Rein, Rain, Reign

There are two spirits that are always struggling for control of our minds. I know there are many of you who have burdens on your hearts and in your minds—financial, spiritual, emotional, and physical burdens. I invite you to take God at His Word and cast those anxieties, those burdens, those worries upon Christ, because He is our Burden-bearer. He knows best how to meet the needs and to use the circumstances to draw us close to Him. Do that now, so as we open God’s Word, those things are not the first burden in your heart but God’s Word and seeking what He has for you is first in your hearts.

Homophones

As I have pondered about the Holy Spirit, three identical sounding words—homophones—came to my mind: rein, rain, and reign. They sound exactly the same, but they are quite different in spelling and definition. Sounding the same is all, really, that they have in common, except they each apply to the Holy Spirit.

Originating from a Latin word, the root of which is to arrest, the first noun definition of rein, given by Webster’s, is: “The strap of a bridle fastened to the curve or a snaffle on each side by which the rider of a horse restrains and governs him.” If we “give rein,” it gives license to the animal to leave without restraint; we have no control. To “take the reins” is to take guidance or government; to give a restraining influence, a guiding power. The verb definition of rein is to govern—check or direct—by a bridle.

The second word we will look at is rain. The verb definition of this word is “to fall in drops from clouds” or “as water, to pour or shower down from the upper regions like rain from the clouds.” Ibid. In the Scriptures, the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven.” Exodus 16:4. When witnessing a severe thunderstorm, we sometimes use the expression, “It is raining cats and dogs.” The noun form of rain is “the descent of water in drops from the clouds.” Ibid. It is different from mist or fog, because the drops are visible.

The third word we will consider is reign. The verb definition of this word is: “to possess or exercise sovereign power or authority to rule or exercise governmental authority as a king or queen or emperor.” Ibid. The noun form refers more to the “royal authority, supreme power, sovereignty as the queen, or emperor.” Ibid.

I have thought a lot about those words, because I like words. My dad was an English teacher, and my mom was an early grade teacher; so words were always fun. As a family, we played games with dictionaries. Our first books were encyclopaedia sets. We had all kinds of fun with words and things at our house.

Rein

The Holy Spirit begins in our life with rein. “. . . the righteous God trieth the hearts and the reins.” Psalm 7:9. In this verse, “the hearts” refers to our emotions, and the governing power of our minds or ourselves is referred to by “the reins.” Rein associates with the governing power of man over an animal. It is attached to a bridle with a bit in the mouth of the horse or oxen, so that it is uncomfortable for the animal not to submit. There are types of bits that make it even more uncomfortable for the animal when it is being “broken”; its will is being broken to be in submission to the master.

This is especially meaningful to me, because one of the places God has worked, and continues to work, with me is found in James 1:26: “If any man [or woman] among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his [or her] tongue, but deceiv-eth his [or her] own heart, this man’s [or woman’s] religion [is] vain.” Vain is not a good description of how we want to be. We are to bridle our tongues. Our words betray very quickly who our master is.

I appreciate the beginning of the following verse very much, because it starts, “I,” referring to God. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8. This is part of the rein. It is not a bit and bridle here, but He instructs us and teaches us that He can guide us simply with the way He looks. Sometimes that look tells us, “That person is who you need to talk to today,” or “That person is who you need to touch today.” It tells us, also, “Do not be like the horse or the mule which have no understanding.” God gives us understanding, “whose mouth must be held with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.” Verse 9. I like the way this ends in verse 11, “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous; and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” That is what happens when the reins of the Holy Spirit bridle our mouths, and we can follow Him, even with the glance of His eye, to know where to go and what to do.

Another way that rein is used is found in Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 300, “God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness. Those who are accounted good workers will need to draw nigh to God, they will need the divine touch. They will need to drink more deeply and continuously at the fountain of living water, in order that they may discern God’s work at every point. Workers may make mistakes, but you should give them a chance to correct their errors, give them an opportunity to learn caution, by leaving the work in their hands.” So sometimes we can learn things that we need to learn, but if we give someone a job to do, we should not quickly jerk it out of their hands.

Rain

Our next definition is for rain. Rain nourishes the earth and all growing things. I hope that you have had the opportunity to have your windows open when it is raining. I so much enjoy hearing the rain, then, as the rain stops, listening to the birds as they start singing and the little crickets and bugs as they start their chirping. Everything feels so clean and smells so fresh after a rain shower. Rain purifies and cleanses.

The work of the reins, the bit and bridle, that move us to where God’s eye even guides us, leads to the early rains that germinate the seed. The seed is the Word of God in our lives as we are led by the Holy Spirit. In James 5:7, 8 it says, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” There the early rain and latter rain are connected with the preparation for the Lord’s coming. Christ longs for us to receive that early rain to germinate the seed, and the latter rain to ripen and bring to fruition the gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”

The showers of rain we receive remind me of the refreshing—that rain that cleanses us, that leads us and guides us. The rain from the Holy Spirit will bring something else: “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 can give.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 22. Only the Holy Spirit can give that kind of power. “The Spirit furnishes the strength that sustains 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.” Ibid. He does not cast us off because of us. He works with us; He cleanses us; He purifies us; He changes us.

Reign

The last word we will study is reign, which is associated with authority or rule of a sovereign. Psalm 146:10 says, “The Lord shall reign for ever.” One of my favorite verses is Revelation 19:6: “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

God wants to take the reins of our minds, the reins of our hearts and bring us into submission to His will. We can fight that, but He wants to reign as ruler in our hearts. We must give Him the reins; we must allow His rain to cleanse us that He may reign. The Word of God is true; He will reign forever. The question is, “Will we allow Him to reign in our lives today so that He may reign forever in your heart or my heart?” The only way that He can do that is to now give Him the reins to our hearts and our minds; ask Him, and participate, enjoy, revel in the early and latter rains that He sends, the refreshing that He brings. Place Him on the throne to reign moment by moment and day by day.

I like lists, and many years ago, in my studies, I came across this Ellen White statement which includes a list that will help us prepare for the rein, rain, and reign. “Seek the Lord most earnestly, put away your sins, and tarry in Jerusalem till ye be endowed with power from on high. Let God set you apart to the work. Purify your souls by obeying the truth.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 443. Those are the five things on the list.

“Seek the Lord most earnestly, put away your sins, and tarry [where you are] till you are endowed with power from on high. Let God set you apart to the work. Purify your souls by obeying the truth. Faith without works is dead. Put not off the day of preparation. Slumber not in a state of unpreparedness, having no oil in your vessels with your lamps. Let none leave their safety for eternity to hang upon a peradventure. Let not the question remain in perilous uncertainty. Ask yourselves earnestly, Am I among the saved, or the unsaved? Shall I stand, or shall I not stand? He only that hath clean hands and a pure heart shall stand in that day.” Ibid. [Emphasis in original.]

May you allow the Holy Spirit to take your reins today, so you are prepared to receive the early rain and latter rain that you may enjoy forever the kingdom which reigneth forever.

[All emphasis added unless otherwise noted.]

Paula Currey, a surgical nurse, lives near Wichita, Kansas, with her husband Steve. She may be contacted by e-mail at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Bible Study Guides – The Gift of the Holy Spirit; God’s Assurance of Victory

March 19, 2006 – March 25, 2006

Key Text

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13.

Study Help: The Acts of the Apostles, 47–56.

Introduction

“All who consecrate soul, body, and spirit to God will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical and mental power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ gives them the breath of His own spirit, the life of His own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind. The grace of God enlarges and multiplies their faculties, and every perfection of the divine nature comes to their assistance in the work of saving souls. Through co-operation with Christ they are complete in Him, and in their human weakness they are enabled to do the deeds of Omnipotence.” The Desire of Ages, 827.

1 What struggle is constantly going on in the hearts and lives of men? Galatians 5:17.

note: “The life of the Christian is not all smooth. He has stern conflicts to meet. Severe temptations assail him. . . . The nearer we come to the close of this earth’s history, the more delusive and ensnaring will be the attacks of the enemy. His attacks will grow fiercer and more frequent. Those who resist light and truth will become more hardened and unimpressible, and more bitter against those who love God and keep His commandments (MS 33, 1911).” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1111.

