BEFORE offering himself as the sacrificial victim, Christ sought for the most essential and complete gift to bestow upon his followers, a gift that would bring within their reach the boundless resources of grace. “I will pray the Father,” he said, “and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you.”
Before this the Spirit had been in the world; from the very beginning of the work of redemption he had been moving upon men’s hearts. But while Christ was on earth, the disciples had desired no other helper. Not until they were deprived of his presence would they feel the need of the Spirit, and then he would come.
The Holy Spirit is Christ’s representative, but divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof. Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally. Therefore it was for their interest that he should go to the Father, and send the Spirit to be his successor on earth. No one could then have any advantage because of his location or his personal contact with Christ. By the Spirit the Saviour would be accessible to all. In this sense he would be nearer to them than if he had not ascended on high.16
The Comforter is called “the Spirit of truth.” His work is to define and maintain the truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth, and thus he becomes the Comforter. There is comfort and peace in the truth, but no real peace or comfort can be found in falsehood. It is through false theories and traditions that Satan gains his power over the mind. By directing men to false standards, he misshapes the character. Through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind, and impresses truth upon the heart. Thus he exposes error, and expels it from the soul. It is by the Spirit of truth, working through the Word of God, that Christ subdues his chosen people to himself.
THE DARLING RANGE SCHOOL, WEST AUSTRALIA, RECENTLY
In describing to his disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with the joy and hope that inspired his own heart. He rejoiced because of the abundant help he had provided for his church. The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that he could solicit from his Father for the exaltation of his people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fulness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given his Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress his own character on his church.
Of the Spirit, Jesus said, “He shall glorify me.” The Saviour came to glorify the Father by the demonstration of his love; so the Spirit was to glorify Christ by revealing his grace to the world. The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The honor of God, the honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the character of his people.
“When he [the Spirit of truth] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
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 or 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, no souls will fall on the Rock and be broken. 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 into life by the dew of heaven.
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. Then the testimony of their enemies was, “Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.”
Christ has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to his church, and the promise belongs to us as much as to the first disciples. But like every other promise, it is given on conditions. There are many who believe and profess to claim the Lord’s promise; they talk about Christ and the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit. They do not surrender the soul to be guided and controlled by divine agencies. We can not use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. Through the Spirit God works in his people “to will and to do of his good pleasure.” But many will not submit to this. They want to manage themselves. This is why they do not receive the heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for his guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train. It is given according to the riches of the grace of Christ, and he is ready to supply every soul according to the capacity to receive.
When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the joy of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see, creates a new being in the image of God.
The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. Only those who are thus taught of God, those who possess the inward working of the Spirit, and in whose life the Christ-life is manifested, are to stand as representative men, to minister in behalf of the church.
The religion that comes from God is the only religion that will lead to God. In order to serve him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind, giving us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us a willing obedience to all his requirements. This is true worship. It is the fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit every sincere prayer is indited, and such prayer is acceptable to God. Wherever a soul reaches out after God, there the Spirit’s working is manifest, and God will reveal himself to that soul. For such worshipers he is seeking. He waits to receive them, and to make them his sons and daughters.
God takes men as they are, and educates them for his service, if they will yield themselves to him. The Spirit of God, received into the soul, will quicken all its faculties. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the mind that is devoted unreservedly to God, develops harmoniously, and is strengthened to comprehend and fulfil the requirements of God. The weak, vacillating character becomes changed to one of strength and steadfastness. Continual devotion establishes so close a relation between Jesus and his disciple that the Christian becomes like him in mind and character. Through a connection with Christ he will have clearer and broader views. His discernment will be more penetrative, his judgment better balanced. He who longs to be of service to Christ is so quickened by the life-giving power of the Sun of Righteousness that he is enabled to bear much fruit to the glory of God.
The first disciples went forth preaching the Word. They revealed Christ in their lives. And the Lord worked with them, “confirming the word with signs following.” These disciples prepared themselves for their work. Before the day of Pentecost they met together, and put away all differences. They were of one accord. They believed17Christ’s promise that the blessing would be given, and they prayed in faith. They did not ask for a blessing for themselves merely; they were weighted with the burden for the salvation of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the uttermost parts of the earth, and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day.
