God's
Gift of the Spirit
And I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for
ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth
him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and
shall be in you. John 14:16, 17
During the Jewish economy the influence
of God's Spirit had been seen in a marked manner, but not in full. For ages
prayers had been offered for the fulfillment of God's promise to impart His
Spirit, and not one of these earnest supplications had been forgotten.
Christ determined that when He ascended
from this earth He would bestow a gift on those who had believed on Him and
those who should believe on Him. What gift could He bestow rich enough to
signalize and grace His ascension to the mediatorial throne? It must be worthy
of His greatness and His royalty. He determined to give His representative, the
third person of the Godhead. This gift could not be excelled. He would give all
gifts in one, and therefore the divine Spirit, that converting, enlightening,
and sanctifying power, would be His donation. . . . It came with a fullness and
power, as if for ages it had been restrained, but was now being poured forth
upon the church. . . .
Believers were reconverted. Sinners
united with Christians seeking the pearl of great price. . . . Every Christian
saw in his brother the divine similitude of benevolence and love. One interest
prevailed. One object swallowed up all others. Every pulse beat in healthy
concert. The only ambition of the believers was to see who could reveal most perfectly
the likeness of Christ's character, who could do the most for the enlargement
of His kingdom.
* * * * *
The Holy Spirit was sent as the most
priceless treasure man could receive.
From My Life Today - Page 36