2 In His desire for man’s salvation, what has ever been God’s attitude? Ephesians 2:4, 5.

note: “In order to secure man to Himself and ensure his eternal salvation, Christ left the royal courts of heaven and came to this earth, endured the agonies of sin and shame in man’s stead, and died to make him free. In view of the infinite price paid for man’s redemption, how dare any professing the name of Christ treat with indifference one of His little ones? How carefully should brethren and sisters in the church guard every word and action lest they hurt the oil and the wine! How patiently, kindly, and affectionately should they deal with the purchase of the blood of Christ! How faithfully and earnestly should they labor to lift up the desponding and the discouraged! How tenderly should they treat those who are trying to obey the truth and have no encouragement at home, who have constantly to breathe the atmosphere of unbelief and darkness!” Testimonies, vol. 5, 614.

“Those who have an eye single to God’s glory, will earnestly desire to fit themselves for special service; for the love of Christ will have a controlling influence upon them. The love of God imparts more than finite energy, and qualifies for divine achievements. The work of those who love God will make manifest the character of their motives: for the salvation of those for whom Christ has paid an infinite price, will be the object of their effort. All other considerations,—home family, social enjoyment, will be secondary to the work of God; for they will follow the example of Christ. Christ showed his love for fallen man in leaving the heaven of bliss, the love and honor of the angels, to come to the world to meet man in his fallen condition. He worked to reform men, to fit them for a pure and holy heaven. He stopped at no sacrifice; He hesitated not at any self-denial, but for our sakes became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich.” The Bible Echo, September 1, 1892.

3 As God seeks for a dwelling place in the hearts of His children, what part have we to perform? Revelation 3:20.

note: “The Saviour . . . is not repulsed by scorn or turned aside by threatening, but continually seeks the lost ones, saying, ‘How shall I give thee up?’ Hosea 11:8. Although His love is driven back by the stubborn heart, He returns to plead with greater force, ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.’ [Revelation 3:20.] The winning power of His love compels souls to come in. And to Christ they say, ‘Thy gentleness hath made me great.’ Psalm 18:35.

“Christ will impart to His messengers the same yearning love that He Himself has in seeking for the lost. We are not merely to say, ‘Come.’ There are those who hear the call, but their ears are too dull to take in its meaning. Their eyes are too blind to see anything good in store for them. Many realize their great degradation. They say, I am not fit to be helped; leave me alone. But the workers must not desist. In tender, pitying love, lay hold of the discouraged and helpless ones. Give them your courage, your hope, your strength. By kindness compel them to come.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 235, 236.

4 By what means does God approach the hearts of men? John 16:7, 8.

note: “The great office work of the Holy Spirit is thus distinctly specified by our Saviour: ‘And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin.’ [John 16:8.] Christ knew that this announcement was a wonderful trust. He was nearing the close of His ministry upon this earth, and was standing in view of the cross, with a full realization of the load of guilt that must be placed upon Him as the Sin Bearer. Yet His greatest anxiety was for His disciples. He was seeking to find solace for them. . . .

“Evil had been accumulating for centuries and could only be restrained and resisted by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 392.

5 What does the Holy Spirit do for the believer? John 14:26.

note: “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. . . .

“Christ has made provision that His church shall be a transformed body, illumined with the light of heaven, possessing the glory of Immanuel. It is His purpose that every Christian shall be surrounded with a spiritual atmosphere of light and peace. There is no limit to the usefulness of the one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 19.

6 Into what will the Holy Spirit lead us? John 16:13.

note: “The preaching of the word is of no avail without the presence and aid of the Holy Spirit; for this Spirit is the only effectual teacher of divine truth. Only when the truth is accompanied to the heart by the Spirit, will it quicken the conscience or transform the life. A minister may be able to present the letter of the word of God; he may be familiar with all its commands and promises; but his sowing of the gospel seed will not be successful unless this seed is quickened into life by the dew of heaven. Without the co-operation of the Spirit of God, no amount of education, no advantages, however great, can make one a channel of light. Before one book of the New Testament had been written, before one gospel sermon had been preached after Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the praying disciples. Then the testimony of their enemies was, ‘Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.’ [Acts 5:28.]” Gospel Workers (1915), 284.

7 What change will result from the coming of the Spirit into our hearts? Ezekiel 36:26, 27.

note: “The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He [Jesus] could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. 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 upon His church.” The Desire of Ages, 671.

8 Upon what occasion did Jesus explain the mystery of being born of the Spirit? To what did He liken it? John 3:1–8.

note: “The power of Christ alone can work the transformation in heart and mind that all must experience who would partake with Him of the new life in the kingdom of heaven. ‘Except a man be born again,’ the Saviour has said, ‘he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ John 3:3. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that can lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will lead to watchfulness. It will purify the heart and renew the mind, and give us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 156.

9 What need did David recognize in his life? With what earnest words did he plead for the Spirit? Psalm 51:10–12.

note: “Many accept an intellectual religion, a form of godliness, when the heart is not cleansed. Let it be your prayer, [Psalm 51:10 quoted]. Deal truly with your own soul. Be as earnest, as persistent, as you would be if your mortal life were at stake. This is a matter to be settled between God and your own soul, settled for eternity. A supposed hope, and nothing more, will prove your ruin.

“Study God’s word prayerfully. That word presents before you, in the law of God and the life of Christ, the great principles of holiness, without which ‘no man shall see the Lord.’ Hebrews 12:14. It convinces of sin; it plainly reveals the way of salvation. Give heed to it as the voice of God speaking to your soul.” Steps to Christ, 35.

10 How fully will the Holy Spirit take possession of our lives if we yield to Him? What will He do for us? What shall we then be able to comprehend? Ephesians 3:16–19.

note: “Paul in his letter to the Colossians sets forth the rich blessings granted to the children of God. He says: We ‘do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.’ Colossians 1:9–11.

“Again he writes of his desire that the brethren at Ephesus might come to understand the height of the Christian’s privilege. He opens before them, in the most comprehensive language, the marvelous power and knowledge that they might possess as sons and daughters of the Most High.” The Great Controversy, 476.

11 As the result of such a surrendered life, what will God develop in us? Ephesians 4:13.

note: “To those who with steadfast perseverance strive to reveal the attributes of Christ, angels are commissioned to give enlarged views of His character and work, His power and grace and love. Thus they become partakers of His nature, and day by day grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. The sanctification of the Spirit is seen in thought, word, and deed. Their ministry is life and salvation to all with whom they associate. Of such ones it is declared, ‘Ye are complete in Him.’ Colossians 2:10.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 491.

12 What are we counseled against doing? Ephesians 4:30.

note: “It is a serious thing to grieve the Holy Spirit, and He is grieved when the human agent seeks to work himself and refuses to enter the service of the Lord because the cross is too heavy or the self-denial too great. The Holy Spirit seeks to abide in each soul. If He is welcomed as an honored guest, those who receive Him will be made complete in Christ. The good work begun will be finished; the holy thoughts, heavenly affections, and Christlike actions will take the place of impure thoughts, perverse sentiments, and rebellious acts.” Counsels on Health, 561.

An Anchor

Priscilla J. Owens penned the words of a familiar hymn in 1882:

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

Yes, indeed, we are living in a time when, more than ever before, an anchor is needed, an anchor that can firmly hold down our souls. The people of God are being shaken every which way by doctrinal errors and by life’s trials. Certainly, we are going through the final refining process before we face the time of trouble such as has never before been since the beginning of the nations. Yes, we are living in an age where everything that could go wrong does go wrong! There are so many confusions that are shaking the very foundations of our beliefs that we, in this contemporary world, need to reconfirm our fundamental beliefs and solely rely on God’s power to overcome sin and to remain faithful to the truth.

God has a people who will be used to finish the work of the everlasting gospel, and Satan is very angry and is trying to eradicate them in any and every way possible. He is trying to overcome God’s people through erroneous teachings and through the hardships of life. We need to cast our anchor and let it fasten to the Rock of ages so that our ship will not drift away, blown about by the winds of various doctrines.

In this article, we will study two specific areas concerning our anchor. First, its use to secure us from doctrinal drifts, and, second, its use to fasten us amid life’s trials.

Secure From Doctrinal Drifts

After 15 years of service in the Seventh-day Adventist Church organization as a pastor and an evangelist, I started, 17 years ago, an independent ministry called “Light for Life.” The day I joined the conservative movement, I thought that I was coming into the errorless land, that I would be forever safe from the danger of false doctrines. I was so naïve in thinking that as long as I was out of the range of the new theology, I would be on a sound doctrinal foundation! What a surprise I have experienced! I have met all kinds of fanatical and extreme offshoots in the conservative camps, insomuch that I could not believe my own eyes. I have encountered scores of people ranging from those who believe in perfectionism, not character perfection, to those who teach an impersonal Holy Spirit and the keeping of the feast days. I even once met a person who told me that to wear a tie is to worship a Babylonian idol! Can you imagine that?

