is

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

not

mer

ely

in t

he w

orld

or

chur

ch i

n ge

nera

l, bu

t in

the

ind

ivid

ual

life.

So

lo

ng

as

min

iste

rs i

mag

ine

that

wha

t is

need

ed i

s ju

st m

ore

earn

estn

ess,

impo

rtuni

ty,

brill

ianc

e, o

r st

reng

th,

whi

ch i

f th

ey c

an o

nly

obta

in t

hey

will

be

all

they

oug

ht t

o be

, th

en

thei

r pr

each

ing

is of

litt

le a

vail,

for

the

y ar

e on

ly p

erpe

tuat

ing

the

cond

ition

of

pow

erle

ss-

ness

. As

we lo

ok b

ack

acro

ss t

he c

entu

ries

to th

e Ep

hesu

s ep

isode

, Pa

ul's

ques

tion

sugg

ests

the

re

ason

why

so m

any

lives

are

spi

ritua

l fai

lure

s an

d w

hy th

e ch

urch

is s

o fe

eble.

N

othi

ng c

an

com

pens

ate

for

the

lack

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

Wha

t st

eam

or

gas

is to

th

e en

gine

, w

hat

elec

trici

ty i

s to

the

mot

or,

that

and

mor

e is

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

in t

he s

oul's

bat

tle w

ith s

in,

and

in th

e pr

oble

m o

f suc

cess

ful s

ervi

ce.

Paul

's

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

ques

tion

mar

ks t

he b

ound

ary

line

betw

een

two

clas

ses

in t

he C

hris

tian

chur

ch,-

thos

e wh

o kn

ow J

esus

onl

y as

a S

avio

ur w

ho f

orgi

ves

thei

r sin

s an

d gi

ves

them

a h

ope

of h

eave

n,

and

thos

e wh

o kn

ow

Him

as

Lord

ove

r th

e po

wer

of

sin,

and

who

abid

es i

n th

e so

ul a

s a

livin

g pr

esen

ce a

nd p

erso

nal

real

ity,

mad

e po

s-sib

le th

roug

h th

e in

dwel

ling

of th

e H

oly

Spiri

t, an

d eq

uipp

ing

for

fulle

st s

ervi

ce.

Som

e co

me

with

a m

inis

try o

f re

pent

ance

, ba

ptiz

ing

with

wat

er u

nto

an o

utw

ard

clea

ns-

ing

and

mor

al

refo

rmat

ion.

Th

ey v

irtua

lly

mak

e th

e w

ork

of t

he c

hurc

h m

oral

ins

tead

of

spi

ritua

l, an

d its

pri

mar

y co

ncer

n w

ith c

on-

duct

rat

her t

han

with

the

nat

ure,

thu

s de

alin

g w

ith r

efor

m r

athe

r th

an in

ner

trans

form

atio

n.

But

John

told

of H

im w

ho s

houl

d ba

ptiz

e" w

ith

the

Hol

y G

host,

an

d w

ith f

ire."

His

w

ork

diffe

rs f

rom

the

sim

ple

bapt

ism

of

repe

ntan

ce,

as f

ire d

iffer

s fr

om w

ater

. It

has

a p

ower

tha

t is

inte

rnal

, co

nsum

ing,

alm

ight

y.

It i

s th

is

that

com

plet

es t

he p

relim

inar

y ba

ptis

m o

f re

-pe

ntan

ce.

To r

ecei

ve th

is is

"th

e gr

eate

st a

nd

mos

t ur

gent

of

all

our

need

s."

Mte

r th

ree

year

s of

per

sona

l co

mpa

nion

ship

with

the

dis-

ciples

, Je

sus

said

it

was

" ex

pedi

ent"

for

Him

to

go

away

tha

t th

ey m

ight

rec

eive

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

The

pres

ence

of t

he S

pirit

, He

decl

ared

,

149

148

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

wou

ld b

e of

mor

e va

lue

to t

hem

tha

n ev

en t

he

cont

inue

d, b

odily

pre

senc

e of

Him

self.

Oh

, do

we

hav

e H

im w

hom

Jes

us s

aid

wou

ld b

e m

ore

expe

dien

t to

us th

an H

is a

ctua

l, bo

dily

pre

senc

e if

He

wer

e on

ear

th to

-day

? It

is a

tra

nsce

nd-

ent

ques

tion.

A

gain

, wh

ose

busi

ness

is i

t to

rai

se s

uch

a qu

estio

n as

, "D

id y

e re

ceiv

e th

e H

oly

Gho

st w

hen

ye b

elie

ved?

" Is

it

not

the

min

iste

r's?

Paul

did

it,

and

did

it p

rom

ptly

whe

n th

e ne

ed

was

ap

pare

nt.

His

qu

estio

n in

dica

ted

that

th

ere

had

been

but

a p

artia

l ins

truct

ion.

Th

eir

lack

was

pri

mar

ily t

he f

ault

of t

he p

reac

her.

That

gos

pel

pres

enta

tion

is n

ot c

ompl

ete

and

adeq

uate

whi

ch d

oes

not

set

fort

h th

e gl

orio

us

prov

ision

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

One

pa

rtia

lly

inst

ruct

ed c

an h

ave

only

a p

artia

l ex

perie

nce.

B

ut in

all

too

man

y in

stan

ces

inte

llect

ual a

ssen

t to

a g

ospe

l of

tru

th h

as b

een

subs

titut

ed f

or

this

div

ine

prov

ision

. Th

ere

are

man

y pr

each

ers

with

won

derf

ul

gifts

, ful

l of

zea

l, m

ight

y in

the

Scrip

ture

s, a

nd

eloq

uent

, bu

t wh

o le

ave

behi

nd w

eak,

def

ectiv

e co

nver

ts b

ecau

se

they

th

emse

lves

ar

e liv

ing

expe

rimen

tally

on

the

wro

ng s

ide

of t

heir

per

-so

nal

Pent

ecos

t. On

e ca

nnot

giv

e a

clea

r ex

-pr

essi

on u

nles

s he

has

him

self

a cl

ear

impr

es-

sion.

Th

e te

nden

cy i

s ev

er t

owar

d th

e fo

rmal

,

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

the

mat

eria

listic

, th

e ut

ilita

rian

. It

is s

o ea

sy

for

the

spir

itual

visi

on t

o gr

ow d

im.

But

it

is th

e ab

senc

e of

the

Spi

rit

that

mak

es a

stro

ng

man

's pr

each

ing

pow

erle

ss.

Lear

ning

, ta

lent

, el

oque

nce,

and

natu

ral o

r ac

quire

d en

dow

men

ts ar

e po

wer

less

with

out

the

Spir

it's

pres

ence

. If

Pa

ul's

soul

bur

ned

as h

e as

ked

thos

e tw

elve

m

en t

hat v

ital

ques

tion,

wha

t w

ould

he

not

say

if h

e co

uld

see

the

chur

ch t

o-da

y in

thi

s" ti

me

of t

he l

atte

r ra

in"

? "I

t is

the

abs

ence

of

the

Spir

it th

at m

akes

the

go

spel

min

istr

y so

pow

erle

ss.

Lear

ning

, ta

lent

, elo

-qu

ence

, eve

ry n

atur

al o

r ac

quire

d en

dow

men

t, m

ay b

e po

sses

sed;

but

with

out

the

pres

ence

of

the

Spir

it of

G

od, n

o he

art w

ill b

e to

uche

d, n

o si

nner

won

to C

hris

t. O

n th

e ot

her

hand

, if

they

are

con

nect

ed w

ith C

hris

t, if

the

gif

ts o

f th

e Sp

irit

are

thei

rs,

the

poor

est

and

mos

t ign

oran

t of

His

dis

cipl

es w

ill h

ave

a po

wer

tha

t w

ill t

ell

upon

hea

rts.

G

od m

akes

the

m c

hann

els

for

the

outfl

owin

g of

the

high

est i

nflu

ence

in th

e un

iver

se."

-" T

estim

onie

s,"

Vol.

VIII

, pp.

21,

22.

" W

ithou

t th

e Sp

irit

of G

od a

kno

wle

dge

of H

is

wor

d is

of

no a

vail.

Th

e th

eory

of

trut

h, u

nacc

om-

pani

ed b

y th

e H

oly

Spir

it, c

anno

t qu

icke

n th

e so

ul o

r sa

nctif

y th

e he

art.

One

may

be

fam

iliar

with

the

co

mm

ands

and

pro

mis

es o

f th

e B

ible

; bu

t un

less

the

Sp

irit

of G

od s

ets

the

trut

h ho

me,

the

char

acte

r w

ill

not

be t

rans

form

ed.

With

out

the

enlig

hten

men

t of

th

e Sp

irit,

men

will

not

be

able

to

dist

ingu

ish

trut

h fr

om e

rror

, an

d th

ey w

ill f

all

unde

r th

e m

aste

rful

te

mpt

atio

ns o

f S

atan

."-"

Chr

ist's

Obj

ect

Less

ons,

" pp

. 408

, 41

1.

151

150

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

" Th

e sw

ord

of t

he S

piri

t, w

hich

is

the

wor

d of

G

od,

pier

ces

the

hear

t of

the

sin

ner,

and

cuts

it

in

piec

es.

Whe

n th

e th

eory

of t

he tr

uth

is re

peat

ed w

ith-

out i

ts s

acre

d in

fluen

ce b

eing

fel

t up

on t

he s

oul o

f the

sp

eake

r, it

has

no

forc

e up

on t

he h

eare

rs,

but

is r

e-je

cted

as

erro

r, th

e sp

eake

r mak

ing

him

self

resp

onsi

ble

for t

he lo

ss o

f so

uls.

"-"

Gos

pel W

orke

rs,"

p. 2

53.

"We

are

not

to m

ake

less

pro

min

ent

the

spec

ial

trut

hs t

hat

have

sep

arat

ed u

s fr

om t

he w

orld

, an

d m

ade

us w

hat w

e ar

e; fo

r the

y ar

e fr

augh

t with

ete

rnal

. in

tere

sts.

G

od h

as g

iven

us

light

in

rega

rd t

o th

e th

ings

tha

t ar

e no

w t

akin

g pl

ace,

and

with

pen

and

vo

ice

we

are

to p

rocl

aim

the

tru

th to

the

wor

ld.

But

it

is th

e lif

e of

Chr

ist i

n th

e so

ul, i

t is

the

activ

e pr

in-

cipl

e of

love

im

part

ed b

y th

e H

oly

Spir

it, t

hat

alon

e w

ill m

ake

our

wor

ds f

ruit

fuI.

"-ld

., p

. 28

8.

I

VVri

ting

som

e te

n ye

ars

afte

rwar

d to

the

la

rger

chu

rch

at t

his

sam

e ci

ty o

f Ep

hesu

s, Pa

ul j

oins

to

his

orig

inal

que

stion

thi

s so

lem

n in

junc

tion:

"B

e no

t dru

nk w

ith w

ine,

whe

rein

is

exce

ss;

but

be f

illed

with

the

Spi

rit."

. E

ph.

5: 1

8.

Her

e is

a ca

ll to

re

ceiv

e so

met

hing

. So

me

wer

e no

t fil

led,

and

thei

r co

nditi

on

brou

ght

forth

thi

s do

uble

inj

unct

ion,

with

a

nega

tive

side

and

a po

sitiv

e.

It is

mor

e th

an

desi

rabl

e; i

t is

indi

spen

sabl

e.

It is

not

mer

ely

perm

issiv

e, b

ut m

anda

tory

. On

e ha

s no

mor

e lic

ense

to b

reak

the

sec

ond

part

tha

n th

e fir

st,

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

for

one

is ju

st a

s bi

ndin

g as

the

oth

er.

It is

m

ore

than

mer

e co

unse

l; it

is a

plai

n co

mm

and

of u

nive

rsal

app

licat

ion,

as

pere

mpt

ory

as t

he

proh

ibiti

on a

gain

st d

runk

enne

ss.

For

the

be-

lieve

r no

t to

be

"fil

led"

is

just

as

muc

h di

s-ob

edien

ce a

s fo

r an

im

peni

tent

sin

ner

not

to

yiel

d in

" r

epen

tanc

e" to

the

will

of G

od.

It is

m

ore

than

a p

rivile

ge, i

t is

a di

stin

ct d

uty,

and

is

the

Chr

istia

n's

birth

right

. Be

lievi

ng

the

trut

h is

no s

ubst

itute

. St

udyi

ng t

he B

ible

is

no s

ubst

itute

. In

tens

ive

activ

ity i

s no

sub

sti-

tute

. W

e di

sobe

y at

our

per

il th

is p

ositi

ve c

om-

man

d en

join

ed.

Thin

k in

tens

ivel

y of

thos

e w

ords

" be

fille

d,"

for

a m

omen

t. It

is i

n th

e pr

esen

t te

nse,

not

so

met

hing

we

are

bidd

en to

look

bac

k to

. Y

es,

"be

fille

d."

We

can

be,

mor

ning

, no

on,

and

nigh

t, m

omen

t by

mom

ent.

U M

orni

ng b

y m

orni

ng, a

s the

her

alds

of t

he g

ospe

l kn

eel

befo

re t

he L

ord

and

rene

w t

heir

vow

s of

con

-se

crat

ion

to H

im,

He

will

gra

nt th

em t

he p

rese

nce

of

His

Spi

rit,

with

its

rev

ivin

g, s

anct

ifyi

ng p

ower

. A

s th

ey g

o fo

rth

to t

he d

ay's

dutie

s, t

hey

have

the

ass

ur-

ance

that

the

unse

en a

genc

y of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

enab

les

them

to b

e 'la

bore

rs to

geth

er w

ith G

od.' "-"

The

Act

s of

the

Apos

tles,

" p.

