Spiritual Power Lost and Regained by O. A. JOHNSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 10, 1916

Spiritual Power Lost and Regained

By O. A. JOHNSON

O. A. JOHNSON

WHEN the Lord was here on earth, he selected twelve of his followers and trained them for missionary work. After some time he ordained the twelve and sent them out to preach, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out and “to heal all manner of sickness, and to” “raise the dead.” Matt. 10: 1-8. “And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.” Luke 9: 1-6. The healing of the sick and other wonders were done by “the power of the Spirit of God.” Rom. 15: 19; 1 Cor. 12: 9.

“The apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done.” And when he was alone with his disciples, “he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.” Luke 9: 10, 18-20.

The apostles had gone out and preached the gospel as far as they had learned it, but Christ had now additional light for them. Hence we read that “from that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” But Peter was not prepared to receive this new light, even from Jesus himself, whom he had confessed to be Christ, the Son of the living God. Therefore Peter rebuked him, saying, “Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee.” Thereupon Jesus said to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Matt. 16: 16, 21-23. This attitude of Peter to the additional instruction of Jesus was wrong, and grieved the Spirit of Christ. Other things also occurred that grieved the Holy Spirit from them.

Soon after this Jesus took Peter, James, and John up into the mountain, and was transfigured before them. The other nine disciples who were left behind, evidently felt somewhat jealous because these three should be permitted to be with Jesus while they were not thus favored.

Before Jesus came down from the mountain a person possessed with a devil was brought to the nine disciples to be cured, but they could not do it. Matt. 17: 1-21. They had lost the power attending them on their first missionary tour, and this power was not regained till after they were baptized anew with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. But instead of seeking to cultivate a spirit of humility, they cherished a spirit of selfishness; for soon afterward, on the way to Capernaum, they were disputing which of them should be greatest. Thereupon Jesus taught them that he who desires to be greatest must be the servant of all, and be like a little child. Mark 9: 33-37; Luke 9: 46-48.

But somehow it seemed so hard for them to be united; for later we find James and John, through their mother, asking that they might sit one at the right and the other at the left in his kingdom. “When the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.” Again Jesus had to give them the lesson on humility. Matt. 20: 20-28. Now this we might suppose would have been sufficient on this subject; but not so, for we find that when they were seated at the last Passover supper, just before the institution of the Lord’s Supper, a strife arose among them “which of them should be accounted the greatest.”

And now again he had to teach them the lesson of humility, and illustrate it by washing their feet. John 13: 1-17. How sad it must have made Jesus feel to see his disciples, whom he had taught and ordained to preach the gospel, and to whom he had given power to heal all manner of disease, manifesting such selfishness and discord among themselves, and to see it continued even till the last day of his ministry! No wonder they had lost the power to cast out devils; no wonder they were not able to remain loyal to Christ during his hour of bitter trial and crucifixion! Under these circumstances we can better understand why Jesus prayed so earnestly that his disciples might be one as he and his Father were one. John 17: 11, 20, 21.

Before his ascension, Jesus counseled his disciples to remain at Jerusalem until they were endowed with the Holy Spirit which he had promised them. Luke 24: 49; Acts 1: 8. After his ascension they returned to Jerusalem, and devoted to prayer the remaining ten days before Pentecost. They put away all differences, and continued to seek God till they finally became of one accord, and then the Holy Spirit was given them in fulness and power. Then Peter could preach with such demonstration of the power of the Spirit that thousands were converted. The sick were healed by the touch and even by the shadow of Peter falling upon them. Acts 1 to 5. They prayed and were all filled with the Holy Spirit, so that “the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul.” Acts 4: 24-33.

The power of the Spirit at first enjoyed by the apostles, which was lost by unbelief, dissension, and strife, was now restored to them in even greater measure after they had put away all selfishness, all differences, and had been united in humility and love.

Is it not a fact that there is a great dearth of God’s Holy Spirit among his professed people? And why? Is not a desire for supremacy one chief cause of selfishness in the Sabbath school, in the church, and in the conference? Is there that real humility among the workers, a heart desire to esteem others better than themselves? We must be of one accord among ourselves as workers and laymen if we ever expect to receive the promised blessing, the fulness of the Holy Spirit. We must be in harmony with God’s revealed will. Then and not till then will we receive the latter rain of God’s divine Spirit and power. The heart must be cleansed from all sin and selfishness, and there must be a full consecration to God before we can receive and enjoy the fulness of the Spirit.

But how long shall the Lord have to wait before we are so emptied of self that he can fill us with that blessed Spirit of peace and power? Oh, let us not rest till we know by personal and living experience that we are enjoying this sweet heavenly communion with God.

College Place, Wash.