Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 29, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 34.

Our Bible Reading

The Promise of the Spirit

1. When Jesus was here in person, what did He say in regard to His going away? Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away. John 16: 7.

2. Why did He say it was "expedient" that He go away, rather than to stay with the disciples in person? For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. Ib.

3. What was to be the work of the Spirit when He should come? And when He is come, He will reprove [margin, "convince"] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. Verses 8-11.

4. What will the Spirit do for the believer? Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth. Verse 13.

5. Would the Spirit exalt self? He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. Ib.

6. Whom will the Spirit glorify, and whom will He represent? He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you. Verses 14, 15.

7. What is one of the significant names of the Spirit? and how long will He abide with us? 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.

8. Whose presence in reality does the Comforter bring to the individual? I will not leave you comfortless [margin, "orphans"]: I will come to you. Verse 18.

9. What other scripture shows that the personal presence of Christ through the work of the Spirit is continually with the believer? Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matt. 28: 19, 20.

NOTE.—By observing what the foregoing scriptures say, it will be clearly seen that Christ has arranged to bring His personal presence to the believer through the work of His Spirit, the Comforter, which He sent into the world in a special manner when He went away. Thus it is "expedient" that He go away and send the Comforter to us. For had He remained, only one individual at a time could have had the Master all to himself for intimate, private, personal interview; but by the work of the Spirit, He has arranged things so that each individual all the time can be in personal, intimate, soul-satisfying communion with the Lord of glory. Don't spend your time in trying to figure out how the Lord is able to do this. The almighty Father has created indescribably great worlds, and keeps them moving accurately about us in the infinite expanse of the heavens. We see unfathomable secrets and mysteries all about us in the work of His hands in every realm of nature. We may never know "how" these things are done, or why they are so; but we do know and enjoy the definite fact that they do actually exist. Even so we may never be able to tell how the Master can give His personal presence, and His personal attention, through the agency of His Spirit, to each one of us in detail; but we may know and enjoy the great fact. Who would not walk from one side of the continent to the other to meet the personal Christ and have an interview with Him? But do you realize that through His Spirit He has arranged for you to enjoy this pleasant intimacy all the time, and right where you are!