Hsew 2015 - Adult - Prf01

GREAT TEXTS
ON THE HOLY
Spirit
HOLY
SPIRIT
EMPHASIS
WEEK
TABLE
OF CONTENT
THEME SONG :
SABBATH, JANUARY 9: 4
The Spirit Makes the Difference
– KERN TOBIAS
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10: 14

Joel and the Eschaton
– CLIVE DOTTIN
MONDAY, JANUARY 11: 20

Being Born of the Spirit
– CLAUDIUS MORGAN
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12: 28

The Promise of Another Comforter
– ANDREW FARREL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13: 38

The Spirit as a Helper
– ALEXANDER ISAACS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14: 42

The Testimony of the Spirit
– ASHTON O’NEIL
FRIDAY, JANUARY 15: 50

The Spirit brings an Advantage
– ANTHONY HALL
SABBATH, JANUARY 16: 60

No Time for an Oil Shortage
– CYRIL HORRELL
H O L Y S P I R I T E M P H A S I S W E E K 2 0 1 6
Sabbath up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. “There,” he said, “all
the air is now removed.” He then went on to show that victory in
JANUARY 09, 2016
the Christian life is not by “sucking out a sin here and there,” but
rather by being filled with the Holy Spirit. (Mrs. Ruby Miller)
THE HOLY It is indeed a truth that the Holy Spirit makes the difference
in the world, church, and in our lives. Let us consider one of the
SPIRIT
great passages on the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4!
This is an account of the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the
MAKES THE
disciples of Christ. It was when the day of Pentecost was fully
come that there was a big difference in the lives of the disciples.
DIFFERENCE IN
The Holy Ghost came down at the time of a solemn feast,
because there was then a great concourse of people who came to
Jerusalem from all parts of the country and which set ablaze the
US? fire that contributed much to the propagating of the gospel into
all nations.
THE SPIRIT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BY UNITING US!

The disciples were all with one accord in one place. We are
P R EPA R ED BY
not told particularly what place it was, whether in the temple,
Dr. Kern Tobias, President CARU.
where they attended at public times (Luke 24:53), or whether in
their own upper room, where they met at other times. But it was at
Jerusalem, because this had been the place which God chose to
How do you feel about the Holy Spirit as the change agent in put his name there, and the prophecy was that thence the word of
your life? Is the Holy Spirit impacting the church now as He did in the Lord should go forth to all nations (Isa. 2:3). Jerusalem was the
the days of the apostles? Do you honestly believe that the Holy place where God had promised to meet the disciples and bless
Spirit can make a permanent difference in your life and grant you them and He meets them with this blessing of blessings.
perpetual victory in your Christian life? Though Jerusalem had done the utmost dishonour imaginable
The apostle Paul tells us to live victoriously and to avoid the to Christ, yet he did this honour to Jerusalem by having His Holy
excesses of the flesh. Dwight L. Moody once illustrated this truth Spirit descend upon and empower His disciples there. Here
as follows: “Tell me,” he said to his audience, “How can I get the the disciples were in one place and they were with one accord.
air out of this glass?” One man said, “Suck it out with a pump.” We cannot forget how often, while their Master was with them,
Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the there was strife among them as to who should be the greatest.
glass.” After many impossible suggestions, Moody smiled, picked But now the strife was at an end. What they had received already
POWERREVOLUTION 5
H O L Y S P I R I T E M P H A S I S W E E K 2 0 1 6 H O L Y S P I R I T E M P H A S I S W E E K 2 0 1 6
of the Holy Ghost, when Christ breathed on them, had in a good mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting”
measure rectified the mistakes upon which those contests were (v2). An audible summons is given to the disciples to awaken their
grounded, and had disposed them to holy love. They had prayed expectations of something great. It is said, That it came suddenly,
more together of late than usual (Acts 1:14), and this made them did not rise gradually, as common winds do, but was at the height
love one another better. immediately. It came sooner than they expected, and startled
By His grace He thus prepared them for the gift of the Holy even those who were now waiting together.
Ghost. Would we have the Spirit poured out upon us from on The sound from heaven was like a thunder-bolt. It was strong
high? Let us be all of one accord, and, notwithstanding variety and violent, and came not only with a great noise, but with great
of sentiments and interests, as no doubt there was among those force, as if it would remove all before it. This was to signify the
disciples, they agreed to love one another. When brethren dwell powerful influences and operations of the Spirit of God upon the
together in unity, there it is that the Lord commands his blessing minds of men, and thereby upon the world, that they should be
and unmistakable evidence is provided that we are His disciples. mighty through God. It filled not only the room, but all the house
We have clarity on how and in what manner the Holy Ghost where they were sitting.
came upon the disciples. We often read in the Old Testament of The wind filling the house struck an awe upon the disciples,
God descending in a cloud, as when He took possession first of and help to put them into a very serious, reverent, and composed
the tabernacle, and afterwards of the temple, which intimates frame of mind, for the receiving of the Holy Ghost. The conviction
the darkness of that dispensation. But the Holy Ghost did not of the Spirit makes way for His comforts; and the rough blasts of
descend in a cloud, for He was to dispel and scatter the clouds that blessed wind prepare the soul for its soft and gentle gales.
that overspread men’s minds, and to bring light into the world. His Here is a visible sign of the gift they were to receive. “And
power is still manifested by unifying God’s church today! there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat
Commenting on this wonderful experience, Ellen White says, upon each of them” (v3). The Spirit rested upon each of them, as
“The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to He is said to rest upon the prophets of old. There was an outward
meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would sensible sign, for the confirming of the faith of the disciples
lead sinners to Christ. Putting away all differences, all desire for themselves, and for the convincing of others.
the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship. The sign given was fire, confirming that what John the Baptist
They drew nearer and nearer to God, and as they did this they said concerning Christ might be fulfilled. He said that Christ “shall
realized what a privilege had been theirs in being permitted to baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” The Spirit, like fire,
associate so closely with Christ”(Acts of the Apostles, 37). The melts the heart, separates and burns up the dross, and kindles
Holy Spirit is powerful enough to keep us united in Christ! pious and devout affections in the soul, in which, as in the fire
upon the altar, the spiritual sacrifices are offered up. This is that
HE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE THROUGH HIS POWERFUL fire which Christ said in Luke 12:49, “I am come to send fire on the
MANIFESTATION! earth; and what will I if it be already kindled?”
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing
6 POWERREVOLUTION POWERREVOLUTION 7
This fire appeared in cloven tongues, which indicate that the of the Apostles, page 38). What a difference the Holy Spirit makes
operations of the Spirit were many. It is important to note that in the life, love, and witness of the church!
from the Spirit we have the word of God, and by Him Christ spoke HE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BY ENHANCING OUR GIFTEDNESS!
to the world, and He gave the Spirit to the disciples, not only to The disciples were filled with the gifts of the Holy Ghost. They
endue them with knowledge, but to endue them with the power were endued with miraculous powers for the furtherance of the
to publish and proclaim to the world what they knew. gospel. It seems evident that not only the twelve apostles, but
The tongues were cloven to signify that God would hereby also the hundred and twenty disciples were filled with the Holy
divide unto all nations the knowledge of his grace, as He is said to Ghost as well. The seventy disciples who were apostolic men, and
have divided to them by His providence the gifts of the Holy Spirit. employed in the same work, who were to preach the gospel, were
The tongues were divided, and yet the disciples still continued in similarly endowed.
one accord. There may be a sincere unity of affections where yet When Christ ascended on high He gave gifts unto His
there is a diversity of expression. Thus, this is the platform for children, not only some apostles, but some prophets and some
unity in diversity. evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. They began to speak
This fire sat upon them for some time, to denote the constant with other tongues, besides their native language, though they
residence of the Holy Ghost with them. The disciples of Christ had never learned any other. They spoke not matters of common
had the gifts of the Spirit always with them, though the sign, we conversation, but the word of God. They spoke the praises of His
may suppose, soon disappeared. They must have been strong and name as the Spirit gave them utterance. They spoke substantial
bright flames that were visible in the daylight, for the day was and weighty sayings, worthy to be had in remembrance. It is
fully come. probable that it was not only one that was enabled to speak one
They were filled with the graces of the Spirit, and were language, and another a different one, but that every one was
more than ever under His sanctifying influences. They were now enabled to speak divers languages, as he should have occasion
holy, heavenly, and spiritual, more weaned from this world, and to use them.
better acquainted with one another. They were more filled with They did not speak here and there a word of another tongue,
the comforts of the Spirit, rejoiced more than ever in the love of or stammer out some broken sentences, but spoke it as readily,
Christ, the hope of heaven, and in it all their grief and fears were properly, and elegantly as if it had been their mother tongue. They
swallowed up. spoke not from any previous thought or meditation, but as the
Reflecting on this wonderful experience, Mrs. White explains, Spirit gave them utterance. He furnished them with the content
“The Spirit came upon the waiting, praying disciples with a as well as the language.
fullness that reached every heart. The Infinite One revealed Now this was a very great miracle. It was a miracle upon
Himself in power to His church. It was as if for ages this influence the mind, for it is in the mind that words are framed. They had
had been held in restraint, and now Heaven rejoiced in being able never so much as heard these languages spoken, nor had any
to pour out upon the church the riches of the Spirit’s grace”(Acts idea of them. They were neither scholars nor travellers, nor had
had any opportunity of learning languages either by books or aspects of power, which are ability, efficiency, and might:
conversation. Peter indeed was forward enough to speak in his The power of ability: Ability is the quality of being able to
own tongue, but the rest of them were no spokesmen, nor were do something, especially the physical, mental, financial, or legal
they quick of comprehension. power to accomplish something. A natural or acquired skill or
When Moses complained, I am slow of speech, God said, “I will talent. Philippians 2:13: ‘for it is God who works in you to will and
be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say”(Exodus to act in order to fulfill his good purpose’. All of us have ability.
4:12). But He did more for these messengers of His. The language We just need to use them for the Lord!
that the disciples spoke was Syriac, a dialect of the Hebrew, so The power of efficiency: Efficiency is defined as the ability to
that it was necessary that they should be endued with the gift, produce a desired effect, product, etc. with a minimum of effort,
for the understanding both of the original Hebrew of the Old expense, or waste. Are you a contemporary model of efficiency?
Testament, in which it was written, and of the original Greek of Phil. 4:13: ‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength’.
the New Testament, in which it was to be written. NIV
But this was not all; they were commissioned to preach the 3. The power of might: Might is understood as the power,
gospel to every creature, to disciple all nations. How shall they force, or influence held by a person or group. It is also strength
master the several languages so as to speak intelligibly to all or ability to do something. Might is not limited to gender, age,
nations? And therefore, to prove that Christ could give authority academic attainments, or ecclesiastical position. This state is as a
to preach to the nations, He gives ability to preach to them in result of the Holy Spirit working in the life of a submissive person.
their own language. An American with an English gentleman was viewing the
“The Holy Spirit did for them that which they could not Niagara whirlpool rapids, when he said to his friend: “Come, and
have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime. They could I’ll show you the greatest unused power in the world.” And taking
now proclaim the truths of the gospel abroad, speaking with him to the foot of the Niagara falls, “there,” he said, “is the greatest
accuracy the languages of those for whom they were laboring. unused power in the world!” “Ah, no my brother, not so!” was the
This miraculous gift was a strong evidence to the world that their reply. “The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit
commission bore the signet of Heaven. From this time forth the of the living God.” (A. J. Gordon)
language of the disciples was pure, simple, and accurate, whether The wonderful power of the Holy Spirit, who manifested His
they spoke in their native tongue or in a foreign language”(AA, power in the lives and ministry of the apostles, that led to the
39). birth and growth of the early church is available to all of us today.
The result of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is summed
GREATEST UNUSED POWER! up in Acts 2:41, “Then those who gladly received his word were
To fulfill God’s commission we need the power of the Holy baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to
Spirit. This marvelous promise is given to God people in Acts 1:8. them”(NKJV).
The Greek word that is used for power is dunamis. The English
word “dynamite” is derived from it. Dunamis encompasses three
CONCLUSION:
Ellen White assures, “The promise of the Holy Spirit is
not limited to any age, (gender, social status, educational
achievement,) or to any race. Christ declared that the divine
influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end.
From the Day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has
been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord
and to His service. To all who have accepted Christ as a personal
Saviour, the Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanctifier, guide,
and witness”(AA 49).
Dear believer, I challenge you to allow the Holy Spirit to
make a difference in the unity of the church, the giftedness of the
members, and the powerful witness of every believer. I challenge
you to recommit yourself to the greater purpose of the Holy
Spirit! I appeal to you heed the call of Christ to be witnesses of
His saving power.
Tonight, do you want to surrender your life to Christ and be a
greater witness to hasten Christ’s coming, please stand for prayer!
Sunday to reject God’s mercy. They engage in a blatant, vile and irrational
attack on the character of God. Their destiny is sealed; they suffer
JANUARY 10, 2016
from an irrevocable psychotic condition that facilitates hatred for
God and His Word. They are not in a repentant mood and will
JOEL AND THE never be in a repentant mood. This is the condition we call the
unpardonable sin.
ESCHATON 3. Unclean in 3 Dimensions:

