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petition to God。 Companies of Christian workers should gather to ask for
special help； for heavenly wisdom； that they may know how to plan and
execute wisely。 Especially should they pray that God will baptize
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His chosen ambassadors in mission fields with a rich measure of His Spirit。
The presence of the Spirit with God's workers will give the proclamation of
truth a power that not all the honor or glory of the world could give。
With the consecrated worker for God； in whatever place he may be； the Holy
Spirit abides。 The words spoken to the disciples are spoken also to us。 The
Comforter is ours as well as theirs。 The Spirit furnishes the strength that
sustains striving； wrestling souls in every emergency； amidst the hatred of
the world； and the realization of their own failures and mistakes。 In sorrow
and affliction； when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing； and
we feel helpless and alone；these are the times when； in answer to the
prayer of faith； the Holy Spirit brings comfort to the heart。
It is not a conclusive evidence that a man is a Christian because he
manifests spiritual ecstasy under extraordinary circumstances。 Holiness is
not rapture： it is an entire surrender of the will to God； it is living by
every word that proceeds from the mouth of God； it is doing the will of our
heavenly Father； it is trusting God in trial； in darkness as well as in the
light； it is walking by faith and not by sight； it is relying on God with
unquestioning confidence； and resting in His love。
It is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit
is。 Christ tells us that the Spirit is the Comforter； 〃the Spirit of truth；
which proceedeth from the Father。〃 It is plainly declared regarding the Holy
Spirit that； in His work of guiding men into all truth； 〃He shall not speak
of Himself。〃 John 15：26； 16：13。
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The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery。 Men cannot explain it； because
the Lord has not revealed it to them。 Men having fanciful views may bring
together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them； but the
acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church。 Regarding such
mysteries； which are too deep for human understanding； silence is golden。
The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of
Christ： 〃When He is come； He will reprove the world of sin； and of
righteousness； and of judgment。〃 John 16：8。 It is the Holy Spirit that
convicts of sin。 If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the
Spirit； he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the importance of
obeying the divine requirements。
To the repentant sinner； hungering and thirsting for righteousness； the Holy
Spirit reveals the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world。 〃He
shall receive of Mine； and shall show it unto you；〃 Christ said。 〃He shall
teach you all things； and bring all things to your remembrance； whatsoever I
have said unto you。〃 John 16：14； 14：26。
The Spirit is given as a regenerating agency； to make effectual the
salvation wrought by the death of our Redeemer。 The Spirit is constantly
seeking to draw the attention of men to the great offering that was made on
the cross of Calvary； to unfold to the world the love of God； and to open to
the convicted soul the precious things of the Scriptures。
Having brought conviction of sin； and presented before the mind the standard
of righteousness； the Holy Spirit
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withdraws the affections from the things of this earth and fills the soul
with a desire for holiness。 〃He will guide you into all truth〃 （John 16：13）；
the Saviour declared。 If men are willing to be molded； there will be brought
about a sanctification of the whole being。 The Spirit will take the things
of God and stamp them on the soul。 By His power the way of life will be made
so plain that none need err therein。
From the beginning； God has been working by His Holy Spirit through human
instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His purpose in behalf of the
fallen race。 This was manifest in the lives of the patriarchs。 To the church
in the wilderness also； in the time of Moses； God gave His 〃good Spirit to
instruct them。〃 Nehemiah 9：20。 And in the days of the apostles He wrought
mightily for His church through the agency of the Holy Spirit。 The same
power that sustained the patriarchs； that gave Caleb and Joshua faith and
courage； and that made the work of the apostolic church effective； has
upheld God's faithful children in every succeeding age。 It was through the
power of the Holy Spirit that during the Dark Ages the Waldensian Christians
helped to prepare the way for the Reformation。 It was the same power that
made successful the efforts of the noble men and women who pioneered the way
for the establishment of modern missions and for the translation of the
Bible into the languages and dialects of all nations and peoples。
And today God is still using His church to make known His purpose in the
earth。 Today the heralds of the cross are going from city to city； and from
land to land； preparing
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the way for the second advent of Christ。 The standard of God's law is being
exalted。 The Spirit of the Almighty is moving upon men's hearts； and those
who respond to its influence become witnesses for God and His truth。 In many
places consecrated men and women may be seen communicating to others the
light that has made plain to them the way of salvation through Christ。 And
as they continue to let their light shine； as did those who were baptized
with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost； they receive more and still more of
the Spirit's power。 Thus the earth is to be lightened with the glory of God。
On the other hand； there are some who； instead of wisely improving present
opportunities； are idly waiting for some special season of spiritual
refreshing by which their ability to enlighten others will be greatly
increased。 They neglect present duties and privileges； and allow their light
to burn dim； while they look forward to a time when； without any effort on
their part； they will be made the recipients of special blessing； by which
they will be transformed and fitted for service。
It is true that in the time of the end； when God's work in the earth is
closing； the earnest efforts put forth by consecrated believers under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit are to be accompanied by special tokens of
divine favor。 Under the figure of the early and the latter rain； that falls
in Eastern lands at seedtime and harvest； the Hebrew prophets foretold the
bestowal of spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God's church。 The
outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of
the early； or
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former； rain； and glorious was the result。 To the end of time the presence
of the Spirit is to abide with the true church。
But near the close of earth's harvest； a special bestowal of spiritual grace
is promised to prepare the c