We really need to throw our anchors onto the sure doctrines given in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy so that we will not be moved. As a matter of fact, the sealing experience is to settle into the truth so that we will not be moved anymore from it.

The apostle Paul said, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip.” Hebrews 2:1. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17, 18. And, also, Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17.

God is truth, so believing in false doctrines will distort our understanding of God, and such a misunderstanding of who God really is will eventually distort our character-building process. If someone believes in a fanatical doctrine or an extreme belief, it is more than likely that he or she did not have a well-balanced mind-set in the first place. Believing errors contrary to common sense and reason, generally, has to do with the hidden pride in our hearts; we oftentimes want to stand out and be different from the rest of the people, to gratify the desire for self-exaltation.

If we pray in humility and study the Word of God diligently, the Holy Spirit of God will always lead us into all truth. We have to believe it. How can we go against the impressions of the Spirit of God when we truly want to submit ourselves to the Lord on our knees? Even if we are briefly led astray by a deception, the Spirit of God will strive with us and surely bring us back to truth. If we cannot believe that, then we are just a bunch of orphans left without hope.

My Bible tells me this: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:16–21.

When we are born again in the Spirit, we immediately begin to be led by the Holy Spirit. Of course, we need to fight with the defects in our minds, which were inherited from our ancestors, so to speak, and also with wrongful thinking patterns to which we have become accustomed. But we have the assurance from God that He is going to help us, if we surrender our minds to Him every day, and He has promised to lead us into all the truth. He is the Spirit of truth!

“These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you. But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:25, 26.

Aspects of Our Anchor

My brothers and my sisters, we should not be afraid! God has given us three things to help us to stay in the truth, that we may not be deceived by any errors or heresies. They are: the Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Holy Spirit. These are the parts of our sure anchor. We do not need to fall into any errors.

The Prophet’s Counsel

“I saw that angels of God were commissioned to guard with special care the sacred, important truths which were to serve as an anchor to the disciples of Christ through every generation. The Holy Spirit especially rested upon the apostles, who were witnesses of our Lord’s crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension—important truths that were to be the hope of Israel. All were to look to the Saviour of the world as their only hope, and walk in the way which He had opened by the sacrifice of His own life, and keep God’s law and live. I saw the wisdom and goodness of Jesus in giving power to the disciples to carry on the same work for which He had been hated and slain by the Jews. In His name they had power over the works of Satan. A halo of light and glory centered about the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection, immortalizing the sacred truth that He was the Saviour of the world.” Early Writings, 196.

“God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. The Lord calls upon all who believe His word to awake out of sleep. Precious light has come, appropriate for this time. It is Bible truth, showing the perils that are right upon us. This light should lead us to a diligent study of the Scriptures and a most critical examination of the positions which we hold. God would have all the bearings and positions of truth thoroughly and perseveringly searched, with prayer and fasting. Believers are not to rest in suppositions and ill-defined ideas of what constitutes truth. Their faith must be firmly founded upon the word of God so that when the testing time shall come and they are brought before councils to answer for their faith they may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear.

“Agitate, agitate, agitate. The subjects which we present to the world must be to us a living reality. It is important that in defending the doctrines which we consider fundamental articles of faith, we should never allow ourselves to employ arguments that are not wholly sound. These may avail to silence an opposer, but they do not honor the truth. We should present sound arguments, that will not only silence our opponents, but will bear the closest and most searching scrutiny. With those who have educated themselves as debaters, there is great danger that they will not handle the word of God with fairness. In meeting an opponent, it should be our earnest effort to present subjects in such a manner as to awaken conviction in his mind, instead of seeking merely to give confidence to the believer.

“Whatever may be man’s intellectual advancement, let him not for a moment think that there is no need of thorough and continuous searching of the Scriptures for greater light. As a people we are called individually to be students of prophecy. We must watch with earnestness that we may discern any ray of light which God shall present to us. We are to catch the first gleamings of truth; and through prayerful study, clearer light may be obtained, which can be brought before others.

“When God’s people are at ease, and satisfied with their present enlightenment, we may be sure that He will not favor them. It is His will that they should be ever moving forward to receive the increased and ever-increasing light which is shining for them. The present attitude of the church is not pleasing to God. There has come in a self-confidence that has led them to feel no necessity for more truth and greater light. We are living at a time when Satan is at work on the right hand and on the left, before and behind us; and yet as a people we are asleep. God wills that a voice shall be heard arousing His people to action.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 707–709.

Multiplicity of Errors

In our contemporary world, we encounter many different kinds of teachings which focus on frivolous and minor points, yet magnify them as being among the most important issues or even as crucial for our salvation. We should be careful of those kinds of teachings that have now crept into our ranks. We need to focus on the most important doctrines and be occupied with the pillars of our faith that were given to us by our early leaders, inspired by the Spirit of God when they were moved to raise up the Advent Movement. Satan gains his power over the mind through false theories and heresies.

“Satan has wrought with deceiving power, bringing in a multiplicity of errors that obscure the truth. Error cannot stand alone, and would soon become extinct if it did not fasten itself like a parasite upon the tree of truth. Error draws its life from the truth of God. The traditions of men, like floating germs, attach themselves to the truth of God, and men regard them as a part of the truth. Through false doctrines, Satan gains a foothold, and captivates the minds of men, causing them to hold theories that have no foundation in truth. Men boldly teach for doctrines the commandments of men; and as traditions pass on from age to age, they acquire a power over the human mind. But age does not make error truth, neither does its burdensome weight cause the plant of truth to become a parasite. The tree of truth bears its own genuine fruit, showing its true origin and nature. The parasite of error also bears its own fruit, and makes manifest that its character is diverse from the plant of heavenly origin.

“It is through false theories and traditions that Satan gains his power over the human mind.” Review and Herald, October 22, 1895.

“Many who embraced the third message had not had an experience in the two former messages. Satan understood this, and his evil eye was upon them to overthrow them; but the third angel was pointing them to the most holy place, and those who had had an experience in the past messages were pointing them the way to the heavenly sanctuary. Many saw the perfect chain of truth in the angels’ messages, and gladly received them in their order, and followed Jesus by faith into the heavenly sanctuary. These messages were represented to me as an anchor to the people of God. Those who understand and receive them will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan.” Early Writings, 255.

Amid Life’s Trials

We are living during an age where the structure of our society is not conducive to the cultivation of piety and purity. Never, since the fall of humanity, has it been so difficult to perfect our characters. Everybody suffers, no matter who they may be. I have met many people during my life, and I do not know of anyone who claims that he or she does not have a cross to bear. The surrounding circumstances of our lives and the environment of our society make our cross-bearing much more difficult now than it has been in previous generations, without even mentioning the reason of the law of heredity. We are, by far, the weakest generation of them all, so we need even more help and more guidance from the Lord.

After a traveler crossed the Sahara Desert on foot, he was interviewed by many reporters. In one interview, someone asked him, “What was the most difficult thing to overcome in the journey? Was it heat? Or perhaps sandstorms?” But, surprisingly, he answered that it was rather the sand that got into his shoes that made the journey through the desert so difficult. That is right; the sand in his shoes!

It is not big trials or problems that usually discourage and dishearten us. On the contrary, it is rather small temptations and minor disappointments and trials that cause us to fall and to faint within our hearts. So, we need to focus on the Lord, who is in the heavenly sanctuary. He never forgets us. He devotes all His time to doing everything to save our souls. He is our High Priest.

Of what importance is the position of high priest? A high priest is someone who is appointed from among us, someone who knows our problems and trials by experience, and who is, therefore, able to help us in our time of need.

Jesus Christ is our Mediator. The work of the Mediator is not only to forgive our sins but also to teach and to strengthen us; in other words, to provide the saving grace to overcome. And not only that, but He comforts us in our trials and strengthens us to bear them. So, we really need to focus on Jesus in the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary. His ministry has been more intensified since He entered into the most holy place. He is preparing His final church to face the time of trouble that will soon break upon us. His business is to save us from the dangers we are facing daily. He is not just reading though record books in formal sessions up there in heaven like an attorney who is not interested in the real person he is defending or for whom he is fighting.

Jesus really cares about you and me. He would rather die than lose us to the hands of our enemy, so we need to follow Him by faith into the most holy place and know and experience for ourselves the work that He is doing for us there on a daily basis. He is our only hope and our anchor. We need to know Him, and that is eternal life. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3. We need to know Him by experience as He daily delivers us in all our trials and sufferings. He is to be our Saviour in every sense of the word as we journey toward our heavenly home.