• Isis’ decapitating their captives and posting it
on cyberspace, including all forms of social media:
UNCLEAN.
• The rebranding of child sacrifice seasoned with the
influence of the occult: UNCLEAN.
• Human trafficking involving millions of citizens, especially
P R EPA R ED BY:
youth, trapped in the matrix of prostitution, pornography,
Clive P. Dottin
and drugs: UNCLEAN.
• The passionate urge to legalize gay marriage across the
globe, and to punish those who disagree: UNCLEAN.
1. Scriptural Base: Rev. 16:12-14; Joel 2:28, 29; Gen. 6:1-11.
• Think of the Kim Davis case in the U.S.A: She was sent
2. Introduction: In John’s panoramic vision, while abandoned
to jail because she refused to cooperate with a law that
on the Isle of Patmos, we discover the word for the battle
violated her conscience: UNCLEAN.
of Armageddon—unclean. This is really the climax of
earthshaking events mentioned in the earlier section of Rev.
Think of Boko Haram in Nigeria, kidnapping girls, and selling
16 specifically verses 1-11.
them to men who could be their grandfathers: UNCLEAN.
Is it unclean physically, emotionally, psychologically, or

Think of multiple cases of incest and children caught in the
spiritually? Or, is it a synergistic mixture of all these components?
web of marriages facilitated by certain religions: UNCLEAN.
One has to confront the parallelism between the plagues of
Exodus and the 7 last plagues of Revelation. But there is an
Think of Miley Cyrus calling herself pansexual and smoking
even more significant dimension and that is the implication of
ganja on a European stage: UNCLEAN.
the unpardonable sin. There is no desire to repent, there is the
blatant attack on the character of God.
But there is a further qualification: unclean spirits like frogs.
Those with the mark of the beast have made a final decision
Let us travel to Exodus 8:16-19:
POWERREVOLUTION 15
And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out There will be a time of trouble unprecedented and
thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice unimaginable. Persecution will be devastating as Satan makes
throughout all the land of Egypt. a last attempt to destabilize the kingdom of God. The dragon,
And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, beast, and false prophet line up against the Kings of the East:
and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Ghost.
beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land Remember, the grand climax of the everlasting gospel will take
of Egypt. place before probation is closed. Matt. 24:14– And this gospel of
And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto
lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. all nations; and then shall the end come.” Each individual would
Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: receive the knowledge required to make an informed decision.
and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto The gospel of the kingdom and the MISHPAT—the hour of God’s
them; as the Lord had said. judgment will be proclaimed. There will be a global turmoil that
Jon Paulien discusses this issue in his book, Armageddon At The would reenact the worst days of the French Revolution.
Door. The gospel must be preached. The good news of salvation
would be fueled by the Holy Ghost. Only latter rain power would
The suddenly astute magicians conclude that “this must be enable the saints to stand against the vicious attacks of the multi-
the finger of God.” Rev. 16 declares that darkness will cover the dimensional occultic enemy.
seat of the beast, followed by a drying up of the Euphrates— Let us observe the content of the text which includes “the
cutting the umbilical cord of Babylon. Of course, this refers to hour of God’s judgement:” The King is the Judge and the Judge
the compound chaos and massive decrease of support for the is the Priest and the Priest is the Lamb. In the days of the French
Antichrist. Revolution, blood flowed like water from the guillotine. In the
A scapegoat must be found. There will be an alliance between last days, the brand of eschatological persecution will have a
the dragon, the papacy, and apostate Protestantism. They will catastrophic, cutting edge.
resurrect torture chamber tactics as America seeks to give life We are told that in the days of Noah, “violence covered the
to the image of the beast. The secret orders who mandate their earth and the very imagination of the heart was evil continually.”
followers to go in coffins and wait for the ringing of an invisible Gen. 6: 5, 11.
bell, then order their disciples to take a key and burn a psalm. This state of affairs calls for extraordinary, spiritual power.
Atheism, skepticism, the New Age Movement, Rome and her The trumpet must be blown with dunamis force–the force that
daughters, will combine with demon-possessed extremism and propelled glossolalia on the day of Pentecost. The force that is
terrorism to decimate the people of God. defined in Romans 8:11. Ellen White refers to the Holy Spirit in
the Great Controversy and explains the transition from the old
4. D. 3 Vs 3 Mega Cosmic Struggle life of alienation to the new life of reconciliation. She states, “In
the new birth the heart is brought into harmony with God, as it the palace as well as the house of the pauper.
is brought into accord with His law. When this mighty change All ages will have carefully defined roles. Sons and daughters
has taken place in the sinner, he has passed from death unto will touch the blind and sight will be restored. There will be a
life, from sin unto holiness, from transgression and rebellion to preview of resurrection power. Thousands will be converted in a
obedience and loyalty. The old life of alienation from God has day. Texts committed to memory will be repeated with ELOHIM
ended; the new life of reconciliation, of faith and love, has begun. power. Rastafarians will be converted by the amazing Lion of the
Then “the righteousness of the law” will “be fulfilled in us, who tribe of Judah power.
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:4. And Thousands will be baptized in one day. Valleys will be
the language of the soul will be: “O how love I Thy law! It is my exalted. Mt. Carmel will be reset and restaged. The blood of the
meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97. Lamb will give millions a new coat of paint on their once-sullied
Let the devil and his imps be careful when they engage in characters. Now, for the final time the command goes forth to
premature rejoicing. They sense victory, all the evidence suggest blow the trumpet in and out of Zion.
that the righteous will be crushed, that the seal of God will be The sick will get up from their hospital beds and take the
powerless to confront the facilitators of the mark of the beast. Bible after astounding the doctors who pronounced that they will
The Supreme Courts on this planet will not favour the be dead within a few days. They will take their Bibles and flood
righteous. The high and lofty judges will declare that the sealed the street corners with remnant gospel preaching.
are “unfit to live on the planet.” They will pass the death decree The multitudes in the valley of decision will make that
which will only serve as a catalyst for Psalm 91. We shall dwell in decision. Signs on church doors will be changed. New Testament
the shadow of the Almighty. Church of God will become the Dunamis Sealed of God. The
Church of Latter day Saints will become the Church of Latter Rain
5. E. Joel & The Eschaton Power. The Worldwide Church of God will become The Worldwide
Joel 2:28, 29 states: Church of Spiritual Gifts and The Sanctified 7th.
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Wonders in the heavens above and the earth below. Sabbath
spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall School classes will become daily missionary units. Adventist
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men Youth Societies will be on fire. They will chase decadent winter
shall see visions: and embrace summer. Adventist students in secular universities
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those will work miracles on the campuses. Atheistic professors will
days will I pour out my spirit. repent as water is turned into wine outside of laboratories. Blow
There will be an enormous amount of power that will the trumpet in Zion.
descend upon the righteous. The last phase of the gospel will
be accomplished via a surge of spiritual dynamite. The breeze of
John 3, will become the tsunami of Rev. 14. Joel 2 will decorate
Monday anyone else or by just invoking a deity or believing in any outside