56.

Unb

elie

f m

ust

not

say,

Suc

h an

exp

erie

nce

is too

hig

h.

It is

God

's co

mm

and,

and

the

re-

fore

as

oblig

ator

y as

any

oth

er.

Sinc

e al

l of

153

152

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

God

's co

mm

ands

are

ena

blin

gs,

they

are

eac

h ta

ntam

ount

to a

pro

mise

. W

e ap

prop

riate

the

ot

her

doct

rines

, ex

horta

tions

, an

d te

achi

ngs

of

this

epi

stle

to t

he E

phes

ians

; w

hy m

inim

ize

or

omit

this

one

? A

ll th

e ch

ildre

n of

God

are

bor

n of

the

Sp

irit;

but

it

is an

othe

r th

ing

to b

e fiU

ed w

ith

the

Spiri

t. It

is o

ne t

hing

to

have

the

Spi

rit

in a

mea

sure

, or b

y m

easu

re; b

ut q

uite

ano

ther

fo

r H

im t

o ha

ve u

s fu

lly.

Wha

t H

e w

ants

is

to c

ome

in a

nd f

ill e

very

par

t of

the

bein

g.

If

we h

ave

faith

to

belie

ve t

hat

Jesu

s C

hris

t can

sa

ve a

pe

rson

fro

m t

he g

uilt

of s

in,

ough

t I

we n

ot to

beli

eve

that

He

will

ful

fill

this

pro

m-

,t ise

? On

e is

as s

acre

d as

the

oth

er.

One

pre-

I se

nts

no g

reat

er i

mpo

ssib

ility

tha

n th

e ot

her.

And

the

one

who

has

bee

n sa

ved

ough

t to

be

filled

, fo

r C

hris

t's p

ower

is

as a

vaila

ble

as H

is

pard

on.

To p

ut it

suc

cinc

tly, w

e ar

e to

beli

eve

and

be s

aved

; and

beli

eve

and

be fi

lled.

Th

ink

not i

t was

sim

ply

for

apos

tolic

tim

es.

It is

for

all

who

are"

afa

r of

f" a

s w

ell.

Act

s 2:

39.

It

is as

muc

h fo

r us

in th

e go

lden

glo

ries

of t

ime's

las

t ho

ur a

s fo

r th

ose

who

lived

in

the

silv

er d

awn

of t

his

disp

ensa

tion

of t

he

Spiri

t. " Fi

lled

with

the

Spir

it"

is co

ntra

sted

with

th

e ex

citin

g in

fluen

ce. o

f alc

ohol

ic st

imul

ants

.

The

FiU

ing

of th

e Sp

irit

At

Pent

ecos

t th

e di

scip

les

wer

e ch

arge

d w

ith

bein

g dr

unke

n.

But

the

act

ion

of t

he H

oly

Spir

it is

here

put

in c

ontra

st w

ith t

he u

nnat

u-ra

l, alc

ohol

ic st

ate

of t

he d

rinke

r. Fo

r w

hen

the

Spir

it fil

ls a

man

, th

e yi

elde

d lif

e is

unde

r th

e di

rect

i9n

and

cont

rol

of a

div

ine

and

su-

pern

atur

al a

gent

. Th

e liq

uor-f

illed

man

is f

ull

of fr

ivol

ity, p

rofa

nity

, and

rio

tous

con

duct

, an

d th

e ou

tpou

ring

of a

ll th

at a

n ev

il sp

irit

inspi:

r:es.

But

the

Spiri

t-fill

ed s

oul

is ov

ersh

adow

ed,

sur-

roun

ded,

and

ani

mat

ed b

y th

e H

oly

One

Him

-se

lf.

The

bapt

ism

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is th

e co

mm

unic

atio

n of

God

's lif

e to

the

nat

ure

of

man

. It

is

the

inco

min

g of

God

the

Spi

rit

to d

well

in

the

soul

. It

is n

ot s

ynon

ymou

s w

ith

man

ifest

ing

the

gift

s of

the

Spiri

t. It

is fu

nda-

men

tally

diff

eren

t fro

m s

impl

y lo

okin

g sp

irit-

ual.

It is

a p

urgi

ng, c

lean

sing,

con

sum

ing,

en-

ergi

zing

pre

senc

e as

of f

ire.

"Be

fille

d"

is

in

the

impe

rativ

e m

ood.

Th

e ne

ed i

s ur

gent

bec

ause

the

year

s ar

e fe

w.

The

real

izat

ion

is ob

ligat

ory

and

long

ove

rdue

. W

e ur

ge u

pon

sinn

ers

the

acce

ptan

ce o

f the

Sin

'I

Bea

rer

on a

ccou

nt o

f th

e br

evity

of

life,

the

ce

rtain

ty a

nd im

min

ence

of

the

final

jud

gmen

t, an

d th

e bl

esse

dnes

s of

sal

vatio

n, p

rese

nt a

nd

futu

re.

In l

ike

man

ner

our

Chr

ist

expe

cts

us

to b

e fil

led w

ith t

he S

piri

t fo

r th

e sa

me

and

155

154

The

Com

ing

of t

he C

omfo

rter

grea

ter

reas

ons.

God

is i

n ex

trem

ity f

or m

en

to-d

ay w

ho,

thou

ghtle

ss o

f th

emse

lves

, w

ill d

e-si

re o

nly

to b

e re

ceiv

ers

and

chan

nels

of t

he

Hol

y Sp

irit'

s po

wer

. ,\V

e ne

ed n

ot u

nder

stan

d H

is n

atur

e no

r th

e pr

oces

s of

fill

ing.

A

ll we

ne

ed to

kno

w i

s th

e fa

ct o

f H

is po

wer

and

the

la

w o

f H

is w

orki

ng,

and

com

e in

to c

ompl

ianc

e w

ith t

he c

ondi

tions

. N

othi

ng l

ess

will

ena

ble

us t

o liv

e a

life

of v

icto

ry a

nd f

ruit

bear

ing.

Th

us th

e fu

ll jo

y of

red

empt

ion

beco

mes

a f

act

of p

erso

nal

expe

rienc

e.

And

in

the

wan

ing

days

of t

his

last

age

God

will

fill

men

with

the

Spir

it as

in

the

time

of t

he e

arly

rai

n.

Both

Jo

hn t

he B

aptis

t an

d El

ijah

-pr

otot

ypes

of

the

adve

nt p

eopl

e -w

ere

filled

with

the

Spi

rit.

" Th

e Fa

ther

gav

e H

is S

piri

t with

out m

easu

re to

H

is S

on,

and

we

also

may

par

take

of

its f

ulln

ess."

--=-

. " T

he G

reat

Con

trov

ersy

," p

. 47

7.

" Be

fill

ed"

is in

the

pass

ive

voic

e. W

eare

no

t bi

dden

to

fill

ours

elve

s, bu

t to

" b

e fil

led,

" bo

th b

y an

d w

ith th

e Sp

irit.

Ther

e m

ust b

e a

Fille

r. W

eare

to

depe

nd u

pon

Him

, an

d th

e re

spon

sibi

lity

rest

s up

on H

im.

This

fillin

g is

certa

in b

ecau

se i

t is

base

d up

on t

he u

ncha

nge-

able

wor

d of

the

liv

ing

God.

By m

eetin

g th

e co

nditi

ons

we

shal

l be

filled

. Y

et th

e pr

offe

red

gift

is o

ne t

hing

, an

d th

e pe

rson

al a

ppro

pria

-tio

n is

quite

ano

ther

. Th

e pa

ssiv

e vo

ice i

ndi-

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

cate

s th

e su

rren

dere

d w

ill,

the

yiel

ded

body

, an

d th

e em

ptie

d he

art.

Thes

e ar

e th

e gr

eat

prer

equi

site

s. VI

e re

ceiv

e H

im b

y a

defin

ite,

delib

erat

e, c

onsc

ious

per

sona

l ac

t of

fai

th i

n su

rren

der.

But

the

re i

s m

ore

than

mer

e ac

-qu

iesc

ence

, a

pass

ive

asse

nt t

o H

is i

ncom

ing.

Th

ere

mus

t be

actu

al a

nd a

ctiv

e ap

prop

riatio

n.

In th

is s

ense

it i

s ac

tive

and

posit

ive.

Now

, ju

st a

que

stion

bef

ore

we p

roce

ed:

How

sha

ll w

e kn

ow i

f w

e ar

e fil

led

wit

h th

e Sp

irit?

Th

ere

is da

nger

in

look

ing

for

som

e gr

eat s

tir

of th

e em

otio

ns, s

ome

spec

ial

reve

la-

tion

of g

lory

, so

me

unus

ual,

grip

ping

sen

se o

f m

ajes

tic p

rese

nce.

Y

et t

his

is no

t us

ually

the

ca

se.

True

, it

was

tha

t at

Pen

teco

st, w

hen

He

cam

e fo

r th

e fir

st t

ime.

B

ut t

here

afte

r it

w

as n

ot u

sual

ly a

dra

mat

ic e

xper

ienc

e.

It h

as

in c

ases

bee

n vo

lcan

ic, t

urni

ng th

e lif

e vi

olen

tly

upsid

e do

wn.

B

ut t

his

is no

t ne

cess

ary

nor

gene

ral.

Let

us d

istin

guis

h be

twee

n th

e es

-se

nce

and

the

mer

e ac

com

pani

men

ts.

The

ex-

perie

nce

of f

illin

g is

in n

o tw

o ca

ses

iden

tical

. Te

mpe

ram

ents

cou

nt f

or m

uch.

"F

illi

ng"

is ju

st t

o ha

ve t

he w

hole

bein

g un

der

the

Hol

y Sp

irit'

s m

anag

emen

t and

pos

sess

ion.

It

is G

od

Him

self

in th

e pr

esen

ce a

nd p

erso

n of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

ente

ring

into

the

thr

one

room

of

the

belie

ver's

bei

ng,

rulin

g th

ere

with

pow

er f

or

156

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

Th

e Fi

lling

oj

the

Spir

it 15

7

We

mus

t alw

ays

dist

ingu

ish

betw

een

the

mod

epe

rfec

tion

of l

ife a

nd s

ervi

ce.

To b

e fil

led

with

the

Spiri

t it i

s no

t nec

essa

ry to

hav

e of

ope

ratio

n an

d th

e th

ing

itsel

f.

derf

ul f

eelin

gs,

but

to h

ave

Chr

ist

glor

ified

W

hen

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

wor

ks t

he h

uman

age

nt,

U

it d

oes

not a

sk u

s in

wha

t way

it s

hall

oper

ate.

O

ften

with

in.

it m

oves

in

unex

pect

ed w

ays.

"-"

Test

imon

ies

to M

in-

Perh

aps

an i

llust

ratio

n w

ill b

e he

lpfu

l: A

is

ters

," p

. 64.

rive

r m

ay b

e fil

led i

n tw

o di

ffer

ent

way

s. It

"

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

flatte

rs n

o m

an, n

eith

er d

oes

itm

ay

be

filled

w

ith

heav

y,

torr

entia

l ra

ins,

wor

k ac

cord

ing

to t

he d

evisi

rig o

f an

y m

an.

Fini

te,

amid

gr

eat

noise

, tu

rmoi

l, an

d co

mm

otio

n.

sinf

ul m

en a

re n

ot t

o w

ork

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

W

hen

Then

the

re i

s ru

sh a

nd o

verfl

ow a

nd v

iolen

ce.

it s

hall

com

e as

a r

epro

ver,

thro

ugh

any

hum

an a

gent

But

ther

e is

ano

ther

way

of

fillin

g -

from

the

w

hom

God

sha

ll ch

oose

, it

is m

an's

plac

e to

hea

r an

d ob

ey i

ts v

oice

."-l

d., p

. 65.

mel

ted

snow

s, ca

lmly

, ste

adily

ris

ing

until

it

is fu

ll, w

ithou

t an

y no

ise o

r di

stur

banc

e or

com

-W

e m

ust

not

arbi

trar

ily m

ark

out

in a

d-

mot

ion.

Th

is w

ay i

t is

grad

ually

and

enl

arg-

vanc

e th

e pr

ecise

cha

nnel

. It

is so

eas

y to

for

m

ingl

y fil

led.

The

met

hods

diff

er,

but

in b

oth

prec

once

ptio

ns w

hich

hav

e no

war

rant

in

the

Man

y ar

e lo

okin

g fo

r ph

ysic

al f

eelin

gsca

ses

the

stre

am i

s fu

ll.

Sim

ilarly

, th

e vo

ice-

Bibl

e.

less

win

d is

kno

wn,

not

by

visib

le p

erce

ptio

n,

-jo

yous

thril

ls a

nd m

arve

lous

spi

ritua

l sho

cks

whi

ch i

f th

ey d

o no

t hav

e, th

ey a

re d

ishe

art-

but b

y its

effe

cts.

In b

oth

the

Heb

rew

and

the

-G

reek

the

wor

d fo

r sp

irit

is th

e sa

me

as t

hat

ened

. Re

ally

, th

e fil

ling

of t

he S

piri

t w

as n

ot

for

win

d.

This

at

once

inc

lude

s bo

th g

entle

-m

eant

to

be e

xtra

ordi

nary

. It

is

a he

ritag

e pr

ovid

ed a

s th

e no

rmal

exp

erie

nce

for

Chris

-ne

ss a

nd s

treng

th.

