Following the Guidance of the Holy Spirit

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 4, 1912

Following the Guidance of the Holy Spirit

Our Lord came to do his Father's will, to speak his Father's words, and to accomplish his Father's purpose. When he left his followers in this world, he left them to carry on the same work; therefore the need of the gift of the Holy Spirit, who was sent into the world for the purpose of leading Christ's followers into all truth. In other words, he was to help them keep in the footsteps of their Master, who is the way, the truth, and the life. We can therefore see the consistency of this divine admonition: “Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another” (Eph. 4:25); and of this admonition also: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.” Verses 31, 32. We can not do the work of God with the weapons of the adversary and under his training. The things here warned against are the weapons of Satan; and when we use them, we are practising under his teaching, drilling in his army. To do that is to travel in the way of death. Instead of that, let us listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, sent to direct us in ways of love, purity, righteousness, joy and peace. “Forgetting the things which are behind,” let us reach forward to those things which God has set before us, going forth into his work shod with the preparation of the gospel, armored with the helmet and shield and breastplate which God gives, and armed with the sword of the Spirit, conquering temptation, and winning souls for God's kingdom.