power or influence.
JANUARY 11, 2016
John 3:1, 2 indicate that this Pharisee, who belonged to
Israel’s ruling class of elders, the Sanhedrin, had an encounter
BEING BORN with Jesus that took place at midnight. (Read John 3:1, 2).
No reason is given in scripture for Nicodemus’ visit to Jesus at
OF THE SPIRIT
midnight. One can conclude that the matter was so urgent that he
could not wait for the morning, or as is suggested, Nicodemus did
not want to be seen talking to Jesus in public, probably fearing
rebuke from his own party members.
It is also logical to conclude that Nicodemus had a wise,
inquiring mind and was dissatisfied with the legalism of the
Pharisees, a concept and practice that can take different forms.
The first is where a person attempts to keep the law in order to
attain salvation. The second is where a person keeps the law
P R ES EN TED BY in order to maintain his salvation. The third is when a Christian
Claudius Morgan judges other Christians for not keeping certain codes of conduct
that he thinks need to be observed.
John 3:1-8
Simply put, legalism is any belief system that supports the
INTRODUCTION contention that man's salvation is in some way connected to his
The account of Nicodemus’ conversion refutes the claims of own works through obedience to God's law. That is to say, one
those who say: "I have always been saved, I can’t remember ever obtains salvation either through maintaining good conduct, or by
being lost!" some other meritorious action.
Nicodemus as a high-ranking Jew who sat as a member of the Nicodemus, a legalist by association and practice, would
Sanhedrin Council embraced Judaism’s dogma that adherents do not rest until he found the truth. He had an earnest desire to
not need personal salvation. understand, and he sensed that Jesus had the answer so he was
The Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia states that “Jews do not seeking out the right person.
subscribe to the doctrine of original sin. Instead, they place a high Their meeting provided the setting for Jesus Christ’s discourse
value on individual morality as defined in the law of God.” on the “new birth” (John 3:1-21), in which He affirms the need for
For Christians, salvation is possible only through Jesus Christ. each person to be “born from above”; being born of both water
For the Jews, their Salvation is achieved by obeying the law (torah) and spirit.
and Judaism stresses that salvation cannot be obtained through
SECTION ONE: BODY but provides them with power to break the bonds of sin in daily
In discussing the spiritual birth, Christ dismisses Nicodemus’ living. Hallelujah!
language of compliment (John 3:2) and punches the learned And so Mr. Nicodemus is confused because he believed like
Pharisee with a doctrine that he is flabbergasted by. This the other Jews that because he was born a Jew and kept God’s
encounter therefore highlights the unsettling reality that one can ordinances that he should automatically enter into the kingdom
be open to Jesus and amazed at his powerful works, and yet still of God.
be in the dark as far as the deeper things of God, salvation and Everyone should know by now that salvation is not contingent
the Kingdom are concerned. Nicodemus knows that he is born on nationality, status or associations. We are saved by being
but does not understand what it means to be born again. Read born again. And this is a supernatural work of the Spirit that is
John 3:3. completely out of our control; it is a gift of God.
And it is evident that to be born again is a universal form of If AGAIN means “from above”, then being born of the Spirit
expression, designed to include all mankind. Therefore, it is a is one of regeneration! And just as the physical birth has two
requirement for men of every character, rank, and nation; moral or requirements, the spiritual birth (being born of the Spirit) has two
immoral, rich or poor, old or young, bond or free, slave or master, requirements.
Jew or Gentile. Nicodemus did not understand the expression; he thought it
For one’s understanding of the spiritual birth to be correct, related to the body, but it related to the soul. Our souls must be
one must look at one very important word in John 3:3. In English born again; that is, they must undergo a great change.
it is an adverb and in the Greek language it is also an adverb. The When an infant is born, he or she undergoes a change, enters
word is AGAIN and it means in the Greek “from above” (ano-then). into a new world, has new desires, joys, and sorrows, so when our
This meaning of the word AGAIN makes it clear that the hearts are born again, they have new desires, joys, and sorrows.
change (being born of the Spirit) is not wrought by any wisdom or The two requirements for the physical birth are spermatozoa
power of our own, but by the power and influence of the blessed and ova, and the requirements for the spiritual birth Jesus
Spirit of grace. This grace is available to all and it does not arise explains to Nicodemus:
out of an abstract theory. John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
Grace is real just as God is real. a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
Grace exists just as God exists. kingdom of God.
It was because of grace that the thief on the cross received his From our understanding of the text the water represents
entrance ticket to paradise. Two of the most important concepts baptism and the Spirit denotes conversion.
in the process of Salvation are: Baptism with water is simply a physical act. If baptism is
1. Forgiving Grace indeed a physical act (and it is) then a relationship with Christ is
2. Keeping Grace spiritual. Conversion therefore is of the Spirit. One cleanses, the
One represents pardon, the other represents power. other energizes!
God’s grace not only forgives rebellion among His subjects
A person becomes a Christian when he is born again. Hence, a sinner accepts Him, the transfer is this:
becoming a Christian is not like joining a club or becoming part of You are no longer a child of wrath; you are a child of
a political party. Becoming a Christian involves belief, acceptance, God entitled to eternal life.
repentance, conversion, faith and daily living and a Christian’s (Hallelujah!)
walk with Christ is not a weekly walk or a monthly walk; it is a If the transfer is one of regeneration then it can be considered
daily walk. The song echoes: a metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is a term used in zoology and
One day at a time sweet Jesus it is the process of transformation from an immature form to an
That’s all I’m asking from you adult form in two or more distinct stages. It comes from the Greek
Just give me the strength to do every day word metamorphoun and it means ‘transfer or change shape.’
What I have to do It is observed that when a caterpillar reaches maturity, he will
Yesterday’s gone sweet Jesus spin a cocoon and he will snuggle inside and then an amazing
And tomorrow may never be mine, thing happens! He emerges from the cocoon as a butterfly. He is
Lord help me today totally changed!
Show me the way Before he becomes a butterfly he eats leaves but now that he
One day at a time. is a butterfly, he eats leaves no more.
And if the catalyst of The Christian Church and the keeper of As a caterpillar he crawls on the ground but now he is a
your soul can keep you for a day He can keep you for a week and butterfly he flies.
for a month and for a year. (Bless His name!) Instead of munching on crunchy leaves, he flutters from
flower to flower to drink sweet nectar.
SECTION TWO But even more amazing is the change that takes place in a
Besides the word AGAIN, there is another word that is an person’s life when he or she experiences the new birth.
important part of Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus. That word The dress is different.
is related to the word transformed. If being born of the Spirit The conversation is holy.
represents a change then becoming a Christian involves a The attitude is reformed.
TRANSFER. It is transformation that involves a transfer of desire The mind is sanctified.
and practice from darkness to light; from error to truth; from sin Because Jesus is the orchestrator of the amazing change, He
to righteousness. punches Nicodemus again:
When one buys a house a transfer takes place. The house Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which
is transferred from the owner to the buyer. But there can be no is born of the Spirit is spirit.
change of ownership unless the transfer takes place. And the
transfer can only take place when the purchase price is paid. But CONCLUSION
with this transfer of the old man to the new birth there is no need What can be more exciting than to hear how the Savior
for anyone to pay the price for sins. Jesus paid the price, so when instructed a person who desired to know the way of salvation!
What a privilege Nicodemus enjoyed when he talked alone with

the Son of God! What a privilege we enjoy when we read the
account of this conversation!
Jesus could tailor his conversation exactly to the case of
Nicodemus, for he knew the state of his heart, and could tell with
certainty what would be the most profitable statements to make.
There is evidence that Nicodemus did receive mercy. He came
on this occasion "by night" for fear of the Jews, but at the end
of the Gospel, he openly purchases the necessary spices for the
anointing of Jesus' body (John 19:39). The Master Evangelist had
done his work. He had brought a Bible teacher into the kingdom
of God!
Two men sought to prove to their king whether a man had
to be ‘born a gentleman’ or could become one by ‘discipline and
training’. The one told the other that he would prove his point
regarding ‘training’ by showing the king his cat which he had
trained to stand on its back feet and dance around in a funny
hat with its nose in the air. This gave the other an idea but he
did not tell the cat trainer about it. When they came before
the king the one set his cat to dancing to ‘prove’ to the king
that being a gentleman was just about training and discipline.
The other pulled out a box he had brought with him, opened
it and let loose about a dozen mice. The cat quickly reverted
to its primary nature and took off after the running rodents.
Being born of the Spirit does not apply to cats. It applies to
us. Before the change we “ran after rats” but now the change
is effected by the power and grace of God, we serve Him
wholeheartedly. Praise God!!
Tuesday the blood of His New Testament (or covenant) (Matt 26:26-28).
Then He told them that they were the designated judges of His
JANUARY 12, 2016
kingdom, and that they were not to exercise lordship, but rather
be servants of the people. He then proceeded to demonstrate
THE PROMISE true leadership, by washing the disciples’ feet. Immediately