It m

ay b

e as

the

quie

t eve

-tia

ns,

daily

ena

blin

g us

to

live

a ho

ly l

ife a

ndni

ng z

ephy

r, or

it

may

com

e in

the

mig

hty

Yet

bot

h ar

e th

e w

ind.

to

ser

ve e

ffect

ually

, as

well

as

to m

eet

crise

ste

mpe

st's

pow

er.

Thus

with

the

fillin

g of

the

Spiri

t. It

may

by

spe

cial

end

uem

ents.

W

e m

ay n

ot e

ven

be

be s

udde

n, o

r it

may

com

e do

wn

grad

ually

on

able

to

tell

the

time

of t

he f

illin

g, a

s in

som

e

the

soul

. It

is t

rue

that

som

etim

es t

he f

illin

g co

nver

sions

, whi

ch c

ome

in s

acre

d sil

ence

, the

re

in a

posto

lic ti

mes

was

acc

ompa

nied

by

mira

cu-

need

be

no e

csta

tic jo

y.

lous

ph

enom

ena -

earth

quak

e,

win

d,

or f

ire.

Fact

, fa

ith,

feel

ing,

is

God

's or

der.

The

Yet

man

y tim

es th

ere

was

not

hing

of t

he k

ind.

I

fillin

g m

ay b

e un

ique

, bu

t it

will

pro

babl

y be

159

158

The

Com

ing

of t

he C

omfo

rter

com

mon

. B

arna

bas

neve

r ha

d th

e ex

perie

nce

of P

aul,

yet

both

wer

e fil

led w

ith t

he S

pirit

. Th

e fu

ndam

enta

l fa

cts

wer

e id

entic

al.

The

met

hod

is no

t im

port

ant;

the

basic

fac

t is

esse

n-tia

l. So

fill

ing

is ba

sed

not o

n fe

elin

gs,

but

on

fact

. It

com

es a

s th

e re

sult

of q

uiet

fai

th.

Thus

we

read

: "T

hat t

he b

less

ing

of A

brah

am

mig

ht

com

e on

th

e G

entil

es

thro

ugh

Jesu

s C

hris

t; th

at w

e m

ight

rec

eive

the

pro

mis

e of

th

e Sp

irit

thro

ugh

faith

."

Gal.

3: 1

4.

Just

as

the

offe

r of

for

give

ness

of

sins

in 1

Joh

n 1:

9

is a

simpl

e of

fer

on o

ne h

and

and

a sim

ple

acce

ptan

ce o

f th

e co

nditi

on o

n th

e ot

her,

so i

n Re

vela

tion

3: 2

0 th

ere

is lik

ewise

a t

rans

par-

ently

sim

ple

offe

r to

ente

r and

abi

de i

f any

man

he

ars

and

open

s th

e do

or o

f the

life

. It

is o

ur

hum

an n

atur

e po

sses

sed

by t

he d

ivin

e Sp

irit.

Filli

ng b

rings

a b

less

ed c

onsc

ious

ness

of C

hris

t. W

e kn

ow H

im a

s ne

ver

befo

re,

and

His

Lord

-sh

ip b

ecom

es a

con

scio

us, p

ract

ical

real

ity.

One

is qu

ietly

per

vade

d w

ith

a co

nsci

ousn

ess

of

that

Pre

senc

e w

hich

rea

ches

bac

k be

hind

the

ve

il in

to th

e un

seen

rea

litie

s. Th

ere

is a

sens

e of

God

's so

vere

ign

owne

rshi

p, a

visi

on o

f un

-sw

ervi

ng p

urpo

se,

an i

ntim

ate

cons

ciou

snes

s of

fello

wsh

ip w

ith C

hris

t, a

deep

abh

orre

nce

of

sin,

and

a jo

yous

com

rade

ship

with

the

Spi

rit.

Ther

e is

a re

sulta

nt d

iffer

ence

in li

fe a

nd la

bor.

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

The

evid

ence

of

the

Spiri

t's p

ower

in

the

case

of

Elis

Jia w

as n

ot e

csta

tic f

eelin

gs o

r sp

ecia

l m

anife

stat

ions

. B

ut w

hen

He

too

smot

e th

e w

ater

s, th

ey w

ere

divi

ded.

Th

e ev

iden

ce w

as

in s

ervi

ce.

The

devi

l ha

s tw

o ou

tsta

ndin

g m

etho

ds h

e em

ploy

s w

ith re

gard

to im

porta

nt tr

uths

: Fir

st,

he s

eeks

to

hide

the

visi

on a

s lo

ng a

s he

can

; se

cond

, whe

n th

is is

no l

onge

r pos

sible

, he

then

ap

plie

s to

rtion

. its

tru

e er

ror.

ficat

ion

the

prin

cipl

e of

pat

rona

ge

and

dis-

He

will

take

a t

ruth

, if

he c

an, o

ut o

f se

tting

, an

d w

rest

it

into

a d

eadl

y Ta

ke,

for

exam

ple,

the

trut

h of

jus

ti-by

fai

th.

Thro

ugh

the

long

, w

eary

ce

ntur

ies

of th

e M

iddl

e A

ges

he k

ept

it o

ut o

f si

ght

until

it

was

for

ced

into

vie

w b

y Lu

ther

. Th

en

the

devi

l in

dire

ctly

ad

opte

d it,

an

d ad

apte

d an

d m

isapp

lied

it un

til h

e pr

oduc

ed

antin

omia

n ism

, rec

eive

d w

ith r

uino

us e

ffect

by

mul

titud

es.

Thus

also

with

the

trut

h of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

Obs

cure

d th

roug

h th

e ce

ntur

ies,

ther

e ha

s co

me

I at

last

a r

eviv

al o

f dee

p in

tere

st a

nd i

nves

tiga-

I I tio

n of

the

que

stion

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

with

in

a ge

nera

tion.

M

ore

book

s, pa

mph

lets,

an

d tr

acts

hav

e be

en w

ritte

n on

thi

s su

bjec

t w

ithin

th

e la

st t

wen

ty-fi

ve y

ears

tha

n in

all

the

time

since

the

inv

entio

n of

prin

ting.

It

can

not

be

161

160

The

Com

ing

of th

e Co

mfo

rter

rest

rain

ed,

80 t

he d

evil

is de

term

ined

to

cast

od

ium

on

the

who

le qu

estio

n by

brin

ging

the

su

bjec

t in

to

ill r

eput

e by

th

e ex

trem

es

of

Pent

ecos

talis

m,

the

fana

ticis

m a

nd i

rrat

iona

l-iti

es o

f H

oly

Rolle

r cu

lts,

or t

he v

agar

ies

of

mys

ticism

whi

ch d

iscou

nt th

e hi

stor

ic a

nd m

ini-

mize

dep

ende

nce

upon

the

wor

d.

But

the

devi

l m

ust

not

be

perm

itted

to

rob

us

of

God

's tr

uth

or to

kee

p fr

om u

s H

is pr

ovid

ed b

less

ing.

W

e m

ust

not b

e de

ceiv

ed b

y hi

s cu

nnin

g pl

an,

and

led

to

disc

ardi

ng

Hea

ven'

s bo

on.

Our

de

epes

t, hi

ghes

t, m

ost

urge

nt n

eed

of a

ll ne

eds

to-d

ay i

s th

e H

oly

Spiri

t, th

e po

wer

and

pro

-vi

sion

of H

is fil

ling.

A

nd th

e pr

ovisi

on w

e ar

e st

udyi

ng i

s in

vio

lent

con

trast

to

all

mod

ern

perv

ersi

ons

and

coun

terf

eits

. It

is

mos

t im

-pr

obab

le t

hat t

he s

taid

, rat

iona

l Adv

entis

t peo

-pl

e w

ould

eve

r be

dec

eived

int

o th

e w

ild v

aga-

ries

of th

e cu

lts.

Our

per

il is

that

we

may

be

trick

ed i

nto

the

devi

l's c

onsp

iracy

of

silen

ce,

eith

er t

hrou

gh n

onin

vesti

gatio

n of

the

tru

e or

th

roug

h di

sgus

t eng

ende

red

by e

xtre

mes

of

the

false

. " G

reat

rep

roac

h ha

s be

en c

ast u

pon

the

wor

k of

th

e H

oly

Spir

it, b

y th

e er

rors

of

a cl

ass

that

, cla

imin

g it

s en

light

enm

ent,

prof

ess

to h

ave

no f

urth

er n

eed

of

guid

ance

from

the

wor

d of

God

. Th

ey a

re g

over

ned

by

impr

essi

ons

whi

ch t

hey

rega

rd a

s th

e vo

ice

of G

od i

n th

e so

ul.

But

the

Spir

it th

at c

ontro

ls th

em i

s no

t the

The

Filli

ng o

f the

Spi

rit

Spir

it of

God

. Th

e fo

llow

ing

of i

mpr

essi

ons,

to

the

negl

ect

of t

he S

crip

ture

s, c

an l

ead

only

to

conf

usio

n,

to d

ecep

tion

and

ruin

. It

ser

ves

only

to

furt

her

the

desi

gns

of t

he e

vil

one.

"-M

rs.

E. G

. W

hite

, in

Aus

-tr

alia

n Si

gns

of th

e Ti

mes

, JU

ly 2

4, 1

911.

" Si

nce

the

min

istr

y of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

is o

f vi

tal

impo

rtan

ce t

o th

e ch

urch

of

Chr

ist,

it i

s on

e of

the

de

vice

s of

Sat

an, t

hrou

gh th

e er

rors

of

extr

emis

ts a

nd

fana

tics,

to c

ast c

onte

mpt

upo

n th

e w

ork

of th

e Sp

irit,

an

d ca

use

the

peop

le o

f Go

d to

neg

lect

thi

s so

urce

of

stre

ngth

whi

ch o

ur L

ord

Him

self

has

prov

ided

."-

Ibid

.

II

I

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

who

is to

fill

us

is no

t som

e va

gue

influ

ence

or

mys

tic fo

rce.

He

is a

divi

ne

Pers

on,

to b

e re

ceiv

ed w

ith d

eep

hum

ility

, ve

n-er

atio

n, a

nd o

bedi

ence

. It

is

not

a qu

estio

n of

our

hav

ing

mor

e of

Him

, bu

t of

His

havi

ng

mor

e of

us,

-ye

s, al

l the

re is

of u

s. So

we

are

not s

eeki

ng so

me

impe

rson

al p

ower

, but

a f

ulle

r kn

owle

dge

of a

Per

son,

gre

ater

alle

gian

ce t

o a

Pers

on,

stro

nger

lov

e fo

r a

Pers

on,

and

the

abso

lute

sw

ay i

n th

e lif

e, of

a P

erso

n -

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

of G

od.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

com

es

to a

dmin

iste

r in

us

the

rule

of

Chr

ist.

To

perm

it th

is p

osse

ssio

n is

prer

equi

site

to e

xper

i-en

cing

His

pow

er.

But

we

neve

r ex

erci

se i

t; th

e H

oly

Spir

it al

way

s do

es t

hat.

So w

e ar

e 11

163

162

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

not

simpl

y fil

led w

ith a

n in

fluen

ce,

or a

sen

sa-

tion,

or

a se

t of

idea

s, or

a m

ere

bles

sing,

but

w

ith a

ble

ssed

Per

son.

W

eare

to

do n

othi

ng to

disp

leas

e or

dis-

plac

e th

is h

eave

nly

Bein

g.

We

are

to t

reat

H

im a

s a

welc

ome

Gue

st, f

or H

e is

espe

cial

ly

sens

itive

to

the

rece

ptio

n H

e fin

ds,

neve

r in

-tru

ding

, bu

t gl

adly

ent

erin

g th

roug

h th

e op

en

door

and

fol

low

ing

up e

very

inv

itatio

n.

But

H

e do

es n

ot c

ome

in,

nor

stay

in,

with

out

our

full

cons

ent.

Thro

ugh

ages

pa

st t

he S

piri

t w

orke

d ac

cord

ing

to H

is so

vere

ign

will

upo

n th

e ob

ject

s of

His

gra

ce,

visi

ting

solit

ary

hear

ts a

t H

is p

leas

ure.

B

ut G

od h

as i

n th

is d

ispen

sa-

tion

orda

ined

cer

tain

un

iver

sal

law

s of

His

op

erat

ion

and

our

co-o

pera

tion.

A

nd H

e H

im-

self

mos

t sc

rupu

lous

ly

reco

gniz

es

His

ow

n la

ws.

He

resp

ects

the

freed

om o

f th

e hu

man

w

ill,

neve

r fo

rcin

g th

e in

estim

able

ble

ssin

g of

H

is pr

esen

ce u

pon

unw

illin

g he

arts

. B

ut H

e kn

ocks

, w

aitin

g to

be

reco

gniz

ed a

nd c

laim

ed,

wor

king

in

the

soul

as

we c

o-op

erat

e in

obe

-di

ence

. Th

e m

yste

ry o

f Be

thle

hem

is

inco

mpr

ehen

-sib

le,

yet

it is

a po

sitiv

e fa

ct.

That

a b

ody

shou

ld b

e fo

rmed

for

the

Son

of

God

by t

he

over

shad

owin

g po

wer

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit,

and

that

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

shou

ld d

well

in

Chr

ist

of

The

Filli

ng o

f the

Spi

rit

Beth

lehe

m, i

s in

deed

a m

iracl

e of

div

ine

pow

er.

But

th

at

the

sam

e Sp

irit

now

com

es

and

dwel

ls in

the

bod

ies o

f si

nful

men

and

wom

en

is th

e su

prem

e m

yste

ry o

f G

od's

grac

e.

