CONTINUE TO SEEK THE LORD.
By J. Wolfgarten
J. WOLFGARTEN. (Milwaukee, Wis.) “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 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 they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4. “This is written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” Mark, they were all with one accord. They did not differ in any opinion or teachings, because they gave up self. There was a sweet union among them after confessions were made. Every one said to his brother, “Be of good courage.” A tender love for one another seemed to prevail. Their humble prayers sounded like sweet music to Jesus, and he manifested himself in a most precious manner. They now fully understood the promise the Saviour made: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.” Christ himself is now continually praying for this “another Comforter” to come to us. Should not we, while expecting the soon coming of the Son of God, “pray without ceasing” for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Then let us empty ourselves, and crucify the flesh daily, that the Holy Spirit may come into our hearts in his fullness. The results will be the same as in the days of the apostles. Every Seventh-day Adventist home should be a house of God. The presence of his Spirit should be recognized by everyone, because our texts say that the house in which they were sitting was filled first, before any of the apostles were filled. Not only our words but our actions will correspond to our faith, and the blessings of God will come upon us even in a greater measure. “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.)” Truly our kind Father is anxiously waiting upon his people that they may be ready to be endued with power “from on high.” This power is nothing else than the Spirit of God. Isa. 32:15. And the Spirit is life. “For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live.” Amos 5:4. But just as surely as we shall live, if we seek him, so surely shall we die if we shall not seek him. 2 Chron. 15:13. Brethren, “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.” He is willing to forgive us all our shortcomings. Let us more fully trust in him who has already gone before us to prepare the way. Half-hearted service will not be accepted of the Lord. In these last days we must take unto ourselves the whole armor of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day. Phil. 6:13. Some of the ancient kings served the Lord, and did “that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.” If only one of the disciples was in such a condition the Holy Spirit could not have come upon them, because only in union there is strength. When David prepared a place and pitched a tent for the ark of God, he selected men to bring it from Kirjath-jearim, “and said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.” 1 Chronicles 15. The thirteenth chapter tells us that Uzza put his hand to the ark, in consequence of which he died. He transgressed a commandment of God. It was a half-hearted service, which God could not accept. The second time David emphasized the necessity of being sanctified and referring to the first event, he says in 1 Chron. 15:13, “For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.” What is your service like?