following this He spoke to them about departing this world,
OF ANOTHER
“Little children,” He said to His disciples, “yet a little while I am
with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, whither I
COMFORTER
go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I
give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that
ye also love one another.” The disciples were understandably
saddened upon hearing these words. But as a loving father He
soothes their fears by saying, “Let not your heart be troubled,, “I
go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again and receive
you unto myself” (John 14:1-3).
P R EPA R ED BY For three and a half years Jesus had walked with His disciples;
Andrew Farrel talked with them, ate with them; counseled them whenever they
were troubled, and comforted them whenever they were fearful.
Read John 14 15-18
Now He was about to make them a promise that would change
their lives, and change the world forever.
Jesus’ earthly ministry had come to its close. He was about to exit
this world and return to His Father. Jesus and His disciples had
THE PROMISE:
just ended what would be their last supper together—an event
If you love me, you’ll obey me and do exactly what I say.
never to be forgotten by the disciples. What began as a simple
“When I get back home, I’ll ask the Father to send you another
evening meal turned into a night of unusual activities, strange
comforter. He will abide with you and be in charge of my mission
ceremonies, mind-boggling discourses, unfathomable predictions,
while I’m gone. The world in general won’t listen to the Holy Spirit
and inconceivable promises. Little did the disciples realize that
because it doesn’t see Him or know Him, but you know Him and
that night significantly marked the omega of something old and
you’ve already accepted Him. I know, because I’ve seen Him
the alpha of something new; that Christ was the Alpha and Omega
working in you, and He’ll continue to work in all who believe until
of both that which had become old, and the newly emerging
I return. So I am not leaving you alone. Through the Holy Spirit, I’ll
entity. During the supper He spoke about His new covenant and
still be at your side” (John 14:15-18 The Clear Word).
introduced them to its emblems: the bread, which represented His
The first thing we must take note of is that the promise of
broken body; and the wine, which represented His shed blood—
the Comforter is a Divine initiative: It was not made in response
POWERREVOLUTION 29
to any human request. Secondly, the promise of the Comforter The Truth: He said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man
has a condition attached to it. It is contingent on one’s regard for cometh unto the Father but by Me (that is, by The Truth)” (John
the commandments of God. If one has a high regard for God’s 14:6). Next He confirmed that the Comforter is the Spirit of Truth
law, then, says Christ, “I will pray the Father, and He shall give (John 14:16, 17). Lastly He assured the disciples that He who was
you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.” The with them for the past three years was about to take up residence
explanation for this is, the law of God is the whole reason behind in them. Paul confirmed in 2 Corinthians 3:17 that “the Lord is
the gift of the indwelling Spirit. that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Centuries before Christ came into the world, God, speaking
through the prophet Ezekiel, made this very pledge that was THE PURPOSE OF THE INDWELLING SPIRIT
now being reiterated by Christ: “A new heart also will I give you, The indwelling Spirit is the seal that guarantees our salvation.
and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the The apostle Paul assured the believers at Ephesus of this (Eph
stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 1:13, 14) “. . . After ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my salvation . . . ye believed [and] were sealed with the holy Spirit of
statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel promise, which is the earnest (guarantee) of our inheritance until
36:26, 27). Thus, the sending of the Comforter, which is the Holy the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of
Ghost, into the heart of man, fulfills Jeremiah’s prophesy cited in His glory” Ephesians 1:13, 14).
the Book of Hebrews concerning the new covenant: “For this is The indwelling Spirit is the seal that authenticates our
the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those spiritual birth: “The Spirit itself, beareth witness with our spirit,
days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16). Our spiritual birth
them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be inoculates us against the deadly disease called “sin:” “Whosoever
to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in
and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord: for all shall him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).
know me, from the least to the greatest” (Heb 8:10, 11). If we confess (acknowledge) our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH (1 John 1:9). The Psalmist David pronounced this blessing upon
Jesus declared that the Comforter is the Spirit of truth (John anyone who confesses his sins wholeheartedly: “Blessed is he
14:17). He added that the world cannot receive the Comforter, whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is
because the world neither see Him nor know Him; “But ye know the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose
Him,” said Jesus to His disciples, “for He dwelleth with you, and spirit there is no guile” (Psalm 32:2, 3).
shall be in you.” And just in case the disciples did not get Who Brethren, herein lies the key to understanding and
the Comforter actually was, Jesus articulated it very clearly, when appreciating the message that John conveys to us in 1 John
he added: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” 3:9, that whosoever is born of God cannot sin: It means that
(John 14:88). Earlier in the discourse, Jesus identified Himself as the indwelling Spirit of God seals a man against erring in spirit.
Jesus and Satan cannot dwell in the same place, if the Spirit of The indwelling spirit guides us in our understanding of truth
God is in you, you are of Him. The apostle John wrote, “If our and helps us to teach and share it with others. In John 16:1 3,
heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth Jesus says, “When He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide
all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we you into all truth.” The apostle John gave this assurance to all
confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of recipients of the indwelling Spirit: “But the anointing which ye
him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any
that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, that man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all
we should believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ; and love things, and is truth, and is no lie, ye shall abide in him” (1 John
one another, as He gave us commandment. And he that keepeth 2:27). Man can share his knowledge of the word of truth; but only
his commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby the Spirit of God can enlighten, illuminate and help us to teach
we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given and share the truth correctly as it is in God’s word.
us” 1 John 3:20-24. Whom does the Spirit teach? Isaiah 28:9 “Whom shall He
The indwelling Spirit enables and empowers all who love God teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand
to keep His commandments and to do His will. In contrast to the doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from
judgments that enforce the observance of the law, the indwelling the breasts.” In other word those who are desirous to know. How
Spirit enables the observance of the law. It is by taking heed does He teach? Isaiah 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept,
to the Word of God that man receives cleansing (Psalm 11:9). precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little
Neither Old-Testament nor New-Testament rituals can replace our and there a little.” His truth incorporates all His biddings. And all
obedience to the truth. As Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, His biddings are enabling. Under inspiration David wrote: “Thy
Jesus assured Peter that all but one of them had already been righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the
cleansed—even Peter, who would deny Him a few hours later, was truth. Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth.”
considered clean. Judas, on the other hand, even though Jesus (Psalm 119: 141,142)
washed His feet, t could not be cleansed (see John 13:8-11). As The indwelling Spirit liberates us, by causing us to know the
Jesus continued His discourse through the night, He once again truth and to be obedient to the truth (John 8:31, 32, 36): To know
assured the disciples of their cleansing, and the means by which the truth is good but to experience truth and live it out in our
they were cleansed: “Now ye are clean through the word which lives is something else. But no one needs to be fearful in terms
I have spoken unto you.” Obedience to the commandments not of living truth. Paul says in Philipians 4:13, ‘ We can do all things
only cleanses us, but gives us right to the tree of life; it also gives through Christ.’ Thomas O. Chisolm, (1917) reminds us, that the
us entrance in through the gates into the city (Rev 22:14): Thank promised Comforter is not only a blessing to us but He gives the
God, that through the enabling of the indwelling Spirit, each inner strength to live for Jesus.
individual, by his obedience to the commandments may now “Living for Jesus, he says, a life that is true, striving to please
have access to the tree of life. Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free. This is the pathway he judge the poor, and with equity for the meek of the earth: and
of blessing for me. he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the
O Jesus, Lord and Saviour, I give myself to Thee, breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” What is our greatest
For Thou, in Thine atonement, didst give Thyself for me; need in order to lead, preach and to live for Christ, the anointing
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne; of the Spirit.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.” When God sent His Son into the world, He did not give unto
Him the Spirit by measure; He gave Him the full anointing of His
Truth liberates, as does the power of the blood of Jesus. He Spirit (John 3 :34). He was then able to announce in John 7:37-
said to those Jews who believed Him that if they continued in 39, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that
His Word, then they were His disciples indeed and that they shall believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make them free. . . . “If the flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which
Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Paul they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was
confirmed this freedom accorded by the indwelling Spirit of Christ not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.” After His
(2 Corinthians 3:17): “Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the resurrection, just before He ascended into heaven, He said to His
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Praise the Lord. Thank you disciples: “Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even
God, for complete freedom from sin through the blood of Jesus. so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them,
and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:21,
22). As Christ received from the Father the full anointing of His
WHAT CONSTITUTES THE FULL ANOINTING OF THE HOLY Spirit, when He was sent into the world, likewise did He imbue
SPIRIT? His disciples with the full anointing of His Spirit, when He sent
Jesus declares under the anointing of the Holy Spirit in Luke them into the world. This promise is for us today as well as for
4:12, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord the disciples. Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, the works that
hath anointed me to preach the good tidings unto the meek; he I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;
hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty because I go to my Father” (John 14: 12).
to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are Pray for the full anointing of the Spirit of God: Although the
bound. Isaiah also speaking of Jesus says in Isaiah 11:1-4 “And promise of the Comforter is a divine initiative, we are encouraged
there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch to pray and ask God to confirm the indwelling Spirit within us:
shall grow out of his roots; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest such a prayer shows that we are in agreement with the will of
upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of God. Paul’s prayer for the Colossian brethren was clearly a prayer
counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the for the full anointing upon them.
Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Paul says in Colossians 1:9-12 “For this cause we also, since
Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire
reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall
that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will (the Spirit perform (Rom 4:20, 21). May our faith, even now, be anchored
of counsel) in ALL wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye upon the indwelling presence of God. Amen.
might walk worthy of the Lord unto ALL pleasing (Spirit of godly Points to remember: The Comforter/Holy Spirit is :
fear), being fruitful in EVERY good work, and increasing in the God’s initiative and not man’s.
knowledge of God; Strengthened with ALL might, according to A guarantees of our salvation.
the glorious power, unto ALL patience and longsuffering with The One who seals us unto the day of redemption.
joyfulness. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us The One who guides and teaches us to understand all truths
meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. He about Jesus.
that is joined to Christ is in one Spirit with Him and shall share Our Liberator from sin and death.
His glory when He returns (John 14:1-3). As we pray tonight, let The One who enables and empowers us to keep God’s law
us ask God to give us, in addition to His Spirit, His wisdom and and to do His will.
understanding, His counsel and might, His knowledge and His As much for us as He was for the disciples.
fear.
Claim the Promise of the Comforter by exercising faith in your
own prayer. “For, if man, being evil by nature, know how to give PRAYER POINTS:
good gifts to his children, how much more shall your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him” (Luke 11:13). Pray for the full anointing of the Holy Spirit
Remember, “The Lord is not slack concerning His Promise” (2 Pray that God will give us the faith to believe that what He
Peter 3:9). “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in has promised is already given.
Him, Amen” (2 Cor. 2:20). Pray that God will revive and fill us and keep us in readiness
The key word in Paul’s prayer that renders it effectual is the of His coming.
word desire. Jesus stressed the efficacy of desire when we pray:
“Therefore, I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye
pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark
11:24). John gives us this assurance in 1 John 5:14, 15: “And
this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything
according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hears
us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that
we desired of him.”
Like Abraham, let us not stagger at the promises of God
through unbelief; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God; being
fully persuaded that what He has promised, He is able also to
Wednesday THE PARACLETE HELPS US (JOHN 14:16)

“Another Comforter” was coming to take the place of Jesus.
JANUARY 13, 2016
Up to this time Jesus had been with the disciples and had been
their Helper in every emergency. But now another Person was
THE SPIRIT AS coming to take His place.