The

Spir

it of

God

see

ks a

dw

ellin

g pl

ace

in t

hese

bo

dies

of

ours

. Go

d cr

eate

d sin

less

man

orig

i-na

lly f

or th

is.

Thro

ugh

sin, G

od's

prim

al p

lan

was

frus

trate

d, a

nd in

stea

d of

bei

ng f

ull o

f the

Sp

irit

of G

od, m

an is

full

of s

elf a

nd th

e w

orld

. By

Ada

m's

first

sin

, the

com

mun

ion

was

bro

ken

and

the

unio

n ru

ptur

ed.

But

eve

n th

roug

hout

th

e re

ign

of s

in G

od i

s st

rivin

g to

reg

ain

pos-

sess

ion

of th

e ci

tade

l of

the

soul

. Th

at w

as th

e pu

rpos

e of

the

com

ing

of t

he l

ast

Ada

m -

to

purc

hase

bac

k th

e lo

st do

min

ion,

and

to c

ause

m

an t

o be

ag

ain

"the

tem

ple

of t

he

Hol

y G

host

" (1

Cor

. 6:

19,

20)

, th

us to

res

tore

the

br

oken

fel

low

ship

be

twee

n Go

d an

d m

an a

s ne

arly

as

poss

ible

bef

ore

the

glor

y da

wn.

II

Fro

m e

tern

al a

ges

it w

as G

od's

purp

ose

that

ev

ery

crea

ted

bein

g, fr

om th

e br

ight

and

holy

ser

aph

to

man

, sh

ould

be

a te

mpl

e fo

r th

e in

dwel

ling

of t

he

Cre

ator

. B

ecau

se o

f sin

, hum

anity

cea

sed

to b

e a

tem

-pl

e fo

r G

od.

Dar

kene

d an

d de

filed

by

evil,

the

hea

rt

of m

an n

o lo

nger

rev

eale

d th

e gl

ory

of t

he D

ivin

e O

ne.

But

by

the

inca

rnat

ion

of t

he S

on o

f G

od,

the

purp

ose

of H

eave

n is

fulfi

lled.

G

od d

wel

ls i

n hu

man

-ity

, an

d th

roug

h sa

ving

gra

ce t

he h

eart

of

man

be-

com

es a

gain

His

tem

ple.

"-"

The

De8

ire o

f Ag

e8,"

pa

ge 1

61.

"";',,

,'

165

164

The

Com

ing

oj th

e C

omjo

rter

At

crea

tion

God

mad

e m

an o

f th

e du

st o

f th

e gr

ound

, w

hich

was

the

mat

eria

l ba

sis

of

the

form

atio

n.

Then

He

brea

thed

into

him

the

br

eath

of

life.

Th

us m

an b

ecam

e a

spir

itual

be

ing.

Th

roug

h th

is i

nbre

athi

ng b

y Go

d th

e co

nsci

ous

side

of m

an's

natu

re w

as b

orn,

and

th

us h

e w

as f

itted

to

ente

r in

to c

ompa

nion

ship

w

ith G

od.

It h

as b

een

trul

y sa

id th

at i

t is

this

th

at m

akes

man

man

, an

d di

ffer

entia

tes

him

fr

om t

he a

nim

al w

orld

. No

low

er f

orm

of

life

know

s Go

d. M

an o

nly

was

cre

ated

to lo

ok i

nto

God

's fa

ce a

nd k

now

, lo

ve,

trus

t, an

d se

rve

Him

. Th

e w

isdom

to

exer

cise

dom

inio

n ov

er

the

low

er c

reat

ion

cam

e fr

om G

od.

Man

orig

i-na

lly u

nder

stood

and

obe

yed

His

law

s. A

nd a

ll th

is c

ame

thro

ugh

the

Spir

it of

God

tha

t w

as

the

agen

t in

the

mak

ing

of m

an.

"The

Spi

rit

of G

od h

ath

mad

e m

e, an

d th

e br

eath

of

the

Alm

ight

y ha

th

give

n m

e lif

e."

Job

33: 4

. Th

us t

he w

hole

wel

l-bei

ng o

f m

an w

as c

on-

ditio

ned

upon

the

ene

rgy

and

wisd

om o

f th

e Sp

irit.

But

man

lost

this

. Th

roug

h re

sist

ance

he

was

larg

ely

sepa

rate

d fr

om t

he H

oly

Spiri

t. Th

is p

rinci

ple

of l

ife b

ecom

es a

ppar

ent

as

we

stud

y th

e lif

e of

Chr

ist,

the

seco

nd m

an,

the

last

Ada

m.

The

rela

tion

betw

een

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

and

the

Perf

ect

Man

is

mos

t ill

umin

at-

ing.

Ev

ery

actio

n of

bod

y an

d re

latio

n of

min

d

The

Filli

ng o

j the

Spi

rit

was

due

to

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

Thus

Jes

us w

as

our

patte

rn a

nd e

xem

plar

in

His

rel

atio

n to

th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. Ju

st n

ote:

His

birth

, gr

owth

, te

stin

g,

min

istry

, m

iracl

es,

deat

h,

resu

rrec

-tio

n, a

nd o

rgan

izat

ion

of t

he c

hurc

h, w

ere

all

thro

ugh

the

mov

ings

of

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

It

was

thi

s co

mpl

ete

fillin

g an

d po

sses

sion

by t

he

Spir

it th

at m

ade

our

Lord

wha

t H

e w

as a

s a

man

. Ev

ery

actio

n of

bod

y an

d re

latio

n of

m

ind

was

due

to th

e H

oly

Spiri

t, as

the

fol

low

-in

g sc

riptu

res

sele

cted

fro

m m

any

of l

ike

im-

port,

ind

icat

e:

" Th

e an

gel a

nsw

ered

and

sai

d un

to h

er, T

he H

oly

Gho

st s

hall

com

e up

on t

hee,

and

the

pow

er o

f th

e H

ighe

st sh

all o

vers

hado

w th

ee: t

here

fore

als

o th

at h

oly

thin

g w

hich

sha

ll be

bor

n of

the

e sh

all

be c

alle

d th

e So

n of

God

." Lu

ke 1

: 35.

"

Jesu

s be

ing

full

of th

e H

oly

Gho

st r

etur

ned

from

Jo

rdan

, an

d w

as le

d by

the

Spi

rit

into

the

wild

erne

ss,

bein

g fo

rty

days

tem

pted

of

the

devi

l."

Luke

4: 1

, 2.

" Je

sus

retu

rned

in

the

pow

er o

f th

e Sp

irit

into

G

alile

e: a

nd t

here

wen

t ou

t a

fam

e of

Him

thr

ough

al

l th

e re

gion

rou

nd a

bout

."

Luke

4: 1

4.

"How

God

ano

inte

d Je

sus

of N

azar

eth

with

the

H

oly

Gho

st an

d w

ith p

ower

: w

ho w

ent

abou

t do

ing

good

, and

hea

ling

all t

hat w

ere

oppr

esse

d of

the

devi

l; fo

r G

od w

as w

ith H

im."

A

cts

10: 3

8.

H If

I c

ast

out

devi

ls b

y th

e Sp

irit

of G

od,

then

th

e ki

ngdo

m o

f G

od i

s co

me

unto

you

." M

att.

12: 2

8.

167

166

The

Com

ing

of th

e C

omfo

rter

" H

ow m

uch

mor

e sh

all

the

bloo

d of

Chr

ist,

who

th

roug

h th

e et

erna

l Sp

irit

offe

red

Him

self

with

out

spot

to

God

, pu

rge

your

con

scie

nce

from

dea

d w

orks

to

ser

ve th

e liv

ing

God

?"

Heb

. 9:

14.

..

Chr

ist a

lso h

ath

once

suf

fere

d fo

r si

ns, t

he j

ust

for

the

unju

st,

that

He

mig

ht b

ring

us

to G

od,

bein

g pu

t to

deat

h in

the

flesh

, but

qui

cken

ed b

y th

e Sp

irit.

" 1

Pete

r 3:

18.

"

The

form

er tr

eatis

e ha

ve I

mad

e, 0

The

ophi

lus,

of a

ll th

at J

esus

beg

an b

oth

to d

o an

d te

ach,

unt

il th

e da

y in

whi

ch H

e w

as t

aken

up,

aft

er th

at H

e th

roug

h th

e H

oly

Gho

st h

ad g

iven

com

man

dmen

ts u

nto

the

apos

tles

who

m H

e ha

d ch

osen

."

Act

s 1:

1, 2

.

Dur

ing

Chr

ist's

chi

ldho

od a

nd y

outh

He

was

pe

rpet

ually

und

er t

he t

each

ing,

mol

ding

inf

lu-

ence

of t

he D

ivin

e Sp

irit.

But

at

His

bapt

ism

H

e en

tere

d in

to a

new

epo

ch,

a fu

ller

rela

-tio

nshi

p.

It w

as H

is p

erso

nal

Pent

ecos

t. H

e w

as e

ndue

d, a

noin

ted,

with

out m

easu

re.

John

3:

34.

He

was

full

of th

e H

oly

Spiri

t. H

e w

as

cons

cious

tha

t th

e Sp

irit

of t

he L

ord

had

com

e up

on H

im, a

noin

ting

Him

to p

reac

h.

His

mir-

acle

s an

d w

ords

wer

e un

der

that

ins

pira

tion.

Th

roug

h th

e et

erna

l Sp

irit

He

offe

red

Him

self

on t

he c

ross

, an

d up

on H

is re

surr

ectio

n by

the

H

oly

Spir

it (1

Pet

er 3

: 18)

, He

was

" de

clar

ed

to b

e th

e So

n of

God

with

pow

er."

Rom

. 1:

4.

Ever

y gr

ace

of C

hris

t's c

hara

cter

is d

irect

ly

attri

buta

ble

to t

he H

oly

Spiri

t. Th

e un

iver

-

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

salit

y an

d in

disp

ensa

bilit

y of

the

Spiri

t's w

ork

for

man

is i

ndic

ated

by

His

nam

es,

whi

ch f

ol-

low

: He

is th

e Sp

irit

of li

fe (

Rom

. 8: 2

) ; S

pirit

of

ad

optio

n (R

om.

8: 1

5);

Spir

it of

tr

uth

(Joh

n 14

: 17)

; Spi

rit o

f wisd

om (

Eph.

1: 1

7);

Spir

it of

pow

er a

nd o

f lo

ve

(2 T

im.

1: 7

) ;

Spir

it of

fai

th (

2 Co

r. 4:

13)

; Sp

irit

of g

race

(H

eb. 1

0: 2

9) ;

and

Spiri

t of

glor

y (1

Pet

er 4

: 14

).

And

the

char

acte

ristic

con

stan

tly e

mph

a-siz

ed i

s H

oly

Spiri

t. Je

sus

was

fu

ll"

of t

he H

oly

Spiri

t. A

ndH

the

sam

e Sp

irit w

ho li

ved

in th

e bo

dy o

f Je

sus,

who

wep

t th

roug

h H

is te

ars

and

love

d in

His

sacr

ifice

s, w

ants

to d

wel

l in

us a

s th

e ve

ry p

res-

ence

of

our

dear

Red

eem

er.

I Th

roug

h si

n m

an

has

dista

nced

hi

mse

lf fr

om G

od.

Sin

is so

met

hing

unn

atur

al t

hat

has

poiso

ned

ever

y su

ccee

ding

ge

nera

tion.

Th

e w

ork

of J

esus

was

to

deliv

er f

rom

thi

s si

n el

emen

t, an

d ch

ange

the

unn

atur

al b

ack

to

the

spiri

tual

. Fr

om t

he v

ery

mom

ent

of t

he

fall

a ne

w f

orm

of

the

Spiri

t's m

inis

try f

or

man

beg

an,

whi

ch i

n pa

st a

ges

was

par

tial,

and

only

occ

asio

nal i

n its

fulln

ess.

Spec

ial m

en

wer

e fil

led f

or t

he a

ccom

plish

men

t of

a sp

ecia

l w

ork.

Th

us J

osep

h, G

ideo

n, a

nd o

ther

s w

ere

filled

with

the

Spi

rit

in O

ld T

esta

men

t tim

es.

Whe

n w

e re

ach

the

appr

oach

ing

inca

rnat

ion

of

169

168

The

Com

ing

of t

he C

omfo

rter

Chr

ist,

John

, H

is f

orer

unne

r, w

as f

illed

with

th

e H

oly

Spir

it fr

om h

is b

irth

(Lu

ke 1

: 15)

; El

izab

eth

was

fill

ed f

or h

er s

alut

atio

n (L

uke

1 : 4

1);

and

Zach

aria

s w

as f

illed

for

utte

ring

hi

s pr

ophe

cy (

Luke

1: 6

7-69

), "F

rom

the

beg

inni

ng

God

ha

s be

en

wor

king

by

His

Hol

y Sp

irit

thro

ugh

hum

an i

nstr

umen

talit

ies

for

the

acco

mpl

ishm

ent

of H

is p

urpo

se i

n be

half

of

the

falle

n ra

ce.

This

was

man

ifes

t in

the

live

s of

the

patr

iarc

hs.

To t

he c

hurc

h in

the

wild

erne

ss a

lso,

in t

he t

ime

of M

oses

, G

od g

ave

His

'goo

d Sp

irit

to

inst

ruct

the

m!

And

in

the

days

of

the

apos

tles

He

wro

ught

mig

htily

for

His

chu

rch

thro

ugh

the

agen

cy

of th

e H

oly

Spir

it.