So it may be now. Instead of man’s speculations, let the Word of God be preached. Let Christians put away their dissensions, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them in faith ask for the blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the “former rain,” and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant.
All who consecrate soul, body, and spirit to God, will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical and mental power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ gives them the breath of his own spirit, the life of his own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind. The grace of God enlarges and multiplies their faculties, and every perfection of the divine nature comes to their assistance in the work of saving souls. Through co-operation with Christ they are complete in him, and in their human weakness they are enabled to do the deeds of Omnipotence.
A Round-the-World Social Meeting
By W. A. SPICER
W. A. SPICER
(Reading for Friday, December 18)
God has given us a wonderful missionary facility in the universal postal system, by which we may keep in touch with one another in all this wide-spread work. Here are brethren, superintendents of great divisions of our field, waiting to speak to us to-night from across the seas. We seem almost to hear the tone of the voice, as the testimonies are borne. The hearts of the missionaries are with us in this annual season of praying and giving that means an uplift to the missionary cause in all the world.
First, we call on Scandinavia to speak, from out the regions of the far North. Elder J. C. Raft, the union conference president, responds:—
A VIEW INSIDE THE COURT OF THE HOUSE OF ONE OF THE TAMIL SABBATH-KEEPERS, SOUTHERN INDIA
“O give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; for his loving-kindness endureth forever.” For a time heavy clouds rested over Scandinavia. Then came the year 1901, when we organized the union conference. This proved a turning-point in our history. This field, once seemingly almost defeated by the enemy, has shaken off all the difficulties, taken new strongholds by storm, and is going on from victory to victory. All hearts are full of confidence and courage. But now we lack workers. As we look over Scandinavia, and hear the many Macedonian calls, our hearts ache. What we desire you to remember in prayer is this need of young, consecrated workers. We intend to go forward to eternal victory.”
Next, Elder J. W. Westphal, of the far South, speaks:—
“To our brethren and sisters throughout the world assembled in the annual week of prayer: Greeting. We are glad to report the onward march of the third angel’s message in South America. We meet difficulties, and are sometimes saddened by apostasies; but ever our numbers increase, and the work spreads. Even persecution is creating new courage and hope. After many hard experiences, even to the threat of execution, because of his loyalty to the Sabbath of the Lord while in military service, our Brother Pedro Kalbermatten has, like Joseph of old, obtained favor from his superiors. He has been enabled to testify to the truth before many, both high and low. We are greatly cheered over the additional workers that have been sent us this year by the General Conference, and thank God for the liberal gifts of our brethren, which make such moves possible. Our brethren in South America are united heart and soul with our people of other lands, in their purpose and efforts to finish the work. Pray for us in the ‘Neglected Continent.’”
After this word from Catholic lands, Elder W. S. Hyatt speaks of progress among heathen peoples:—
“We have an encouraging testimony to bear about the work in South African mission fields. The light of the third angel’s message is spreading far and near. In Nyassaland the natives come long distances to our mission, many from the closed Portuguese territory. They learn something of the truth, and then return home, and tell it to their people. Our other missions are having similar experiences. Brother Moko writes that in Kafirland many are decidedly in favor of the truth. The Lord has also opened the way for our work among the great Zulu tribe in Natal and Zululand. Truly it is high time that the message be sent to this, the leading tribe in South Africa. Brethren, pray that God will send us a strong man to lead out among this great people, and that he will also give his servants power to reach the hearts of those in the deepest darkness of heathenism.”
Elder J. L. Shaw will speak for another great heathen land:—
“Greetings from the workers in India. Our lives have all been spared the past year, and new ground has been gained. We have made a start in western India, Elder Geo. F. Enoch having located among the Marathi people. An entrance has been made among the Tamil Sabbath-keepers of South India, by Brother J. S. James and family. In their poverty, these Tamil people have given us land, and plead with us to begin school work. In the north, Elder W. W. Miller has entered Lucknow, the fourth18city in India. Elder H. H. Votaw and wife have made our first effort in northern Burma, where five souls accepted the truth, and were baptized. The Buddhists there wish us to open a school, and they pledge one hundred pupils.
