On November 9, 1965, at 5:28 P.M. to be exact, the whole of the Northeast United States, involving 30 million people, was plunged into darkness. Electric lights flickered and went out, elevators stopped between floors, subways screeched to a halt, and television and radio went dead. What happened?
Cables, switches, tubes, and buttons were there and in good working order—but power was missing. Electricity, an invisible power, was not flowing through the wires, and all the visible machinery ground to a halt. That memorable night man dramatically discovered that his ingenious gadgets were useless without this power.
The church, likewise, with all its organization is just so much apparatus without the power of the Holy Spirit. Individual church members with all their abilities, native and acquired, can accomplish nothing for God without the power of the Holy Spirit. Minds cannot be turned toward God, new areas cannot be entered, sin cannot be resisted or overcome, nor can the individual develop the Christian virtues without the presence and aid of the Holy Spirit. Herein lies the cause of either victory or defeat for the corporate church and its individual members, young and old.
Reaching Goals Without God
Today the church is faced by a paganism that is spewing its venom into the contemporary culture. Everywhere the church is being challenged by a political atheism that promises to reach the gospel goals without God. In the meantime, respect for law and order is waning, violence and crime rise to new heights, even in "model" cities, and civil society seems to be falling apart.
In the midst of all this, spokesmen for nominal Christianity continue their glib chatter about salvaging the world through ecumenism, social action, and a new global order based on the brotherhood of man. This illusion of world progress, propped by empty symbols like the United Nations and amazing scientific discoveries that lend themselves as readily to evil as to good, is about to collapse under the arms race that has well-nigh bankrupted the nations.
Against this ominous background the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been charged to complete its gospel commission. The commission is clearly outlined, as are the necessary methods, institutions, and finances for its implementation. Our danger is not in the lack of methods, institutions, finances, but in thinking that the necessary gospel machinery can operate effectively without divine power.
Thirty Index Pages
Coming to the point, just how seriously do we as leaders, conference and institutional administrators, pastors and church members, consider the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Have we thought of this lately, if at all, and what it would mean in our personal lives, homes, and churches? Lest the answer to these questions be found difficult to arrive at, let me point out that the Index to the Writings of Ellen G. White contains thirty pages devoted to the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Since the reception of this heavenly gift brings all other blessings in its train, how much time do we spend in seeking and praying for the divine gift? The relative emphasis we place on machinery, as contrasted with God's power, is demonstrated by the priority we give to one over the other.
Certainly, both are important, and both have their place. But after all is said and done, keep in mind that church machinery without divine power is just useless apparatus, benefiting neither God nor man.
Now comes the difficult aspect of this question. Here is where a preacher loses his listeners and a writer his readers. Dealing with this subject generally is soothing, dealing with it specifically and personally is disturbing.
As an example, what is our real dependence when we are asked to speak, sing, or assume some responsibility in the church? Do we rely on our natural abilities alone? Do we feel secure because we have done this so many times in the past? Or do we depend on the Holy Spirit to possess our mental and physical faculties for the occasion to the honor and glory of God?
Ecclesiastical Strings
And what about our place of labor? Do we maneuver, pull ecclesiastical strings, and button-hole delegates to assure ourselves or others of a preferred church or position? "Of course," comes the usual retort to this probing question, "the Spirit directed Paul to Macedonia and Philip into the desert, but after all, this is the twentieth century and God impresses committees in such decisions."
Very true, God does impress duly appointed church committees, but we should leave it to the Holy Spirit to do the impressing and not some finely spun arrangement of friends, circumstances, and astute deals. In all such decisions God's way is the best way, even though we may not understand at the moment.
Conclusively, what is Christianity? Is it an overwhelming and incontrovertible concept of God expressed in philosophic and intellectualistic terms? Far from it!
Reducing it to the least common denominator, Christianity is God's possession of human life. What else can we deduct from the following words of our Lord:
"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). And, at another time, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; . . . for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (chap. 14:16, 17). And again, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (verse 23).
Does this make up our experience? Is the indwelling Spirit of God energizing our physical, mental, and spiritual faculties? Are there areas of your life and mine which we readily submit to God's control and other areas which we seal off with a sign reading: "Private. Keep out. I can manage this myself!"
Our better sense tells us that God does not divide His sovereignty with others. If we are His, He will not share the possession with someone else, or anything else. To the degree that God is refused control over some seemingly insignificant part of the life, to that same extent He is refused control over the entire life.
All of us have lived long enough and read the Bible enough to understand some of the chief hindrances to the Spirit's possession of a person. These hindrances could be listed in the following order:
- Unconfessed and unforsaken sin.
- Reluctance to obey a clear scriptural command.
- And indifferent and careless attitude toward the means of spiritual grace—worship, prayer, Bible study, communion, stewardship, and service.
- Bitter feelings and alienation between members in the home, church, or community.
Face up to it, such things shut off the power of God. Whereas we are intended to be bright lights, these hindrances make us powerless, shorted, and burned out lamps. Do we really want to light up? Do we seriously desire apostolic power?
Picking Peter Apart
Consider the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. How much would the Spirit have empowered the early church to win three thousand in one day if the others were picking Peter apart for his rough appearance and lack of finesse?
At this crucial time, can you imagine John whispering to James: "I am not sure that Peter has what it takes to make an impression on this cultured city. His Galilean accent will betray his lack of education. We need someone who is alert and relevant to the times."
And James replying: "You know, John, I was thinking the same thing myself! Why not prepare and circulate a list of grievances among the brethren? The best way to improve the situation is to get the members stirred up and arguing over the problem."
Make no mistake about it, John and James felt that way about Peter at one time. However, they got rid of that feeling and attitude. God could not release His power until they did so. The scripture states that "they were all with one accord in one place" (Acts 2:1). And in time, Peter, James, and John became strong pillars in the early church, loved and respected by one another.
The power of the early church did not stem from brilliant and clever organizers, or witty and scintillating speakers. Nothing happened in terms of reaching the masses of the day until the Holy Spirit empowered the church's simple program and its available participants. When this took place, the power-filled disciples stormed city after city until they planted the banner of Christ in Caesar's palace in Rome.
Cluttered Doorways
Likewise, we personally need to clean house and remove the clutter barring the Saviour's entrance into our hearts. Christ wants to enter, but we must open the door. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20).
Commenting on the foregoing scripture, Ellen G. White says: "I saw that many have so much rubbish piled up at the door of their heart that they cannot get the door open. Some have difficulties between themselves and their brethren to remove. Others have evil tempers, selfish covetousness, to remove before they can open the door. Others have rolled the world before the door of their heart, which bars the door. All this rubbish must be taken away, and then they can open the door and welcome the Saviour in."—Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 143.
Let us admit it—the power will come when we decide that some things in our lives will have to change. With the decision comes the power to make the change.
The indwelling Spirit of God then imparts to us the life and nature of Christ.
By enabling us to pray effectively, He produces His fruit in our lives—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, and faith.
Finally, He imparts spiritual gifts so that we may effectively witness and proclaim God's truth in a manner best understood by our contemporaries.
Let us open the door and welcome Him in.
