No faithful Seventh-day Adventist would think of robbing God in tithes and offerings, but could we unknowingly be robbing God in other ways? Have we accepted the power the Holy Spirit desires to give us in our lives?
The servant of the Lord has counseled, "He who is endowed with the Holy Spirit has great capacities of heart and intellect, with strength of will and purpose that is unconquerable."--Testimonies to Ministers, p. 176.
Zechariah, under inspiration, hls given us the formula for a Christlike character that will also enable the worker for God to bear fruit in His vineyard. Why have we not received in fuller measure His promise of the infilling of the Holy Spirit as did the disciples at Pentecost? Have our lives become so encumbered with "many things" that we have neglected to ask for and claim the promise of the Father, and are thus robbing Him of the fruits that He expects from us?
"The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto him If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image."—The Desire of Ages, p. 302.
Not only must we have the supreme desire to be like Him, but each new day must find us growing "up into him in all things" (Eph. 4:15). That we "may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height." That "ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Eph. 3: 18, 19).
Jesus told His disciples, when He was about to leave them: "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7). "When he . . is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself. . . He shall glorify me: . . . and shall shew it unto you" (verses 13, 14).
Jesus knew there were many things His disciples did not yet understand. This work of understanding He would accomplish through His representative upon earth—the Holy Spirit. Many years have passed since Jesus made this promise to His beloved disciples. He gives the same promise today to His followers. Have we welcomed this heavenly Guide or have we tried to accomplish all things in our own strength? It is the work of the Holy Spirit that makes the difference between being ready and getting ready, between understanding and hearing. If we are to win souls for the kingdom of God we must allow the Holy Spirit to come into our lives, and He will then be able to use us to help others understand the Scriptures and the meaning of "putting on Christ."
"One might be able to present the letter of the Word of God, he might be familiar with all its commands and promises: but unless the Holy Spirit sets home the truth, no souls will fall on the Rock and be broken. No amount of education, no advantages, however great, can make one a channel of light without the cooperation of the Spirit of God. The sowing of the gospel seed will not be a success unless the seed is quickened into life by the dew of heaven. Before one book of the New Testament was written, before one gospel sermon had been preached after Christ's ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the praying apostles.
Then the testimony of their enemies was, 'Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.' "The Desire of Ages, p. 672.
We need to have that "dew of heaven" falling afresh upon us each day, so that the Holy
Spirit can use us to the fullest possible extent. Complete infilling does not come in one experience. It increases with the believer's measure of surrender.
Sunlight exposes the dust in a room, and the diligent housewife does something about it. Just so the light of Christ will expose the imperfections of the soul, and as we place our will on the side of Christ, and with His power are emptied of those sins, we shall be filled with the Holy Spirit.
We are in the days of final conflict. Christ is coming soon to take His people home. We cannot afford still to be groping among the shadows. We must behold the glories of God. It is the Holy Spirit that "searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1 Cor. 2:10). If we are to understand the "deep things" of God and to teach them to others, we must be led and used of the Holy Ghost.
"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."—Ibid., p. 805.
This is indeed a solemn thought. Perhaps we in these closing days of earth's history need the power of Heaven even more than did the disciples of bygone days. God is touching the hearts of men and women around us. Are we ready to lead them to the cross and unfold before them the beauty of our Saviour and the deep things of God? Can we reveal what Jesus has done for our own souls as we live the life before them?
Each consecrated church member can and should have a part in soul winning for the Master; and Christ will never send one of His children forth unaided. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit all are imbued with power.
"The apostles and their associates were unlettered men, yet through the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, their speech, whether in their own or a foreign language, became pure, simple, and accurate, both in word and accent. Thus 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. . . . The Saviour's commission to the disciples includes 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 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 coworkers with Christ."— Ibid., pp. 821, 822.
What a wonderful promise Christ has given the church. Shall we not in His strength claim the power of the Holy Spirit and go out and do a greater work for Him?
