God's Gift of the Holy Spirit by Eugene W. Farnsworth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 17, 1910

God's Gift of the Holy Spirit

By Eugene W. Farnsworth

What It Means to the Church

E. W. FARNSWORTH

(Reading for Tuesday, December 13)

SIMON, the sorcerer, greatly desired the Holy Spirit. He wanted it so much that he was willing to give a large sum of money to obtain it. But though he desired the power that only the Holy Spirit can give, he could not receive it that way. Peter plainly told him: “For thy heart is not right in the sight of God.” Acts 8:21.

This reveals the one great hindering reason why we do not have the Holy Spirit in his fulness.

When the heart is not right, the Spirit can not be given. If the gift of God could be purchased with money, as Simon supposed, many would even now be endued with the Holy Spirit. No doubt there are Seventh-day Adventists who would deny themselves many things, perhaps they might even mortgage their property, if they might obtain the Holy Spirit by so doing. But the experience of Simon shows what a sin and what profanity it is to ask for the Spirit of God for selfish purposes.

“Simon himself believed also.” He professed to accept the present truth for that time. He had been baptized. “He continued with Philip.” He was greatly interested in his work. But he could not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which was freely given to other converts, and the words of Peter reveal the reason,—his heart was not right with God. Confession and forsaking of sin must precede the reception of this gift. Others than Simon have desired to receive the Holy Spirit. They ask and receive not, because they ask amiss, that they might consume it upon their pleasures. (Read James 4:1-3, margin.) They ask, but do not receive, because they do not ask with a proper motive.

God does not degrade nor disgrace this gift of all gifts by permitting him to be used for profane or common purposes. He will never humiliate the Vicegerent of his throne by permitting any man to use him. He is not sent to be used by any one; not to be guided, but to guide; not for men to teach him, but for him to teach them. “They shall all be taught of God.” “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” Luke 12:12. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things.” John 14:26. “He will guide you into all truth.”

We would emphasize once more the fact that the Holy Spirit does not permit himself to be possessed by men; he possesses them. He governs, guides, controls, teaches, commands. The attitude of the individual must be that of one who is possessed, controlled, taught, guided. In order to be guided, he must be perfectly self-surrendered, perfectly controlled by the Guide. The moment we attempt to control or lead, there will be a separation. The more complete the self-surrender, the more will the Spirit be manifested. Have we thus surrendered to be taught and controlled? or do we still wish to control and guide ourselves? Are we willing to do the work he points out? or have we business of our own, which stands in the way? We read in “Testimonies for the Church:” —

“As the head of the church, Christ is authoritatively calling upon every one who claims to believe on him to follow his example of self-denial and self-sacrifice in working for the conversion of those whom Satan and his vast army are exerting every power to destroy. . . . Every one should be willing to be or to do anything in this warfare. When church-members put forth earnest efforts to advance the message, they will live in the joy of the Lord, and will meet with success. . . . To every one who offers himself to the Lord for service, withholding nothing, is given power for the attainment of measureless results.”

“On the day of Pentecost the Infinite One revealed himself in power to the church. By his Holy Spirit he descended from the heights of heaven as a rushing, mighty wind, to the room in which the disciples were assembled. . . . And, under the influence of the Spirit, words of penitence and confession were mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven. . . . The hearts of the disciples were surcharged with a benevolence so full, so deep, so far-reaching, that it impelled them to go to the ends of the earth, testifying, God forbid that we should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“The Lord will withdraw his blessing where selfish interests are indulged in any phase of the work; but he will put his people in possession of good throughout the whole world, if they will use it for the uplifting of humanity. The experience of apostolic days will come to us when we whole-heartedly accept God’s principle of benevolence,—consent in all things to obey the leadings of his Holy Spirit.”—Volume VII, pages 30, 31, 146.

Capacity to Receive Depends on Willingness to Give

When we ask for God’s Spirit, and the blessings it brings, it must be understood that these blessings are not for ourselves, to be hoarded. We are to be channels through which God can reach others,—God’s helping hand, to carry light and blessing to many. If we ask for the Holy Ghost for ourselves only, we ask in vain. Our capacity to receive depends upon our willingness and ability to give. If we give little, the capacity to receive will be correspondingly small. Again we read:—

“There must be an interchange of taking in and giving out, receiving and imparting. This links us up as laborers together with God. . . . All heaven is waiting for channels through which can be poured the holy oil, to be a joy and a blessing to others. I have no fear that any will make blundering work, if they will only become one with Christ.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, pages 116, 117.

“Wherever we see work waiting to be done, we are to take it up and do it, constantly looking unto Jesus. . . . If every church-member were a living missionary, the gospel would speedily be proclaimed in all countries, to all peoples, nations, and tongues.”—Id., Vol. IX, page 32.