“Thither the faith of Christ’s disciples followed him as he ascended from their sight. Here their hopes centered, ‘which hope we have,’ said Paul, ‘as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever.’ [Hebrews 6:19, 20.]” The Great Controversy, 421.

“Said Jesus: ‘The Father Himself loveth you.’ [John 16:27.] If our faith is fixed upon God, through Christ, it will prove ‘as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the Forerunner is for us entered.’ [Hebrews 6:19.] It is true that disappointments will come; tribulation we must expect; but we are to commit everything, great and small, to God. He does not become perplexed by the multiplicity of our grievances nor overpowered by the weight of our burdens. His watch care extends to every household and encircles every individual; He is concerned in all our business and our sorrows. He marks every tear; He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. All the afflictions and trials that befall us here are permitted, to work out His purposes of love toward us, ‘that we might be partakers of His holiness’ [Hebrews 12:10] and thus become participants in that fullness of joy which is found in His presence.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 742.

The Faith We Need

I was deeply touched by the total trust in and commitment to the Lord that a fellow believer recently expressed in testimony. She said that her husband is in jail for a fraud charge; her 17-year-old son has committed suicide, and she is now in the final stage of stomach cancer. Yet, she told the people congregated that she is still thankful to God, “Because,” she said, “I know and trust the fact that the Lord did His best to save my family, and I will find out more of what God has done for my family when I go to heaven. Surely I will praise Him the more then!” What a testimony! That is the kind of faith we should have before we go through the time of trouble.

When Jesus was on the cross, He could not see beyond the portals of the tomb, nor could He see a ray of hope coming down from the throne of His Father, and yet He died a victor as He remembered and trusted in His Father’s promise. That is what we call the faith of Jesus. The remnant of the woman must have this same faith of Jesus. The descriptions of the experience of the 144,000 at the time of Jacob’s trouble are similar to the experience that Jesus Christ had from Gethsemane to Calvary.

We need to learn how to anchor our souls in the Lord in our daily trials now, so that we will learn to place everything on the altar and trust Him even when all our hopes have vanished into total darkness. We shall then have the faith of Jesus and will have absolute peace in our hearts, for we have learned to lay our helpless souls on God, fully surrendering to His will.

“The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger—a faith that will not faint though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His victory is an evidence of the power of importunate prayer. All who will lay hold of God’s promises, as he did, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded. Those who are unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for His blessing, will not obtain it. Wrestling with God—how few know what it is! How few have ever had their souls drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch. When waves of despair which no language can express sweep over the suppliant, how few cling with unyielding faith to the promises of God.

“Those who exercise but little faith now, are in the greatest danger of falling under the power of satanic delusions and the decree to compel the conscience. And even if they endure the test they will be plunged into deeper distress and anguish in the time of trouble, because they have never made it a habit to trust in God. The lessons of faith which they have neglected they will be forced to learn under a terrible pressure of discouragement. We should now acquaint ourselves with God by proving His promises.” The Great Controversy, 621.

We read, in Roman 8:28, 29, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

The Anchor Holds

“The heart surrendered to God’s wise discipline will trust every working out of His providence. . . . Temptation will come to discourage, but what is gained by yielding to any such temptations? Is the soul made any better by murmuring and complaining of its only source of strength? Is the anchor cast within the vail? Will it hold in sickness? Will it be the testimony borne in the last closing scenes of life when the lips are becoming palsied with death? The anchor holds! I know that my Redeemer liveth.” The Upward Look, 377.

Let us contemplate the words of the Psalmist. If we can truly respond yes to these words from our innermost hearts, then we can be certain that our anchor is cast on Jesus our Lord!

“Truly God [is] good to Israel, [even] to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For [there are] no bands in their death: but their strength [is] firm. They [are] not in trouble [as other] men; neither are they plagued like [other] men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them [as] a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly [concerning] oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these [are] the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase [in] riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart [in] vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend [against] the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it [was] too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when [one] awaketh; [so], O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish [was] I, and ignorant: I was [as] a beast before thee. Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory. Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? and [there is] none upon earth [that] I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Psalm 73:1–26.

[All emphasis added.]

Bible Study Guides – Victory Through the Spirit

June 10, 2007 – June 16, 2007

Key Text

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14.

Study Help: The Acts of the Apostles, 47-56.

Introduction

“The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful views may bring together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them, but the acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church. Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden.

“The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of Christ: [John 16:8 quoted]. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the Spirit, he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the importance of obeying the divine requirements.

“To the repentant sinner, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, the Holy Spirit reveals the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. [John 16:14; 14:26 quoted.]

“The Spirit is given as a regenerating agency, to make effectual the salvation wrought by the death of our Redeemer. The Spirit is constantly seeking to draw the attention of men to the great offering that was made on the cross of Calvary, to unfold to the world the love of God, and to open to the convicted soul the precious things of the Scriptures.” The Acts of the Apostles, 52.

1 How much can we do in our own strength to attain to a life of victory? John 15:15; 11 Corinthians 12:9. Through Christ, what are we able to do? Philippians 4:13; Colossians 1:11.

note: “The effort to earn salvation by one’s own works inevitably leads men to pile up human exactions as a barrier against sin. For, seeing that they fail to keep the law, they will devise rules and regulations of their own to force themselves to obey. All this turns the mind away from God to self. His love dies out of the heart, and with it perishes love for his fellow men. A system of human invention, with its multitudinous exactions, will lead its advocates to judge all who come short of the prescribed human standard. The atmosphere of selfish and narrow criticism stifles the noble and generous emotions, and causes men to become self-centered judges and petty spies.

“The Pharisees were of this class. They came forth from their religious services, not humbled with a sense of their own weakness, not grateful for the great privileges that God had given them. They came forth filled with spiritual pride, and their theme was, ‘Myself, my feelings, my knowledge, my ways.’ Their own attainments became the standard by which they judged others. Putting on the robes of self-dignity, they mounted the judgment seat to criticize and condemn.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 123.

“There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.” The Desire of Ages, 250, 251.

2 In what is the power of a victorious life? Zechariah 4:6. What promise did Jesus make to His disciples concerning the Holy Spirit? John 14:16–18.

note: “The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the defense of every contrite soul. Not one that in penitence and faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy’s power. The Saviour is by the side of His tempted and tried ones. With Him there can be no such thing as failure, loss, impossibility, or defeat; we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.” The Desire of Ages, 490.

“By an agency as unseen as the wind, Christ is constantly working upon the heart. Little by little, perhaps unconsciously to the receiver, impressions are made that tend to draw the soul to Christ. These may be received through meditating upon Him, through reading the Scriptures, or through hearing the word from the living preacher. Suddenly, as the Spirit comes with more direct appeal, the soul gladly surrenders itself to Jesus. By many this is called sudden conversion; but it is the result of long wooing by the Spirit of God,¾a patient, protracted process.” Ibid., 172.

3 What did the Saviour say the Holy Spirit would do when He came? John 14:26. Of whom would He testify? John 15:26.

Note: “The Holy Spirit has been given us as an aid in the study of the Bible. Jesus promised, [John 14:26 quoted]. When the Bible is made the study book, with earnest supplication for the Spirit’s guidance, and with a full surrender of the heart to be sanctified through the truth, all that Christ has promised will be accomplished. The result of such Bible study will be well-balanced minds. The understanding will be quickened, the sensibilities aroused. The conscience will become sensitive; the sympathies and sentiments will be purified; a better moral atmosphere will be created; and new power to resist temptation will be imparted.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 357.

4 What effect did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would have in the world? John 16:7–11. What will He do for the believer? Verse 13.

note: “There is no safety for one who has merely a legal religion, a form of godliness. The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.” The Desire of Ages, 172.

5 Of what did Jesus assure His disciples on the day of His ascension? Acts 1:4, 5. What will the Spirit impart to those who receive Him? Verse 8.

note: “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.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 419.

“In all who will submit themselves to the Holy Spirit a new principle of life is to be implanted; the lost image of God is to be restored in humanity.” Ibid., 96.

6 By what means is victory wrought in the life? Romans 8:11–14; John 3:3–8.

note: “Religion consists in doing the words of Christ; not doing to earn God’s favor, but because, all undeserving, we have received the gift of His love. Christ places the salvation of man, not upon profession merely, but upon faith that is made manifest in works of righteousness. Doing, not saying merely, is expected of the followers of Christ. It is through action that character is built. . . . Not those whose hearts are touched by the Spirit, not those who now and then yield to its power, but they that are led by the Spirit, are the sons of God.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 149, 150.

