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THE HOLY SPIRIT

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 11, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 24.

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THE HOLY SPIRIT.

By F. Peabody

ELDER F. PEABODY.
CHRIST told His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go away; for if He went not away, the Holy Spirit would not come in the way He proposed to send Him, as the Paraclete, or Comforter, or, as the Revised Version says, a Helper. But if He went away, He would send Him unto them. This Helper was not to be the Father nor the Son, but “Another Comforter.” He was to be the representative of Christ on the earth, and instruct them in reference to all things that Christ had said unto them. Christ said to them, “He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father.” Does not this mean that when this Helper was with them, it was the same as if Christ himself were with them? He went to the Father to send them the Comforter. Then was not this Helper to be the representative of Christ on the earth, His Vicar?
So long as Christ was within the veil in the earthly sanctuary, the congregation of Israel were uncertain of their acceptance with God. Hence the eager anxiety with which they awaited His coming out to them. Christ, as our great High Priest, has entered into the holy of holies of the heavenly sanctuary, by His own blood; and until He comes forth again at His second advent, how can we be assured that His sacrifice for us is accepted? We could not know unless He had sent out one from His presence to make known the fact to us. Hence the apostle Peter said, “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.” Acts 2:33. Christ declared, “He [speaking of the Comforter] shall testify of me.” The apostles, who had been with Him, could testify of His earthly life. The Holy Spirit could testify of His heavenly life. Thus we see Jesus seated at the right hand of God, in unison with the Father, carrying on His work on earth by His representative, the Holy Spirit. Does some one say, “This puts Christ too far away”? On the other hand, it brings Him near.
This Holy Spirit is a revealer, counselor, and guide to the Church. This is the true Vicar of Christ. As one has said, “There is but one Holy See upon earth, that is, the seat of that One sent forth by the Father to guide into all truth, in the absence, in person, of the Son. No one but He can occupy that seat without the most daring blasphemy.” The Holy Spirit is the only one to minister in the government of the Church. “Take heed unto yourselves,” said Paul, “and to all the flock, in the which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops [Revised Version], to feed the Church of God,” etc. Acts 20:28. Every office through which the work of the Church is carried on, is appointed by the head, Christ, but given to the Holy Spirit to superintend to its completion. Has the professed Church of to-day confidence in Heaven’s representative? Does the great Head of the Church have a voice in the appointment of officers and leaders, or are they chosen by ballot or viva voce? Is it the one who is filled with the Holy Ghost, who is sought for? or is it the one who can “draw”? Look around and see those who profess to take Christ as their leader, holding out their hands, and beseeching help from earthly powers, when One vested with all power in heaven and earth stands ready to come in and take His place, and purify, and strengthen, and make ready the Church for the coming of Jesus Christ in glory.
The Holy Spirit fortifies for the right, and banishes the fear of opposition from men. Contrast Peter dodging the issue at Antioch (Gal. 2:11–13), with his holy boldness as recorded in Acts 4:8, and onward. “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, ‘Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel.’” Even the rulers of the people and the elders of the Church could not cause him to fear. Why?—Because he was filled with the Holy Ghost. With all boldness he and his companion, John, stood before the combined power of Church and State, and challenged them to decide whether it were right in the sight of God to hearken unto them rather than unto God. At which time would you follow his example—at Jerusalem or at Antioch?
In this dispensation the Holy Spirit is not simply to visit the people in various ways and in divers manners, but is to abide with the Church. A few days after the ascension of Christ, the looked-for promised Visitor, or Comforter, came, resting upon the apostles, in the form of tongues of fire, enabling them to communicate to the company there assembled in their own vernacular tongue. From that on, we see that, when the Holy Ghost was said to be in the laborer, he spoke with a power that moved hearts.
The Comforter was ever present when room was made for Him. At the council in Jerusalem His advice was ready, so they could write, “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us.” When Paul and Silas would have labored in Asia, the Holy Ghost said No; when they would go into Bithynia, the Spirit suffered them not to go there. By a vision He told them where to go. Macedonia was the field then. Waiting hearts were there, and the Spirit knew it. At Philippi some were waiting. A jailer, whose heart could be reached, was in the city of Philippi. Though the Helper knew that stripes, and the stocks in the inner prison, awaited the servants of Heaven whom He was guiding, yet He knew also that these servants of the Lord were to be victors in the end.
Throughout their ministry the early disciples went forth in company with the mighty Helper. His work is here. He is clothed with the same power now as then. Is He depended upon now as then? Is His counsel sought as then? Alas! it is not. Yet we are admonished, time and again: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” John, while on the Isle of Patmos, says, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” The One who lives and was dead was speaking then. While John listened, he was in the Spirit. A good condition while listening to the word of God! Almost the last words in the closing invitation as given in the Bible are that the Spirit, in connection with others, says, Come and take of the water of life freely.