The

sam

e po

wer

that

sus

tain

ed th

e pa

tria

rchs

, tha

t gav

e Ca

leb

and

Josh

ua fa

ith

and

cour

-ag

e, a

nd t

hat

mad

e th

e w

ork

of t

he a

post

olic

chu

rch

effe

ctiv

e, h

as u

phel

d G

od's

faith

ful

child

ren

in e

very

su

ccee

ding

age

. It

was

thro

ugh

the

pow

er o

f the

Hol

y Sp

irit

that

dur

ing

the

Dar

k A

ges

the

Wal

dens

ian

Chr

istia

ns h

elpe

d to

pre

pare

the

way

for

the

Ref

or-

mat

ion.

It

was

the

sam

e po

wer

tha

t m

ade

succ

essf

ul

the

effo

rts o

f the

nob

le m

en a

nd w

omen

who

pio

neer

ed

the

way

for t

he e

stab

lishm

ent o

f mod

ern

mis

sion

s, an

d fo

r th

e tr

ansl

atio

n of

the

Bib

le in

to th

e la

ngua

ges

and

dial

ects

of

all

natio

ns a

nd p

eopl

es."

-H T

he A

cts

of

the

Apos

tles,

" p.

53.

To b

e fil

led

is t

o be

und

er t

he g

uida

nce,

do

min

ance

, po

wer

, an

d co

ntro

l of

the

Spi

rit.

But

the

re i

s a

clea

r lin

e of

dem

arca

tion

be-

twee

n th

e ne

w a

nd th

e ol

d di

spen

satio

n.

Bei

ng

" fil

led

with

the

Spi

rit"

is

no l

onge

r re

serv

ed

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

for

the

priv

ilege

d fe

w.

It h

as n

ow b

een

put

with

in t

he r

each

of

all.

So P

eter

dec

lare

d in

hi

s Pe

ntec

osta

l se

rmon

. A

cts

2: 1

7, 1

8.

At

Pent

ecos

t al

l the

one

hun

dred

tw

enty

apo

stle

s an

d di

scip

les,

men

and

wom

en,

wer

e "f

ille

d"

with

the

Hol

y Sp

irit.

A

cts

2: 4

. A

gain

, in

Act

s 4:

31

we

read

: "W

hen

they

had

pra

yed,

the

pl

ace

was

sha

ken

whe

re t

hey

wer

e as

sem

bled

to

geth

er; a

nd th

ey w

ere

all f

illed

with

the

Hol

y G

host,

and

the

y sp

ake

the

wor

d of

God

with

bo

ldne

ss."

N

ew c

onve

rts w

ere

fille

d.

Pete

r w

as a

gain

fill

ed (

Act

s 4:

8);

Ste

phen

and

the

ot

her

six

deac

ons

wer

e fil

led

(Act

s 6:

3-5

; 7:

55

);

Bar

naba

s w

as f

illed

(A

cts

11: 2

2-24

) ;

Paul

was

fill

ed (

Act

s 13

: 9,

10).

Th

e w

ords

" f

illed

" an

d "

full

" oc

cur

agai

n an

d ag

ain

in th

e bo

ok o

f Act

s. It

is m

entio

ned

in t

hree

for

ms

of t

he v

erb,

fill

ed,

bein

g fil

led,

an

d fu

ll.

They

wer

e fil

led

as t

here

was

nee

d.

It w

as th

e no

rmal

con

ditio

n of

the

belie

ver,

and

espe

cial

ly tr

ue w

hene

ver

ther

e w

as s

peci

al n

eed

or w

ork.

Th

e be

lieve

rs w

ere

taug

ht t

o ex

pect

it.

It i

s no

t obs

cure

and

bat

Hin

g; i

t is

tra

nspa

r-en

tly s

impl

e.

Not

to b

e fil

led

was

the

exce

ptio

n ra

ther

tha

n th

e ru

le i

n ap

osto

lic t

imes

, he

nce

Paul

's in

quir

y at

Eph

esus

. It

will

be

obse

rved

tha

t th

ere

is n

o fo

rmal

co

nclu

sion

to th

e bo

ok o

f A

cts.

God

des

ired

it

171

170

The

Com

ing

of t

he C

omfo

rter

to b

e pr

olon

ged

thro

ugho

ut th

e ce

ntur

ies

of th

is

disp

ensa

tion

of th

e Sp

irit.

It is

not

sim

ply

for

the

sickl

y an

d sa

intly

in a

ppea

ranc

e.

The

apos

-to

lic e

xper

ienc

e w

as g

iven

as

a sp

ecim

en a

nd a

ty

pe.

God

wan

ts u

s to

be

filled

. H

e as

ks,

Are

yo

u w

illin

g?

Our

text

in E

phes

ians

5: 1

8 im

plie

s th

at a

ll C

hris

tian

belie

vers

may

be

filled

with

the

Spiri

t. So

me

peop

le w

ould

alm

ost

seem

to

belie

ve t

hat

a fe

w p

eopl

e ha

ve t

he m

onop

oly

on t

he H

oly

Spiri

t. Th

e tr

uth

is t

he p

reci

se o

ppos

ite,

that

th

e H

oly

Spir

it ha

s th

e m

onop

oly

of o

nly

a fe

w p

eopl

e.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

is pr

omise

d, a

nd

God

will

giv

e th

e Sp

irit

in a

nsw

er t

o pr

ayer

. " If

ye

then

, be

ing

evil,

kno

w h

ow t

o gi

ve g

ood

gift

s un

to y

our

child

ren:

how

muc

h m

ore

shal

l yo

ur h

eave

nly

Fath

er g

ive

the

Hol

y Sp

irit

to

them

tha

t as

k H

im?"

Lu

ke 1

1: 1

3.

Unt

il C

hris

t ga

ve t

his

adm

oniti

on a

nd p

rom

ise,

the

III th

ough

t of

ask

ing

for

the

Spir

it w

as l

arge

lyII

fore

ign

to t

he e

cono

my

of th

e pa

st.

I II

I

The

dist

inct

ion

betw

een

the

Spir

it's

wor

k in

re

gene

ratio

n an

d be

ing

fille

d w

ith

the

Spir

it sh

ould

be

clea

rly d

efin

ed a

nd u

nder

stood

. Th

roug

h re

gene

ratio

n by

the

Spi

rit

(Joh

n 3:

I II

The

Filli

ng o

f th

e Sp

irit

5, 8)

, m

en d

ead

in s

in a

re m

ade

aliv

e. Li

ber-

tines

sun

ken

in b

east

lines

s, bl

asph

emer

s wh

o ha

ve s

poke

n ag

ains

t God

, and

infid

els

who

have

pu

blis

hed

thei

r sh

ame

to t

he w

orld

, ar

e bo

rn

agai

n by

the

Spiri

t. In

to e

very

one

so b

orn,

the

Spir

it en

ters

, im

part

ing

spir

itual

life

: "I

f an

y m

an h

ave

not t

he S

piri

t of C

hris

t, he

is n

one

of

His

."

Rom

. 8:

9.

This

is

a gr

eat

step

in

the

expe

rienc

e of

a h

uman

life

. B

ut t

his

is no

t ne

cess

arily

syn

onym

ous

with

the

"fi

llin

g" o

f th

e Sp

irit.

It is

one

thi

ng to

rec

eive

the

Spi

rit,

but a

noth

er th

ing

to r

ecei

ve H

is p

ower

and

ful

l-ne

ss.

Ther

e is

a v

ast d

iffer

ence

bet

wee

n ha

ving

th

e H

oly

Spiri

t, an

d be

ing

fille

d w

ith t

he H

oly

Spiri

t. Th

ey c

ould

and

sho

uld

com

e to

geth

er,

but o

ften

they

do

not.

The

diffe

renc

e is

in

de-

gree

. Eg

ypt h

as th

e N

ile th

e ye

ar a

roun

d, b

ut

its f

ertil

izin

g, f

ruct

ifyi

ng p

ower

is

prac

tical

ly

dorm

ant

until

it '

is i

n flo

od a

nd o

verfl

ows

its

bank

s. Th

en i

t be

stow

s its

nee

ded

bles

sings

up

on e

very

foo

t of

land

it

touc

hes.

If y

ou a

re a

tw

ice-

born

per

son,

you

hav

e th

e H

oly

Spir

it in

you

; bu

t do

es H

e fil

l yo

u?

That

is

the

cruc

ial

ques

tion.

M

any

belie

ve i

n Je

sus,

yet n

ever

get

bey

ond

the

first

sta

ge.

But

th

ere

mus

t be

an

expe

rienc

e be

yond

the

new

bi

rth.

And

tha

t is

this

fill

ing

by a

nd w

ith t

he

Com

forte

r. Th

roug

h th

e ne

w b

irth

one

pas

ses

,.

172 The Com

ing of the Com

forter

from death to life; through being filled,

one becom

es a partaker of the fuller life. It is a

relationship into which w

e mayor m

ay not enter, though w

e are exhorted, yea, divinely com

manded to, in Ephesians 5; and in order to

abide through the time w

hen there will be no

intercession, when m

ercy ceases and forgive-ness for transgressions is ended, we m

ust enter. Zeph. 2: 3.

Unless w

e are filled, this heavenly G

uest, this mighty, holy Being, is relegated to

some obscure corner of the heart, w

hile He is

excluded from other parts of the life.

Oh, let us m

ake Him

the welcom

e guest, to whom

every part of the being is throw

n wide open!

Let the H

oly Spirit have every nook and corner of H

is purchased temple.

Life in this relation-ship is the greatest privilege of the C

hristian. Thus we see that the Lordship of Jesus is

often distinct from H

is Saviourship. A

t Pente-cost the H

oly Spirit settled not only upon but in the disciples.

John 14: 16, 17. H

e took up H

is dwelling in their individual lives, m

aking them

His ow

n possession. H

e made them

His

seat, or "holy see," H

is permanent abiding

place. A

s in frontier days the pioneers took up squatters' claim

s, so the Holy Spirit took up

His claim

in the disciples. H

e entered the territory of their lives, that H

e would not other-

The Filling of the Spirit 173

wise possess, for the devil had robbed God of

His dom

inion in man.

But now

the Holy Spirit

took possession and proceeded to dwell in them

. Through all ages H

e has striven with m

en; in the old dispensation H

e generally came upon

men, fitting them

for special service; now H

e desires to dw

ell in them.

In olden times H

e dw

elt in the prophets (1

Peter 1: 11); now

He desires to dw

ell in all believers. 2 Cor.

6: 16. This w

as the great aim of Jesus.

After

He had trained and educated the disciples for

three years, He m

erely led them to the point

of waiting for the prom

ise of the Father. A

nd w

hat Jesus has promised we m

ay obtain. This

was the object of Peter's serm

on at Pentecost. A

fter men had been pricked in their hearts,

Peter said: "R

epent, and be baptized every one of you in the nam

e of Jesus Christ for the

remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift

of the Holy G

host." A

cts 2: 38. This w

as the purpose of Paul w

hen he asked the question and w

rote the admonition to the Ephesians.

Acts 19: 2; Eph. 5: 18.

There is no true worship, personal victory,

or effective service except through the indwell-

ing and increasing operation of the Holy Spirit.

While the disciples w

ere filled at Pentecost, they

175 174

The Coming of the C

omforter

no doubt had much m

ore to receive, but each w

as filled up to the measure of his capacity.

You can stand on the deck of a ship in m

id-ocean and see the m

ighty sun reflectE;!d in its depths; or you can see the sam

e sun in a tiny pool in the back yard or in the dew

drop of the m

orning. The sun has a w

ay of accomm

odat-ing itself to its reflectors.

So God can fill any m

an, whatever his capacity, if he w

ill only let H

im.

If the sun can fill a flower w

ith all its light in m

any tints and colors; if the cloud can drink in his brightsom

e rays until they glow

with glorious tints, surely the H

oly Spirit can give forth H

is light of holiness in human

lives. A

nd this consciousness and indwelling

of the Holy Spirit in m

an is the most w

onderful thing that can com

e into a human experience.

Let us not go half the way or be tw

o-thirds filled.

Our w

itness is in proportion to the full-ness of H

is indwelling.

Let us open the whole

life for God to fill. W

e must be filled just as

the air fills our lungs and the blood our arteries and veins.

The Greek w

ord usually translated "to fill " is "pleroein," to fill full, so full that there is no room

left. The expression " filled"

suggests the idea of a vessel with capacity to

receive and contaifl. God is the potter; m

an is the vessel.

David speaks of the cup and Paul

The Filling of the Spirit

of the earthen vessel. Y

es, man is a vessel de-

signed to receive the Spirit of God -a vessel

enlarged in proportion as it is filled and refilled. A

once-for-all filling is not taught in the Bible.

There are fresh needs

and supplies im

parted only by God, each additional bestow-

ment com

es from above.

Pentecost was the be-

ginning, but the disciples were filled again and

again, repeatedly. Peter needed refillings.

So w

hile the initial infilling is an important crisis,

it is to be followed

by oft comm

unications. W

henever a new em

ergency arose, the early disciples sought a refilling.

True, there was

a habitual fullness, but there were occasional

fuller experiences for special purposes. They

could even be full without im

plying fullness to the utm

ost, for those special times.

Titus speaks of the "renew

ing of the Holy G

host" (Titus 3: 5); and Peter of "tim

es of refresh-ing" (A

cts 3: 19). The trouble is that m

any are trying to do G

od's work w

ith the power

they received ten years ago. W

e are all leaky vessels.

We have to keep under the fountain

perpetually to keep full. To be filled involves being em

ptied. Self

and sin are thus displaced. It is the operation

of the law of ,exclusion.

