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the Lord has not revealed it to them。 Men having fanciful views may bring
together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them； but the
acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church。 Regarding such
mysteries； which are too deep for human understanding； silence is golden。
The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of
Christ： 〃When He is come； He will reprove the world of sin； and of
righteousness； and of judgment。〃 John 16：8。 It is the Holy Spirit that
convicts of sin。 If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the
Spirit； he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the importance of
obeying the divine requirements。
To the repentant sinner； hungering and thirsting for righteousness； the Holy
Spirit reveals the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world。 〃He
shall receive of Mine； and shall show it unto you；〃 Christ said。 〃He shall
teach you all things； and bring all things to your remembrance； whatsoever I
have said unto you。〃 John 16：14； 14：26。
The Spirit is given as a regenerating agency； to make effectual the
salvation wrought by the death of our Redeemer。 The Spirit is constantly
seeking to draw the attention of men to the great offering that was made on
the cross of Calvary； to unfold to the world the love of God； and to open to
the convicted soul the precious things of the Scriptures。
Having brought conviction of sin； and presented before the mind the standard
of righteousness； the Holy Spirit
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withdraws the affections from the things of this earth and fills the soul
with a desire for holiness。 〃He will guide you into all truth〃 （John 16：13）；
the Saviour declared。 If men are willing to be molded； there will be brought
about a sanctification of the whole being。 The Spirit will take the things
of God and stamp them on the soul。 By His power the way of life will be made
so plain that none need err therein。
From the beginning； God has been working by His Holy Spirit through human
instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His purpose in behalf of the
fallen race。 This was manifest in the lives of the patriarchs。 To the church
in the wilderness also； in the time of Moses； God gave His 〃good Spirit to
instruct them。〃 Nehemiah 9：20。 And in the days of the apostles He wrought
mightily for His church through the agency of the Holy Spirit。 The same
power that sustained the patriarchs； that gave Caleb and Joshua faith and
courage； and that made the work of the apostolic church effective； has
upheld God's faithful children in every succeeding age。 It was through the
power of the Holy Spirit that during the Dark Ages the Waldensian Christians
helped to prepare the way for the Reformation。 It was the same power that
made successful the efforts of the noble men and women who pioneered the way
for the establishment of modern missions and for the translation of the
Bible into the languages and dialects of all nations and peoples。
And today God is still using His church to make known His purpose in the
earth。 Today the heralds of the cross are going from city to city； and from
land to land； preparing
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the way for the second advent of Christ。 The standard of God's law is being
exalted。 The Spirit of the Almighty is moving upon men's hearts； and those
who respond to its influence become witnesses for God and His truth。 In many
places consecrated men and women may be seen communicating to others the
light that has made plain to them the way of salvation through Christ。 And
as they continue to let their light shine； as did those who were baptized
with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost； they receive more and still more of
the Spirit's power。 Thus the earth is to be lightened with the glory of God。
On the other hand； there are some who； instead of wisely improving present
opportunities； are idly waiting for some special season of spiritual
refreshing by which their ability to enlighten others will be greatly
increased。 They neglect present duties and privileges； and allow their light
to burn dim； while they look forward to a time when； without any effort on
their part； they will be made the recipients of special blessing； by which
they will be transformed and fitted for service。
It is true that in the time of the end； when God's work in the earth is
closing； the earnest efforts put forth by consecrated believers under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit are to be accompanied by special tokens of
divine favor。 Under the figure of the early and the latter rain； that falls
in Eastern lands at seedtime and harvest； the Hebrew prophets foretold the
bestowal of spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God's church。 The
outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of
the early； or
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former； rain； and glorious was the result。 To the end of time the presence
of the Spirit is to abide with the true church。
But near the close of earth's harvest； a special bestowal of spiritual grace
is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man。 This
outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain； and
it is for this added power that Christians are to send their petitions to
the Lord of the harvest 〃in the time of the latter rain。〃 In response； 〃the
Lord shall make bright clouds； and give them showers of rain。〃 〃He will
cause to come down 。 。 。 the rain； the former rain； and the latter rain；〃
Zechariah 10：1； Joel 2：23。
But unless the members of God's church today have a living connection with
the Source of all spiritual growth； they will not be ready for the time of
reaping。 Unless they keep their lamps trimmed and burning； they will fail of
receiving added grace in times of special need。
Those only who are constantly receiving fresh supplies of grace； will have
power proportionate to their daily need and their ability to use that power。
Instead of looking forward to some future time when； through a special
endowment of spiritual power； they will receive a miraculous fitting up for
soul winning； they are yielding themselves daily to God； that He may make
them vessels meet for His use。 Daily they are improving the opportunities
for service that lie within their reach。 Daily they are witnessing for the
Master wherever they may be； whether in some humble sphere of labor in the
home； or in a public field of usefulness。
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To the consecrated worker there is wonderful consolation in the knowledge
that even Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily for fresh
supplies of needed grace； and from this communion with God He went forth to
strengthen and bless others。 Behold the Son of God bowed in prayer to His
Father！ Though He is the Son of God； He strengthens His faith by prayer； and
by communion with heaven gathers to Himself power to resist evil and to
minister to the needs of men。 As the Elder Brother of our race He knows the
necessities of those who； compassed with infirmity and living in a world of
sin and temptation； still desire to serve Him。 He knows that the messengers
whom He sees fit to send are weak； erring men； but to all who give
themselves wholly to His service He promises divine aid。 His own example is
an assurance that earnest； persevering supplication to God in faithfaith
that leads to entire dependence upon God； and unreserved consecration to His
workwill avail to bring to men the Holy Spirit's aid in the battle against
sin。
Every worker who follows the example of Christ will be prepared to receive
and use the power that God has promised to His church for the ripening of
earth's harvest。 Morning by morning； as the heralds of the gospel kneel
before the Lord and renew their vows of consecration to Him； He will grant
them the presence of His Spirit； with its reviving； sanctifying power。 As
they go forth to the day's duties； they have the assurance that the unseen
agency of the Holy Spirit enables them to be 〃laborers together with God。〃
（57）
Chapter 6
At the Temple Gate
The disciples of Christ had a deep sense of their own inefficiency； and with
humiliation and prayer they joined their weakness to His strength； their
ignorance to His wisdom； their unworthiness to His righteousness； their
poverty to His exhaustless wealth。 Thus strengthened and equipped； they
hesitated not to press forward in the service of the Master。
A short time after the descent of the Holy Spirit； and immediately after a
season of earnest prayer； Peter and John； going up to the temple to worship；
saw at the gate Beautiful a cripple； forty years of age； whose life； from
his birth； had been one of pain and infirmity。 This unfortunate man had long
desired to see Jesus； that he might be healed； but he was almost helpless；
and was far removed from the scene of the great Physician's labors。 His
pleadings at last induced some friends to bear him to the gate of the
temple；
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but upon arriving th