“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 fulfill the requirements of God. The weak, vacillating character becomes changed to one of strength and steadfastness.” D.A. 251.
Efficiency of the Holy Spirit
· Gen. 1:2. Divine agency in creation.
· John 14:16, 17. Connecting link between God and man. A.A. 50.
· John 16:13, 14. Never speaks of Himself. A.A. 51.
· Rev. 4:5. Seven lamps type of.
· Zech. 4:10. Eyes of the Lord. A.A. 52.
· 2 Chron. 16:9. Searching for those who are true to God.
· John 16:5-13. Better than personal presence of Christ.
· John 16:8-11. Reproves of sin; witnesses of righteousness. A.A. 120, 49.
· Rom 8:26, 27. Presents our prayers.
· Rom. 8:27, 28. Makes all work for good to the faithful.
· John 14:26. Comforter; strengthens memory. D.A. 670.
· Eze. 36:26, 27; 1 Sam. 10:6, 9. Changes the heart.
· Acts 1:8. Gives power. D.A. 672.
· Acts 2:4. Gives utterance.
· Eph. 4:30. We are sealed by the Spirit.
Receiving the Holy Spirit
· Luke 11:8. Desire the Spirit. T., v. 6, p. 90.
· Luke 11:9-13. Promise of the Spirit ten times repeated.
· Zech. 10:1. Pray for it. A.A. 55, 56.
· 2 Sam. 23:2-4. A precious experience. E. 95.
· Gal. 5:22-25. Receiver bears 9 kinds of fruit. T., v. 5, p. 169.
· Isa. 11:2, 3. Seven manifestations, -wisdom, etc.
· Ex. 28:2-5; 35:30-35. It will help in every lawful line of business.
· John 20:22, 23. Receiver is God’s representative.
· Luke 24:44, 45. Opens minds to comprehend the Scriptures.
· Heb. 6:4-6. Fatal to reject. D.A. 587.
· Isa. 55:1. Received without money.
· Joel 2:23-25. Restores wasted life. E. 106.
· John 6:63. Words are Spirit.
· John 1:1, 2, 14. God, Christ, and the Word, synonymous.
· Heb. 4:12-16. One does not work independently of the other.
· Acts 10:44-48. When Peter was explaining the Scriptures, the Holy Ghost was poured out.
· Acts. 1:15-26. The study of the 109th Psalm, and regulating their lives by it, brought the Spirit on Pentecost. D.A. 827.
· Heb. 4:12, 13. The word of God with the Holy Spirit searches the deepest recesses of the heart.
How to Retain the Spirit
· Acts 8:17-23. Cannot be purchased.
· 1 Cor. 3:16-17. Will not dwell in a defiled body.
· Dan. 1:8. Improper food defiles body.
· Luke 1:15. Will not abide with strong drink.
· Jude 19. Will not dwell with sensuality.
· Gal. 5:16, 17. Contrary to lust of flesh.
· 1 Cor. 2:14. Does not dwell in the natural heart.
· Eze. 36:26, 27. God gives the Spirit. A.A. 47, 48.
· Rom. 8:15. Pledge of adoption.
· Eph. 4:30, 31. Do not grieve it. D.A. 490.
· Acts 5:3, 4, 9. Do not try to deceive it.
· Neh. 9:30. Heed the voice of the Spirit. T., v. 5, p. 120.
· 1 John 4:6, 13. We may know that we have the indwelling Spirit.
Latter Rain
Egypt and Palestine compared, Deut. 11:10-12. Condition, Deut. 11:13, 14. Purpose, Deut. 11:14, 15. Why withheld, Deut. 11:16, 17. Compared to, Deut. 32:2. A blessing, Ps. 72:6, 7. Showers of blessing, Eze. 34:26. Showers of righteousness, Isa. 45:8. Floods, Isa. 44:3. Result, Isa. 44:4, 5. When sent, Isa. 44:3; Ps. 68:9. When a special outpouring, Acts 2:17, 18. How compared with former rain, Joel 2:23. Why latter rain is withheld, Jer. 5:23-27. Sins that withhold the blessing, Jer. 3:1-3; Mal. 3:8-11; Eze. 22:24-26. Judgments sent, Amos 4:6-11. Prepare to meet God, Amos 4:12. Response, Hos. 6:1-3. Repent, Acts 3:19-21. How literal rain is received, Job 29:23. Same desire for spiritual, Ps. 42:1, 2; 119:131. Promise, Ps. 81:10. After conditions are met, pray, Zech. 10:1. Pray till we receive, Hos. 10:12. Model prayer, Jer. 14:20-22. Elijah’s experience repeated, Mal. 4:5, 6. Why rain withheld, 1 Kings 18:18. Elijah’s work, 1 Kings 18:21. Test, 1 Kings 18:24; Matt. 3:11. Result of prayer, 1 Kings 18:38, 39. Preparatory work, 1 Kings 18:40. This preparation sign of rain, 1 Kings 18:41. Then he prayed, 1 Kings 18:42-44. Result, 1 Kings 18:45, 46. Reward for waiting, Isa. 40:31. What will the remnant be, Micah 5:7. Effect of the latter rain upon the life, Joel 2:23-27. The Lord waiting, Jas 5:7; E.W. 71, 86, 271, 279; G.C. 611-613.
The Loud Cry
· Num. 14:12-21. When Moses plead for Israel, God answered his prayer and promised that “all the earth shall be filled with the glory of God.” This is the first promise of the loud cry.
· Ps. 72:19. David repeats the promise.
· Isa. 6:3. An heavenly seraphim assures Isaiah of the promise.
· Isa. 11:9. Isaiah repeats it.
· Hab. 2:14. Again the promise is given.
· Eze. 43:2. Ezekiel saw the earth shining with the glory of God.
· Rev. 18:1, 2. John also saw the earth lightened with the glory of God. He heard the mighty cry of the angel in charge of this work. Six prophets of God have been permitted to see this great work which will be accomplished before Christ returns to the earth. T., v. 9, pp. 154, 209; v. 8, pp. 19-21; E.W. 37, 27, 277.