“New courage has come to our medical workers, and the Lord has blessed in the removal of our sanitarium from Calcutta to Mussoorie, in the Himalaya Mountains. They have all they can do. We thank God for the recovery of Brother L. J. Burgess, who was brought very seriously ill to our mountain mission home. Nineteen were recently baptized at this hill station, twelve being from our first Hindustani Bible School. A number of earnest Indian men and women expect soon to enter the work from this school.
“India is now passing through turbulent times politically, and heavy clouds seem settling over the horizon. We believe that now, while a measure of safety in travel and labor still remains, is heaven’s hour for India. May God give his messengers strength and wisdom, and may our loyal people at home provide men and means to further storm India’s walls of heathenism. Our poorly manned mission stations call upon us for immediate help. The unentered provinces of India, with a score and more of tongues still silent in this message, give occasion for Satan’s boast, ‘Your Lord delayeth his coming.’
“Will you take the enemy’s weapon from him? Will you dedicate some of your most talented and godly young men and women to those tongues, and begin work among these nations? We must wait for your reply. Be assured our workers stand with you for a final, determined, unabating effort for God and his truth in India.”
Elder H. F. Schuberth, president of the German Union Conference, speaks for a field that has vast territory of its own, but which is yet lifting heavily with us all for the regions beyond. He says:—
“As we review the year at this week-of-prayer season, we are led to exclaim, ‘The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.’ We have a hundred forty million people in our field. Several hundred more believers were added this year than last, and the tithes and offerings were over seventeen thousand dollars more than last year. As we look at the field before us,—Holland and Flemish Belgium, with nine million souls and nine workers; the Balkans, with thirteen million population, and but five workers; and the Austrian Mission, with twenty-six million people and ten workers, one worker to each two and one-half millions,—we feel the necessity of the special help of the Lord, and we earnestly request the people of God to remember us in their prayers.”
BROTHER K. NOMA, ONE OF OUR JAPANESE EVANGELISTS, AND DR. NOMA, HIS WIFE
For the British Union Conference, Elder W. J. Fitzgerald bears the cheering testimony:—
“We as workers and people of this union conference, send greetings to the faithful in all lands, and assurance that we are united with all parts of the world-field by the bonds of a common truth and fellowship. The cause is developing systematically in the British field. The school work and the sanitarium work are prospering, and the publishing work shows special growth. Millions of printed pages, bearing the third angel’s message, are falling every month, like leaves of autumn, over the field. Two new conferences have been organized—Southern Scotland and Wales. The work is onward in all parts of this home land of the English-speaking peoples. Some have already gone forth from this field to carry the message to other lands. We believe that coming years will witness many faithful missionaries going from the British Union Conference to all parts of the world, to aid in preparing the way for the soon coming of our King.”
Elder L. P. Tieche, of the Latin Union Conference, speaks from out the depths of those dark Catholic lands that shut away the Reformation of the sixteenth century. Now the last reform message is kindling lights in the darkness. Our brother says:—
“We can report progress in every part of our field, including Algeria, in northern Africa. While we are thankful for all the blessings and encouragements we receive, our hearts are made very sad because we have been obliged to cut down our workers, to bring our expenses within the appropriation we receive. If our people could see the sorrowful needs of one hundred ten millions of people living in the darkness of Romanism and Mohammedanism, and entirely unconscious, because unwarned, of the doom which hangs over their heads, surely the treasury of the Lord would be filled. In our union conference we have as promising young people as can be found anywhere. Had we the means to train and support them, we could put one hundred consecrated laborers into the work. If those of our brethren who have been blessed with this world’s goods could hear the glad testimonies of those who have lived many years in darkness, and who are now rejoicing in the blessed light of present truth, not one would let the world have the benefit of those things which ought to be ‘sold . . . and given to the poor.’ We are all full of courage and hope, and thankful for the great privilege of working for the salvation of souls in these last days.”
