Our Greatest Needs by H. J. Farman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 29, 1906

Our Greatest Needs

By H. J. Farman

H. J. FARMAN

No doubt in God's sight all his people are very needy; but to the writer's mind there are four things that we are especially in need of in a greater measure; namely, more of Christ, the Holy Spirit, faith, and love. The reason for this conclusion is because of a personal knowledge of a personal need.

Of the first, Christ said: “For apart from me ye can do nothing.” Without Christ we are as helpless as babes to do any good thing. In this connection Christ is speaking of our bearing fruit as Christians. He says: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me.” Therefore apart from Christ all our efforts to win souls to him are fruitless. But he says: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” What a blessed promise to the faithful laborer! “Ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” This must be understood in the light of his promises and our faith. “And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15. There are two other conditions to be complied with before confidence can be assured to the individual; namely, a clean heart and obedience to all God's commandments. “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3:21, 22. The one thing that will please him most is our abiding in him and bearing much fruit. “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:8. “And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.” 1 John 3:24.

Of the second, the Holy Spirit, we are told: “If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom. 8:9. Therefore the measure of the Holy Spirit which we possess, is the measure of Christ which we have, and vice versa. I do not mean that we are entirely without the Holy Spirit, by any means; but that we have too little of it is apparent. This, however, is not God's will concerning us, for he says he “hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” and that we are to “be filled with the Spirit.” Eph. 1:3; 5:18. Having been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, and commanded to be filled with the Spirit, he further encourages us with this blessed promise: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.” Eph. 3:16-19. To be thus “filled unto all the fulness of God,” means the receiving of all the power which the Holy Spirit has promised by the mouth of all the prophets, apostles, and the Lord Jesus. His closing promise was and is: “All authority [“all power,” A. V.] hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” “And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.” Matt. 28:19, 20; Luke 24:49.

This thought of heavenly power to carry forward the gospel of Christ was again emphasized while the disciples were waiting for the fulfilment of the promise. Acts 1:5. “But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Verse 8.

When the Holy Spirit's power did come as recorded in the second chapter of Acts, great was the fruit borne. We read: “They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.” Neither did they backslide: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. And day by day continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.” Verses 41-47. Soon the number of male believers was “about five thousand.” Chapter 4:4. Neither did the work stop here: “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” “Now in these days, when the number of disciples was multiplying. . . . And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly: and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Chap. 5:14; 6:1, 7.

The power of the Spirit, accompanying the preaching of the word by the disciples in their day, enabled them to carry the good news to every creature under heaven. Please read carefully Rom. 10:16, 17 with Col. 1:6, 23. So it is to be with this great advent message that began to be proclaimed prior to 1844, as described in Rev. 10:1-7, and is to close with great power, or authority, as set forth in Rev. 18:1-4, in this generation.

The real cause of our limited power doubtless is because of a lack of unity as prayed for by the Saviour in John 17:20-22, and experienced by the disciples at Pentecost. But this must be attained to by the remnant church. 1 Cor. 1:10; Rev. 12:17; 14:12. That which hinders the unity of believers will be considered in the next article.

Lynchburg, Va.