Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 25, 1912

Editorial

By Editor

Longing for the Blessing

WE have reached a time in the history of the church of God when we can confidently expect great things from him. The Scriptures of truth indicate that in the closing days of this message there will be a great outpouring of the Spirit of God. Of this the prophet Joel speaks as follows:—

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” Joel 2: 28-32.

Other scriptures unmistakably indicate the same gracious outpouring. To this time we have long looked forward, and now as never before there exists a general expectancy of the fulfilment of this word. In every quarter are hands outstretched to God, hearts longing for his blessing.

God will not disappoint his longing church. In his own time and in his own way he will send the power of the Holy Spirit upon his remnant. We believe that now the work for the reception of the Spirit in his fulness has already begun. The people of God as never before are searching their hearts, and seeking to put out of their lives all sin. There is a spirit on the part of many to obtain the victory over every besetment. This heart-searching is the result of the Spirit’s convicting power, and this is one of the first things he does for his church. “When he [the Spirit of truth] is come, he will convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

We need to clear the King’s highway if we expect him to come in his fulness. We need to clear away the rubbish from the door of our hearts, to cleanse the soul temple from defilement, cast down every idol, and enthrone the Lord Jesus Christ as the supreme object of our affection. We need to remove the stone of stumbling from the pathway of others, and live daily with a conscience void of offense toward God and man. This is the standard of Christian living we are to place before us.

But let us remember this, that great blessings lie close to great dangers. As the Lord will work in power, so Satan will be stirred to work with lying signs and mighty wonders. We shall need in the days before us great spiritual discernment to distinguish between the false and the true. We can not trust to emotion, sentiment, or human judgment. There is one guide given us as a pilot amid the darkness and pitfalls of this world; namely, the Scriptures of truth. The Word of God is the revelation of the blessed Spirit. The speaking of the Spirit to individual hearts will accord with the speaking of the Spirit through the Word. If we find an influence in our lives leading us away from the Word of God, we may be assured that it is not the Spirit of God, but the spirit of the adversary that is seeking to draw us off. Let us fasten our faith and hope firmly to this anchor in the days before us, for Satan will endeavor to sweep even Seventh-day Adventists into fanatical movements. Our only safety is in standing firm upon the rock of our foundation—the Scriptures of eternal truth. All who depart from this anchor will make shipwreck of their faith and experience.

F. M. W.