7 How is the willingness of the Lord to give us the Holy Spirit expressed? Luke 11:13.

note: “It is the absence of the Spirit that makes the gospel ministry so powerless. Learning, talent, eloquence, every natural or acquired endowment, may be possessed; but, without the presence of the Spirit of God, no heart will be touched, no sinner won to Christ. On the other hand, if they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit are theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of His disciples will have a power that will tell upon hearts. God makes them channels for the outflowing of the highest influence in the universe.

“Why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit, since this is the means by which we are to receive power? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, preach concerning it? 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. Companies should be gathered together to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely. . . .

“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 sustains 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.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 21, 22.

8 What is the fruit of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22, 23.

note: “Wherever there is an impulse of love and sympathy, wherever the heart reaches out to bless and uplift others, there is revealed the working of God’s Holy Spirit. In the depths of heathenism, men who have had no knowledge of the written law of God, who have never even heard the name of Christ, have been kind to His servants, protecting them at the risk of their own lives. Their acts show the working of a divine power. The Holy Spirit has implanted the grace of Christ in the heart of the savage, quickening his sympathies contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. The ‘Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world’ (John 1:9), is shining in his soul; and this light, if heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 385.

9 By what is a tree known? Matthew 7:17–20. What application is made of this principle to our Christian experience? Luke 6:43–45.

note: “Every tree is known by its own fruits. Our words, our actions, are the fruit we bear. There are many who hear the sayings of Christ, but do them not. They make a profession, but their fruits are such as to disgust unbelievers. They are boastful, and pray and talk in a self-righteous manner, exalting themselves, recounting their good deeds, and, like the Pharisee, virtually thanking God that they are not as other men. Yet these very ones are crafty, and overreach in business deal. Their fruits are not good. Their words and acts are wrong, and yet they seem to be blinded to their destitute, wretched condition.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 416.

10 What sentence did the Saviour pronounce upon the fruitless fig tree? Mark 11:12–14, 20, 21.

note: “Christ’s act in cursing the tree which His own power had created stands as a warning to all churches and to all Christians. No one can live the law of God without ministering to others. But there are many who do not live out Christ’s merciful, unselfish life. Some who think themselves excellent Christians do not understand what constitutes service for God. They plan and study to please themselves. They act only in reference to self. Time is of value to them only as they can gather for themselves. In all the affairs of life this is their object. Not for others but for themselves do they minister. God created them to live in a world where unselfish service must be performed. He designed them to help their fellow men in every possible way. But self is so large that they cannot see anything else. They are not in touch with humanity. Those who thus live for self are like the fig tree, which made every pretension but was fruitless. They observe the forms of worship, but without repentance or faith. In profession they honor the law of God, but obedience is lacking. They say, but do not. In the sentence pronounced on the fig tree Christ demonstrates how hateful in His eyes is this vain pretense. He declares that the open sinner is less guilty than is he who professes to serve God, but who bears no fruit to His glory.” The Desire of Ages, 584.

11 For what spiritual refreshing are we urged to pray at this time? Zechariah 10:1. What promise of the latter rain is given? Joel 2:23.

note: “I [Ellen White] heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth in great power. It had effect. I saw those who had been bound; some wives had been bound by their husbands, and some children had been bound by their parents. The honest who had been held or prevented from hearing the truth, now eagerly laid hold of it. All fear of their relatives was gone. The truth alone was exalted to them. It was dearer and more precious than life. They had been hungering and thirsting for truth. I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered: ‘It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel.’ ” Testimonies, vol. 1, 182, 183.

12 What blessed invitation is given to all? Revelation 22:17; John 7:37, 38.

note: “The cry of Christ to the thirsty soul is still going forth, and it appeals to us with even greater power than to those who heard it in the temple on that last day of the feast. The fountain is open for all. The weary and exhausted ones are offered the refreshing draught of eternal life.” The Desire of Ages, 454.

Adapted from “The Victorious Life,” Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California, 1924.

Question – Grieved the Holy Spirit

Question:

I sometimes worry that I have grieved away the Holy Spirit. How can I know that I have not done this?

Answer:

There are others who have this same concern. I would say first, remember that “God is love,” and He has your best interest at heart. He also is more anxious for you to be saved than you are. God sent His only begotten Son down here to earth to save you. Jesus suffered untold miseries to save you, so keep your eyes on the Lord.

Jesus said, “But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” “The Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin.” John 14:26; 16:7, 8. Read John 14 and 15; you will receive a real blessing, and you may understand more about what the Holy Spirit does.

We will never be able on this earth to exactly understand the Holy Spirit. We can only know what He does and that He is one of the members of the Godhead. “The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. . . .

“To the repentant sinner, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, the Holy Spirit reveals the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. . . .

“The Spirit is given as a regenerating agency, to make effectual the salvation wrought by the death of our Redeemer. The Spirit is constantly seeking to draw the attention of men to the great offering that was made on the cross of Calvary, to unfold to the world the love of God, and to open to the convicted soul the precious things of the Scriptures.” The Acts of the Apostles, 52.

As for grieving the Holy Spirit, that is not a sudden thing; it happens over a period of time as a person repeatedly refuses to do God’s will. One example of this would be Pharaoh. The Lord pleaded with him to let the children of Israel go, but he kept refusing until he had completely disconnected himself from God. (See Exodus 7−12.)

What usually happens is that a person learns that something is right to do, such as keeping the Sabbath, but he says, “I am not going to do that.” He hears about it again and again, but he continues to refuse to obey what he knows is right. Finally the Holy Spirit gives up on that person. Then his conscience no longer bothers him about going to church on Sunday. He has no more dread of sin, because the Holy Spirit is the one that convicts us of sin.

If you are still trying to do God’s will and you are convicted when you sin that it is wrong, you have not sinned against the Holy Spirit. He is still pleading with you. He wants you to be in heaven, and if you want to go there, too, and are willing to follow His guidance, you will reach your goal and have eternal life.

If you worry that you have grieved the Holy Spirit away, you have not, or you would not worry about it; you could not care less.

Bible Study Guides – The Heavenly Trio

February 10, 2008 – February 16, 2008

Key Text

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:2.

Study Help: “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7A, 442.

Introduction

“There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.” Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, 63.

1. How many persons of the Godhead were present at Jesus’ baptism? Matthew 3:16, 17.

Note: “When Christ bowed on the banks of Jordan, after his baptism, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended in the form of a dove, like burnished gold, and encircled him with its glory; and the voice of God from the highest heaven was heard, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ [Matthew 3:17.] The prayer of Christ in man’s behalf opened the gates of heaven, and the Father had responded, accepting the petition for the fallen race. Jesus prayed as our substitute and surety, and now the human family may find access to the Father through the merits of his well-beloved Son.” Review and Herald, February 28, 1888.

2. What assurance is given to those who believe in Christ as their personal Saviour? John 20:17.

3. How many persons are mentioned in Christ’s promise to send the Comforter? John 14:16.

Note: “The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.” Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, 63.

4. Why is the Holy Spirit called “another Comforter” in John 14:16? Compare 1 John 2:1.

Note: “The promise of the Comforter presented a rich truth to the disciples. It assured them that they should not lose their faith under the most trying circumstances. The Holy Spirit, sent in the name of Christ, was to be their Guide, teaching them all things, and bringing all things to their remembrance. This Comforter was to be the representative of Christ their Advocate, who is constantly pleading in behalf of the fallen race.

“He who knows the end from the beginning has provided for the attack of satanic agencies; and he will fulfill his Word to the faithful in every age. That Word is sure and steadfast; not one jot or tittle of it can fail. The Holy Spirit is constantly at work, teaching, reminding, testifying, coming to the soul as a divine comforter, and convincing of sin as an appointed judge and guide. If men will keep under the protection of God, he will be to them as an impregnable fortress. He will give evidence that his Word can never fail. He will prove a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn; as the Sun of Righteousness he will arise with healing in his beams.” The Signs of the Times, November 18, 1897.

5. Who was mentioned by Christ in His commission to His disciples? Matthew 28:19.

Note: “The disciples were to carry their work forward in Christ’s name. Their every word and act was to fasten attention on His name, as possessing that vital power by which sinners may be saved. Their faith was to center in Him who is the source of mercy and power. In His name they were to present their petitions to the Father, and they would receive answer. They were to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Christ’s name was to be their watchword, their badge of distinction, their bond of union, the authority for their course of action, and the source of their success. Nothing was to be recognized in His kingdom that did not bear His name and superscription.” The Acts of the Apostles, 28.

