SSLS 2017-01-12
2017 1st Quarter
Lesson 2, January 7-13, The Holy Spirit: Working Behind the Scenes
Thursday, January 12
Incarnation: “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” KJV, Luke 1:34, 35, emphasis added.
Anointing: “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” KJV, Luke 3:21, 22, emphasis added.
Guidance: “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered…. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.” KJV, Luke 4:1, 2, 14, 15, emphasis added.
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” KJV, Luke 24:49, emphasis added.
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” KJV, Galatians 5:16-18, emphasis added. And for what we be under the law if we are not led of the Spirit? “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” KJV, Romans 8:1, 2, emphasis added.
“Jesus Christ, God Himself, and the angels of heaven are interested in this grand and holy work. Man has been given the exalted privilege of revealing the Divine Character by unselfishly engaging in the effort to rescue man from the pit of ruin into which he has been plunged. Every human being who will submit to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit is to be used for the accomplishment of this divinely conceived purpose. Christ is the head of His church, and it will glorify Him the more to have every portion of that church engaged in the work for the salvation of souls.
“But the human workers need to leave more room for the Holy Spirit to work, that the labourers may be bound together, and move forward in the strength of a united body of soldiers. Let all remember that we are ‘a spectacle unto the world, to angels, and to men.’ Therefore they should enquire with meekness and fear, What is my path of duty? Entire consecration in the service of God will reveal the moulding influence of the Holy Spirit at every step along the way. When apparent impossibilities arise in your path, present the ever-ready, complete efficiency of the Holy Spirit before your unbelieving heart, that it may shame away your over-cautious spirit. When your faith is weak, your efforts feeble, talk of the great Comforter, the Strength of heaven. When you are inclined to doubt that God is working, by His Holy Spirit, through human agents, remember that God has used the church, and is using it to the glory of His own name. If men will not obstruct the way, God will move upon the minds of many more to engage in active service for Him.” (Ellen White, Australasian Union Conference Record, April 1, 1898, emphasis added.)