The Greek word translated ‘Comforter’ is a compound word
A HELPER
made up of para, which means “alongside,” and kletos, which
means “one called.” Thus parakletos means “one called to stand
alongside another,” or one called to take his or her part to help
another in any emergency that arises.
Yet the word also conveys the thought of a helper always
at hand with counsel, strength, exhortation, or whatever help is
needed. Though Jesus all but equates Himself with the presence
P R EPA R ED BY of the Spirit, it’s clear the Holy Spirit will do for them what Christ
Alexander Isaacs would do.
H E A LT H, AD R A , S TEWA R D S H IP D IR EC TO R , CAR U
THE PARACLETE STANDS AS OUR ADVOCATE
In fact, the identical word is used of Jesus in 1 John 2:1-
Scripture Reading: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy
"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you
Christ the righteous." So the Holy Spirit speaks in our defense; He
all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
represents us.
have said unto you.” John 14:26
Earlier Jesus had promised the disciples: "But when they
deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for
INTRODUCTION
it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it
The Holy Spirit is the most mysterious member of the Trinity.
is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh
Although the nature of God forever must remain veiled to our
in you" (Matt.10:19, 20). So the Christian not only has a Friend in
understanding, our everyday associations and relationships help
the heavenly court-where Jesus Christ stands as his defender-he
us to understand something of the Father and the Son. But what
has a Friend on earth. The Holy Spirit empowers him, giving him
of the blessed Spirit, the God who dwells within us, who can be
appropriate words, calling to his mind the teachings of Jesus.
present everywhere at once and yet is a divine person?
Jesus, who showed us what God is like, helps us understand
THE PARACLETE STANDS BY OUR SIDE TO TEACH US
the Holy Spirit. He calls Him the Paraclete-the One called to be at
"When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all
our side. And that means far more than Comforter.
truth," said Jesus (John 16: 13). The things of God require divine
POWERREVOLUTION 39
illumination if we are to grasp them, and the Holy Spirit opens our
eyes. We find treasures in God's Word; we discern His hand in our
lives: our affections turn from the world to our heavenly home.
THE PARACLETE STRENGTHENS US FOR THE CONFLICT

Sometimes we need comfort: scarred, bruised, broken,
we need someone who will listen, who will care. But often we
need firm resolve, determination to go forward in faith despite
discouragements and obstacles, strengthening of the will to
choose the good over against the evil. And, the Paraclete, our
heavenly helper, supplies that need.
CONCLUSION
We need help! We can’t make it on our own. The disciples and
their fellow believers were not to be left alone or without help
after Jesus ascended to heaven. The all-adequate Helper was to
be with them. “By the Spirit, He said, He would manifest Himself
to them.”- Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 670.
The Holy Spirit is real. Invisible, mysterious, silent, He lives
within us if we choose to let Him. He is the Spirit of the Father, the
Spirit of Christ. With Him we are in touch with God.
May our prayer be, Holy Spirit, blessed Paraclete, come stand
by my side today. Be my, advocate, my helper, today.
Thursday being humiliated through a command of their Savior.

These disciples had gradually become convinced that Jesus
JANUARY 14, 2016
was the divine One - the Son of God (Matthew 16:16).
The expectation was that He would overthrow the Roman
THE power, and lead the nation of Israel into a new era of peace and
happiness.
TESTIMONY OF
Jesus, looking into the future, saw how shocked, disillusioned,
and sad they would be.
THE SPIRIT
He saw that at His arrest, they would all abandon ship and flea
(Mark 14:50; Mathew 26:56). He saw that His death would seem
to them the collapse of the movement. They would be terribly
disappointed and discouraged.
So, it is at this moment of transition, that Jesus gives His
P R EPA R ED BY disciples these last promises to comfort their sorrow and reassure
Ashton O’Neil them of a bright and glorious future.
The Promise: John 15:26- “But when the Comforter is come,
whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth,
which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me”
THE TESTIMONY OF THE SPIRIT – JOHN 15:26
Please notice how Jesus goes about the task of giving hope,
Jesus had come to a very critical period of His ministry to
and making provision through promises, to sustain His movement
establish His everlasting kingdom. He knew that in just a few
and further strengthen and enlarge His kingdom.
hours, He would be falsely accused, condemned in a mock trial,
Jesus begins in chapter 13: With the assurance of His undying
taunted, mocked, slapped, spat upon, tortured, placed on a cruel
love for them.
cross, and die a humiliating death. This was the night before the
He washed their feet and told them it was a show of love for
hopes, aspirations, and future glory of the disciples would be
them and He encouraged them to love one another – John 13:34-
dashed to pieces.
35.Then in chapter 14: He outlined some fantastic promises that
For three and a half (3 ½ )years, He was with them, teaching the
were going to be theirs to claim in His absence, since He was
principles of heaven, modeling a godly lifestyle and relationships,
going away.
and training them to take up leadership of His movement.
John 14:1-3 - The promise that He is going to prepare a
They had grown to love their Lord and Master, and had great
special place in heaven for them, and that He would come again
hope of being a part of an established and superior kingdom,
to take them with Him.
where peace and happiness would reign forever.
In John 14:12-14 – The promise that extraordinary power
They had witnessed extraordinary miracles, with demons
POWERREVOLUTION 43
would be available to them to do phenomenal exploits for the ,omnipotent omnipresent .He has the capacity , authority, and
Kingdom, greater things than He had done. power to confirm and validate and is an inseparable bond with
John 14:13, 14 - The promise that when they are facing the Son to make the promises a reality.
difficulties, He would hear and answer their prayers and supply The Spirit bears witness by His involvement in the realization
their needs when they ask in His name. of the promises.
The promised of peace – (John 14:27), love (John 13: ) and joy
(John 15:11) in the midst of their storms. In John 15:26, the Holy Spirit is sent to vindicate the words
or promises of Christ, to make it real,yes a reality in the lives of
The promise of the Holy Spirit-The Comforter “But when the the apostles.
Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, The Holy Spirit makes all the promises happen. He gave the
even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he apostle,and will give us the power, the energy, the truth, the
shall testify of me” (John 15:26) wisdom, the joy, the peace and the endurance.
It is important for us to get the main messages that Jesus Let’s look at some of the promises and see how they were
delivers in John 14:16-18 and particularly John 15:26. realized through the ‘testimony of the Spirit.
The gift of the Holy Spirit to the believers was the key that ‘In John 14:12- Jesus promised us power to do extra-ordinary
unlocked the whole package of promises to the Disciples of things.Now where are we going to get that kind of power?
Christ. Acts 1:8 says” Ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has
Please note from the text that this gift is so important to the come upon you” And once the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
survival of the disciples and the church, that both the heavenly Ephesians 3:20 will be realized. “You’re able to do exceeding
Father and the Son Jesus is intimately involved in the sending of abundantly above all you can ask or think, according to the power
the Holy Spirit on a mission to support and empower the church that works within you”.Which power?It’s the Holy Spirit’s power.
– Let’s take a good look at the text “But when the Comforter is So the promise that Jesus made to give power to the disciples
come, whom I will send unto you, from the Father even the Spirit was made possible through the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell
of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me”. within the believers.
Notice that it is the Spirit that “testifies of Jesus”. Today,we all need that power,and it is only possible when
What is a testimony? the Spirit dwells within us.
Its usage is in relation to when a person is brought into a In John 14:13, 14 – Jesus promised to hear and answer our
courtroom and placed under oath to tell, attest to, or give proof prayers and supply our needs.
to his or her personal knowledge, or experience with reference to We see the fulfillment in Romans 8: 26-28, with the promise
the case that is being heard. that the Spirit will help us when we pray, because” we do not
How does the Spirit testify? know what we should pray for.He makes intercession for us with
The Spirit is one with the Father and Son .He is ,omniscient groanings which cannot be uttered. “
Again, the Holy Spirit is the key to the fulfillment of this whatsoever Jesus has said unto you”.
promise. One of the most perplexing thing about the gospel story
He promises us peace - (John 14:27), love – John 13:34,35, is that Jesus’ own disciples did not fully understand Him and
and joy – John 15:11.and a place in heaven.Hohn14:1-3 His messages . His public ministry, parables, prophecies of His
Love, peace, and joy are all fruits of the Spirit and it is the Holy death, resurrection and ministry in the heavenly sanctuary seem
Spirit that provides these gifts to us .The Spirit is the guarantee of remarkably confusing to them. However after the death and
the promise of heaven. -2 Cor 5:1-5. resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit’s testimony to the disciples
Now let us take a closer look at our main passage for made the salvation story crystal clear to them.
meditation-John 15:26. The Spirit brought back to their memory many of
the things they did not understand (John 14:26), confirming and
In the preceding verses, Jesus warns the disciples of the giving witness and validity to the words Jesus spoke when He was
coming opposition and the hatred emanating from those in the among them.
world. We have the assurance that in our time of trouble ,the
Jesus now set out in John 15:26 to outline His plans to Spirit will refresh our memory and comfort us with the words of
support the movement and its members. Christ.
Firstly in His office and operation, the Holy Spirit is both Fourthly –The testimony of the Holy Spirit Transformed the
Comforter and Advocate for the Christian movement-“When the disciples.
Comforter is come”. This is what transformed the terrified and discouraged
As Advocate for Christ, He helps us to speaks the truth disciples.
against the falsehood in this world and as Comforter, he is our It was the powerful testimony and witness of the Holy Spirit
refuge and strength and is a present help to the saints in times of that turned those weak and timid men into daring, extraordinary
trouble (Psalms 46:1). and fearless preachers for their resurrected Lord. The death,
Secondly, the Holy Spirit “testifies of Jesus”. He is also a resurrection and ascension of Jesus became fuel in their gospel
witness for Jesus. tanks to proclaim the good news of salvation to the world.
The power of the Christian and the church comes from the In Conclusion :
Holy Spirit’s testimony. The power to preach, power to subdue In these last days ,the Spirit will be our enlightening and
demons, power to perform miracles, power to resist temptation indwelling interpreter. With His coming to dwell within us, the
and power to live the Christian life. The Holy Spirit gives the weak will be strong, the foolish wise, the blind enlightened, the
greatest testimony of Jesus. timid fearless. The disciples were unstoppable beacons of light,
Thirdly – “Testifying of Jesus”is in the Spirit’s Enlightenment turning the world upside down for Jesus. We too can do the same.
of the belivers. The promise found in John 14:26 “He shall The testimony of the Spirit was evident during the early
teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, years of the Christian church,and He is present today to helps us
better understand who Jesus is , what He did for us,and how we

can live.
Every day, He reveals to us the truth about God, His work
among men,His will for our lives, and predictions of future
events.The Spirit is available to give us a clear understanding of
political, religious and moral issues we face each day. All of the
promises made to the disciples are ours to claim and experience.
He wants to provide strength for our weakness, wisdom
to help us make right decisions, power to resist and overcome
temptation, and the ability to live victorious Christian lives. The
Spirit also is the sustaining element that guarantees a bright
and glorious future for the Church. The Holy Spirit is our down
payment that guarantees a final victory and a place in the earth
made new.
APPEAL:
Do you want to experience all these blessings that the
Spirit offers.Do you desire :
The assurance of His undying love for you.The guarantee of
having your prayers answered,and needs supply.Extraordinary
power to live a victorious Christian life,and face the difficulties
that will come your way.Do you desire to be with Jesus when He
returns the second time.
This is a calls for a full surrender of your life today to Jesus.