6. What assurance did Christ give to His followers? Matthew 28:20.

Note: “Christ gave His disciples their commission. He made full provision for the prosecution of the work, and took upon Himself the responsibility for its success. So long as they obeyed His word, and worked in connection with Him, they could not fail. Go to all nations, He bade them. Go to the farthest part of the habitable globe, but know that My presence will be there. Labor in faith and confidence, for the time will never come when I will forsake you.

“The Saviour’s commission to the disciples included all the believers. It includes all believers in Christ to the end of time. It is a fatal mistake to suppose that the work of saving souls depends alone on the ordained minister. All to whom the heavenly inspiration has come are put in trust with the gospel. All who receive the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. For this work the church was established, and all who take upon themselves its sacred vows are thereby pledged to be co-workers with Christ.” The Desire of Ages, 822.

7. How does Peter salute the readers of his epistle? 1 Peter 1:2. What does Paul mention also? 11 Thessalonians 2:13, 14.

Note: “ ‘God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation,’ the apostle Paul writes, ‘through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.’ 11 Thessalonians 2:13. In this text the two agencies in the work of salvation are revealed—the divine influence, and the strong, living faith of those who follow Christ. It is through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth that we become laborers together with God. Christ waits for the co-operation of His church. He does not design to add a new element of efficiency to His word; He has done His great work in giving His inspiration to the word. The blood of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the divine word, are ours. The object of all this provision of heaven is before us—the salvation of the souls for whom Christ died; and it depends upon us to lay hold on the promises God has given, and become laborers together with Him. Divine and human agencies must co-operate in the work.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 22.

8. Who worked out the plan of redemption at the very beginning?

Note: “The Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave Themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption. In order fully to carry out this plan, it was decided that Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, should give Himself an offering for sin. What line can measure the depth of this love? God would make it impossible for man to say that He could have done more. With Christ He gave all the resources of heaven, that nothing might be wanting in the plan for man’s uplifting. Here is love—the contemplation of which should fill the soul with inexpressible gratitude! Oh, what love, what matchless love! The contemplation of this love will cleanse the soul from all selfishness. It will lead the disciple to deny self, take up the cross, and follow the Redeemer.” Counsels on Health, 222, 223.

9. What promise does the apostolic benediction include? 11 Corinthians 13:14.

Note: “To His church, Christ has given ample facilities, that He may receive a large revenue of glory from His redeemed, purchased possession. The church, being endowed with the righteousness of Christ, is His depository, in which the wealth of His mercy, His love, His grace, is to appear in full and final display. The declaration in His intercessory prayer, that the Father’s love is as great toward us as toward Himself, the only-begotten Son, and that we shall be with Him where He is, forever one with Christ and the Father, is a marvel to the heavenly host, and it is their great joy. 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.” Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, 209.

10. How can we avail ourselves of the help of the heavenly trio? Luke 11:11–13.

Note: “Christ illustrates the willingness of God to bless by the willingness of a father to grant the request of his child. He says, ‘If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?’ Luke 11:11–13.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 242.

Additional Reading:

“The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight.

“The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God declares Him to be ‘the express image of His person.’ ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ [Hebrews 1:3; John 3:16.] Here is shown the personality of the Father.

“The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour.” Evangelism, 614, 615.

“The Holy Spirit comes to convict of sin, and the faith that springs up in the heart works by love to Christ, conforming us in body, soul, and spirit to His own image. Then God can use us to do His will.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 100.

“All who receive the gospel message into the heart will long to proclaim it. The heaven-born love of Christ must find expression. Those who have put on Christ will relate their experience, tracing step by step the leadings of the Holy Spirit—their hungering and thirsting for the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, the results of their searching of the Scriptures, their prayers, their soul agony, and the words of Christ to them, ‘Thy sins be forgiven thee.’ [Matthew 9:2.]” Ibid., 125.

“Our sanctification is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is the fulfilment of the covenant that God has made with those who bind themselves up with Him, to stand with Him, with His Son, and with His Spirit in holy fellowship. Have you been born again? Have you become a new being in Christ Jesus? Then co-operate with the three great powers of heaven who are working in your behalf. Doing this you will reveal to the world the principles of righteousness.” The Signs of the Times, June 19, 1901.

“Those who are baptized in the threefold name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, at the very entrance of their Christian life declare publicly that they have forsaken the service of Satan and have become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly king.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 91.

“When truth becomes an abiding principle in the life, the soul is ‘born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.’ [1 Peter 1:23.] This new birth is the result of receiving Christ as the Word of God. When by the Holy Spirit divine truths are impressed upon the heart, new conceptions are awakened, and the energies hitherto dormant are aroused to co-operate with God.” The Acts of the Apostles, 520.

“Those who study the word of God with hearts open to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, will not remain in darkness as to the meaning of the word. ‘If any man willeth to do His will,’ Christ said, ‘he shall know of the teaching whether it be of God, or whether I speak from Myself.’ John 7:17, R.V.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 36.

“Morning by morning, as the heralds of the gospel kneel before the Lord and renew their vows of consecration to Him, He will grant them the presence of His Spirit, with its reviving, sanctifying power. As they go forth to the day’s duties, they have the assurance that the unseen agency of the Holy Spirit enables them to be ‘laborers together with God.’ ” The Acts of the Apostles, 56.

“What was the strength of those who in the past have suffered persecution for Christ’s sake? It was union with God, union with the Holy Spirit, union with Christ.” Ibid., 84.

Reprinted with permission, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia.

Bible Study Guides – The Holy Spirit

February 3, 2008 – February 9, 2008

Key Text

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1, 2.

Study Help: The Desire of Ages, 668–672.

Introduction

“Through the creation we are to become acquainted with the Creator. The book of nature is a great lesson-book, which in connection with the Scriptures we are to use in teaching others of his character, and guiding lost sheep back to the fold of God. As the works of God are studied, the Holy Spirit flashes conviction into the mind.” The Watchman, November 3, 1908.

1. What title does the apostle Peter apply to the Holy Spirit? Acts 5:3, 4.

Note: “God hates hypocrisy and falsehood. Ananias and Sapphira practiced fraud in their dealing with God; they lied to the Holy Spirit, and their sin was visited with swift and terrible judgment. When Ananias came with his offering, Peter said: ‘Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.’ [Acts 5:3, 4.]” The Acts of the Apostles, 72.

“The Spirit, being God, knoweth the mind of God.” The Signs of the Times, October 3, 1892.

2. What is the Holy Spirit called in Isaiah 6:8–10? Compare Acts 28:25–27.

3. What divine attribute is applied to the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 9:14?

4. What other attribute is mentioned by the angel Gabriel? Luke 1:35.

Note: “The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the defense of every contrite soul. Not one that in penitence and faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy’s power. The Saviour is by the side of His tempted and tried ones. With Him there can be no such thing as failure, loss, impossibility, or defeat; we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. When temptations and trials come, do not wait to adjust all the difficulties, but look to Jesus, your helper.” The Desire of Ages, 490–493.

“A portion of the joy which was set before Christ, was the joy of seeing his truth armed with the omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit, impressing his image upon the life and character of his followers. . . .

“What has the rich blessing of God done for those who were humble and contrite in heart to receive it? Has the blessing been cherished? Have the receivers been showing forth the praises of Him who has called them out of darkness into his marvelous light? There are some who are already questioning the work that was so good, and that should have been most highly appreciated. They are looking upon it as a certain species of fanaticism. 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’ [Matthew 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.” Review and Herald, February 6, 1894.

5. What characteristic does Paul mention with reference to the Holy Ghost? 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11.

Note: “Never can humanity, of itself, attain to a knowledge of the divine. ‘It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?’ Job 11:8. Only the spirit of adoption can reveal to us the deep things of God, which ‘eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man.’ ‘God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.’ 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10.” The Desire of Ages, 412.

6. Mention another quality described in Psalm 139.

Note: “Although our Lord ascended from earth to heaven, the Holy Spirit was appointed as His representative among men. ‘If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless.’ John 14:15–18.

“Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent. ‘But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall (although unseen by you), [This phrase was added by Ellen White.] teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.’ John 14:26. ‘Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will come not unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.’ John 16:7.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, 23, 24.

7. Mention some evidences concerning the personality of the Holy Spirit:

  • The Holy Spirit speaks: Acts 28:25
  • He teaches: John 14:26
  • He strives with sinners: Genesis 6:3
  • He comforts: Acts 9:31
  • He helps in our infirmities: Romans 8:26
  • He is vexed: Isaiah 63:10
  • He is grieved: Ephesians 4:30
  • He can be resisted: Acts 7:51
  • He has a mind: Romans 8:27

Note: “Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. 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 upon His church.” The Desire of Ages, 671.

