p. 109 | A PEACEFUL CONQUEST by F. D. Starr

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 13, 1900

A PEACEFUL CONQUEST.

By F. D. Starr

The readers of the REVIEW AND HERALD will remember that for some time—about a year, I believe—this paper contained weekly the Saviour's invitation, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” For several weeks this line of thought connected with this message, seemed to me dark, incomprehensible, and rather unwelcome.

Then the power of the ever-living Word began to take effect upon my mind. The statement, in Rom. 12:3, “For I say . . . to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,” was in my mind by day and by night for many days. It was impressed upon me as the very scripture applicable to my case. I knew it was for me; for it says it is for every man.

Gradually I could see more and more clearly that I had been doing the very thing forbidden in this text. I had been thinking myself worthy of more honor than I was receiving. Day by day self became more and more abhorrent, till I felt myself unworthy of any position in the cause of God, and self was about all emptied out.

Next came the admonition: “The Holy Spirit must be received and recognized.” I must be ready to recognize the Spirit in whomsoever it may be working. The Spirit of God can not oppose itself. That Spirit is working with some whom I may not have been willing to recognize as Christians. My attitude had been like that of the disciples who forbade one to cast out devils because “he followeth not with us.” Luke 9:49. It had been enough for me to know, in order to decide that a person could not be enjoying the leadings of God's Spirit, that “he followeth not with us.”

Is it not noteworthy that the same chapter that tells of the disciples' forbidding the man to cast out devils for this reason, also tells of their inability to cast out a devil? Was there not a reason for this? Could it be the Spirit of God in them that would oppose the working of the Spirit in the other man? The Spirit must be recognized. If I will not recognize that Spirit as manifested in others, can that same Spirit come in and dwell in me? The conclusion is obvious.

Now I can acknowledge the presence and workings of the Spirit in those who have not received all the light of present truth, but whom the Lord is leading toward it. After having my mind emptied of self, and expanded so as to have more Christian regard for others, there came the gentle, satisfying influence described in John 3:8 and 1 Kings 19:11-13, the still, small voice. Whence came it? Who can tell? But its presence and operations were real. It seemed as if a battle had been fought and won. Not won by myself,—no, indeed!—but won by the mighty Conqueror, the Prince of Peace, not by the power of arms, but by the power of love.

A peaceful conquest indeed! My heart was but the battle-ground. It was at the time that General Dewey won his great victory at Manila. Men were everywhere praising the great hero. But it seemed strange that that event should be so much celebrated when I knew of another victory that was still more remarkable. The hero of Manila entered into the harbor by shedding the blood of many of his enemies. But the Captain of our salvation entered in by the shedding of no blood whatever except his own. “By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Heb. 9:12. By that blood his own Spirit entered into my heart, took possession, and proclaimed peace.

What wrought this change?—Some one was praying for me. This I knew, and it was the same One who prayed for Peter; for he said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter . . . the Spirit of truth.” The evidence that this is the genuine Spirit is that he testifies of Jesus, and keeps the mind dwelling upon him. “He shall testify of me,” is the promise. I am thankful that before the message, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost,” passes forever from the pages of the REVIEW, and from the sanctuary above, the tidings have become welcome to me. F. D. STARR.