Receive the Holy Spirit in Fullness—I am instructed to bear a message to those who minister by holding forth the Word of God to others. You must be converted. This is surely what you need. The spiritual anointing of the Lord will never come to self-sufficient men and women. Many who are in God’s service, proclaiming the truth by pen and voice, are not worked by the Holy Spirit. Self has grown to large proportions. Until the soul is emptied of self and the Holy Spirit takes possession, you will be unready for the coming of Christ. You will certainly be weighed in the golden scales of the heavenly sanctuary and be found wanting. God’s promise is to us and to our children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. We may claim this promise for ourselves, and receive the Holy Spirit in His fullness. Then shall not we who preach the word be clothed with the power of God? Shall we not be in truth His messengers?... Who is willing to take himself in hand? Who is willing to lay his finger upon his cherished idols of sin, and allow Christ to purify the temple by casting out the buyers and sellers? Who is prepared to allow Jesus to enter the soul and cleanse it from everything that tarnishes or corrupts? The standard is, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). God calls upon men and women to empty their hearts of self. Then His Spirit can find unobstructed entrance. Stop trying to do the work yourself. Ask God to work in and through you until the words of the apostle become yours, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). The whole being must hunger and thirst after righteousness. The soul’s desire must be to be drawn to God, to be bent in perfect conformity to His will. Then the cold, hard heart will be melted by the grace and love of God, which appear in power. God will be glorified through the human instrumentalities. Self is the great hindrance to this work.... [James 4:1-10 and James 3:14-18 are quoted.] These lessons every church member should learn. There is need of close self-examination in the light of the Word of God, that we may do the work essential to be done. Having complied with the Word of God, do not depend on your feelings for evidence of acceptance with God. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). If you have complied with the conditions, believe God, whether or not you feel any different. Christ declared, “As the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.... If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 14:31; 15:10). Let all who understand the abiding claims of the law of God, yield implicit obedience to every requirement given in the Word. The convictions of the Holy Spirit are warnings which it is dangerous to disregard. {MR1 367, 368}
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 00:34:40 +0000
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