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The Holy Spirit as a Teacher

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 2, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 27.

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The Holy Spirit as a Teacher

By Wm. Covert

The wisdom expressed by Stephen in his controversy with Hebrew Pharisees and heathen philosophers regarding Christianity was due to the excellency of the Teacher who instructed him. Christ instructed his disciples that the Spirit would guide them into all truth, and that the “Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, . . . shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” In accepting Christ, Stephen had submitted himself to God, and had become filled with the Holy Ghost to such a degree that he was well prepared for Christian work. By divine illumination he was made master of the subject which he was handling. God presented truth by the mouth of his servant, and in this way the adversaries “were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” This achievement was in fulfilment of a promise made by Christ, when he said, “I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist.”
The man being under the tutorship of the Holy Spirit was taught of God and spake for God, yet his submission to God, under the divine guidance of the Spirit’s power, did not allay the wrath of the adversaries, nor prevent them from executing vengeance upon him. But his words, proceeding from the Spirit of life, are living, and they continue their work.
At the very beginning of things the man formed of dust comprehended the works of God more truly than average men of our day who have spent years of time in the schools of the world. The same mental excellence which qualified Adam for the work assigned to him, was intended for all his posterity, and it would have been implanted in their natures had not sin estranged them from the image in which their parents were created. But with some the gross darkness begotten of sin has been overcome by a regeneration of the mind, and of this Paul said: “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. . . . Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
It is hoped that this wonderful Teacher, who did so much for Paul and some of his companions in labor, may be received into our schools. He is needed to educate our children and ourselves for the work that must be done for the world before the Lord comes. And he is coming, for the Word of God has promised him for the work which has been assigned to us. He is coming down from heaven with great power, and the minds of those who are taught by him will be illuminated with the glory of God.
The prophet Isaiah saw the people of God wearing a beautiful garb of light, and he said to them: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of God is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”
A breach has been made in God’s plans, and a very wide one, too. It is deep and rough and ugly. The Lord asks his people who have taken their feet off his Sabbath to do this work for him. On page 126, Volume VI of “Testimonies for the Church,” the scriptures referred to in this connection are quoted, and then the author says:—
“These words of Inspiration present before believers in present truth the work that should now be done in the education of our children and youth. When the truth for these last days came to the world in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages, we were shown that in the education of our children a different order of things must be brought in; but it has taken much time to understand what changes should be made.
“Our work is reformatory; and it is the purpose of God that through the excellence of the work done in our educational institutions the attention of the people shall be called to the last great effort to save the perishing. In our schools the standard of education must not be lowered. It must be lifted higher and still higher, far above where it now stands; but the education given must not be confined to a knowledge of text-books merely. The study of text-books alone can not afford students the discipline they need, nor can it impart true wisdom. The object of our schools is to provide places where the younger members of the Lord’s family may be trained according to his plan of growth and development.”
“Satan has used the most ingenious methods to weave his plans and principles into the systems of education, and thus gain a strong hold on the minds of the children and youth. It is the work of the true educator to thwart his devices. We are under solemn, sacred covenant to God to bring up our children for him and not for the world; to teach them not to put their hands into the hand of the world, but to love and fear God, and to keep his commandments. They should be impressed with the thought that they are formed in the image of their Creator, and that Christ is the pattern after which they are to befashioned. Most earnest attention must be given to the education which will impart a knowledge of salvation, and will conform the life and character to the divine similitude. It is the love of God, the purity of soul woven into the life like threads of gold, that is of true worth. The height man may thus reach has not been fully realized.
“For the accomplishment of this work a broad foundation must be laid. A new purpose must be brought in and find place, and students must be aided in applying Bible principles in all they do. Whatever is crooked, whatever is twisted out of the right line, is to be plainly pointed out and avoided; for it is iniquity not to be perpetuated.”
Putting these Bible quotations and the Testimonies side by side, it is clear that the Spirit of God is yet to do marvelous things with and for God’s people. All our people must submit themselves to this power, and all our institutions must become mediums of its operation. This power will baptize the people for service, and cause God’s servants to see eye to eye and work heart to heart in finishing the work. It will then be cut short in righteousness. WM. COVERT.