Elder L. R. Conradi, now in Africa, has a few words for the whole field of Europe, with its influence and activities stretching out into Africa and Asia:—
“First, as to growth. From Jan. 1, 1906, to June 30, 1908, seven thousand persons were gathered in throughout our European fields, and the membership increased from twelve thousand to sixteen thousand. Our work in Siberia has been opened, and companies have been organized in Turkestan, near Tashkent and Samarkand, close to the Indian border. Our stations in German East Africa have baptized their first converts from heathenism,—six souls won from heathen darkness. In British East Africa as many as one thousand have attended our meetings. Our Scandinavian missionaries have entered upon work among the Abyssinians. Thus the work spreads into new lands.
“God still does wonders. What seemed incredible to our believers in Turkey, even when it came, is now a fact. Liberty reigns in Turkey. This opens up that vast field as never before for the preaching of this everlasting gospel in the many languages spoken there. In view of this, we have had our first general council of the representatives of the third angel’s message in the Levant, in Beirut, at the foot of Mount Lebanon, attended by representatives from Athens, Constantinople, Nicomedia, Smyrna, Luxor (ancient Thebes), Tarsus, Antioch, and Jerusalem. What associations these names call to mind! Where thus far we have spent a hundred dollars in this region of the ancient Bible story, we ought now to spend thousands in opening and developing the work in that field.
“In September twelve more workers left Europe for Asia, Africa, and the East Indies. Thus Europe unites in sending the message into all parts of the world. Some of our noble young men are to-day in prison for the truth of God and their loyalty to the Sabbath. Again and again under trial have our youth testified for God, and remained steadfast. The grace of Christ strengthens19hearts to endure every test, and by his grace we shall continue to the end.’
Here let us sing one verse of “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains.”
Now Elder U. Bender speaks for over three thousand believers in the West Indian Union Conference:—
“We feel like saying, ‘O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.’ ‘The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.’ Joy and sorrow have been mingled in our experience during the past year. Three who have come to this field have been laid away to rest—little Marjorie, daughter of Brother and Sister C. A. Nowlen, in British Honduras; Brother R. L. Price, manager of our printing-office in Trinidad; and Sister Lector Carmen, at the school farm in Jamaica.
“The Lord has greatly blessed the efforts of our laborers in every part of this field. An entering wedge, in the shape of publications, has at last been driven into Venezuela. The headquarters of the Central American Conference has been established in the capital city of Guatemala. Thus two more Spanish-Catholic countries are receiving the last message. A visit by one of the workers to the French island of Guadalupe reveals the fact that its inhabitants are reaching out after the truth. We are also pressing toward Colombia and Salvador. When these countries are entered, all the nations in this field will have the witness within their borders.”
And now from F. W. Field, of Japan and Korea:—
“The believers in Japan and Korea send a greeting and an appeal to the brethren and sisters at this special time of prayer and giving. The Lord’s hand has been over us, and ground has been gained at points already occupied. A new field has been opened in Hokkaido, the northern island. In Korea the truth has continued to spread out into new places, from village to village. We rejoice at the coming of five new workers from America to Korea. But the burden of fifty million Japanese and ten million Koreans still rests upon a very small corps of workers. We feel greatly the need of funds to establish our school and sanitarium work; and our printing-office is still in rented quarters, where it is unable to meet the increasing demands. The Orient is active, and now is our time to work. Pray for us.”
For China—the greatest mission field of all—Elder J. N. Anderson speaks:—
“‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’ Read in the light of the situation in this empire, with its four hundred million souls, this scripture imposes a tremendous responsibility upon us as a people; but at the same time it glows with the light and warmth of the promise of the Saviour. In his mighty plan of salvation, even this great Chinese nation is a ‘very little thing.’ To-day we are but as a mere handful in the midst of surging masses. We have raised the standard in five of the eight- eighteen provinces, and there is a steady accession of inquirers and believers. We can report progress and courage. At times we are almost overwhelmed in the face of the difficulties before us; they seem so many and so great. But we have the courage to believe that God will give to us and to all our people a clearer vision of our full duty to this great work in the land of Sinim, and thus shall we be given a faith and a consecration sufficient for the hour. None of us have an adequate conception of what this work calls for in men and means. By comparison with many other fields, we must all readily see that China is very scantily supplied with the sinews of missionary warfare. We believe this will speedily be changed, and that from henceforth the strength of this advent movement will be given to these great mission fields. It must be so, and let us all pray earnestly that this may be realized early, and that thus the end may indeed come.”
