Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7.
The Comforter is called “the Spirit of truth.” His work is to define and maintain the truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth, and thus He becomes the Comforter. There is comfort and peace in the truth, but no real peace or comfort can be found in falsehood. It is through false theories and traditions that Satan gains his power over the mind. By directing men to false standards, he misshapes the character. Through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind, and impresses truth upon the heart. Thus He exposes error, and expels it from the soul. It is by the Spirit of truth, working through the Word of God, that Christ subdues His chosen people to Himself.
In describing to His disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with the joy and hope that inspired His own heart. He rejoiced because of the abundant help He had provided for His church. The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character on His church.—The Review and Herald, November 19, 1908.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 13
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my granddaughter Robin. her husband is very sick has been for several years she has been taking care of him he is on several kinds of pain pills and they had a hearing per phone on social security. he was denied it wasa blow for them she is elderly herself. please pray as they try again for him to get S.S. the Lord knows the situation and He is still in charge thank you keep looking up we are almost home home at last. , M.
—-Update on my son-in-law: he’s a little better, but still having vision issues. On top of that, my 5 y/o grandson has Covid! Mary
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Dear Friends,
A couple of days ago, I noticed that Peter had a couple of absolutely worthless limestone rocks that he had found somewhere. As Ron and I looked at them, we began to smile. We were both thinking the same thing.
One day so many years ago, my friend Darlene went walking with us. She was much more knowledgeable in natural things than we could ever hope to be. The places she normally went hiking yielded beautiful and valuable specimens—garnets, agates, geodes, etc. There were none of those items on this walk, however.
As one of the children picked up a pretty stone, and asked her what kind it was, Darlene said, “That’s a leaverite.” They were excited. Imagine finding a leaverite right there on the trail. Then she laughed and said, “Yup, leave ‘er right there!” We all laughed at her funny joke.
There are many “leaverites” in life. Even gossip is a leaverite. When someone tells us some “juicy” bit of gossip, we should leave it alone and never repeat it. That tidbit of gossip may appear to be exciting; it may even be true, yet if we repeat it, it will cause untold misery and heartache to the object of the gossip. Gossip grows with the telling until it bears little resemblance to the truth. God commands, “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.” Lev 19:16 The wise man observed, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” “A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. . . . and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.” “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” Prov 18:8; 17:4, 5; 11:13
Over the years, I have found the truth in Solomon’s words. ” He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” Prov 20:19 How often those who gossip are nice to the person’s face and appear to be their friend. Later that gossip goes wandering about from house to housea tattler and a busybody, speaking things which they ought not. (1 Tim 5:13) That bit of “news” circulates and changes and grows until the reputation of the one who put confidence in the gossiper is ruined and left heart broken.
May we shun that old “leaverite” gossip. May we remember the advice of David, “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” Psa 34:12-15 May we walk righteously, speak uprightly, stop our ears from hearing of blood, and shut our eyes from seeing evil; that we may someday soon see the King in His beauty in His Heavenly Kingdom. (Isa 33:15, 16)
Rose