The Seven Spirits
By L. L. CAVINESS, Professor of Biblical Languages, Pacific Union College
John refers to the "seven spirits" four times in the book of Revelation. (Rev. 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6.) The Gospel prophet Isaiah refers to this same sevenfold spirit in Isaiah 11:2. Speaking of the Branch that will grow out of the root of Jesse, he says: "The spirit of the Lord shall-rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord."
In the sanctuary service there was the golden candlestick with its six branches, also doubtless representing the Spirit of God in .His sevenfold operations. The table of shewbread serves to call the attention to Christ, the living Bread. The ark, with the law of God, the mercy seat, and the Shekinah glory, seems to represent the first person of the Trinity.
In the verse in Isaiah it is interesting to note that the central stock, the Spirit of Jehovah, has six branches grouped in twos the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of might, and the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.
When white light passes through a prism it divides into the various colors of the rainbow, so the Holy Spirit is given us by Isaiah in his sevenfold operations. First we have the name, Spirit of Jehovah. In the Authorized Version "Lord" is a translation of the sacred name of God, the terragrammaton. In the French Bible this sacred name is translated "the Eternal." In the Revelation John gives us the inspired Greek translation of "he who is, was, and will be." Then we have the two balanced branches, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding. Wisdom refers to "the knowing how," and understanding to "the knowing why." The following two also balance. Over against the ability to give counsel is the power to carry out the counsel. Lastly we find on the one side the spirit of knowledge, "the knowing what," and on the other side is the spirit of the fear of Jehovah, the attitude that leads to the doing of what God commands. The Holy Spirit then will make a man holy.
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12:13. Is it not clear then why our greatest need is the need of God's Holy Spirit? It was the resting of the Holy Spirit upon Christ at His baptism that equipped Him for His ministry; so we are told that we must experience the out pouring of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain to prepare us to give the loud cry.
Conversion, or the New Birth
(Sermon Outline)
By L. C. EVANS, President of the Greater New York Conference
TEXT : John 3 :3
I. INTRODUCTION How ESSENTIAL?
1. None saved without "new birth." John 3:5.
2. If only those who have had this experience are to be saved, how essential is it? (Relate setting of text.)
II. Two SEPARATE FAMILIES IN THE EARTH
1. Adamic family, their nature. Gen. 3:19; i Cor. 15:47.
2. Adamic family, their doom, i Cor. 15:22; Rom. 6:23.
3. Family of Christ, nature of. i Cor. 15: 47-49
4. Destiny, i Cor. 15:22; Acts 4:14; I John 5:11, 12; 3:36.
III. IDENTIFICATION OF FAMILIES
1. By natural birth Adamic family. Rom. 5:1
2. They love world and all it has to offer.
2. Adopted into family of Christ by "new birth." 2 Cor. 6:17, 18. After adoption we love God and all He has to offer.
3. "God so loved the world," He gave. John 3:16.
4. God has chosen us out of the world. John 15:19.
5. Therefore "love not the world." i John 2:15-17.
6. Reason we no longer love the world. 2 Cor. 5:17.
7. "Be ye not conformed to this world." Rom. 12:2.
IV. How TRANSFER IS MADE
1. A work of the Spirit. John 3:5.
2. Water baptism included. John 3:5.
3. How brought about, i Peter 1:22, 23.
4. "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." Joshua 24:15.
5. "If we confess our sins." i John 1:9.
6. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Mark 16:16.
V. EVIDENCE IN THE LIFE
1. How we can really know, i John 5:2; i John 3:14.
2. We will also love our enemies. Matt.5 -43, 44
3. We will want to tell others. 2 Cor. 5: 18-21.
4. We will not only hear but obey. Rom.2:13.
5. Salvation comes only to the obedient. Heb. 5:9.
6. Spirit beareth witness. Rom. 8:16.
VI. APPEAL FOR SURRENDER
1. "Come unto Me all ye that labour." Matt. 11:28-30.
2. "To everyone that thirsteth." Isa. 55:1.
3. "I will give unto him that is athirst." Rev. 21:6.
4. "Whosoever will." Rev. 22:17.
5. "Able to save to the uttermost." Heb. 7:25