“We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds.” Sermons and Talks, vol. 2, 137.

“The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God.” Sons and Daughters of God, 28.

“The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. ‘For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man, which is in him; even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.’ [1 Corinthians 2:11.]” Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, 69.

“The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.” Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 10, 37.

8. Mention some of the actions of the Holy Spirit:

  • He creates: Job 33:4
  • He renews: Isaiah 32:15
  • He convicts: John 16:8–11
  • He regenerates: John 3:3, 5
  • He indwells: Romans 8:11
  • He anoints: 1 John 2:20, 27
  • He baptizes: Acts 2:17, 18

Additional Reading:

“The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. Only those who are thus taught of God, those who possess the inward working of the Spirit, and in whose life the Christ-life is manifested, are to stand as representative men, to minister in behalf of the church.” The Desire of Ages, 805.

“We need the softening, subduing, refining influence of the Holy Spirit, to mold our characters, and to bring every thought into captivity to Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that will enable us to overcome, that will lead us to sit at the feet of Jesus, as did Mary, and learn His meekness and lowliness of heart.

“We need to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit every hour of the day, lest we be ensnared by the enemy and our souls be imperiled.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 223.

“The power of the Holy Spirit is needed to chase away our unbelief and unchristlike attributes. We must see our need of a physician. We are sick, and do not know it. May the Lord convert the hearts of His workmen! When there is a converted ministry, then look for results. But we cannot convert our own hearts. This work can be done only by the power of the Holy Spirit. In every stage of the work let this be remembered: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.’ [Zechariah 4:6.]” Reflecting Christ, 114.

“We have the privilege of being trained under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. All the attributes that are excellent are to strengthen our moral powers, that they may have no mist or tarnish upon them. We are weaving our threads in the web of humanity; not a thread of self-glory must be woven into the fabric. All heaven is imparting its help that we may surmount every obstacle. . . . We are to build characters of a goodly fabric, spiritual, heavenly, perfect. God bids us work for time and for eternity that we may grow after the divine likeness.” In Heavenly Places, 165.

“The followers of Christ are to shed light into the darkness of the world. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s word is a light as it becomes a transforming power in the life of the receiver. By implanting in their hearts the principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God. The light of His glory—His character—is to shine forth in His followers.” God’s Amazing Grace, 214.

“Jesus did not seek you and me because we were his friends; for we were estranged from him, and unreconciled to God. It was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us. But he has promised to give us his Holy Spirit, that we might become assimilated to his nature, changed into his image. Therefore we must put away everything like passion, impatience, murmuring, and unrest, and find a place for Jesus in the heart.” Bible Echo, January 15, 1892.

“We are called by Christ to come out from the world and to be separate. We are called to live holy lives, having our hearts continually drawn out to God, and having in our lives the Holy Spirit as an abiding presence. Every true believer in Christ will reveal that the grace of His love is in the heart. Where once there was estrangement from God, there will be revealed co-partnership with Him; where once the carnal nature was manifest, there will be seen the attributes of the divine.” Ye Shall Receive Power, 28.

“The law of God is to be obeyed. . . . God’s law is a law of mercy, an expression of goodness; it holds His creatures responsible for allegiance to Him, places them under obligation to reveal in their characters the attributes of its Author. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the law of God is to be exemplified in the life of a Christian.” Lake Union Herald, November 17, 1909.

“Wherever the holy precepts of God are observed, it is an evidence that the word and the Spirit of God have penetrated the human heart and transformed the natural character. The law of God is the true standard of character, and the commandments can not be disregarded and ignored without detriment to character.” The Signs of the Times, April 2, 1896.

Reprinted with permission, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia.

The Crisis in Adventism

The warfare against God’s law, which was begun in heaven, will be continued until the end of time. Every man will be tested. Obedience or disobedience is the question to be decided by the whole world. All will be called to choose between the law of God and the laws of men. Here the dividing line will be drawn. There will be but two classes. Every character will be fully developed; and all will show whether they have chosen the side of loyalty or that of rebellion. Then the end will come.” The Desire of Ages, 763.

What is the last great crisis that is facing the world? Not the symptoms, but what is the fundamental issue? It is the Law of God. “That the law which was spoken by God’s own voice is faulty, that some specification has been set aside, is the claim which Satan now puts forward. It is the last great deception that he will bring upon the world. He needs not to assail the whole law; if he can lead men to disregard one precept, his purpose is gained. … By consenting to break one precept, men are brought under Satan’s power.” Ibid.

When Jesus was on earth, the disciples asked what was going to be the sign of the end of the age. “And Jesus answered, and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4. The first thing that Jesus said to His disciples was a warning about being deceived. This was so important that Jesus repeated the warning at least three times in Matthew 24.

Who was it that Jesus warned could be deceived? He said, “For there shall arise false christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; inasmuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive, the very elect.” Matthew 24:24. Jesus warned the elect against being deceived. Who are the elect? They are the godly. They are the church. They are the Seventh-day Adventists.

The devil has a special plan for deceiving Seventh-day Adventists. He is causing a great crisis in Adventism, because he wants to deceive those who have been given the greatest light—the elect.

This clear warning has been given to Seventh-day Adventists. “In the last vision given me I was shown the startling fact that but a small portion of those who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and be saved.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 608, 609.

That is not good news to me. I grew up in the Adventist Church. I went entirely through the Adventist educational system. All my friends, when I was growing up, were part of the Adventist Church. Those are my best friends today, scattered all over the world. It is startling to read that only a few of those who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and be saved. The great majority of Seventh-day Adventists will be deceived by the devil’s sophistries. I repeat God’s warning because I do not want you to be one of the many people who are going to be lost.

What will be the test for those who will be among the faithful who stand strong despite the devil’s greatest deceptions? “To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 136.

What is the great crisis for Adventism?

“Satan hopes to involve the remnant people of God in the general ruin that is coming upon the earth. As the coming of Christ draws nigh, he will be more determined and decisive in his efforts to overthrow them. Men and women will arise professing to have some new light or some new revelation whose tendency is to unsettle faith in the old landmarks.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 295.

This great crisis in Adventism is predicted in Matthew 24. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Matthew 24:12. The antichrist power teaches people to break part of God’s law. Revelation and 11 Thessalonians 2 show clearly that almost the whole world is going to be deceived.

God’s people are going to be living in the midst of an ocean of lawlessness. In that environment, Jesus said that the love of many will grow cold. This does not take place suddenly. You do not go from a position of spiritual health and strength, filled with the Holy Spirit, then immediately turn and be ready for ruin and destruction. It happens over a period of time.

The message to the Laodiceans is that they need to repent, because they are lukewarm. They are no longer hot. Their love has grown cold. This is the great crisis in Adventism. Many are in the process of going from hot to cold, but sadly, they do not realize the change, because they do not feel any different today than they felt yesterday. How does the devil work it so that someone can go from hot to cold and not even know anything has happened? That is the insidiousness and the subtleness of the crisis in Adventism.

The story is told of a Seventh-day Adventist minister in California who lost his life in a tragic vehicle accident. When the autopsy was performed, the physicians found that he was full of cancer. He would have died in a short time anyway, but neither he nor his wife knew it.

Why did he not know about it? Because the cancer, itself, does not hurt. The results of cancer can hurt as a nerve is eaten up, or pressure from a tumor pushes on something and causes unbearable pain. The cancer itself does not hurt. You can be full of it and not know that you are sick.

Safeguard Against Deceptions

If you have the truth and the devil is trying to involve you in the ruin that is coming upon the world, how is he going to do it? “It is not alone those who openly reject the Testimonies, or who cherish doubt concerning them, that are on dangerous ground. To disregard light is to reject it …

Many are going directly contrary to the light which God has given to His people, because they do not read the books which contain the light and knowledge and cautions, reproofs, and warnings.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 680, 681.

Many people go directly contrary to God’s instructions because they do not read. Your pastor, Sabbath School teacher, and elder cannot teach you everything in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. God holds us responsible when we do not take advantage of the light available to us. God expects you to learn on your own.

As we approach the end, there will be people who will say, “I am a Seventh-day Adventist. I believe the Bible. I believe the Spirit of Prophecy.” But they will be involved in the ruin coming on the entire world because they are not following God’s instruction. They do not read. They choose not to understand.

We are living in the most deceptive time in this world’s history. How will you know if you are deceived? (Remember that no one who is realizes it.) If you do not want to be deceived you must study for yourself. No one can do it for you. If you are not studying, watching, and praying for yourself, the devil will bring a deception for you, and cause you to lose confidence in the truth.

