The Third Person of the Godhead - the Holy Spirit by M. E. STEWARD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Dec 29, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 52.

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The Third Person of the Godhead — the Holy Spirit

By M. E. STEWARD

M. E. STEWARD

“The Holy Spirit was the most precious legacy that Christ could leave his church.”— “Testimonies for the Church.”

The Holy Spirit a representative:—

1. Christ is the representative of his Father. John 6:38.

2. The Holy Spirit is Christ’s representative. John 16:14.

3. Hence, the Holy Spirit is the direct agent in fulfilling all the divine purposes and promises in the work of man’s salvation. And as Christ’s representative, he who accepts Christ has the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit creates life: (1) Physical life; (2) spiritual life; (3) he inspired the Bible, and is the life of its text. John 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21.

The office work of the Holy Spirit:—

1. He makes us acquainted with God, being “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” Eph. 1:17.

2. He is the Spirit of truth, guiding into all truth. John 16:13.

3. He shows “things that are to come,” thus proving his divinity. Isa. 41:23.

The Holy Spirit

1. Convicts the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. John 16:8, R. V.

2. Converts men, which is called being “born of the Spirit.” John 3:8.

3. Enables man to keep God’s commandments. Eze. 36:27.

The Holy Spirit—

1. Is the Comforter, witnessing with our spirit that we are children of God. Rom. 8:16.

2. Will give us words to speak when tried for our faith, bringing all things to our remembrance. John 14:26.

3. The Holy Spirit will bring all other blessings in his train. See “Desire of Ages,” page 672.

How to secure the Holy Spirit:—

1. “Ask” for him (Luke 11:13), with a degree of earnestness proportionate to his value.

2. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Ps. 66:18.

3. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7.

How to retain the Holy Spirit:—

1. “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30.

2. “Keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3:22.

3. The sin against the Holy Ghost is the only unpardonable one. Matt. 12:31, 32. It is committed by persistent neglect of the means of salvation, until the heart can no longer be impressed by the Spirit, as well as by doing “despite unto the Spirit of grace” by one who has had a deep religious experience. Heb. 10:29.

The latter rain of the Spirit:—

1. In a degree, the Spirit is given to every man. 1 Cor. 12:7.

2. He came in a special manner on the day of Pentecost, being called “the former rain.” In like manner, the Holy Spirit is to be given again just before the coming of Christ. This is known as “the latter rain,” or “the times of refreshing.” Joel 2:23; Acts 3:19. The former rain in autumn caused the grain to spring up; the latter rain ripened the grain in the spring.

3. The “rain” in Joel represented “a teacher of righteousness.” See margin. The former rain endued the “teacher of righteousness” with power, and all the gifts of the Spirit. Luke 24:49; Mark 16:20. The latter rain will fill the earth with the glory of God as never before. Rev. 18:1.

Preparation for the latter rain:—

1. “Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12.

2. “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea 6:3.

3. “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain.” Zech. 10:1.

Sanitarium, Cal.