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The Time of the Spirit’s Power, May 29
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:8
.
We should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the
disciples prayed on the day of Pentecost. If they needed it at that time, we
need it more today. All manner of false doctrines, heresies, and deceptions
are misleading the minds of men; and without the Spirit’s aid, our efforts
to present divine truth will be in vain.
We are living in the time of the Holy Spirit’s power. It is seeking to
diffuse itself through the agency of humanity, thus increasing its influence
in the world. For if any man drinks of the water of life, it will be in him
“a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (
John 4:14
); and the
blessing will not be confined to himself, but will be shared by others....
To reject the Holy Spirit, through whose power we conquer the forces
of evil, is the sin that surpasses all others; for it cuts us off from the source
of our power—from Christ and communion with Him....
The warfare between good and evil has not grown less fierce than it
was in the days of the Saviour. The path to heaven is no smoother now
than it was then. All our sins must be put away. Every darling indulgence
that hinders our religious life must be cut off. The right eye or the right
hand must be sacrificed, if it causes us to offend. Are we willing to
renounce our own wisdom, and to receive the kingdom of heaven as a
little child? Are we willing to part with our self-righteousness? Are we
willing to sacrifice the approbation of men? The prize of eternal life is
of infinite value. Are we willing to welcome the Holy Spirit’s aid, and
cooperate with it, putting forth efforts and making sacrifices proportionate
to the value of the object to be obtained?
The heart of man may be the abode of the Holy Spirit. The peace
of Christ, which passeth understanding, may rest in your soul; and the
transforming power of His grace may work in your life, and fit you for
the courts of glory.
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