To Elder Anderson’s testimony let us say, Amen and amen. O, we must press into the great heathen fields; for the heathen are awakening, and soon this time of peace will pass. Now is the hour.
Elder C. H. Parker, of the South Sea Islands, has a word:—
“My heart overflows with praise to God that I am allowed to be connected with such a truth and such a work. The great forward movement has begun, and this message has become a power wherever it is being preached. Fiji, once dreaded as a stronghold of cannibalism, sends greetings, and three hundred of its dark-skinned inhabitants are holding aloft the banner of the ‘commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ They wish to bow with you at this time at the throne of mercy, and ascribe praise and thanksgiving to the One who has wrought such a marvelous change in their hearts and surroundings. Tonga and Samoa also are beginning to lisp the praises of him who is leading on to victory. Soon we hope to hear the song of triumph rising from all this great island field.”
It is time to close; but three brethren at African outposts have just a word. With their testimonies, we must close, hard as it is to do so, when these warm and burning words are spoken straight to our hearts from all the four quarters of the earth.
From Elder D. C. Babcock, Sierra Leone, West Africa:—
“The Lord has blessed us in health these three years on the West Coast, for which we are thankful. We were cheered by the arrival of Prof. T. M. French and wife to take charge of the educational work. Brighter days are before us. The material is here to train for the work. If you would hear the expressions of thanks to heaven for your kindness in sending this message to this land, your all would be laid on the altar of missions.”
From Elder J. C. Rogers, of Nyassaland:—
“The message is onward in the land of Livingstone. We now have our main station with a school of over one hundred, two out-stations, five village schools, sixteen native teachers, and calls are coming for teachers to open new schools in villages far and near. The Lord’s providence goes before faster than we can follow. The harvest ripens faster than we can reap. We want you to remember us in this service of prayer. The plague of sleeping-sickness is spreading southward from Uganda, where it has reaped a harvest of death. We are impressed that the time to work is short.”
Lastly, a few words from Elder W. H. Anderson, of Barotseland, who has this year been called to give the most precious gift of all to missions—his own wife, who sleeps in Africa, after years of faithful toil. He did not know his testimony would be called for in this service, but his words show how eagerly our missionaries at the far outposts watch the reports of growing interest in missions shown by believers in the home lands. He says:—
“It was a great encouragement to me to see the reports of the camp-meeting gifts to missions. A change has come. The work is going with a loud cry, and the believers are surely lining up for victory. Our work here beyond the Zambesi is advancing. We have three out-stations. I had two more opened, but had to close them when Brother J. F. Olmsted was forced by sickness to leave me. The end is almost in sight. Angels are hurrying to and fro. Africa is stretching out her hands for the truth. I have boys in the school from the southern end of Lake Tanganyika, the headwaters of the Zambesi, and from all along the Zambesi Valley, on the Batoka plateau, and on the Kafui. Soon they will go home to tell their people what God has done for them. The fields are white, the laborers are few.”
We would have heard from Elder J. T. Boettcher, of Russia, but he was away somewhere in the interior of that great empire, and from Elder O. A. Olsen, but he could not be reached in time to tell us of Australasia’s courage and zeal in the work that this conference is doing for the East Indies and the South Pacific. Such a social meeting as this, brethren, means that the Lord has indeed made bare his holy arm in the sight of the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall quickly see the salvation of our God. But O, what a work is now before us, demanding that we pray, and give, and go, as men and women on the verge of eternity! May God help us to be true now.
Our Message to the World
Children’s Lesson—No. 6
Our Message to the World
Memory Verse: “Prepare to meet thy God.” Amos 4:12.
Our special work is to let the world know that Jesus is soon coming, and to point out the true Sabbath, asking every one to give his heart to the Lord and be ready when he shall appear.
