Your ShelfYour Projects

WM. COVERT

2%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 28, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 13.

Read the full edition

WM. COVERT

By Wm. Covert

The Spirit of God—No. 11

WM. COVERT

Things Said of the Holy Spirit

1. What is the first testimony in the sacred writings relating to the Spirit of God?
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Gen. 1: 1, 2.
In creation God’s Spirit brooded over his works and as a result things were made, and life was imparted.
2. When wickedness overspread the antediluvian world, what statement is made showing that God had by his Spirit been endeavoring to cause men to do right?
“And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” Gen. 6: 3.
The apostle shows that God in the days of Noah bore with the people before he destroyed them, and that his Spirit’s striving was through the message given and the work done by Noah while the ark was being built. 1 Peter 3: 19, 20.
3. What in the perverse human heart fights against the Spirit of God?
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye can not do the things that ye would.” Gal. 5: 17.
The lusts of men’s flesh, or the evil imaginations of their hearts in antediluvian times fought against God’s Spirit and the Spirit of God strove with these evil faculties in men.
4. What does the Lord say should be the attitude of man toward the Spirit of God?
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Gal. 5: 16.
Here the Spirit of God is clearly shown to be that influence or personating presence of God that guides man in his life’s course and restrains him from doing evil.
5. What pointed testimony is given showing that God accomplishes his work through his own Spirit and that it proceeds from himself?
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Gen. 2: 7. “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” Job 33: 4.
6. What indorsement of these ancient testimonies is made by Paul?
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.” Acts 17: 24-27.
7. What wonderful things are perpetually done before the eyes of all men by the Lord through the Spirit?
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Col. 1: 16, 17.
The word consist signifies to hold together.
8. What shows that the Spirit of God is all-pervading so that it is impossible to get away from its presence?
“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Ps. 139: 7-12.
Please study carefully the whole psalm.
9. How is the Spirit related to us in its working?
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil. 2: 13.
10. What are some of the things which the Spirit of God does in us?
“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.” 2 Cor. 3: 3.
11. How do Christ and his people dwell together?
“And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14: 16, 17.
12. From whence does Jesus say the Spirit, also called the Comforter, is to come?
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14: 26.
13. When the Spirit came was it a corporeal individual in personal form, or was it an all-prevading power to influence, enlighten, strengthen, and comfort those upon whom it fell?
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2: 2-4.
14. How did the Lord say it should come?
“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.” Joel 2: 28.
15. How was it manifested at the home of Cornelius?
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 10: 44, 45.
16. God anointed Jesus with it.
“Now God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10: 38.
17. The believers were told to receive it through the breathings of Christ.
“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” John 20: 22.
18. The words of the Father and also the words of the Son of God are emanations from the Lord’s Spirit, and they are spirit and are power.
19. Jesus promised that the Spirit, or Holy Ghost, should be given his followers in a copious manner, that it might be with them in the stead of his bodily presence.
20. It was given as the former rain in the beginning of this age, and will at the closing of our gospel message be given as the latter rain.
“Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.” Joel 2: 23.