How many of us are willing to make that full surrender.
Hands-Stand –Season of Prayer.
Friday murder and the father of lies; the prince of darkness; the prince of
this world; Abaddon (destroying angel); Accuser of our brethren
JANUARY 15, 2016
(complainer against those who believe in God); Beelzebub
(ruler of the demons); Enemy (the hateful, hostile one), Wicked
THE SPIRIT One (evil one); Dragon, Great dragon, Ancient Serpent, that old
serpent; and devil himself.
BRINGS AN
Elsewhere the position is as bleak. Jesus referring to the
demonic forces of this world told the disciples “I am sending you
ADVANTAGE
out like sheep among wolves.” The Apostle Peter warns the New
Testament believers and invites them to “Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour:”
Humanity, alone against Satan, is powerless and hopeless.
P R EPA R ED BY That is the unchanging position of Scripture. John says, “We
Anthony Hall [Christians] know that we are children of God, and that the whole
YO UT H & CH A P LA IN CY M IN IS T R IES DIR ECTO R world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). The
undeniable fact of our hopelessness and helplessness as human
beings in warfare against the devil is perhaps nowhere better
The Christian life is warfare. We are engaged in a one sided,
stated than in the “Battle Hymn of the Reformation.”
uneven, brutal, life-and-death struggle. Scripture almost always
For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe--His craft
portrays the gross imbalance, inequity, and disparity of the
and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not
Christian’s stand-alone human effort against resident evil. The
his equal.
reality is that as Christians we are in a kind of David/Goliath
The balance is introduced in the stanza which follows. “Did
type battle with the enemy of our souls. It is an unfair pairing of
we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing.” In
enemies, a totally unfair match.
our own strength we are utterly helpless to face such a powerful
The forces we face are not ordinary flesh and-blood enemies,
enemy as the devil. In fact, true victory in spiritual warfare
nor are they human agencies at all. Our enemy is legion - a deadly
demands that we acknowledge our helplessness. The Good news
team of spiritual hosts of wickedness, completely devoted to our
is that God levels the playing field by providing for us a notable
destruction. The apostle Paul is clear about this when he points
advantage. The gift of the Holy Spirit as an ally in warfare provides
out that “… we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
that advantage which allows us to be conquerors.
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
On this point the words of Jesus in John 16:7-11 are significant.
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that
These forces operate under the authority of the one who is a
POWERREVOLUTION 51
I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to withdrawal, both for themselves and for the furtherance of His
you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he mission. “They were so absorbed with the thought of their own
will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and immediate loss that they missed the meaning of his departure
judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; for themselves. They ought not to have so greatly lamented his
concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will bodily absence and overlooked all the spiritual advantages that
see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this would accrue to themselves from his ascension to heaven and his
world is judged. (ESV) participation in his Father’s glory.”
In John 16:5-15, we have a conversation between Jesus and They are caught up with their own sorrows. Accordingly,
His disciples on the night before the crucifixion - the night of his they did not realize that Jesus’ exodus and their own distress is
betrayal. They are in the upper room with Jesus to eat a final meal ordained of God for the moment, the best thing that could happen.
with Him and to receive instructions about what is to come. The This is often true in the spiritual realm. What seems like the worst
twelve are dejected, shaken, perplexed, disoriented, and gravely thing may actually be the best thing. The scripture is clear on this.
concerned to hear from their Master that He is leaving them. In “And we know that all things work together for good to them that
their confusion about the nature of his work and the purpose for love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
which he came, they understand nothing that he says. It makes no Ellen white is also clear that God knows best and always acts
sense to them at all. They cluster together around their leader in in man’s best interest even though we cannot see the advantage
the dimly lit room, scared and bewildered. In these nerve-racking of His movements. She asserts: “In the annals of human history
minutes Jesus declares, “But now I go my way to him that sent the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as
me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? B ut because dependent on the will and prowess of man. The shaping of events
I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.” seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition,
(John 16:5-6). or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and
The root cause of the disciples’ grief, unfortunately, was their we behold, behind, above, and through all the play and counter-
obsession and worry with their own selfish needs and desires. The play of human interests and power and passions, the agencies of
disciples were too absorbed by the sorrows of the approaching the all-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels
separation to think of anything but themselves. Self-absorption, of His own will.”
self-loathing and self-pity, blinded their eyes to the reality of The story is told of the only survivor of a shipwreck who was
Jesus’ own suffering and departure. He was about to go to the washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed fervently
cruel cross of Calvary. He was about to drink the bitter cup and for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for
to suffer the most painful and shameful death. Yet they are only help, but no one came. He eventually managed to build a little
thinking about the fact that they would have to go on without hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and
Him. No thought for Him, only for themselves. Self-absorption! to store his few possessions. One day, after searching for food,
This caused them to miss the positive implications of Jesus’ he arrived home to find his little hut in flames. What could be
worse! Everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief Holy Spirit over the physical presence of Jesus with His disciples.
and anger. He cried out, “God! How could you do this to me?” The dispensation of the Spirit is superior to the dispensation
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship of “Christ come in the flesh,” for the simple reasons that Jesus
approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! “How did you in the flesh could not be present in every place or in all the
know I was here?” he asked his rescuers. “We saw your smoke households of the world; but Christ by his Spirit can dwell in the
signal,” they replied. hearts of millions at the same moment of time as the Hope of
It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but glory. If Christ were still in the flesh, his presence would only be
we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives even temporary and occasional; but Christ by his Spirit can be always
in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next everywhere at the same moment of time.
time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground; it just may Therefore, according to Spence Jones, there are several
be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. advantages which the Spirit brings:
In John 16:7, Jesus says, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your The dispensation of personal presences was thus succeeded
advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will by the dispensation of spiritual power.
not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” Why is it The life of sight was thus replaced by the higher life of faith.
better for the disciples to have the presence of the Helper [Spirit] Christianity was thus made no local religion, but a religion for
than the presence of Jesus Himself as they do now? Because the humanity – universal.
Holy Spirit will not only be with them as Jesus has been, but in The hope of Christians is thus removed from earth to heaven.
them as well (cf. John 17:23, 26). There are other advantages as well. Jesus spoke of these
Anglican Bishop Charles Gore once correctly said, “The advantages of the Spirit’s coming: He convicts the world (John
coming of the Holy Ghost was not merely to supply the absence 16:8-11) and He communicates to believers (John 16:12-15). In
of the Son, but to complete his presence.” “…and so to complete In John 16:8, Jesus says, “And He, when He comes, will convict
his presence in the sense that he is present with every one of the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” The
us and therefore it is expedient that he goes, that the spirit may word “convict” (elegcho) is sometimes also translated elsewhere
come; and through the spirit, and in the spirit, Christ may be with in scripture as “convince.” It is also means to reprove; to accuse,
every one of us at one and the same time.” refute, or cross-examine a witness as a prosecuting attorney
Many may reason that it would have been more advantageous would. The Holy Spirit exposes evil, reproves evildoers, and
for us to have lived when Jesus lived, to have seen Him, touched convinces people that they need a Saviour. Every preacher of the
Him, and heard directly from Him. But it’s truly to our advantage Gospel would do well to remember that no amount of preaching,
that He departed and sent the Holy Spirit to us. The Holy Spirit is pleading, or pointing of fingers will bring about the conviction
the Spirit of Jesus, who dwells within every believer. These are the of sin, unless the Holy Spirit is at work in the sinner’s heart. It
best days to be living in. Through the Spirit, Jesus is here inside is the Spirit’s job to convict. According to Oswald Chambers,
each and every believer, right now. This is the advantage of the “Conviction of sin is one of the rarest things that ever strikes
a man. It is the threshold of an understanding of God. Jesus essence of sin is unbelief in God’s Messenger and His message.
Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in
of sin, and when the Holy Spirit rouses the conscience and thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou
brings him into the presence of God, it is not his relationship shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
with men that bothers him, but his relationship with God.” thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
“Conviction” is also a legal term which comes from the saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
activity of a courtroom trial. The prosecuting attorney examines with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
the witnesses on the stand and begins to pile up the evidence. Until people see themselves as sinners they will never see
Fact upon fact, witness upon witness, truth upon truth, slowly, their need for a Saviour. The issue is the acceptance or rejection
inexorably, irresistibly building his case until finally the enormity of Jesus. What will you do with Jesus? This is the question that we
of the evidence is so overwhelming that the judge and jury must pose to people.
are forced to say to the accused, “we find you guilty beyond a The second reason the Holy Spirit convicts the world is
reasonable doubt.” Not only do onlookers reach this conclusion because they need to understand their lack of righteousness. In
but the evidence is presented in such an overwhelming John 16:10, Jesus declares that the Holy Spirit will convict the
compelling way that even the accused is obliged at the end of world “concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and
the trial to stand up and say, “I admit it. I confess. I am guilty.” you no longer see Me.” The Holy Spirit will convince the world
First, the Holy Spirit will convict unbelievers of their sin. In of its need for God’s righteousness by making the world realize
John 16:9, Jesus declares that the Holy Spirit will convict the the poverty of its own righteousness. In Isaiah 64:6 of the Greek
world “concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me.” Jesus Old Testament, Israel’s “righteousness” (dikaiosune) is likened to
