MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 21, 2024
The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 24
WHY DESIRE TO AND RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?
See Luke 11:1-12, A. V. , R.S.V. of A.R.V. Compare to 1 John 5:7.
Just as we would desire God the Father in and through His only-begotten Son, the Desire of ages, mankind’s Savior, Redeemer, and Example, so should we Their Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, for “they Three are One.”
The familiar and well-loved “Lord’s Prayer” of Bible-based Christians is given twice in the New Testament, both by the Savior himself. The first is included in His longest-recorded sermon, the Sermon in the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) when and where He publicly introduced the nature of the kingdom He had come to establish, as prophesied and declared by John the Baptist, in stark to all the kingdoms, empires, and nations of man, past, present, and future. See Matt. 6: 9-13.
The second time Jesus repeated this “Lord’s Prayer” recorded in Luke 11: 1-12 is His definitive and nuanced answer to one of His disciples request, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John (the Baptist) also taught his disciples.’
All who desire, should review the foregoing, incorporating it as a permanent part of one’s petitions and prayer life, particularly in these very time when we should have been far in advance in the solemn, spiritually-intelligent work of character-preparation to receive the promised latter rain of the Holy Spirit, as the 120 disciples did in preparation to receive the former rain of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Ponder the following from the inspired pen (all emphasis and bracketed words mine):
“The preaching of the word will be of no avail without the CONTINUAL presence and aid of the Holy Spirit. This is the ONLY effectual Teacher of divine truth. Only when the truth is ACCOMPANIED to the heart by the Spirit, will it quicken the CONSCIENCE to transform the LIFE.
“One might be able to present the LETTER of the word of God, he might be FAMILIAR with all its commands and promises, but UNLESS the Holy Spirit sets home the truth [as the ‘Spirit of truth’], NO souls will fall on the Rock [Christ, and His word] and be broken [cf. Isa. 28: 9-13].
“No amount of education, no advantages, however great, can make one a channel of light WITHOUT the co-operation of the Spirit of God. The sowing of the gospel seed will NOT be a success UNLESS the seed is quickened to [spiritual] life by the dew of heaven [the power and work of the Holy Spirit]. Before one BOOK of the New Testament was written, before one GOSPEL SERMON had been preached AFTER Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the praying apostles [at the upper room of a certain house in Jerusalem]. THEN the the testimony of their ENEMIES [their Jewish fellowmen] was, ‘Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine’ [see Acts 5: 28, 27-33].” E. G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 671. Here’s the solemn counsel for those, who, “in a zeal not based on knowledge,” Peter-like, speak impulsively and act compulsively, and “run ahead of the Spirit:”
“The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, pierces the heart of the sinner, and cuts it in pieces. [see Heb. 4:12, 13]. When the theory of the truth is repeated WITHOUT its sacred influence being felt upon the soul of the SPEAKER, it has NO force upon the hearers, but is REJECTED AS ERROR, the speaker making himself RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF SOULS.” – Ibid, Gospel Workers, p. 253.
This provides more profound insight regarding Christ’s warning in connection with the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matt. 12:37, 1-36.
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.