The Holy Spirit—The Gift of Gifts, November 28
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8. TDG 341.1
In proportion to Christ’s humiliation and suffering is His exaltation. He could have become the Saviour, the Redeemer, only by first being the Sacrifice. What a mystery there is in the godliness of Christ. Having magnified the law and made it honorable by accepting its conditions in saving a world from ruin, Christ hastened to heaven to perfect His work, and to accomplish His mission by sending the Holy Spirit to His disciples. Thus He would assure His believing ones that He had not forgotten them, though now in the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy forevermore. TDG 341.2
The Holy Spirit was to descend on those in this world who loved Christ. By this they would be qualified, in and through the glorification of their Head, to receive every endowment necessary for the fulfilling of their mission. The Life-giver held in His hands, not only the keys of death, but a whole heaven of rich blessings. All power in heaven and earth was given to Him, and having taken His place in the heavenly courts, He could dispense these blessings to all who receive Him. TDG 341.3
Christ has said to His disciples, “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7). This was the gift of gifts. The Holy Spirit was sent as the most priceless treasure man could receive. The church was baptized with the Spirit’s power. The disciples were fitted to go forth and proclaim Christ, first in Jerusalem, where the shameful work of dishonoring the rightful King had been done, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth…. TDG 341.4
How full and free are the blessings to be bestowed on all who come to God in the name of His Son. If they will observe the conditions laid down in His Word, He will open to them the windows of heaven, and pour them down a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it…. If God’s people will sanctify themselves by obedience to His precepts, the Lord will work in their midst. He will renew humble, contrite souls, making their characters pure and holy.—Manuscript 128, November 28, 1897, “The Only True Mediator.” TDG 341.5
The Ministry of Heavenly Angels, November 29
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Hebrews 1:14. TDG 342.1
The Lord does not leave in darkness those who follow all the light given them, but sends His angels to communicate with them. Cornelius was living in accordance with the instruction given in the Old Testament Scriptures, and the Lord sent a messenger to tell him what to do. TDG 342.2
God could have given Cornelius all the instruction he needed by the angel, but this was not His plan. His purpose was to place Cornelius in connection with those who had been receiving knowledge from on high, whose work it was to impart this knowledge to those seeking for light. Thus God always deals with His people. TDG 342.3
“Send men to Joppa,” the angel said, “and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do” (Acts 10:5, 6). Cornelius obeyed the instruction given. He united with the church, and became a useful and influential laborer together with God. TDG 342.4
This instance should be a comfort and strength to us. Let those who are in the service of God study closely the relation existing between heaven and earth. Heavenly and earthly instrumentalities are to unite in the great work of communicating light to those who are in darkness. TDG 342.5
Heavenly angels are to communicate blessings to us, and we in turn are to impart them to our fellow beings. TDG 342.6
Notice the commendation given to Cornelius: “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God” (Verse 4). His faithfulness was recognized in heaven. God saw that he was a man fit to be entrusted with greater light and larger responsibilities, because he had made a right use of the talents lent to him. We are to regard our stewardship as a sacred responsibility. We are to trade diligently upon the talents entrusted to us. As we do this, God will recognize our faithful endeavor, and will give us increased ability for service. TDG 342.7
God is seeking to prepare His people to bear fruit to His glory. Paul says, “We are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9).—Manuscript 67, November 29, 1900, “Words of Instruction to the Church.”
Daily Conversion, November 30
A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 11:1. TDG 343.1
We need to experience daily a reconversion. If you have taken advantage in your business dealings, which the Lord calls injustice, this must be adjusted before you can be honest and righteous in the sight of God. These things need to be corrected by our people everywhere…. When you take up this work of readjustment and getting right with God, angels of heaven will cooperate with you, giving you discernment to see where you have viewed matters in a wrong light. TDG 343.2
Christ and angels are looking upon your work. They are measuring every action. Let your life represent the meek and lowly Jesus. Strive to do as Christ would do were He in your place. Let there be no disagreement between your measurement of strict integrity and the divine measure. True, pure principles must govern the life of every soul that shall be pronounced just and righteous in the day of God. TDG 343.3
There are many transactions in the business world that the worldling regards as just and honest, but which God condemns. Men lay plans which they regard as right plans, but which do not accord with the true, unselfish principles that Christ has laid down in His Word…. But the approval of the world will never make an unjust action just, and wrong will stand as wrong before the heavenly universe until it is repented of and put away. TDG 343.4
The Lord cannot bless the men who corrupt themselves by unjust business dealings, either with their brethren or with worldlings. And those who do such things lose their spirituality; they grow cold and formal and selfish. They gloss over their past mistakes by theories of their own invention that are opposed to the principles of the Word of God. TDG 343.5
The principle which should characterize every business dealing is clearly laid down by Christ. “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12)…. TDG 343.6
The folly, the evil surmising, the uplifting of self, which destroy the fervent zeal of the soul will be put away, and the true believers will be humble of heart, and earnest in their labors for the perishing souls.—Letter 164, November 30, 1909, to the workers in Washington and Mountain View. TDG 343.7
Fear to Disobey God, December 1
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12. TDG 344.1
There is no carelessness allowed here, there is no indolence, there is no indifference, but we are to work out each of us, our own salvation with fear and trembling. Why? Let us see: “Wherefore, my beloved, …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Well, then, you say, am I to go around fearing and trembling all the way? Yes, in one sense, but not in another sense. TDG 344.2
You have the fear of God before you, and you will have a trembling lest you will depart from the counsels of God. There will be that trembling. You will be working out your own salvation all the time with fear and trembling. Does it rest here? No, let us hear how the divine power comes in: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Verse 13). Here are man’s works, and here are God’s works. They both cooperate. Man cannot accomplish this work without the help of the divine power. TDG 344.3
God does not take man with his own natural feelings and deficiencies and place him right in the light of the countenance of God. No, man must do his part, and while man works out his own salvation, with fear and trembling, it is God that worketh in him to will and to do of His own good pleasure. With these two combined powers, man will be victorious, and receive a crown of life at last. He stands in view of the haven of bliss and the eternal weight of glory before him, and he fears lest he will lose it, lest a promise being left, he shall come short of it. He cannot afford to lose it. He wants that haven of bliss, and strains every energy of his being to secure it. He taxes his abilities to the utmost. He puts to the stretch every spiritual nerve and muscle that he may be a successful overcomer in this work, and that he may obtain the precious boon of eternal life…. TDG 344.4
When the world sees that we have an intensity of desire, some object that is out of sight, which by faith is to us a living reality, then it puts an incentive to investigate, and they see that there is certainly something worth having, for they see that this faith has made a wonderful change in our life and character.—Manuscript 13, December 1, 1888, sermon, Des Moines, Iowa.