is not saying the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin in a a menstrual cloth or filthy rags. The Holy Spirit needs to convict
general sense (though He does that). He is talking here about a unbelievers of their need to believe in Christ and not trust in
very specific sin because He says, “they [human beings] do not their own righteousness, which is like filthy rags. Righteousness
believe in me.” The greatest sin according to scripture is not any of by definition is internal and external obedience to God. The Spirit
the individual breaches of the Ten Commandments. Idol worship, therefore, also convicts the sinner of righteousness of Christ.
Sabbath breaking, Murder, stealing, adultery, dishonouring More than that, it is the conviction that Jesus Christ is inherently
parents, lies, or covetousness… None of those things would be righteous, sinless in thought, word, and deed. When we accept
called the greatest sin in the world because there is one sin which, Jesus, His righteousness becomes ours, and we will be found in
in its effect, is greater than all the rest. It is the sin of refusing to Him without spot or wrinkle, blameless, washed in the blood and
believe in Jesus Christ. It is rejection of Jesus Christ. Unbelief! clothed in his righteousness.
This is what Jesus is saying in John 16:9. “He will convict them The third reason the Holy Spirit convicts the world is because
of sin.” Not sin in the general sense, but, “He will convict them of of the reality of judgment. In John 16:11, Jesus declares that the
the greatest sin of all because they have not believed in Me.” The Holy Spirit will convict the world “concerning judgment, because
the ruler of this world has been judged.” It is usually said that spread throughout the city. People throughout the land were sad
the sin of which the Spirit convicts is the sin of the world; that and gloomy when they heard the news that their country had lost
the righteousness is that of Christ; and that the judgment is the the war. Suddenly the fog lifted, and it was discovered there was
judgment of Satan – the ruler of this world. At first glance this more to the message. The message had four words, not two. The
might appear to be a reference to some future judgment. But this complete message was: "W-E-L-L-I-N-G-T-O-N---D-E-F-E-A-T-E-
text is not talking about future judgment. It’s talking about past D---T-H-E--E-N-E-M-Y!" It took only a few minutes for the good
judgment. Notice the phrase “has been judged.” Jesus is saying news to spread. Sorrow was turned into joy, defeat was turned
Satan “has been judged in the past, continues to be judged, is into victory!" So it was that on Friday when Jesus died on Calvary
now judged, and will continue to be judged into the future.” The it appeared that the false message was J-E-S-U-S D-E-F-E-A-T-
judgment is past, present and future. Satan may be a great power E-D--- but on Sunday morning after the darkness and fog of the
in this world, but he is already a defeated foe. This will be fully crucifixion had passed, the world knew the truth: J-E-S-U-S D-E-
realized when sinful mankind, fallen angels, and Satan himself F-E-A-T-E-D --- T-H-E--E-N-E-M-Y!
stand before the righteous God (cf. Phil 2:6-11). Conclusion: Conviction is a consciousness of one’s sinfulness,
As the world has had its own false views about sin and of God’s righteousness and the great gulf that is fixed between
righteousness, so also it has had its own false standards of us and God. Conviction cries out as those who listening to Peter
judgment. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of its error in this on the day of Pentecost were pierced through to the heart
point also. The world might think that ‘the power of darkness’ with conviction, saying: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
conquered at Gethsemane and Calvary, but the Resurrection implying an apprehension of one’s peril and a sense of guilt but
and Ascension proved that what looked like victory was a most also a readiness to yield completely to the claims of God. “Then
signal defeat: instead of conquering he was judged. This result is Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you
so certain that from the point of view of the Spirit’s coming it is in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
spoken of as already accomplished. The news is that Christ has receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you,
already judged and defeated Satan at the cross. and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many
“It was June 18, 1815, the Battle of Waterloo. The French as the Lord our God shall call. This is the advantage of the Holy
under the command of Napoleon were fighting the Allies (British, Spirit.
Dutch, and Germans) under the command of Wellington. The
people of England depended on a system of semaphore signals
to find out how the battle was going. One of these signal stations
was on the tower of Winchester Cathedral. Late in the day it
flashed the signal: "W-E-L-L-I-N-G-T-O-N---D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D--."
Just at that moment one of those sudden English fog clouds made
it impossible to read the message. The news of defeat quickly
Sabbath true and the false, the wicked and the righteous, the saved and
the lost. But this parable isn’t talking about the world. It is talking
JANUARY 16, 2016
about the church just before the second coming of Jesus, the
church that believes and has one Lord, one faith, and one baptism;
NO TIME the church that keeps the commandments of God and has the
faith of Jesus. One would think that the church at this late stage
FOR AN OIL
of the earth’s history would be fully at one accord in one place,
yet she is divided, because the parable classifies her members as
SHORTAGE
wise and foolish, as prepared and unprepared, as watchful and
unwatchful, as genuine and counterfeit.
And beloved, the conclusion is unavoidable that we are and
will be in either one class or the other. Both groups are Adventists,
because they are waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom, Jesus,
P R EPA R ED BY and there are a few things that are similar about them. Both
Cyril Horrell groups are called virgins—they are called to purity and they both
profess a pure faith. Both have lamps and lights and vessels. Both
look alike, act alike, and have the same purpose. Both have heard
the call. Both are in the church, and are all expecting their Lord to
Our text is taken from Matthew 25: 1 – 13 (Read text). When
return. You know, people who claim to be Adventists look pretty
Jesus spoke this parable He was seated on the Mount of Olives
much the same outwardly. They are all apparently “waiting”
with His disciples. From their vantage point, they could see in
in the night of earth’s last hour. And for a while, no difference
the valley below them, a house lighted up brilliantly for some
between them is seen by human eyes, because, you see, genuine
festive celebration. The light streaming from the windows, and
Christianity can be imitated.
the expectant company waiting around, indicated that a marriage
The lamp is clearly the Word of God (Psalm 119: 105), and
procession was soon to appear.
they all have the Word of God, an illuminating knowledge of the
In COL 406 Ellen White comments: “As Christ sat looking
Scriptures, and how we do need this today. These virgins have all
upon the party that waited for the bridegroom, He told His disciples
heard and responded to the message of the coming of the Lord
the story of the ten virgins, by their experience illustrating the
and are essentially correct in doctrine. Their responsibility is to
experience of the church that shall live just before His second
meet the bridegroom. Observe, the groups are not distinguished
coming”. Jesus wanted the church to have an understanding of
as good and bad, but as “wise”, and “foolish”. Wise and foolish,
what it meant to watch as she waited for the coming of her Savior.
that is their character, that is how God sees them. They are of the
It is a solemn and acknowledged fact that in the world
same church, of the same belief, professing the same faith, but
there are just about two classes – Christians and worldlings, the
POWERREVOLUTION 61
widely different in character—wise and foolish. Jesus gives the the commands, the precepts, the promises, and the prophecies of
reason for classifying five of them as foolish—they took no extra the Word, but unless the Holy Ghost awakens us to the abundant
oil with them. They had lamps but not sufficient oil. It’s foolish life, we’ll remain unchanged, doing our own thing, having our
to have lamps without oil at midnight. They bore the name but own way, living just to please ourselves, with our characters
lacked the one sufficient and essential qualification for meeting untransformed, and that is a foolish way to live. So beloved, let
the bridegroom. us not be fooled with external appearances, let us not be fooled
In Christ Object Lessons (411), Ellen White writes: “The into thinking that if we put on a good show, that that will win
class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They God’s heart, and win God’s favor, for outward appearance means
have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they nothing with God.
are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not You see, it is not enough to be waiting along with the church
yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working. They have not or even within the church. We must have the extra oil, not a little
fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature but plenty. We ought not to be satisfied with the drops when we
to be broken up…They receive the word with readiness but they can have the showers. You see, if you surrender little you will
fail of assimilating its principles…the class represented by the have little, just like the foolish virgins. But if you surrender all,
foolish virgins have been content with a superficial work. They you’ll be filled and have enough to spare. And then there’ll be no
do not know God. They have not studied His character; they have possibility of being without sufficient oil, because the decisive
not had communion with Him; therefore they do not know how test is not that the foolish are without lamp or wick, but that they
to trust, how to look and live. Their service to God degenerates are without extra oil. That was the nature of their folly.
into a form.” You see, it is the oil that produces the light. Without oil,
They had just enough oil to make a show with, but none for there can be no light, no matter how many lamps you have.
the future. They think that the wise are unduly worked up over And you must have enough oil while you are waiting for the
the question of oil. After all, are their lamps not burning brightly? Bridegroom and still have enough to meet Him at His coming. You
And anyway, the bridegroom won’t be long, so there will be see, He is coming at the darkest period of the night, and you must
enough to last. And even if they should run short they can easily have oil then if you’re going to have light. The foolish virgins
get more later if necessary, so what is all the fuss about oil? Now, were not hypocrites, but they were content with an outward show.
this is foolish reasoning, for it is the extra oil and that alone, that They were genuine and earnest in the way, but at the same time
ensures that their lamps will keep producing light, it is the extra careless and negligent. They were careless and negligent about
oil and that alone that makes the wise ready, while the lack of it the one essential thing – the oil – the Holy Spirit.
makes the foolish unready. How solemn and sobering is the thought that it is possible
You see, the oil represents the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit for a person to believe the truth, to be baptized, to partake
of God, the knowledge of the Word is of no real value, no matter regularly of the Lord’s Supper, to be a church member or an
how orthodox our understanding. One may be familiar with all officer, to be an ordained elder or minister, and yet be without the
Holy Spirit, and be among those God calls foolish, and be finally and persecution. That oil will anoint you and consecrate you for
lost. Beloved, it is not enough to have just enough Christianity God’s service in the church and in the community. That oil will
to deceive the heart, just enough to lull us into a false sense of lead us into following Christ’s method in sharing the gospel with
security, just enough to prop us up with self-confidence, just our fellowmen. It will lead us to mingle with men as one who
enough to lose our soul. desires their good; it will cause us to show sympathy for them,
The foolish virgins had just enough to be lost, but we to minister to their needs, to win their confidence, and then call