There is room for

various things in a tumbler.

But if filled w

ith

176 The Com

ing of the Com

forter

water, there is no room

for the air that had previously filled it.

Two diverse things cannot

at one and the same tim

e occupy the same place.

Self and the Holy Spirit cannot occupy the sam

e heart throne.

I cannot still be something, and

God be everything. A

nd self can never cast out self.

Don't attem

pt to make room

. Sim

ply yield, and "the Lord w

ill come suddenly to

His tem

ple." In each heart there is a cross and

a throne. If Jesus is on the throne, self is on

the cross. " A

s you empty the heart of self, you m

ust accept the righteousness of C

hrist. . . . If you open the door of the heart, Jesus w

ill supply the vacuum by the gift

of His S

pirit."-Mrs. E. G. W

hite, in the Review and

Herald, Feb. 23, 1892.

We m

ust be emptied.

'Wind alw

ays blows

toward a vacuum

. In the "upper cham

ber" before Pentecost the disciples w

ere being emp-

tied, and a vacuum w

as made.

The son of thunder w

as emptied of his thunder, that he

might be filled w

ith love. D

oubting Thomas

was em

ptied of his doubt, that he might be

filled w

ith faith.

Presumptuous

Peter was

emptied of his presum

ption and fickleness, that he m

ight be filled with the pow

er and steadfast-ness of

God. Then cam

e the sound of the

mighty rushing w

ind that announced the ad*

177The Filling of the Spirit

vent of the Spirit that filled them.

How

good God is to give to m

an this gift supreme!

His-

tory tells of a king who w

ished to express affec-tion for a private soldier.

So he gave him his

own· richly jew

eled cup. "T

his is too great a gift for m

e to receive," he said. "B

ut it is not too great for m

e to give," was the king's gener*

ous reply. So we m

ight say of the Holy Spirit.

IV

Having progressed thus far in these studies,

the question has surely formed in our m

inds: i,

Is the promised Spirit im

perative for us? Is

II!! H

e the indispensable necessity for the comple-

II! tion of our tw

ofold task -to m

ake ready a peo-ple prepared for the Lord, and to finish the final w

ork of warning and entreaty for the w

orld? The responsive question is inescapable:

How

else can it be done?

We have m

ore to fight against than had the early church.

There are a thousand things to keep a m

an away from

God.

The w

orld is

friendly to

the church

to*day, and its tem

ptations are consequently m

ore subtle and dangerous. Its sm

ile is more

bland and alluring. The gulf has been nar-

rowed betw

een the two.

Rationalism

in the popular churches has robbed the w

orld of simple

III

179 178

The Coming of the C

omforter

faith in God, so that we now have to breast the

current of modernism

. This secularizing spirit

of the day has even leavened our own ranks,

and many are perceptibly or im

perceptibly los-ing out.

"The Spirit of

God

is departing from

many

among H

is people. M

any have entered into dark, se-cret paths, and som

e will never return.

They will

continue to stumble to their ruin."-" Testim

onies to . M

inisters," p. 90.

The multiplying of m

eans and endeavors w

ill not turn the tide. The inw

ard, invisible pow

er of sin can be met only by the inw

ard, invisible

power of

Christ through

the H

oly Spirit.

When H

e fills the heart, He quenches

our temptations as the sparks that fall into the

ocean are extinguished. W

e need His life as

the basis for living our own life.

Gal. 2: 20.

We need H

im for the developm

ent of Christian

character with its love, joy, peace, long-suffer-

ing, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and

self-control; for these are His graces, not ours.

For the development of these fruits we need the

pressure of the divine sap

in the branches.

, H

The love of God hath been shed abroad in 11

our hearts through the Holy Spirit w

hich was

given unto us." Rom

. 5: 5, A. R. V. W

e need H

im for spiritual enlightenm

ent. " Y

e have

The Filling of the Spirit

an unction from the H

oly One, and ye know all

things." 1 John 2: 20.

We need H

im as the

secret token, the necessary assurance, of our sonship.

"The Spirit H

imself beareth w

itness w

ith our spirit, that we are children of God."

Rom. 8: 16, A. R. V.

"Hereby know

we that w

e dwell in H

im, and H

e in us, because He

hath given us of His Spirit."

1 John 4: 13. W

e need Him

for steadfastness in this age of bew

ilderment and confusion, w

hen storms

and cross currents sweep over the su:flface.

We

must not be like the canal I saw

at Mem

ram-

cook, New

Brunswick.

From the w

indow of

the little

French hotel I

watched

the daily

phenomenon of a stream

flowing

both ways.

Norm

ally it flowed down tow

ard the bay, but w

hen the terrific rise of tide came in from

the B

ay of Fundy, it absolutely reversed the cur-rent, so that it flowed the other w

ay under the pressure of the tide.

Just so with m

ulti-tudes to-day.

But this need not be.

Often an iceberg in its journey southw

ard in the A

tlantic will encounter the gulf stream

, w

hich flows north. B

ut because the larger por-tion of the ice is below

the surface, it reaches dow

n to another larger stream w

hich is the re-turn current, and it proceeds steadily on its w

ay southward.

So the soul may be so fully

181 180

The Com

ing of the Com

forter

imm

ersed, as it were, in the m

ighty undercur-rent of the H

oly Spirit, that in spite of surface stream

s we w

ill find the great undercurrent of H

is holy life powerful enough to keep the set

of the soul Godw

ard. W

hile it is the "blood of Jesus C

hrist that cleanseth us from all sin,"

it is the Holy Spirit of God· that em

powers us

against sin, and for service. Y

es, truly we need H

im for pow

er in serv-ice, that it m

ay be acceptably performed, H

is fullness never com

es merely to m

ake us happy or holy.

Power is coupled w

ith willingness to

witness.

It is given to be used for service, not for self.

We need H

is convicting co-opera-tion that the W

ord which is a " fire" m

ay burn in the souls of m

en, that as a "hamm

er" it m

ay break sin-hardened hearts, and that as a " sw

ord" it may cut its w

ay through sin and unbelief.

We are born again prim

arily for our ow

n needs, but He fills us for service.

As soon

as Jesus was baptized "w

ith the Holy G

host, and w

ith fire," He w

ent about doing good. A

s soon as the disciples w

ere filled; they" began to speak," and the era of m

ission endeavor began.

The vessel is filled, not for its ow

n sake, but for the M

aster's use. N

ote the pur-pose for w

hich m

en were filled

in apostolic tim

es = For witness (A

cts 2: 4) ; for answering

The Filling oj the Spirit

objections (Acts 4: 8) for speaking boldly G

od's w

ord (A

cts 4: 31); for serving tables (A

cts 6: 2, 3) ; for suffering persecution and m

artyr-dom

(Acts 7: 55) ; for exposing evil (A

cts 13: 9, 10) ; for praising or giving thanks (Eph. 5: 18-20) .

Surely that is intensely practical. H

As a people, w

e are not doing one fiftieth of what

we m

ight do as active missionaries.

If we w

ere only vitalized by the H

oly Spirit, there would be a hundred

missionaries w

here there is now one." -

" Counsels on

Health," p. 507.

H The num

ber of workers in the m

inistry is not to be lessened, but greatly increasetl.

Where there

is now one m

inister in the field, twenty are to be added;

and if the Spirit of God controls them

, these twenty

will so present the truth that tw

enty more w

ill be added."-" G

ospel Workers," pp. 65, 66.

Glance next at Paul's picture of the results

of being filled with the Spirit.

The rest of the epistle to the Ephesians, after the adm

oni-tion to "be filled" in chapter 5: 18, m

ight be catalogued by verses as follow

s: 1.

(5: 19) Songs in the heart,-holy joy I

thus finding vent. 2.

(5: 20) Spirit of thanksgiving,-recog-nition that God has taken charge, and all ad-verse conditions are of H

is choosing or per-m

ission, all things working together for good

to them w

ho are called.

183 182

The Com

ing of the Com

forter

3. (5: 21)

Self-subjugation,-nothing but the H

oly Spirit can bring this about. 4.

(5: 22-6: 5) Applied in D

aily life: a. W

ives (5: 22). b. H

usbands (5: 22). c. Children (6: 1). d. Fathers (6: 4). e. Servants (6: 5).

5. (6: 10) Finally, strength w

ith power.

a. The whole arm

or (verses 11-17). b. Prayer and intercession

(verse 18). c. Boldness of utterance (verse 19).

v There are three outstanding things that the

fullness of the Spirit brings: The presence of C

hrist; the likeness of Christ; and the pow

er of C

hrist. A

mplifying briefly:

First, the filling of the Holy Spirit brings

a new and vivid consciousness of Jesus' pres-

ence. Before, H

e is indistinct; the glimpses

of His face are few

and far between, and the

mom

ents of true comm

union fitful. In the days

of His earthly sojourn,

Jesus' presence w

as everything.

He m

et every trouble and supplied every need.

In storm H

e quieted the waters.

When the m

ultitudes were hungry, H

e supplied

The Filling of the Spirit •

food. B

ut everything depended upon having H

im w

ith them.

His presence w

as their help. So

also now all depends

upon H

is presence w

ith us. It is this consciousness and provision

that gives strength and confidence. By the

Holy Spirit Jesus takes up

His abode in us

as an Abiding Presence.

That is what we need.

It is accomplished only by this filling.

"That

He w

ould grant you, according to the riches of H

is glory, to be strengthened with m

ight by H

is Spirit in the inner man; that C

hrist may

dwell in your hearts by faith."

Eph. 3: 16, 17. "Pentecost brought them

the presence of the C

omforter, of w

hom C

hrist had said, He 'shall be in

you.' A

nd He had further said, 'It is expedient for

you that I go away: for if I go not aw

ay, the Com

forter w

ill not come unto you; but if I depart, I w

ill send him

unto you.' H

enceforth through the Spirit, Christ

was to abide continually in the hearts of H

is children. Their union w

ith Him

was closer than w

hen He w

as personally w

ith them.

The light, and love, and power

of the indwelling C

hrist shone out through them, so

that men, beholding, ' m

arveled; and they took knowl-

edge of them, that they had been w

ith Jesus.'''-t< Steps to C

hrist" (pocket edition), p. 74.

"The w

ork of the Holy Spirit is im

measurably

great. It is from

this source that power and efficiency

come to the w

orker for God; and the H

oly Spirit is the C

omforter, as the personal presence of C

hrist to the soul.

He w

ho looks to Christ in sim

ple, childlike faith, is m

ade a partaker of the divine nature through

185 184

The Coming of the C

omforter

,. the agency of the H

oly Spirit."-M

r8. E. G. White,

in the Review and H

erald, Nov. f9, 189f.

It is this personal fellowship w

ith Jesus that m

akes the difference between the new

life and the old.

Weare invited to give ourselves up to

a life of unbroken comm

union with Jesus.

May

our hearts fully respond to this. The union be-

tween us and Jesus is not a union of flesh w

ith flesh, but of Spirit w

ith spirit. "N

ow the Lord is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:17, A. R. V

.); and " he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." 1 Cor. 6: 17.

The Christ we need to-day is the

living, reigning, present, working C

hrist, His

Spirit witnessing w

ith our spirit, His Spirit

taking possession of and ruling our spirit, His

Spirit revealing His life, pow

er, and obedience in our lives, transform

ing and making us real

Christians, yet w

ithout interfering with our in-

dividuality or destroying our personality. "If w

e consent, He w

ill so identify Him

self with

our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and m

inds into conform

ity to His w

ill, that when obeying H

im

we shall be but carrying out our ow

n impulses."-" The

Desire of Ages," p. 668.

Second, the filling brings the

likenes8 of .TeSU

8. W

hen we sense His presence, there w

ill be revealed an am

ount of sin and self, flesh and failure, that w

ill amaze us.

The disciples had

The Filling of the Spirit

Jesus' external

presence w

ith them

during

His fleshly sojourn, but did not exhibit H

is like-ness, w

hich comes only through H

is indwelling.

He w

as humble, w

hile they were proud.

He

was unselfish, w

hile they were selfish.

But

when the H

oly Spirit filled them, H

e brought the

characteristics, the disposition, the

very likeness of Jesus w

ithin. This is reproduction,

not imitation.

The empty places of our lives

will be filled w

ith His fullness, as the tide of

the sea fills the hollows of the shore.

"What w

as the result of the outpouring of the Spirit upon the day of Pentecost? -

The glad tidings of a risen Saviour w

ere carried to the utmost bounds

of the inhabited world.

The hearts of the disciples w

ere surcharged with a benevolence so full, so deep, so

far-reaching, that it impelled them

to go to the ends of the earth, testifying, 'G

od forbid that I should

glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

Gal.

6: 14. " As they proclaim

ed the truth as it is in Jesus, hearts yielded to the pow

er of the message.

The church beheld converts flocking to her from

all direc-tions.

Backsliders w

ere reconverted. Sinners united

with C

hristians in seeking the pearl of great price. Those w

ho had been the bitterest opponents of the gospel becam

e its champions.

The prophecy was ful-

filled, The weak shall be 'as D

avid,' and the house of D

avid' as the angel of the Lord.' Every C

hristian saw

in his brother the divine similitude of love and

benevolence. O

ne interest prevailed. O

ne subject of

187 186

The Com

ing of the Com

forter

emulation sw

allowed up all others.

The only ambition

of the believers was to reveal the likeness of C

hrist's character and to labor for the enlargem

ent of His

kingdom."-" Testim

onies," Vol. VIII, pp. 19, 20.

Third, the filling brings the power of Jesus.

We all w

ant power, and' have so little of it.

Our suprem

e need is power.