We are living in a time of unbelief and doubt. All throughout Adventism, and especially on Seventh-day Adventist college campuses, skepticism is running rampant. The devil is using his cleverly developed methods to secure his end. He rarely makes a frontal attack, because he is a deceiver. To gain control of us, he starts to chip away at our belief, to undermine our confidence in the inspired writings.

We are no match for the devil. We are not as intelligent as he is, or as old. The devil knows that the only way we can escape is by reading the inspired writings, believing them, and acting upon them. (See James 2.)

The chapter called “Snares of Satan,” in the book The Great Controversy, shows how the devil tries to rob people of their faith. We have had one attack after another in Adventism on this point. For instance, in 1976 an Adventist scholar wrote a book called, Ellen G. White, Prophetess of Health. Many intellectual Adventists lost their confidence in Ellen White on the basis of this book. This book asks a lot of questions to bring in doubt.

We need to learn that if we involve ourselves in asking questions that no one can answer, we will eventually lose our faith, become skeptics, and lose our souls. This was the devil’s first tactic after he rebelled in heaven. He planted doubt in the minds of his fellow angels by asking questions.

Ellen White warned us that this is one of the principal deceptions of the devil.

“It is a masterpiece of Satan’s deceptions to keep the minds of men searching and conjecturing in regard to that which God has not made known and which He does not intend that we shall understand.” The Great Controversy, 523.

Mysteries in the Bible

Seven mysteries are mentioned in the New Testament. One of the seven mysteries is the incarnation—God manifested in flesh. That is spoken of as a great mystery in 1 Timothy 3:16. When an inspired writer says that something is a great mystery, it is something we are never going to be able to explain fully. Yet, I get letters from Seventh-day Adventists who want me to explain the Godhead, and every detail about the nature of Christ. They want the unexplainable explained for their finite minds.

The early church, between the second and sixth centuries, wanted the same thing. Large church councils were called over and over again, to try to settle the controversy. In the end, fighting broke out, and there was actually war over the issue. All this took place because people were trying to explain what God had not revealed.

The devil uses philosophical and scientific arguments that are pleasing to the mind to lead many astray. Friend, if the devil can rob you of your faith and confidence in inspired writings, he will prevail. You may not know that he has won, because you will be deceived, but you will still be lost. He leads many people to think that if they can ask a question that cannot be answered, they have gained some point. These people put their own finite mind above the infinite mind of God.

Many today are like the Greeks, who required a rational explanation for everything, or like the Jews, who wanted a sign before they would believe. But faith is not based on demonstration. It is based on evidence.

“The Word of God, like the character of its Author, presents mysteries that can never be fully comprehended by finite beings. But God has given in the Scriptures sufficient evidence of their divine authority. His own existence, His character, the truthfulness of His Word, are established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. True, He has not removed the possibility of doubt; faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration; those who wish to doubt have opportunity; but those who desire to know the truth find ample ground for faith.” Education, 169.

Evidence

The Word of God is the only thing in this world that you can really depend upon all the time. Are you asking, “What is the evidence?” If so, study carefully the following two evidences from the Bible.

The first is the evidence that God Himself is the One true God. He gives this as a challenge in Isaiah 44, 45, and 46. He supports His claim with the evidence that He can do something that no one else can ever do. He says, “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” Isaiah 46:9, 10. God says that not only has He created everything that exists, He also knows the end from the beginning, and can reveal the future.

Several months ago we held a Prophecy Seminar in Wichita and we went over these things the first night. A young woman came to this Prophecy Seminar. Her mother, who was a Christian, upon learning that her daughter was attending our meetings, became worried that she might be becoming involved with a cult. I am sure she had heard some of the things that Seventh-day Adventists are called today. The mother said, “I should go and be sure that my daughter is not becoming a cultist.”

The mother came about the sixth or seventh session. By that time we were studying the Sabbath and the Law of God and what prophecy said about it. The mother listened carefully the first night. She could not find anything cultic in the messages she heard from the Bible. She came every single night after that. After several nights, she realized that there was a message in Bible prophecy that she could see was being fulfilled all over the world. The prophecy was true, and the evidence was overwhelming. In many seminars I have conducted, I have heard people from many religions come to the same conclusion; the evidence is overwhelming that Bible prophecy is true.

There is a confirmation of the truthfulness of God’s Word that is far more profound than simply prophecy or the ability to foretell the future. This powerful evidence is found in Romans 8:16: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16. The evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the gospel is true, the Bible and Ellen White’s works are inspired comes as you study. The Holy Spirit comes into your life and changes your heart. Then the Lord can use you to win others who do not know Him, even if they do not know anything about prophecy. If you have been changed, and can share your testimony with others, you can be a mighty witness for the Lord.

The Holy Spirit’s Power

What changes does the Holy Spirit make when He comes into your heart? First, the Holy Spirit gives you power to witness. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.

The Holy Spirit gives you power to overcome sin. “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:4, 5. (See also Romans 8:1–14.)

Sometimes people say, “I have a besetting sin and I cannot overcome it.” Of course, you cannot overcome it. No one can overcome a besetting sin in their own power. When the Holy Spirit comes into your life, he gives you the power to overcome. Your thoughts will be pure, your language will be pure and your actions will be in harmony with God’s law. You will begin to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and your neighbors as yourself. You will be a different person. Then you become a powerful witness.

Are you having that experience? Is the Holy Spirit inside? Or is the Holy Spirit outside, pleading with you to give your heart in surrender to Jesus, not only as your Savior, but as the Lord of your life? The Holy Spirit is with all who have not committed the unpardonable sin.

Jesus told His disciples that up to that time the Holy Spirit had just been with them, but in the future it was going to be different. “The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you.” John 14:17.

What is your condition today? Is the Holy Spirit just with you? Or is the Holy Spirit in you? If the Holy Spirit is in you, you will be living a sin-free life, bearing witness to the gospel. It will have a powerful effect on other people. That is the most powerful sign that God’s Word is true, that Ellen White is a prophet, that Jesus is the Christ, and that He is coming soon to take the faithful home. [Emphasis supplied.]

[Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

Pastor John Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Editorial – How the Holy Spirit Works

The Saviour’s eye penetrates the future; He beholds the broader fields in which, after His death, the disciples are to be witnesses for Him. His prophetic glance takes in the experience of His servants through all the ages till He shall come the second time. He shows His followers the conflicts they must meet; He reveals the character and plan of the battle. He lays open before them the perils they must encounter, the self-denial that will be required. … They are to contend with supernatural forces, but they are assured of supernatural help. All the intelligences of heaven are in this army. And more than angels are in the ranks. The Holy Spirit, the representative of the Captain of the Lord’s host, comes down to direct the battle.” The Desire of Ages, 352.

“Those who see Christ in His true character, and receive Him into the heart, have everlasting life. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal. Ibid., 388.

“At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of  faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer.” Ibid., 669.

“In describing to His disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with the joy and hope that inspired His own heart. … It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. 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 upon His church. Ibid., 671.

Editorial – The Work of the Holy Spirit

“The work of the Holy Spirit is immeasurably great. It is from this source that power and efficiency come to the worker for God; and the Holy Spirit is the comforter, as the personal presence of Christ to the soul. He who looks to Christ in simple, childlike faith, is made a partaker of the divine nature through the agency of the Holy Spirit. When led by the Spirit of God, the Christian may know that he is made complete in Him who is the head of all things. As Christ was glorified on the day of Pentecost, so will He again be glorified in the closing work of the gospel, when He shall prepare a people to stand the final test, in the closing conflict of the great controversy. …

“The people of God are to be called out from their association with worldlings and evil-doers, to stand in the battle for the Lord against the powers of darkness. When the earth is lightened with the glory of God, we shall see a work similar to that which was wrought when the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaimed the power of a risen Saviour. …

“They [those deceived by the enemies of Christ] said one to another, ‘This is the very One who was accused of gluttony, of eating with publicans and sinners; the One who was bound, and scourged, and crucified. We believe in Him as the Son of God, the Prince and Saviour.’ The revelation of Christ by the Holy Spirit brought to them a realizing sense of His power and majesty, and they stretched forth their hands unto Him by faith, saying, ‘I believe.’ Thus it was in the time of the early rain; but the latter rain will be more abundant. …

“O that we as a people might humble our hearts before God, and plead with Him for the endowment of the Holy Spirit! If we came to the Lord in humility and contrition of soul, He would answer our petitions; for He says that He is more willing to give us the Holy Spirit than are parents to give good gifts to their children. Then would Christ be glorified, and in Him we should discern the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” The Review and Herald, November 29, 1892