July 20, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
CHRIST’S CROWNING AND GREATEST GIFT TO MANKIND
“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He May abide with you for ever.”
John 14:16, A.V.
“Christ declared that, after His ascension, that He would send to His church, as His crowning gift, the Comforter, who was to take His place. This Comforter is the HOLY SPIRIT—THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE, the efficacy of His church, THE LIGHT AND THE LIFE of the world. With His Spirit, Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power to take away sins.”
“God has instructed me to tell you and all His people to be VERY CAREFUL not to resist the working of the Holy Spirit—the Comforter that Christ sends. FEAR TO TAKE THE FIRST PRESUMPTUOUS STEP OF RESISTANCE.”
“When Christ spoke to the disciple of the Holy Spirit, He sought to UPLIFT their thoughts and ENLARGE their expectations to grasp the HIGHEST conception of excellence. Let us strive to understand His words. Let us strive to appreciate the WONDERFUL GIFT He has bestowed on us. Let us seek for the FULLNESS of the Holy Spirit”…..
“TO BRING THE SINNER TO CHRIST OF THE COMFORTER, THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Savior is the divine Example, the perfection of holiness, and He fashions the soul anew. We are privileged to receive from Christ [through the Holy Spirit] all the excellence for perfection of character. But in order for us to obtain this excellence, we must show MORE self-denial, more self-sacrifice.”. . . .
“Let us strive, by receiving His Word, to reach the high standard of perfection. We are SAFE ONLY [not once saved-always-saved] when seeking the QUALITIES that make us children of God, POSSESSORS OF SANCTIFIED EXCELLENCE.” E. G. White, Letter 155, Sept. 5, 1902/ TDG 257.
Remember to never ever commit the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit for He is “the soul of Christ’s life”!! NMF