must ever have enough oil to keep us humble and yearning them to follow Jesus.
for more, just enough to keep us hungering and thirsting after You see, the Holy Spirit is not given for us to sit down and
righteousness, just enough to keep us striving for the mastery, be spectators in the church. The Holy Spirit is given to anoint
just enough to keep us awake and sober in earth’s last hour, just and empower us for usefulness in our service to God and to our
enough to show us our constant need of Jesus, and to convince fellowmen. That’s why the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts
us that we dare not think that we can do without Him at any time. to every believer. And these spiritual gifts are given for ministry
You see beloved, intense Bible study is no substitute for the Holy and for use in the church and in the community. So when you
Spirit. Missionary zeal is no substitute for the Holy Spirit. The refuse or neglect to use your gifts to minister to and serve your
sacrificial giving of our money to God’s cause is no substitute for fellowmen, you are simply confirming that you do not have the
the Holy Spirit. We must have the Heavenly oil or all is vain. That Holy Spirit. The foolish virgins lacked the oil that night, so their
is Christ’s solemn word not mine. lamps went out while they waited for the bridegroom. They did
Now we know that the oil represents the Holy Spirit, but how not even know that their lamps had gone out because they were
will the world know that we have the Holy Spirit? You remember asleep. In fact, they all slumbered and slept.
Jesus Himself said in Mathew 7:20: “Therefore by their fruits you Now seems to be slumber time for the church, when an
shall know them”. You see, the presence of the Holy Spirit will irresistible desire for sleep has fallen upon church members.
light up your life with the glory of God, for He will bring love, Spiritual drowsiness like an overmastering stupor has stolen over
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness the church. This sleepiness is not a repudiation of the faith, but the
and self-control into our lives and relationships. He will enable relaxation of definite expectation of the soon and speedy coming
and empower us to be gracious and merciful, loving and forgiving, of Jesus. It was at midnight, late and dark, that hour of deep sleep,
patient and kind, generous and good like Jesus. That heavenly oil danger and of fatal surprise, that the bridegroom came. It was at
will keep our life shining brightly for Jesus, even in the darkest midnight that the cry was raised, “Behold the bridegroom comes,
period of the world’s night just before the coming of the Lord. go out to meet him”. It was sudden and unexpected, but it was
You see, the world needs to know what God is like, and the heard by all the virgins, who were all startled from their slumber.
only way they will know, is when we begin to treat others, and It was the time for every one of them to answer the
speak to others with grace, mercy, and compassion. That oil will divine summons without delay. They all woke up and trimmed
enable you to stand up for Jesus at a time of serious opposition their lamps, foolish as well as wise. They made all the human
preparation possible. Both looked and acted the same, but the and armor on, his bony fingers clutching his spear, but dead. The
real difference then became apparent. The foolish, not conscious foolish virgins had a name that they lived, but were dead, without
of their real condition, had a vain confidence in their readiness, the Spirit. Too late they see that the oil is all essential. Too late
but to their dismay, they saw that their lamps were going out, they discover their tragic mistake. They try to seek help from the
right at the crucial moment. You see, they had not taken the time prepared wise virgins, but in that day, no man can help another,
to invite the Holy Spirit into their heart, life, and affections. for all human effort and activity are useless. You see, the wise
Ellen White, writing in RH August 19, 1890, writes: “The state virgins could not share what they themselves needed to get into
of the church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spoken the banquet of the groom.
of as the Laodicean state”. It is a state of self deception where You see, man can give the lamp and the wick; he can teach
everything is thought to be allright. It is a state where they the Bible to another, but he cannot give the oil, the Holy Spirit.
believe they are rich, increased in goods, and in need of nothing, That is God’s prerogative solely. There is no use looking to some
when in reality they are spiritually poor, lacking the gold of faith friend or preacher for this Heavenly Gift. Each must go to the
and obedience, spiritually blind, lacking the eye-salve of the same Source. Every phase of salvation is a transaction between
Holy Spirit, and spiritually naked, lacking the covering of Christ’s the individual and his God. No man can supply a lack of the Holy
righteousness. Spirit. The supply is direct, from God to the soul. Beloved, we
But all Laodiceans who do not accept the testimony of the need oil, we want oil, we must all have oil, we cannot do without
Faithful and True Witness now, will be shocked into the reality oil. Should we not individually address ourselves to our greatest
of their true condition, at the coming of Jesus, just as the foolish need right now?
virgins. Beloved, now is no time for flickering, waning lights, for You see, midnight is a bad time to have an oil shortage. It is a
the time will soon come when our beliefs and our faith will be bad time to go looking for oil. This oil is obtainable now, without
tested to the limit. So, we’ll need to have our lamps trimmed and money and without price. Get your supply now, while it is daylight.
burning brightly. It was a terrible discovery for the foolish virgins. Don’t put it off till the last moment. Verse 10 says that those that
They thought they were all right, but found out with unspeakable were ready went in with the bridegroom to the marriage, and the
horror, that they were not ready to welcome the bridegroom. And door was shut. Read verses 11, and 12. Beloved, not everyone
the radical difference was that their lives and characters had not who says Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he
been transformed into Christlikeness by the power of the Holy who does the will of My Father. You see, many will say in that
Spirit. day, “Lord, was I not a member of the SDA church? Did I not do
The form was there, but the Spirit was lacking. The lamp was my share in all the crusades? Lord, was I not a Sabbath School
there, but the oil was finished. Religious activity was there, but teacher? Did I not sit in the front seat and say Amen? Lord, was
there was no spirituality. It was like the shriveled body of the I not at church every Sabbath, Sunday night, and Wednesday
Roman guard found in the excavated city of Pompeii, which was night?”
destroyed by a volcano. This guard was found with his helmet But crying out “Lord, Lord” will not open the door in that
day, neither will the recital of our religious activities unlock the know the future, because the issue of watching and being ready
portals of heaven. You see, being nominal followers of Jesus is for the coming of Jesus, has a lot more to do with our character
foolish, and is a sure way to being unprepared for the coming than with our lifestyle. It has a lot to do with being like Jesus and
of the bridegroom. You see, heaven is a prepared place for a with our relationships with others.
prepared people. There is no admission to those who those who You see, what Jesus wants to see in us more than anything
didn’t have time for Jesus, and those who didn’t take the time to else is that we are changed into His likeness, and that we become
be like Jesus in their life and relationships. like Him in character. And I can think of three reasons why He
Jesus told the foolish virgins in verse 12 (Read text). He wants to see this. First of all, that is how He will be able to easily
doesn’t know them because they don’t share a relationship with recognize us as His children, and He will know we are for sure
Him. He doesn’t recognize them as His children because they because we resemble Him. Secondly, resembling Him, and being
don’t resemble Him. You see, people don’t invite strangers or like Him in character is what will tell the world more than anything
even those they share a casual relationship with to their wedding. else that we have been saved by His grace. Ellen White writing
They invite only those they know and share a bond with, because in Christ’s Object Lessons (419) says: The beauty and fragrance
of their relationship with them. And it is only through the presence of the character of Christ revealed in the life testifies that God
and power of the Holy Spirit that we develop a relationship with has indeed sent His Son into the world to be its Savior.” You see,
Jesus as we get to know Him personally and intimately. it is grace that changes and transforms people into His likeness.
Now, the highest point in an intimate relationship is where two Grace teaches people to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in
people become one. Human relationships hardly ever achieve this present world as we look forward to the coming of Jesus
this and even when they do, it is not constant. But it was the (Titus 2:11-12).
prayer of Jesus for us to be one with Him, and it is the work of the And thirdly, being like Jesus, resembling Him is what will
Holy Spirit to lead us into that experience of oneness with Jesus convince the world more than anything else, that we belong to
through the surrender of that evil desire to please ourselves and Jesus and that we are authentic, bona fide sons and daughters
live for ourselves. It is also the work of the Holy Spirit to change of His. And this is what Jesus said in John 13:35: “By this all will
us into His likeness that our characters will resemble His. You know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
see, character is the only thing that we can take out of this world Now it is almost midnight, gross darkness is settling down upon
into the next, and character is the only thing that identifies us the earth. We are nearing home, nearing the hour of the appearing
either as His children or the devil’s. Those who are not like Him in of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. So we don’t have much
character are not really His children, neither are they His disciples time left to develop a relationship with Jesus. He has promised to
or His followers. give the Holy Spirit freely to all those who ask for Him.
You see church, as we await the second coming of Jesus, It One foggy, stormy night a few years ago, a ship was sailing
is not enough to have the truth, it is not enough to be right or into San Francisco harbor, but because of poor visibility in the
correct in matters of theology and doctrine. It is not enough to thick fog, it crashed into the rocky coastline and sank. Many
who were aboard the ship that night were missing, including the
captain. When the captain’s wife received the tragic news of what
had happened, she threw her hands in the air and cried, “My God,
lost, and so near home! Lost, and so near home!”
Beloved, time is fast slipping away, and eternity is swiftly
coming upon us. Are you ready for the change? Is there any oil
in your lamp? Is your lamp burning brightly, or is your light going
out? Jesus wants us all to be ready for His coming. And that is
what I want for myself, to be ready for His coming. Is that what
you want, to be ready for His coming?
72 POWERREVOLUTION

Hsew 2015 - Adult - Prf01

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GREAT TEXTS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 10: 14

MONDAY, JANUARY 11: 20

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12: 28

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13: 38

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14: 42

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15: 50

SABBATH, JANUARY 16: 60

THE SPIRIT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BY UNITING US!

ESCHATON 3. Unclean in 3 Dimensions:

Is it unclean physically, emotionally, psychologically, or

Monday anyone else or by just invoking a deity or believing in any outside

What a privilege Nicodemus enjoyed when he talked alone with

THE PROMISE true leadership, by washing the disciples’ feet. Immediately

Wednesday THE PARACLETE HELPS US (JOHN 14:16)

THE SPIRIT AS coming to take His place.

THE PARACLETE STRENGTHENS US FOR THE CONFLICT

Thursday being humiliated through a command of their Savior.

better understand who Jesus is , what He did for us,and how we

This is a calls for a full surrender of your life today to Jesus.

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