The Spirit Is Ever Waiting

The Holy Spirit is ever waiting to do His office work upon the human heart. Those who desire to learn can place themselves in close connection with God, and the promise that the Comforter shall teach them all things, and bring all things to their remembrance, whatever Christ had said to His disciples when He was upon the earth will be fulfilled. But if we disconnect from God, we can be no longer students in the school of Christ. Then we shall feel no special burden for the souls for whom Christ has died.

It was most difficult for the disciples of Christ to keep His lessons distinct from the traditions and maxims of the rabbis, the scribes, and pharisees. The teachings which the disciples had been educated to respect as the voice of God held a power over their minds and molded their sentiments. The disciples could not be a living and shining light until they were freed from the influence of the sayings and commandments of men, and the words of Christ were deeply impressed upon their minds and hearts as distinct truths, as precious jewels, to be appreciated, loved, and acted upon.

Jesus came to the world, lived a holy life, and died, to leave to the church His legacy in the valuable treasures He entrusted to them. He made His disciples the depositaries of most precious doctrines, to be placed in the hands of His church unmixed with the errors and traditions of men. He revealed Himself to them as the light of the world, the Sun of righteousness. And He promised them the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father was to send in His name.—The Signs of the Times, November 16, 1891.

“I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you” (John 14:18). The divine Spirit that the world’s Redeemer promised to send is the presence and power of God. He will not leave His people in the world destitute of His grace, to be buffeted by the enemy of God, and harassed by the oppression of the world; but He will come to them.—The Signs of the Times, November 23, 1891.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 39
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my daughters who are going through trials. Buck
—-Please pray for a sore throat I have been having for some days now. Evelyn
—-Please pray for my 1st cousin, Norma, who is critically ill. Helen
—-I just got a call from my brother. He is in terrible trouble with a catheter and stuck in his bladder and he’s bleeding. He cannot go to the hospital because it is very hectic there and his wife can’t be with him. He said he could not endure that at this crucial point in his life cuz he’s dying of a breathing problem. I need lot of prayer for him. Lorraine
—-Please pray for my classmate’s mom and niece who were in a horrible car wreck with a truck. David
—-Please pray for my coworker Suzanne’s husband Brian who is having surgery tomorrow (Wednesday) morning to remove his prostate. Wanangwa
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Dear Friends
One of my favorite rainy-day past times as a child was looking at my grandmother’s photo albums. On one such occasion, I saw an old lady I had not noticed before, She was a thin woman with her white hair pulled back in a bun. Her face had no wrinkles, but there was a sadness about her that could not be hidden in that photo taken so long ago.

When I asked my grandmother, she told me that it was her Aunt Alice. Alice was a happy girl, who was full of life and joy. She met a good-looking young man, and after a proper courtship, they became engaged. They loved each other deeply and finally the wedding day arrived. Alice was even more joyful than normal. That day she had anticipated as the happiest day of her life had finally arrived!

The church was decorated with flowers and filled with guests all waiting in eager anticipation to see this lovely young couple unite their lives. She wore a beautiful white wedding gown of lace. Her hair was combed in a lovely style specially to please the man she loved so deeply. The minister and the wedding attendants were there. All was ready, but the bridegroom was not there. They waited and waited. Had he changed his mind? The best man decided to go see.

Horrified, the best man saw an accident up ahead. He ran as fast as he could and saw that Alice’s loved young man was involved and ran back to the church. Shouting loudly and with tears in his eyes, he poured out his devastating news. Alice couldn’t believe it. She picked up the long skirt of her bridal gown and ran to the scene. There she saw the one she loved lying in the road—dead. Alice never recovered from that shock. She was never the same again. She became quiet and withdrawn and mourned for that young man for the rest of her life.

As I listened to the story, I felt like crying. Yet there is a tragedy much worse than this story—a disappointment far greater that happens every day without our even thinking about it. All around us are those who are spending their life with barely a thought heavenward. Jesus is coming soon and there will be multitudes unready to meet Him. With a sorrow far worse than Aunt Alice’s, they will cry out, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer 8:20 What dreadful words! Words spoken by some who knew Jesus was coming, but who did not make the heart preparation necessary. They seemed ready on the outside but were careless and indifferent and thought that a “head knowledge” of the truths of God’s Word was enough.

Jesus told a parable that illustrates this point. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt 25:1-13 All those virgins believed that the bridegroom was coming, but only half of them made the needed preparation.

May we “work out (our) own salvation with fear and trembling that we will not be found “standing at the altar.” Phil 2:12 May we “give diligence to make (our) calling and election sure” 2 Peter 1:10 May we live so close to God each day, allowing Him to change us into His image, that when He comes we will look up and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9

Rose