“In Christ’s act of supplying the temporal necessities of a hungry multitude, is wrapped up a deep spiritual lesson for all his workers. Christ received from the Father; he imparted to the disciples; they imparted to the multitude; and the people to one another. So all who are united to Christ will receive from him the bread of life, the heavenly food, and impart it to others.”—“Desire of Ages.”

Christ said: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38.

For What Purpose Given

At one time God brought this charge against his priests: “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things.” Eze. 22:26. They profaned the Sabbath by using it for common or profane purposes. So we may profane the Holy Spirit by using it, or endeavoring to use it, for a common purpose.

God never designed to give the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a premium upon which to grow corn, breed cattle and sheep, erect buildings, or to speculate in stocks, bonds, or real estate. The endowment of the Spirit is not needed for such work. Jesus describes the purpose for which God anointed him. Read Isa. 61:1-3. To do the work outlined in these verses, the divine anointing is absolutely necessary. In this sphere, success does not come “by an army [margin], nor by [human] power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zech. 4:6.

By studying the type of this anointing with the Holy Ghost, we learn valuable lessons. It will be found that the anointing of the priests, of the sanctuary, and of all the furniture, was for service. See Ex. 30:23-38. With reference to the oil itself, notice these points:—

It was made by God’s direction.
It was a holy anointing oil.
It was used in setting apart, or sanctifying, these things to God’s special service.
After anointing the vessels of the sanctuary, none were permitted to touch them but those who were set apart for this service.
Ten times over the term “holy” or “most holy” is applied to the oil or that upon which it was poured.
The oil was never to be placed upon a “stranger” or upon “man’s flesh.” He who offended in this respect was cut off from the people of God.
The oil was never to be used for a common or profane purpose, nor was any to be made like it for a common purpose. Those who did this were to be cut off from the people. Neither was it to be used for worldly profit or pleasure, on penalty of the loss of the soul.

What a solemn and important lesson is taught by this scripture! What a grave and dangerous mistake to ask God for the heavenly anointing, and have no thought of doing the work that the anointing sets one apart to perform!

It is an interesting fact that Jesus himself did not receive this special anointing till he was about thirty years of age. Although he was God’s only begotten Son, yet until the time came that he changed the ordinary pursuits

of life for the special work God sent him to do, he did not receive this special endowment. The following scriptures give the experience and its results: Luke 3:21, 22; 4:1, 14, 15, 31, 32. The anointing looked forward to, and was to prepare for, a work to be done.

The apostles passed through a similar experience. After ten days’ earnest supplication, confession, and humbling of heart, the heavenly anointing came in copious showers. The multitude were “confounded,” “amazed,” “marveled,” and thousands were converted. The sick were healed, “every one.” Acts 5:16. Hypocrites were killed, blasphemers put to death by the angel of God, and those who would hinder the Lord’s work were smitten with blindness, or in some way set aside. Prison doors were opened, and God’s servants set free. Even inanimate walls, in buildings where the disciples met, trembled in response to the mighty power of God. The Holy Spirit like a mighty warrior rode everywhere, “conquering, and to conquer.”

But when the church attempted to colonize and settle down to enjoy the gifts given them of God without dispensing them to others, God taught them a lesson, and through them all future generations. (Let the leader read Acts 8:1-4.) When they went abroad, and testified of God and the special truth for that time, God also bore witness, “with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.” Heb. 2:4.

This lesson is for us. It was recorded for our instruction. We, too, must go into all the world. We are certainly as dependent upon the Holy Spirit as were the disciples. We are as weak and helpless as were they without him.

How It Is Obtained

By getting right with God. Simon could not receive the gift, because sin controlled his heart.
By submitting to the control and guidance of the Spirit.
By imparting to others that which God gives to us.
By believing that God fulfils his promise. Gal. 3:14.

In “Steps to Christ” we read:—

“As they [the disciples] met together, after the ascension, they were eager to present their requests to the Father in the name of Jesus. In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance, ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.’ They extended the hand of faith higher and higher, with the mighty argument, ‘It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.’ And Pentecost brought them the presence of the Comforter, of whom Christ had said, ‘He shall be in you.’”—Pages 80, 81.

5. By confession to one another, and by earnest prayer.

The end is right upon us. Jesus is at the door. If we would be ready, and do the work committed to our keeping, we must return to the prayer of faith and the consecration of former days. If we pray and believe and work as did the disciples, there will be a similar working of God on our behalf. “Return unto me,” saith the Lord. “It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” This week of prayer may see these promises fulfilled to us. Shall we do our part that it may be so? The promise is sure. The scripture can not be broken. A reproduction of apostolic prayer and consecration will reproduce apostolic times.