This truism is so

familiar as to be com

monplace, but so im

por-tant as to need to be repeated until the church is aw

akened. Pow

er belongeth unto God, but H

e has given it unto us in Christ through the

Holy Spirit.

God does not give it to me to have

of myself; but w

hen He fills m

e, He exercises

His pow

er in me.

Col. 1: 29. " W

e need the Pentecostal energy. This w

ill come;

for the Lord has promised to send H

is Spirit as the all-conquering pow

er."-" Gospel

Workers,"

p. 308.

In the light of these mighty facts, can there

by any question but that the filling of the Holy

Spirit is our greatest individual and collective need to-day?

There can be only one answer.

/< God can teach you m

ore in one mom

ent by His

Holy Spirit than you could learn from

the great men

of the earth."-" Testimonies to M

inisters," p. 119. "T

he presence of the Spirit with G

od's workers

will give the proclam

ation of truth a power that not

all the honor or glory of the world could give."-

"The Acts of the Apostles," p. 51.

The Filling of the Spirit

VI W

hat, then, are the conditions of receiving this needed filling?

It is provided and offered to all, yet com

paratively few receive it.

Many

pray for it, yet without result.

Why?

Ah,

because they are unwilling to pay the price.

And w

hat is the price? It is the fulfillm

ent of the conditions upon w

hich the filling is con-tingent and the pow

er is operative. W

e have not, because we do not m

eet the conditions. "In

the great and measureless gift of the H

oly Spirit are contained all of heaven's resources.

It is not because of any restriction on the part of G

od that the riches of H

is grace do not flow earthw

ard to men.

If all were w

illing to receive, all would becom

e filled w

ith His S

pirit."-" Christ's O

bject Lessons," p. 419.

" Christ has prom

ised the gift of the Holy Spirit

to His church, and the prom

ise belongs to us as much

as to the first disciples. B

ut like every other promise,

it is given on conditions. There are m

any who believe

and profess to claim the Lord's prom

ise; they talk about C

hrist and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no

benefit. They do not surrender the soul to be guided

and controlled by the divine agencies. W

e cannot use the H

oly Spirit. The Spirit is to use us.

Through the Spirit G

od works in H

is people to 'will and to do

of His good pleasure.'

But m

any will not subm

it to this.

They want to m

anage themselves.

This is why

they do not receive the heavenly gift. O

nly to those

188 The C

oming of the C

omforter

who w

ait humbly upon G

od, who w

atch for His guid-

ance and grace, is the Spirit given. The pow

er of God

awaits their dem

and and reception. This prom

ised blessing, claim

ed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train.

It is given according to the riches of the grace of C

hrist, and He is ready to supply every soul

. according to the capacity to receive."-u The Desire of

Ages," p. 672.

In general, these conditions are abandon-m

ent and abiding,

the initial

and the

con-tinuous conditions.

There must be purity of

motive, full and gladsom

e surrender, and im-

plicit, present trust.

We

must

realize and

acknowledge our lack.

The first requisite to treatm

ent and recovery from a disease is the

knowledge that one is sick.

,¥e must realize

the filling is for the last generation as well as

for the apostolic generation. W

e must reach the

place where w

e feel we must have it at any cost,

where every faculty of the nature, and every

mom

ent of the life shall be His to fill, w

ith no m

ore independent control,-a vessel emptied,

to be completely filled.

There is no enduement apart from

thirsting. "I w

ill pour water upon him

that is thirsty, ... M

y Spirit upon thy seed." Isa.

44: 3. There is no enduem

ent apart from or except

for obedience; it is " to them that obey."

Acts

5: 32. It is not bestow

ed apart from prayer.

The Filling of the Spiri' 189

" When they had prayed, the place w

as shaken, . . . and they w

ere all filled w

ith the H

oly G

host." A

cts 4: 31. The first disciples re-

ceived the Spirit on their knees. Let us get

down before God.

And let us not be in a hurry

to get up. N

or is the Holy Spirit received apart

from

faith. "T

hat they m

ight receive the

promise of the Spirit through faith."

Gal. 3:

14. Let us ask in faith believing.

"Ask ye of

11

the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain;

I so the Lord shall m

ake bright clouds, and give II

them show

ers of rain, to every one grass in ill[ ,..II'

the field." Zech. 10: l.

Am

plifying again, there is first of all in-tense, unselfish desire.

What do I w

ant with

the Holy Spirit?

It is a searching interroga-tion.

Do I want H

im solely to glorify Jesus?

J ames and John w

ere never filled until they answ

ered that question. Paul w

as filled only because to him

to live was C

hrist. Phil. 1: 21.

Peter was never filled until he w

as ready to say, " W

hy look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own pow

er or holiness we had m

ade this m

an to w

alk?" A

cts 3: 12.

God searches

hearts and sifts motives.

The fullness of the H

oly Spirit will never be given to gratify am

-bition, or to m

ake us famous for saintliness or

in service. Such is a m

isuse of a rightful thing.

,II·,

191 190

The Coming of the C

omforter

If the object for which it is sought is vanity

or self-aggrandizement, the fulfillm

ent is im-

possible. H

e who desires it for the sake of being great, w

ill no more have it than Sim

on M

agus, who sought to purchase it with m

oney. Is it for self or C

hrist? In other w

ords, Do I w

ant the Holy Spirit for the sam

e reason that H

e wants M

e? For we m

ust receive the Holy

Spirit Him

self when

we

receive H

is power;

they are inseparable. It m

ust be God's w

ill, nothing less, nothing m

ore, nothing else. Second, there m

ust be emptiness,-a def-

inite, conscious surrender for Him

to have His

rightful place in me.

It is whole-hearted, posi-

tive yieldedness,

unquestioned abandonm

ent, and positive, final, irrevocable consecration.

It is full com

mittal of the w

hole life, without res-

ervation, for salvation, sanctification, and serv-ice.

God can occupy only as much as w

e yield. This is the, only w

ay to get, and the only way

to keep, filled. As in 2 K

ings 3: 16, 17, we are

to " make the valley full of ditches" to be filled.

Instead of praying for God to give us something

more, w

e must give H

im som

ething more.

The question is, A

m I w

illing to be small enough

and weak enough so that C

hrist can be all in all?

This will separate us from

the

world

quicker than anything else. It w

ill automati-

"

The Filling of the Spirit

cally solve many a problem

. N

or will God an-

swer w

hile our personal life is wrong.

We

shall not be filled unless we are in harm

ony w

ith both God and man.

The spirit of rivalry, hatred, disgust, or dislike w

ill certainly prevent the fulfillm

ent, and constant prayer for the per-son involved is the antidote for hates.

Jealousy or gossiping about others, criticizing or spread-ing evil reports, the exaggeration of little slips, or the im

puting of wrong m

otives, becoming

judges of evil thoughts -these are the hin-

drances that are so often fatal. "W

hen we

bring our hearts

into unity

with

Christ, and our lives into harm

ony with H

is worK

, the Spirit that fell on the disciples on the day of Pente-cost w

ill fall on us."-" Testim

onies," Vol. VIII, p. 246.

Third, comes obedience.

The promise rests

upon simple obedience.

And only the obedient

remnant have the right to ask and ex.pect to be

filled. It w

as after thirty years of implicit

obedience that Jesus came to be baptized and

said, "Thus it becom

eth us to fulfill all right-eousness."

Matt. 3: 15.

Then He w

as bap-tized w

ith the Spirit. A

nd He w

ent on with H

is obedience until H

e reached the limit of fidelity

on the cross, where H

e was "obedient unto

death, even the death of the cross." Phil. 2: 8.

And it w

as this obedience that secured for us

198 192

The Com

ing of the Com

forter

the best blessing that heaven has to bestow,

bringing all other blessings in its train. W

hen Israel made a tabernacle for the H

oly One to dw

ell among them

, Moses and the people

built everything exactly "as the Lord com-

manded."

Eighteen times in the last tw

o chap-ters of Exodus this expression occurs.

Then the

tabernacle w

as filled w

ith the glory of

God (Ex. 40: 34), for it was a structure built

according to His expressed w

ill. A

nd there-after its service w

as directed by the divine Presence.

The same w

as true as regards Solo-m

on's temple.

2 Chron. 5: 13, 14. So God

will m

ake His hom

e to-day only in the human

heart where there is a W

illingness for God's

will to be done.

The "cloud of

Jehovah" w

as upon

the tabernacle by day and the fire by night in the sight of all Israel in all their journeys.

Ex. 40 :38.

And N

umbers 9: 15-23 tells how

Israel w

as divinely guided. Y

et they never knew a

day ahead where or w

hen they were to go, but

were under the direct control and regulation

of the Presence in the cloud. The fourth and last condition is faith to be-

lieve that God accepts m

y surrender and be-stow

s the blessing. It involves appropriating

by faith the promise.

Faith involves a convic-

The Filling of the Spirit

tion that God's w

ord is true, and that His prom

-ises are sure.

The emptying is largely negative,

while faith is positive.

It is simply appropriat-

ing what God has offered w

hen the conditions are m

et. It is reckoning that God has done H

is part.· It is not w

aiting for some sensation, but

daring to believe God first. Then God supplies

the fact. A

nd it becomes an experience m

ore and m

ore real. Receiving is sim

ply faith in action.

There is a sharp difference betw

een ap-propriating the blessing and experiencing it. M

any become discouraged because they do not

at once experience the feeling of enjoym

ent expected.

In seeking forgiveness of sin, many

want to feel first and trust afterw

ard. B

ut this is a reversal.

We m

ust avoid waiting to

see special results before trusting. Receiving

Christ as Lord through the H

oly Spirit is as sim

ple as receiving Him

as Saviour. There

is no need for emotion.

There may be em

otion, but it is not necessary.

When in response to the offer of C

hrist we forsake all, counting it all loss for the filling of the H

oly Spirit, then from the m

oment w

e really believe, H

e accepts our surrender and bestow

s the fullness of the Spirit. W

hen the conditions are m

et, the fulfilling answer is as

18

194 The C

oming of the C

omforter

sure as if we had seen it written in heaven.

So let us receive Him

with open, yielding, hun-

gering, thirsting, believing, accepting, absorb-ing hearts, as the dry sand receives the rain, the em

pty sponge the moisture, or the vacuum

the air.

By putting ourselves at His disposal

and in faith receiving the gift, the Holy Spirit

takes possession; the empty vessel is filled; but

it must be em

pty. Such are the conditions. Look for a m

oment at the experience of the

disciples. God did· not give the Spirit to the

unprepared. M

ark the steps: First,

they forsook

all to

follow Jesus.

They let go the world, the possessions and the

opinions of men, the fishing nets and the seat

of custom.

Except we forsake all, we cannot be H

is disciples. Everything is sacrificed and

subordinated. B

ut beware if there is a secret

conviction that you have not forsaken all. Thus

there is a certain moral relation to C

hrist that is necessary.

Second, they w

ere brought

to utter self-

despair. For a m

an must deny self.

This is a m

uch more difficult task.

They were filled

with self-confidence at the last supper.

Then cam

e Gethsem

ane, when they fell asleep, and

the arrest and trial when they fled, and from

a

The Filling of the Spirit 195

distance witnessed the suprem

e tragedy of the ages.

They were too

ashamed to look each

other in the face. They never knew

they were

so faithless and treacherous. The Sabbath of

the tomb w

as a day of death and unutterable anguish.

It broke down all reliance in self,

all trust in anything earthly. In utter despair

of themselves they turned to Christ.

On the resurrection day Jesus breathed on them

and said, "R

eceive ye the Holy G

host." Third, they accepted by faith the prom

ise of the Spirit. ,D

uring the ten days in waiting

and prayer the devil doubtless tempted them

over

their unw

orthiness. They

understood very

little of

the Old

Testament

promises.

They just believed because Jesus promised it.

And that is w

hat faith is -doing just w

hat C

hrist says. Thus they w

ere prepared; and so they w

ere filled. Just a w

ord should be added on how the

Holy Spirit is to be retained.

A fire cannot

I il!be m

aintained without fresh fuel.

So the full-ness of the H

oly Spirit is dependent upon abid-ing in the conditions of the initial receiving-constant, im

plicit obedience, constant separa-

tion unto the divine purpose, constant study of the w

ord, time in daily secret com

munion,

shunning all

impurity

(Jude 19),

avoiding

I I i'l

197 f

196 The Com

ing oj the Com

forter

laziness (2 Tim. 1: 6, 7), and w

illingness for com

plete identification in a life of service. This is not a state from

which we cannot

fall, or where we are untem

pted. A

las, the shipw

recks of men who

were once

mightily

used! M

any a bright flame has been snuffed

out by an inordinate desire to shine. N

ew

privileges bring new responsibilities, and new

responsibilities create

new perils.

Can God

trust us? N

ot unless our motives are pure.

There are three fundamental expressions in

this relation that should be noted: " Resisting"

(Acts

7: 57) seem

ingly has to do w

ith the Spirit's regenerative w

ork; "grieving" (Eph. 4: 30) has unquestionably to do w

ith His in-

dwelling or filling; and " quenching" (1 Thess.

5: 19) has to do with enduem

ent for service. The latter term

presupposes the presence of fire, and the suggestion carries one back to the fire of Pentecost and the w

orld mission m

ovement

inaugurated there. A

boy once had a dove so tame that he w

ould perch

on his

shoulder and

take food

from

his hand. One day the lad held out a tem

pting m

orsel. A

s the bird came to eat, he closed his

hand over the food. The bird turned aw

ay dis-appointed.

Again he opened his hand.

The second

time

the bird

came,

more

timidly.

