“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.” John 16:13.
These divinely inspired words: “The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the defense of every contrite soul.” DA 490:5.
Men talk of the Holy Spirit—-. He is the Comforter, He is to lead us into all Truth, He is to convict us of sins and of judgment soon to come, He is to help us in every time of need, He is to deliver us from all evil, He is to purify our hearts, He is to inspire us to perform miracles and speak in tongues. These and many more are the functions of the Holy Spirit. Many have talked and prayed and worked for these gifts, and believed that in so doing, they are the recipients of the Holy Spirit. But since their works and their lives are counterproductive of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, what they possess is not the true, the genuine, but a false and spurious spirit. Sadly, though, they continue on with their deception that they are in possession of the Holy Spirit. How can we be sure that we have the genuine, the true, the only Holy Spirit working in our lives? Only Inspiration can give us the answer.
As there are laws governing God’s creative works, so there are laws governing the impartation of this important gift, and God’s vanguard Association must know and understand these laws in order for them intelligently to receive this gift.
Then, Beloved, do not lightly read over the following passages. Stay with them until you understand each one. Let not a line or a word escape your attention. Prayerfully ponder every sentence. If you are in earnest to know what role the Holy Spirit has in your soul’s salvation, then at the end of this series, a new and vibrant experience will be yours, thus putting you in living connection with our Best Friend-the Holy Spirit.
Ponder carefully and prayerfully the following bound-up testimony, published in 1965 in the Association’s Sabbath School Quarterly, Volume 3, Number 2.
The Gift of The Holy Spirit
“…He gives the Holy Spirit to help in every strait, to strengthen our hope and assurance, to illuminate our minds and purify our hearts.” -ChS 253, 254.
Jesus “…died on the cross as a sacrifice for the world, and through this sacrifice comes the greatest blessing that God could bestow-the gift of the Holy Spirit. This blessing is for all who will receive Christ.”-SD 242:1.
“…The Lord assures those that ask Him that He will give them the Holy Spirit.”-1SM 329:1.
“…He has given the Holy Spirit to be in Christ’s stead in every place where help is needed.…”-2SM 123:4.
“…The gift of His Holy Spirit, rich, full, and abundant, is to be to His church as an encompassing wall of fire, which the powers of hell shall not prevail against….”-TM 18:2.
“Christ has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church, and the promise belongs to us as much as to the first disciples. But like every other promise, it is given on conditions.…”-DA 672:1.
“Christ promised that the Holy Spirit should abide with those who wrestle for victory over sin, to demonstrate the power of divine might by endowing the human agent with supernatural strength and instructing the ignorant in the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Of what avail would it be to us that the only begotten Son of God humbled Himself, endured the temptations of the wily foe, and died, the just for the unjust, if the Spirit had not been given as a constant, working, regenerating agent, to make effectual in each individual case what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer?” GW 286:1.
“The dispensation in which we are now living is to be, to those that ask, the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Ask for His blessing. It is time we were more intense in our devotion ….”-TM 511:3.
“Just prior to His leaving His disciples for the heavenly courts, Jesus encouraged them with the promise of the Holy Spirit. This promise belongs as much to us as it did to them, and yet how rarely it is presented before the people, and its reception spoken of in the church. In consequence of this silence upon this most important theme, what promise do we know less about by its practical fulfillment than this rich promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit, whereby efficiency is to be given to all our spiritual labor? The promise of the Holy Spirit is casually brought into our discourses, is incidentally touched upon, and that is all. Prophecies have been dwelt upon, doctrines have been expounded; but that which is essential to the church in order that they may grow in spiritual strength and efficiency, in order that the preaching may carry conviction with it, and souls be converted to God, has been largely left out of ministerial effort. This subject has been set aside, as if some time in the future would be given to its consideration. Other blessings and privileges have been presented before the people until a desire has been awakened in the church for the attainment of the blessing promised of God; but the impression concerning the Holy Spirit has been that this gift is not for the church now, but that at some time in the future it would be necessary for the church to receive it.” -TM 174:1.
“In the great and measureless gift of the Holy Spirit are contained all of heaven’s resources. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If all were willing to receive, all would become filled with His Spirit.”-COL 419:1.
“…What gift could He bestow rich enough to signalize and grace His ascension to the mediatorial throne? It must be worthy of His greatness and His royalty. He determined to give His representative, the third person of the Godhead.
This gift could not be excelled. He would give all gifts in one, and therefore the divine Spirit, that converting, enlightening, and sanctifying power, would be His donation…. It came with a fullness and power, as if for ages it had been restrained, but was now being poured forth upon the church….”-ML 36:2.
“…Christ breathed on His disciples, and said, ‘Receive ye the Holy Ghost.’ This is the great gift of heaven. Christ imparted to them through the Spirit His own sanctification. He imbued them with His power, that they might win souls to the gospel. Henceforth Christ would live through their faculties, and speak through their words.…” -SD 294:2.
“God has provided divine assistance for all the emergencies to which our human resources are unequal. He gives the Holy Spirit to help in every strait, to strengthen our hope and assurance, to illuminate our minds and purify our hearts. He provides opportunities and opens channels of working. If His people are watching the indications of His providence, and are ready to co-operate with Him,they will see mighty results.”- PK 660:3.