The Filling oj the Spirit

And once m

ore the hand was closed.

With

drooping wings the dove w

ent a little ways

away.

Yet

again the

hand w

as extended.

The bird hesitated, then came slow

ly forward.

When he w

as about to take the food the hand closed.

Then he spread his wings and flew

away, and the lad never saw

the dove again. Such. is the fate of those who at last drive aw

ay the Spirit, the heavenly dove. .. A

fter God has show

n individuals their sins and given them

grace to overcome, and H

is Spirit has been long striving w

ith them, H

e will not w

ork a miracle

to prevent the sure result of resisting that Spirit and persisting in a w

rong course. There is a boundary

to His grace and m

ercy; and when this boundary is

passed, the aid of His Spirit, so w

ickedly refused and insulted, is w

ithdrawn, and the soul is given over to

the worst of tyrants,-the pow

er of a perverted will.

If we are closely connected w

ith sacred things, and yet do not realize their im

portance, the heart will becom

e so hard that the m

ost earnest appeals will not m

ove it to contrition."-M

rs. E. G. White, in the Bible Echo,

June, 1888.

VII

.. , In the conclusion of this m

ovement,

the spirit of prophecy says, there w

ill be few great

men.

God wants us to take our eyes off m

en, and place our dependence upon the H

oly Spirit for the finishing of our w

ork.

199

11

198 The C

oming of the C

omforter

" God w

ill work a w

ork in our day that but few

anticipate. H

e will raise up and exalt am

ong us those w

ho are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit,

than by the outward training of scientific institutions.

These facilities are not to be despised or condemned;

they are ordained of God; but they can furnish only

the exterior qualifications. G

od will m

anifest that He

is not dependent on learned, self-important m

ortals." -" Testim

onies," Vol. V, p. 82. Oh, w

hat a revolution, what a revival, w

hat a change w

ill come, w

hen God's rem

nant church is filled w

ith the Holy Spirit!

Weakness and

fear will be superseded by courage and pow

er. O

bviously the cause of our lack is not to be sought in God, but in ourselves.

And there is

a steadily growing realization of need, a de-

veloping consciousness of lack. It is a happy

omen. I t is im

possible truly to preach a latter rain gospel save in the pow

er of the latter rain. It isn't hard w

ork that breaks us down, it is

the toil of working w

ithout the requisite power.

How

we need it! H

ow we should pray for it!

" We are to pray for the im

partation of the Spirit as the rem

edy for sin-sick souls. The church needs

to be converted, and why should w

e not prostrate our-selves at the throne of grace, as representatives of the church, and from

a broken heart and contrite spirit m

ake earnest supplication that the Holy Spirit shall

be poured out upon us from on high? "

-" Testim

o-nies to M

ini8ters," p. 64.

The Filling of the Spirit

I< M

y brethren and sisters, plead for the Holy

Spirit. G

od stands back of every promise H

e has m

ade. W

ith your Bibles in your hands, say: 'I have done as Thou hast said.

I present Thy promise,

I< A

sk, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." , "

-I<

Testimonie8,"

Vol. VIII, p. 23. "0

, how w

e need the divine presence! For the

baptism of the H

oly Spirit every worker should be

breathing out his prayer to God."-I< Testim

onie8 to M

ini8ters," p. 170. "W

hy do we not hunger and thirst for the gift

of the Spirit, since this is the means by w

hich we are

to receive power?

Why do w

e not talk of it, pray for it, preach concerning it?

The Lord is more w

illing to give the H

oly Spirit to us than parents are to give good gifts to their children.

For the baptism of the

Spirit every worker should be pleading w

ith God."-

tI Testimonies," Vol. VIII, p. 22.

I< For the daily baptism

of the Spirit, every worker

should offer his petition to God.

Com

panies of Chris-

tian workers should gather to ask for special help. for

heavenly wisdom

, that they may know

how to plan

and execute wisely.

Especially should they pray that G

od will baptize H

is chosen ambassadors in m

ission fields w

ith a rich measure of H

is Spirit. The presence

of the Spirit with G

od's workers w

ill give the procla-m

ation of truth a power that not all the honor or glory

of the world could give."-u The Acts of the Apostles,"

pp. 50, 51. W

hen we want m

en to fill various impor-

tant posts, do we seek men" full of the H

oly G

host and of wisdom

"? Shall not this be the

201

I I

200 The Com

ing oj the Com

forter

deciding factor? H

ere is our lack, our weak-

ness. I am

convinced

that every candidate for the m

inistry ought to be asked Paul's ques-tion to the Ephesians, "R

eceived ye the Holy

Spirit when ye believed7" and an intelligent,

conscientious answer expected.

How

can we play like children on the seashore w

ith their buckets and shovels,

making little

heaps of

sand w

hich they

call m

ountains, and

little puddles w

hich they call oceans, when the m

ighty H

imalayas of G

od's power and the fathom

less oceans of divine provision aw

ait the explora-tions of faith?

The hour is late.

We

must

not delay.

Israel spent forty years wandering, w

hen she could have gone straight into the Prom

ised Land in eleven days.

Our w

ork could have been finished ere this.

When G

od's power is

released through the remnant church, this old

world w

ill be turned upside down.

It is not num

bers that count. Rom

e trembled before

the lone monk of W

ittenberg. Q

ueen M

ary dreaded less the arm

y of the nation than the fearless K

nox who stormed and shattered the

stronghold of usurping tyranny. G

aribaldi and one

thousand m

en w

ere enough

to change

the history of Italy. G

ideon and three hundred m

en ()verthrew the hosts of M

idian. W

esley

The Filling oj the Spirit

said that if he could have a hundred men who

feared naught but sin, he would

shake the

world.

God give us those men.

Then, minions

of darkness, beware!

U There is nothing that Satan fears so m

uch as that the people of God shall clear the w

ay by removing

every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His

Spirit upon a languishing church and an impenitent

congregation. . . . When the w

ay is prepared for the Spirit of God, the blessing w

ill come."-M

rs. E. G. W

hite, in the Review and H

erald, March 22, 1887.

When M

oody was preaching in Chicago, tw

o w

omen cam

e to him and said, " W

e are pray-ing for you."

" Praying for me? " he queried in surprise.

"Why, am

I not preaching the gospel? W

hy don't you pray for those who hear? "

They told him he w

as preaching the gospel, but w

ithout power. The arrow

went to its

mark, and hum

bly he asked them to continue

to pray for him.

The whole w

orld of

the revolution that came into his life, "G

od's m

an in God's place doing G

od's work in G

od's w

ay."J. Wilbur Chapm

an was a successful pas-

tor of a popular chureh. H

e was preaching

to a great congregation with conspicuous elo-

quence. M

oody visited him, but w

as not im-

pressed. H

e put his hand on Chapman's shoul-

il'202

The Com

ing of the Com

forter The Filling of the Spirit

203

der. "D

o you know you are a failure here? "

Within thirty years

after the cross

the he asked.

"You are m

aking a mistake in your

whole know

n world had been influenced by a

ministry.

You are not w

inning souls. I say

handful of men.

To-day there are eight hun-it in all brotherly kindness."

dred million heathen, and m

ultiplied millions

The rebuke wounded

deeply. For w

eeks of the nom

inal Christians in Babylon, having

Chapman sm

arted under it. A

t last, on Oct. the form

of godliness without the pow

er. A

nd,

16, 1892, he cried, " 0 God, I am w

illing to be oh, how

many of us are starving on the surface

made

willing

about everything."

And

the of the richest m

ine in the universe of God, like w

orld knows the result.

the old man w

ho owned three hundred acres,

but was poor alm

ost to starvation! O

ne dayOh, who w

ill stop some of us in our com

-placent

course? W

e need

to be

arrested, m

en appeared and surveyed the land, asked

the price, and paid him $1 an acre therefor.

gripped, startled.

Don't avoid the

issue by Y

et out of that very land millions upon m

illionsw

orking harder. The point isn't lack of in-

tensity or extensity. N

ever was there so m

uch of dollars have been taken, and are still being

It is not enough to stir people taken.

Its wealth seem

s unlimited.

It is onew

ork as to-day.to be busy for H

im.

We m

ust have souls. W

e of the richest m

ines in the world.

The tragedy of our poverty1 A

nd therem

ust finish our twofold task.

We need the

fire of God in our souls. W

here is our agony are unclaim

ed, unlim

ited treasures awaiting

us. The bankers of Scotland are said to have

over souls in alienation against God? W

here is our pow

er to win them

in Pentecostal num-

£40,.000,000 in

unclaimed

deposit. B

ut the riches of all heaven, in the H

oly Spirit, await

bers? God is still w

aiting for the remnant

band of men w

ho will w

holly surrender them-

our demand and reception.

We need not w

ait

selves to Him

. A

nd they are in this movem

ent for others to claim

. Let us go

to God in-

to-day, dividually.

And let us go as a church.

In Edinburgh "T

here is no limit to the usefulness of the one

stands the historic

Greyfriar's

church, sur-

who, putting self aside, m

akes room for the w

orking rounded by a m

ossy old graveyard. It w

asof the H

oly Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly

co.nsecrated to God."-" T68tim

onies," Vol. VIII, p. 19. there that, several generations ago, a com

pany

205

.' 204

The Com

ing of the Com

forter

of determined, solem

n men signed the national

covenant, the Earl of Sutherland leading the w

ay. There they opened the veins of their

arms and signed the covenant w

ith their own

blood. Let us as heralds of our com

ing Lord open the throne room

s of our hearts, and bid H

im enter for the finishing of H

is work in

the world through us.

It is the imperious call

of the hour. A

nd the the com

ing of the men.

A num

ber of years Charleston, there w

as a need will be m

et by

ago in the

city of

Negro, a w

onderful chim

e player by the

name of G

adsen, w

ho played only as one could w

ho made it truly a

part of worship.

When the city w

as shaken by an earthquake, terror and despair possessed all m

inds. M

en were fleeing for their lives.

The air was filled w

ith the crash of falling buildings

and the

shrieks of

the w

ounded. G

adsen rushed to his post, and sent pealing forth through the darkness the strains of " Rock of A

ges," to hush and calm the hearts of m

en. It proved a m

ighty, steadying, assuring force. In this tim

e, when the foundations of faith

are being shaken, when the hopes of m

en are perishing, w

hen souls are filled with darkness

and foreboding and doubt, and multitudes are

crying for the sound of comfort and hope, God

The Filling of the Spirit

calls for His faithful bell ringers to peal out

to church and world, "H

oly Spirit, light di-vine."

Let every man sound it forth!

" Holy Spirit. light divine. Shine upon this heart of m

ine, C

hase the shades of night away.

Turn my darkness into day.

" Holy Spirit, all divine, D

well w

ithin this heart of mine,

Cast dow

n every idol throne, R

eign supreme. and reign alone."

207

THE D

IVIN

E CALL TO PR

AY

ER

" ASK ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter

rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give

them show

ers of rain, to every one grass in the field." Zech. 10: 1.

" Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assem

bly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your G

od, and cry unto the Lord, A

las for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from

the Alm

ighty shall it come."

Joel 1 : 14, 15. " Blow

ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm

in M

y holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the

land tremble: for the day of the Lord com

eth, for it is nigh at hand."

"The Lord shall utter H

is voice be-fore H

is army: for H

is camp is very great: for H

e is strong that executeth H

is word: for the day of the

Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

" Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even

to Me w

ith all your heart, and with fasting, and w

ith w

eeping, and with m

ourning: and rend your heart, and not your garm

ents, and turn unto the Lord your God:

for He is gracious and m

erciful, slow to anger, and of

great kindness, and repenteth Him

of the evil. W

ho know

eth if He w

ill return and repent, and leave a blessing behind H

im; even a m

eat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your G

od? " Blow

the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call

a solemn assem

bly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assem

ble the elders, gather the children,

The Divine Call to Prayer

and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom

go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her

closet. Let the priests, the m

inisters of the Lord, weep

between the porch and the altar, and let them

say, Spare Thy people, 0 Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them

: w

herefore should they say among the people, W

here is their G

od? " Then w

ill the Lord be jealous for His land, and

pity His people.

Yea, the Lord w

ill answer and say

unto His people, Behold, I w

ill send you corn, and wine,

and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I w

ill no m

ore make you a reproach am

ong the heathen." " Fear not, 0 land; be glad and rejoice: for the

Lord will do great things.

Be not afraid, ye beasts

of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do

spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

Be glad then, ye chil-

dren of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for H

e hath given you the form

er rain moderately, and H

e will

cause to come dow

n for you the rain, the former rain,

and the latter rain in the first month.

And the floors

shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow

with

J w

ine and oil. A

nd I will restore to you the years that

the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm

, and the cater-pillar, and the palm

erworm

, My great arm

y which I

\ sent am

ong you. A

nd ye shall eat in plenty, and be1

satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your G

oa, that hath dealt w

ondrously with you: and M

y people shall never be asham

ed. A

nd ye shall know that I am

in the m

idst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your G

od, and none else: and M

y people shall never be ashamed.

" And it shall com

e to pass afterward, that I w

ill pour out M

y Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and

208 The C

oming of the C

omforter

your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall

dream dream

s, your young men shall see visions: and

also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in

those days will I pour out M

y Spirit. A

nd I will show

w

onders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of sm

oke. The sun shall be turned into

darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great

and the terrible day of the Lord come.

And it shall

come to pass, that w

hosoever shall call on the name of

the Lord shall be delivered: for in Mount Zion and in

Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said,

and in the remnant w

hom the Lord shall call."

Joel 2: 1, 11-19, '21_82:'''