“…There are many who believe and profess to claim the Lord’s promise; they talk about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit. They do not surrender the soul to be guided and controlled by the divine agencies. We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. Through the Spirit God works in His people ‘to will and to do of His good pleasure.’ Phil. 2:13. But many will not submit to this. They want to manage themselves. This is why they do not receive the heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train. It is given according to the riches of the grace of Christ, and He is ready to supply every soul according to the capacity to receive.” -DA 672:1.
“Through the gift of the Holy Spirit the disciples were to receive a marvelous power….”- DA 821:2.
“As the divine endowment-the power of the Holy Spirit-was given to the disciples, so it will today be given to all who seek aright. This power alone is able to make us wise unto salvation and to fit us for the courts above. Christ wants to give us a blessing that will make us holy. ‘These things have I spoken unto you,’ He says, ‘that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.’ John 15:11. Joy in the Holy Spirit is health-giving, life-giving joy. In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself, making Himself a fountain of divine influences, to give health and life to the world.”-7T 273:1.
“The voice of God was heard in answer to the petition of Christ, and this tells the sinner that His prayer will find a lodgment at the throne of the Father. The Holy Spirit will be given to those who seek for its power and grace, and will help our infirmities when we would have audience with God. Heaven is open to our petitions; I and we are invited to come ‘boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ We are to come in faith, believing that we shall obtain the very things we ask of Him (ST, April 18, 1892).”- 7-ABC 198, col. 1:2, col. 2:0.
“You have the word of the living God, and for the asking you may have the gift of the Holy Spirit to make that word a power to those who believe and obey. The Holy Spirit’s work is to guide into all truth. When you depend on the word of the living God with heart and mind and soul, the channel of communication will be unobstructed. Deep, earnest study of the word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit will give you fresh manna, and the same Spirit will make its use effectual.…”-6T 163:2.
“God does not ask us to do in our own strength the work before us. He has provided divine assistance for all the emergencies to which our human resources are unequal. He gives the Holy Spirit to help in every strait, to strengthen our hope and assurance, to illuminate our minds and purify our hearts.” -ChS 253, 254.
“It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil and to impress His own character on His church….
“When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life….” -ML 46:1, 2.
“…Your simplicity and sincerity will be the highest eloquence, and your words will be registered in the books of heaven as fit words, which are like apples of gold in pictures of silver. God will make them a healing flood of heavenly influence, awakening conviction and desire, and Jesus will add His intercession to your prayers, and claim for the sinner the gift of the Holy Spirit, and pour it upon his soul…. “-SD 274:2.
“The presence of the Spirit with God’s workers will give the presentation of the truth a power that not all the honor or glory of the world could give. The Spirit furnishes the strength that sustain striving, wrestling souls in every emergency, amidst the unfriendliness of relatives, the hatred of the world, and the realization of their own imperfections and mistakes.” -8T 22:2.
“…He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than are parents to give good gifts to their children. The reason why the precious, important truth for this time is not powerful to save, is that we do not work in faith.
“We should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the disciples prayed on the day of Pentecost. If they needed it at that time, we need it more today.…” -5T 157, 158.
“…The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to us than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the baptism of the Spirit every worker should be pleading with God ….” -8T 22:1.
“God desires to refresh His people by the gift of the Holy Spirit, baptizing them anew in His love. There is no need for a dearth of the Spirit in the church ….” -9T 40:2.
“…What we need is the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit of God. ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.’ Pray without ceasing, and watch by working in accordance with your prayers. As you pray, believe, trust in God. It is the time of the latter rain, when the Lord will give largely of His Spirit. Be fervent in prayer, and watch in the Spirit.”-TM 512:1.
“It would be surprising if there were not some, who, not being well-balanced in mind, have spoken and acted indiscreetly; for whenever and wherever the Lord works in giving a genuine blessing, a counterfeit is also revealed, in order to make of none effect the true work of God. Therefore we need to be exceedingly careful, and walk humbly before God, that we may have spiritual eyesalve that we may distinguish the working of the Holy Spirit of God from the working of that spirit that would bring in wild license and fanaticism. ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ Matt. 7:20. Those who are really beholding Christ will be changed into His image, even by the Spirit of the Lord, and will grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit of God will inspire men with love and purity; and refinement will be manifest in their characters.”-1SM 142:1.
“…God has given the Holy Spirit to those who have opened the door of their hearts to receive the heavenly gift. But let them not yield to the temptation afterward to believe that they have been deceived. Let them not say, ‘Because I feel darkness, and am oppressed with doubt, and never saw Satan’s power so manifest as now, therefore I was mistaken.’ I warn you to be careful. Sow not one expression of doubt. God has wrought for you, bringing sound doctrines of truth into actual contact with the heart. Blessing was given you, that it might produce fruit in sound practices and upright character.”-Id. 142:2.
“Upon this one gift-the gift of the Spirit-all things hinge.”-1TG 31:3, 4. God “…is particularly anxious to give us the greatest gift -the gift of the Holy Spirit. Naturally, with this gift all other gifts are given. It was this gift that Solomon asked for, and with it he was liberally given all the other gifts. Let us likewise pray for this great gift. It is just what God wants to give us if we will only wholeheartedly and honestly promise positively to use the gift in the way He would have us use it.” -1TG 31:2:3.
“…The prayer of Christ that His church may be one as He was one with His Father will finally be answered. The rich dowry of the Holy Spirit will be given, and through its constant supply to the people of God they will become witnesses in the world of the power of God unto salvation.” -TM 50:1.
Bashan Communication Vol. 1, No. 1 May 1988–August 1989 page 3-9.